How to Choose your First Camping, Hiking and Bushcraft Knife - AdventureArchives
video description
My friend is into bushcraft and he has so many knives lol. Malanika, adventure sworn, aa forge, zl Knives, esse, bark river, casstrom, condor, as harding, fallkniven, moras, triple x, zlim, survive gso, etc. multiple models from different brands. What-s his favorite knife? All I guess. he enjoys using all even though some are better at things than others. Practice with what you have because technique matters.
I would say that having just one knife is a limitation. It-s better to have 2 rather than a jack of all trades. Most survival knives like survive are like that which they are not good at any specific task but they are made as a one knife to survive.
My opinion when trying his knives, I would say casstrom is a good budget buy.
Next level up would be bark river and lt Wright. There are a lot of models so it-s overwhelming. The lt Wright genesis would be my favorite especially with the handle feel.
Don-t bother with esee. Fallkniven overpriced imo. Going up higher in price adventure sworn is great but they may end up on your shelf because they are just to pretty.
Hmm best budget combo. Mora robust or bushcraft black and then pair that with a silky saw like the F180.
Edit once more: what I use. Err I do more exploration in the jungle for ruins and tombs so I-m not really a bushcrafter but I do like my coffee and bacon so I will join my friend into the woods. Lionsteel m7 chop and baton, silky zubat 330 for saw, and mora Eldris.
Date: 2022-04-30
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Comments and reviews: 9
Jon
Hey Andrew! Great video, I like that you didnt get bogged down on steel types. You did a great job of explaining the different grinds as well. I prefer high carbon blades, that are $100 or less. Above $100, I just cant bring myself to whack them for batoning, or get them dirty and the like. I do have stainless blades in my kit, I prefer them for food prep. That being said, I have had hit or miss luck with the grade of the stainless steel. For some reason I have had a harder time finding information on the grade of stainless steel, or finding the type used in the description of the knife. I have found a lot of knives between $50-100 that do not come with a sheath, or they come with a sub-par one. That is something I always take a look at when considering a knife purchase. After market sheaths may not fit right, or cost equal or more than the knife. I prefer leather, and oil that with a light weight oil (not food types of oil due to animals, then same time I am oiling my carbon steel blades. That being said, you just cant beat a mora! Durable sheath, they come in both stainless and carbon steels, easy to sharpen. What more could someone want for $10! Looking forward to your next adventure!
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Hey Andrew! Great video, I like that you didnt get bogged down on steel types. You did a great job of explaining the different grinds as well. I prefer high carbon blades, that are $100 or less. Above $100, I just cant bring myself to whack them for batoning, or get them dirty and the like. I do have stainless blades in my kit, I prefer them for food prep. That being said, I have had hit or miss luck with the grade of the stainless steel. For some reason I have had a harder time finding information on the grade of stainless steel, or finding the type used in the description of the knife. I have found a lot of knives between $50-100 that do not come with a sheath, or they come with a sub-par one. That is something I always take a look at when considering a knife purchase. After market sheaths may not fit right, or cost equal or more than the knife. I prefer leather, and oil that with a light weight oil (not food types of oil due to animals, then same time I am oiling my carbon steel blades. That being said, you just cant beat a mora! Durable sheath, they come in both stainless and carbon steels, easy to sharpen. What more could someone want for $10! Looking forward to your next adventure!
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Dirt
Great video as always but no mention of multitool or folding knives?
I have owned and used knives in the outdoors a lot and if I was going to choose one that gets the most use its a leatherman.
95 times out of 100 you just dont need to baton wood to make a fire (there is plenty of tinder and kindling waiting to be gathered if you know where to look) and how often do people really need to use their bushcraft knife for filleting fish or for skinning an animal?
These are the big advantages that fix blade knives have but if your not living wild on in a frontier somewhere then do you really need a large fixed blade? I know thats an unpopular opinion and its not very romantic but the longer you spend outdoors the more you tend to start looking at things with a more practical mindset.
Most people I see with fixed blade bushcraft knives have a smaller, thinner, secondary knife that is used for food prep and cooking and to be honest that's the knife that is probably getting the most use. Having said that I do like bushcraft knives and own several, this comment was just food for thought.
Keep making great videos, you guys rock.
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Great video as always but no mention of multitool or folding knives?
I have owned and used knives in the outdoors a lot and if I was going to choose one that gets the most use its a leatherman.
95 times out of 100 you just dont need to baton wood to make a fire (there is plenty of tinder and kindling waiting to be gathered if you know where to look) and how often do people really need to use their bushcraft knife for filleting fish or for skinning an animal?
These are the big advantages that fix blade knives have but if your not living wild on in a frontier somewhere then do you really need a large fixed blade? I know thats an unpopular opinion and its not very romantic but the longer you spend outdoors the more you tend to start looking at things with a more practical mindset.
Most people I see with fixed blade bushcraft knives have a smaller, thinner, secondary knife that is used for food prep and cooking and to be honest that's the knife that is probably getting the most use. Having said that I do like bushcraft knives and own several, this comment was just food for thought.
Keep making great videos, you guys rock.
