Best Bushcraft Knives – 2022 Top Selections from A Survivalist
There’s a range of knives you can carry outdoors, from EDC to pocket knives to tactical and even survival knives, serious outdoors men know that a dependable bushcraft knife is one of the most crucial items in a survival bag.
Sure, EDC and pocket knives offer convenience, and tactical and survival knives offer assistance should things go wrong, but if you’re the type of survivalist who tends to spend long periods of time in the bush, you’re basically volunteering to face those challenges head on.
Obviously, you’re going to need to develop your bushcraft skills to actually survive in the wild. You must know how to start a fire, set up a tent, and perhaps you’ll even need to catch your own food and protect yourself from wild animals. And that’s when you’ll need the best bushcraft knife—it could essentially save your life.
So what features should you look for in a bushcraft knife? The look of the knife is hopefully far down your list of priorities. Any inordinate focus on ornate designs instead of utility will mark you as a poser and not as an actual outdoors man. You will generally want a curved edge to your blade you can use it for a wide variety of tasks. It also needs to be tough, so it should have a fixed blade with a drop point and flat grind. It should be maneuverable and comfortable to use. It should also hold its edge for longer than usual, as you may not want to spend your time sharpening the blade.
Table of Contents
- 7 Best Bushcraft Knives - Comparisons
- Best Bushcraft Knives Reviews
- 1. Spyderco Bushcraft G-10 PlainEdge Knife with Leather Sheath
- 2. Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162 Fixed Outdoor Survival Knife
- 3. Fallkniven F1!
- 4. Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Fixed Blade Knife with Carbon Steel Blade
- 5. Buck Knives 0863BRS Selkirk Fixed Blade Knife with Fire Striker and Nylon Sheath
- 6. Condor Tool & Knife, Bushlore Camp Knife, 4-5/16in Blade
- 7. Tops Knives Fieldcraft Knife by B.O.B.
- Final Verdict
7 Best Bushcraft Knives - Comparisons
Image | Product Name | Primary Material | Blade Length | Pr0ice |
---|---|---|---|---|
G-10 Steel | 3.9" | |||
![]() ![]() | Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Currently unavailable | STEEL: CPM-S30V | 4.40" | |
Steel: Laminated VG10 | 3 4/5" | |||
Carbon Steel | 4.3" | |||
420HC Steel | 4.5/8" | |||
CTK232 Steel | 4.3" | |||
1095 Carbon Steel | 4 1/2" |
Best Bushcraft Knives Reviews
To give you a clearer idea of which bushcraft knives will work best for you, here are some recommendations which you should consider:
Spyderco is one of the most highly-regarded brands in the knife industry, and their knives are generally great. The Bushcraft G-10 is the result of a collaboration between Spyderco, the bushcraft specialty website BushcraftUK.com, and bushcraft expert Chris Claycombe. If you have the budget for a premium knife that’s worth every cent, then you need to take a look at this one.
The knife is about 8.75 inches long overall, with its drop point blade measuring 4 inches. The blade features a Scandinavian (“Scandi”) grind, which means it has an edge with a single bevel grind, and it’s wide, flat, and quite durable. The blade is made of O-1 high carbon steel with a G-10 handle. It also comes with a leather sheath, and weighs a total of 7.75 ounces.
With this knife you can pretty much do everything you need out in the wild. Wood definitely won’t be a problem as this knife can chop, slice, or carve them without any trouble at all. It’s also great for skinning and gutting game.
What we liked
- The O-1 carbon steel used for the full tang blade is fantastic. It holds a sharp edge exceptionally well, and sharpening it very easy too.
- The G-10 handle is so tough that you can say it’s virtually bomb-proof. Also, the grip has been ergonomically designed to minimize the hand fatigue you may experience when using it.
- Since it’s been designed with the specs from noted bushman Chris Claycombe, you know this is a proper bushcraft knife. It’s always nice when an expert’s recommendations are used to design a product.
- Like most Spyderco knives, you will find the typical thumbhole on the blade. This feature enables you to do more tasks that require a bit more finesse, such as filleting a fish.
- Tucked into the ambidextrous leather sheath, you can easily bring this knife with you on your outdoor adventures. It’s ready to roll right out of the box, as the blade edge comes to you as sharp as it can be.
- While looks aren’t important, of course, it doesn’t hurt that this knife looks nice in a functional sort of way. However, it’s not really “pretty”, so you won’t actually hate to use it in the outdoors because you’re hesitant to mar its looks.
What we didn't like
- Like most bushcraft knives, this doesn’t have a finger guard. This can be a problem if you’re holding the shiny and smooth G-10 handle with wet hands. If you’re going to be using this for stabbing into things, your hand could slide and you might cut yourself.
![Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162 Fixed Outdoor Survival Knife Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162 Fixed Outdoor Survival Knife](http://localhost/thefishingkayaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Benchmade-Bushcrafter-162-Knife.jpg?x80312&x80312)
![Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162 Fixed Outdoor Survival Knife Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162 Fixed Outdoor Survival Knife](http://localhost/thefishingkayaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Benchmade-Bushcrafter-162-Knife.jpg.webp?x80312&x80312)
Benchmade is another famous brand in the knife industry, and it has rightfully earned a reputation for quality. Based in Oregon, their manufacturing equipment operates in tolerances that you normally only find in the aerospace industry. While all their knivesare of great quality, the Bushcrafter 162 is one of their premium offerings, so it’s also among the more expensive models on this list.
Yet there’s no doubt that you get full value for your money, as hordes of gratified users have attested to the fine qualities of this knife. Boasting a fixed blade made from CPM-S30V steel, the knife itself is 9.15 inches long, with the blade measuring in at 4.4 inches. It weighs 7.72oz and it comes with a full-grain leather sheath that adds another 2.70oz.
The full tang drop point blade has a plain edge and flat grind. The handle is made from G-10 plastic and has holes in it so you can even use it as a makeshift spear.
What we liked
Here are some of characteristics that have made this knife a favorite among outdoors men:
- The blade is made from the popular CPM S30V steel, which is a premium steel that offers a fantastic balance of toughness, hardness, and edge retention. It’s very resistant to corrosion and easy to sharpen.
- This is a serious piece of gear that can be used to perform many crucial tasks in the wilderness. You can use it to carve wood or split firewood, it can slice foliage to let you walk easier along the path. It can also be usedfor gutting game, whether it’s deer or fish.
- The textured handle is amazing, and it fits large hands perfectly. Its shape is great for various use positions and gives you a secure hold.
- It comes in a fine leather sheath that holds the knife well.
What we didn't like
- The blade may seem a bit bigger than usual, but it’s still relatively lightweight so the size doesn’t make it harder to use.
- Not everyone appreciates that the sheath rides a bit high.
Fallkniven needed 8 long years to develop this excellent survival knife, but they used that time for extensive testing in the field through extreme conditions and temperatures. Whether it isa freezing winter night or the heat of a noontime summer day, the F1 was built to last. And if this is not enough to impress you, here’s one more thing—this is the very knife issued to Swedish Air Forcepilots today.
The knife itself is 8.3 inches long and weighs just 5.3 ounces, with a blade length of 3.8 inches. The blade is made from laminated VG-10 steel, which offers an exceptionally balance of edge retention, superb resistance to corrosion, and ease of sharpening.
The textured black handle that is made from Thermorun rubber is nicely shaped for a secure and comfortable grip. It also features a lanyard hole near the end. You can choose to get a leather sheath or opt for a left or right-handed Zytel sheath.
What we liked
- The steel used for the blade can handle any bushcraft task you may need to do. At the same time, it holds a sharp edge very well.
- The handle offers a safe and secure grip, and at the same time it feels nice and comfy. The rubberized handle is even capable of protecting you from accidental electrocution.
- This knife smaller and lighter than expected, so it offers a nice tool-like functionality with a no-nonsense design.
- With its weight and size, it’s very easy to use for finesse jobs, and you won’t get tired as easily when you use this.
- The durability of this knife is legendary. Many long-time users have remarked on how it works just like new even after a decade of use.
What we didn't like
- Because of its somewhat small size and light design, it may not be as handy for cutting as other knives on this list.
Morakniv is a Swedish knifemaker brand that has been in the business since 1891 and it sure does seem that they’ve learned a thing or two about manufacturing fantastic knives over the years. What will truly astound you is that they offer these fantastic knives at fantastically reasonable prices—a case made evident by this affordable Morakniv Bushcraft knife.
This knife is quite substantial with its overall length of 9.1 inches. The high carbon steel blade is 4.3 inches long and just ⅛ of an inch thick covered with black tungsten DLC coating for greater anti-corrosive properties. The knife comes with a rubberized black handle that offers a safe and comfortable grip.
What we liked
- With its HRC 56-58 hardness the corrosion-resistant carbon steel blade performs nicely, allowing it to deal well with the stress of bushcraft use. With this blade, you’ll have no trouble with batoning chores and carving tasks.
- The blade has a “Scandi” grind which keeps the knife from just slipping off easily. The blade edge is sharp, and it is guaranteed to stay that way for a long while. The edge will bite into the surface without getting stuck.
- The over-molded rubber handle offers excellent control thanks to its high friction, non-slip grip, even in cold and wet conditions.
- The spine of the blade was specially designed so you can use it effectively with a fire starter. You just need to pull the spine heavily and slowly along the fire starter and you’ll get the sparks you need to light the fire you need for your camp.
- It’s a very lightweight knife, and even with the sheath the overall weight is just 5.7oz.