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The
I generally recommend Moras for people's first knives, and then they can build how their knife philosophy from there. I live in Mass and Tend to stick to the New England woods (just a bit of context to my environment. I use small knives. like the Mora Eldris and the LTWK Great plainsman (so like 3-4 inch blades. Granted I don't baton normally, and when I camp (outside of long distance backpacking) I generally bring an ax/hatchet or normally I bring a saw. In my area, skeleton pines are literally everywhere. so the idea of getting small pieces of wood is not hard for me here. I just walk a small distance and I have plenty that burn hot. and in harvesting it, you can build up the thickness of wood pretty quick without splitting any wood pretty quickly. Other I found more and more, that I didn't really use my 5-6 inch knives when I camped, and when I brought smaller ones, I just used them more and more. People scoff at me -because I use a small knife- but hey, it works for me. As for steels, I can go either way, but I've been getting back into stainless. I live close to the coast, so stainless is easier.
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I generally recommend Moras for people's first knives, and then they can build how their knife philosophy from there. I live in Mass and Tend to stick to the New England woods (just a bit of context to my environment. I use small knives. like the Mora Eldris and the LTWK Great plainsman (so like 3-4 inch blades. Granted I don't baton normally, and when I camp (outside of long distance backpacking) I generally bring an ax/hatchet or normally I bring a saw. In my area, skeleton pines are literally everywhere. so the idea of getting small pieces of wood is not hard for me here. I just walk a small distance and I have plenty that burn hot. and in harvesting it, you can build up the thickness of wood pretty quick without splitting any wood pretty quickly. Other I found more and more, that I didn't really use my 5-6 inch knives when I camped, and when I brought smaller ones, I just used them more and more. People scoff at me -because I use a small knife- but hey, it works for me. As for steels, I can go either way, but I've been getting back into stainless. I live close to the coast, so stainless is easier.
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Lee
I can not disagree with your video. What I will say about a full tang knife. Is it is less likely to brake. On a over night or two. With friends. Braking your knife is a bummer. But if your out, lost, or off grid. Alone. Having your knife brake could be disastrous.
Sense you never know when you maybe in the latter scenario. Having that full tang is good insurance. But not necessary to hike or have a good time in the outdoors! I have A Condor Kephart Knife Bushcraft. I all so have a Jeff White Bush Knife. Look at the Path Finder HD Scorpion $99. 95. The knife I grow up with. Carried all through Scouts. Was my Dad's Ka-Bar landing knife(Yes WWII) Yes still have it and a few copies. My latest -BUSH- knife is a Ontario Butcher knife. Came razor sharp. From Ace Hardware for $11. 00. A little big, maybe. But have a few older one's that a worn down. But keep a great edge. All ways like your video. Which you did pay pal for donating to your videos. But as all ways, Thanks for taking US along!
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I can not disagree with your video. What I will say about a full tang knife. Is it is less likely to brake. On a over night or two. With friends. Braking your knife is a bummer. But if your out, lost, or off grid. Alone. Having your knife brake could be disastrous.
Sense you never know when you maybe in the latter scenario. Having that full tang is good insurance. But not necessary to hike or have a good time in the outdoors! I have A Condor Kephart Knife Bushcraft. I all so have a Jeff White Bush Knife. Look at the Path Finder HD Scorpion $99. 95. The knife I grow up with. Carried all through Scouts. Was my Dad's Ka-Bar landing knife(Yes WWII) Yes still have it and a few copies. My latest -BUSH- knife is a Ontario Butcher knife. Came razor sharp. From Ace Hardware for $11. 00. A little big, maybe. But have a few older one's that a worn down. But keep a great edge. All ways like your video. Which you did pay pal for donating to your videos. But as all ways, Thanks for taking US along!
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Mike
There are some glaring misconceptions here guys. Stainless will rust and oxidize but it will take longer than carbon steal. And Stainless is actually more brittle due to the chromium within the steel. As far as Stainless vs. carbon in care, it doesn't matter much unless you're on the ocean as salt water is highly corrosive to steel. Tangs matter little as well, just depends on what you want it for. A decent knife for outdoor use is the Kephart style. Good for processing game as well as general bushcraft carving. I have one that I designed that was very close to Kephart's knife and has served me well for three years now and I don't ever oil it. 1084 high carbon steel and no rust. And before anyone claims that it's the area I live, I'm in east central Missouri where there is 90% humidity in the summers. Carbon steel will only rust if it is put away wet. Also, my knife blade is 5- long, one inch wide and an eighth of an inch thick.
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There are some glaring misconceptions here guys. Stainless will rust and oxidize but it will take longer than carbon steal. And Stainless is actually more brittle due to the chromium within the steel. As far as Stainless vs. carbon in care, it doesn't matter much unless you're on the ocean as salt water is highly corrosive to steel. Tangs matter little as well, just depends on what you want it for. A decent knife for outdoor use is the Kephart style. Good for processing game as well as general bushcraft carving. I have one that I designed that was very close to Kephart's knife and has served me well for three years now and I don't ever oil it. 1084 high carbon steel and no rust. And before anyone claims that it's the area I live, I'm in east central Missouri where there is 90% humidity in the summers. Carbon steel will only rust if it is put away wet. Also, my knife blade is 5- long, one inch wide and an eighth of an inch thick.