What we didn't like
- Yes, it does come with a sheath and it has a belt loop. But does it have to be made from plastic? Perhaps it does, so Morakniv can keep their prices down.
- You will need to oil this knife after each use to maintain its anti-corrosive feature.
It’s not all that easy to find an affordable bushcraft knife when you insist on US-made manufacturing. But if you don’t mind that it’s made overseas,you may want to take a look at the Selkirk. Buck still oversees the entire manufacturing process, so what you get is a superb knife with an affordable price tag and the typical Buck durability.
This knife measures a hefty 9.5 inches all in all, and the blade makes up 4⅝ inches of this length. The drop point blade is made from 420HC, while the Micarta handle also features a flat steel edge that you can use for hammering. Micarta is a type of tough, laminated plastic.
The knife comes with a 2.25-inch fire striker, and there’s even a whistle integrated in the grip so you can call for help easily in case of an emergency. You also get an injection-molded nylon sheath which you can use in a horizontal or vertical configuration.
What we liked
- Though this knife isn’t made in the US like other Buck knives, it is still covered by the famous Buck Knives lifetime warranty.
- Normally, HC in 420HC steel refers to high carbon content, which is an advantage over regular 420 steel. But Buck uses quality heat treatments for the 420HC so that the blade is unbelievably easy to sharpen, while it’s also one of the most corrosion-resistant steels used for bushcraft knives.
- The Micarta handle isn’t just great to look at, it also offers a secure and safe grip for your hands.
- The steel bolster at the butt end is flattened so you can also use it as a hammer.
- It comes with an integrated fire starter that you can use with the notch in the blade tocreate sparks to start the fire you need.
- The whistle is also a great, possibly life-saving addition.
- The sheath can be customized for different carry heights and either vertical or horizontal configuration. You can adjust it to suit the width of any belt. It clicks when you insert the knife into the sheath, and holds it tightly in one place.
- Buck offers lifetime warranty on this knife.
What we didn't like
- The problem with the 420HC steel is that while it’s extremely easy to sharpen, it also means that it’s not as good as other steel types in retaining its sharp edge. So you better bring along your sharpening tools if you’re going into the wilderness with this knife.
Since it offers tremendous value for very little money, this bushcraft knife is one of the most popular and most admired ones on the market. This is understandable when you realize that the history of Condor Tool & Knife can be traced back to 1787 in Solingen, Germany.
This bushcraft knife is 9.5 inches long, and its full tang 1075 steel blade measures 4⅜ inches. Like some other bushcraft knives, this one also features a drop point blade with a Scandi grind and has a blasted satin finish. It has a nice walnut wooden handle, and the weight comes in at 8 ounces.
There’s really nothing to the CTK232-4.3HC until you bring this knife along for your hunting or camping adventure. That’s when you’ll realize the versatility and toughness hidden behind the simple design of this knife.
What we liked
- The 1075 steel is one of the more affordable materials for blades, but Condor makes its blades well so that it works effectively for chopping wood and for various camping utility tasks.
- Thanks to its full tang design, this knife feels solid in your hand, with no wiggle whatsoever. Thewalnut handle sits securely in your hand and offers a comfortable grip.
- It’s very sturdy and it can give you years of reliable service even with constant use.
- Can be used to start a fire.
- It comes with a high quality leather sheath.
What we didn't like
- It doesn’t have any special anti-corrosion features, so you should try to keep it dry as much as possible when you put it away after use.
The Fieldcraft knifehas a rather interesting history. It was designed by The Brothers of Bushcraft, which is basically a group of wilderness enthusiasts from all over North America. These guys have experienced survival challenges in rain forests, dry deserts, and frigid ice lands. That’s when they came up with the Fieldcraft model, which is designed for all types of wilderness scenarios.
This knife is a bit long at 10 inches, but its blade is standard at just 4.5 inches. It has a 1095HC steel blade and an ergonomic Micarta handle. It also comes with a black Kydex sheath.
What we liked
- The 1095 steel blade is much better at holding an edge than regular 1075 steel.
- The ergonomic Micarta handle is comfortable and offers a secure grip.
- It has a bow drill divot that makes starting a fire a snap. There’s also a scraper on the exposed butt end for striking a Ferro rod effectively and safely.
- The “thumb scallops” feature on the handle gives excellent control when you’re using the knife for skinning or carving.
What we didn't like
- The sheath is a bit disappointing, and we’re not the only ones who’ve voiced some complaints about it.
Final Verdict
Bushcraft is not something that you should take lightly, not if you’re going out into the wilderness on a regular basis. To make your life easier out in the bush, having the best bushcraft knife with you can be vital.
And while it’s great that there are affordable options, frankly the price shouldn’t be among your highest considerations. When your very life depends on the bushcraft knife you bring along, price doesn’t really matter.
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