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Vincent
I collect knives and have a few Japanese weapons, wakazashis, tantos, katana's, that being said, I prefer carbon steel knives for my outdoor work, easier to sharpen and edge retention is fantastic. I bought a Japanese blue steel knife for 35 dollars on ebay, kind of a modified tanto. Stays sharps, holds and edge and has a wooden saya like sheath. Sure I have to oil it from time to time, but they will last forever with the right maintenance. As far as stainless steel, the only time I would bring one is if I'm in a salt water local. Another cheap option is a Cold Steel True Flight Thrower Paracord Wrapped Handle. For 22 bucks, this thing is huge, 1055 carbon steel. I bought it to throw, but looking at it, this makes a great camp knife, perfect for batoning, chopping wood. You can find them on Amazon. I usually have a smaller knife for finer chores with me anyways. I have so many, so choosing one for a trip is fun.
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I collect knives and have a few Japanese weapons, wakazashis, tantos, katana's, that being said, I prefer carbon steel knives for my outdoor work, easier to sharpen and edge retention is fantastic. I bought a Japanese blue steel knife for 35 dollars on ebay, kind of a modified tanto. Stays sharps, holds and edge and has a wooden saya like sheath. Sure I have to oil it from time to time, but they will last forever with the right maintenance. As far as stainless steel, the only time I would bring one is if I'm in a salt water local. Another cheap option is a Cold Steel True Flight Thrower Paracord Wrapped Handle. For 22 bucks, this thing is huge, 1055 carbon steel. I bought it to throw, but looking at it, this makes a great camp knife, perfect for batoning, chopping wood. You can find them on Amazon. I usually have a smaller knife for finer chores with me anyways. I have so many, so choosing one for a trip is fun.
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Hangs4Fun
For bushcrafting, I really like my OKC Blackbird SK-5. You can literally baton and craft with this all day long and not end up with any blisters. It is full tang with a full flat taper grind, of hardness 58-60 HRC! For drilling holes (crafting, bowdrill holes, etc, the tip comes to a symmetrical point at the end, which really helps when drilling. This things just stays sharp. Combine this knife with a custom sheath from Hedgehog Leatherworks with a 3/8- ferrocerium rod and pouch and you have a great survival/bush crafting setup (although it will set you back. I've had this setup for several years now, using it a hundred times and it's still in top condition (I keep the blade sharpened and treat the sheath, but that is it.
Most importantly, it NEVER fails me, ever!
Now, my son has had his eye on this setup, since I got it; so if anything happens to me in my sleep, you know what happened, LOL.
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For bushcrafting, I really like my OKC Blackbird SK-5. You can literally baton and craft with this all day long and not end up with any blisters. It is full tang with a full flat taper grind, of hardness 58-60 HRC! For drilling holes (crafting, bowdrill holes, etc, the tip comes to a symmetrical point at the end, which really helps when drilling. This things just stays sharp. Combine this knife with a custom sheath from Hedgehog Leatherworks with a 3/8- ferrocerium rod and pouch and you have a great survival/bush crafting setup (although it will set you back. I've had this setup for several years now, using it a hundred times and it's still in top condition (I keep the blade sharpened and treat the sheath, but that is it.
Most importantly, it NEVER fails me, ever!
Now, my son has had his eye on this setup, since I got it; so if anything happens to me in my sleep, you know what happened, LOL.
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Lee
I'm a hiking guide and I've gone through carrying all sorts of different knives. What I carry now is a pocket knife like a victorinox or an old pen knife on 95% of my backpacking/day hiking trips, or if I know I'm going to be teaching primitive skills or carving anything I go with a comfortably handled mora knife. I have never found a full tang to be necessary or a very large knife to be worth the weight. A person can make wooden wedges with a much smaller knife to split/baton through wood instead of their knife. In my opinion the Scandinavian grind works wood the best and is what I use to carve with. I regret every Esee and large bladed knife I've ever bought haha, but then I wouldn't know what I do and don't like quite so well I guess. Anyway that's just me. I really enjoy your adventure videos but also your gear, opinion, and instructional videos, if they are easier to make I hope to see more of them.
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I'm a hiking guide and I've gone through carrying all sorts of different knives. What I carry now is a pocket knife like a victorinox or an old pen knife on 95% of my backpacking/day hiking trips, or if I know I'm going to be teaching primitive skills or carving anything I go with a comfortably handled mora knife. I have never found a full tang to be necessary or a very large knife to be worth the weight. A person can make wooden wedges with a much smaller knife to split/baton through wood instead of their knife. In my opinion the Scandinavian grind works wood the best and is what I use to carve with. I regret every Esee and large bladed knife I've ever bought haha, but then I wouldn't know what I do and don't like quite so well I guess. Anyway that's just me. I really enjoy your adventure videos but also your gear, opinion, and instructional videos, if they are easier to make I hope to see more of them.
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William
Excellent video my friend, im a hunter and camper and I carry a Mora companion knife in my game bag and a Buck light knife on my belt for field dressing Deer and other game. I have a collection of Scandi knives eg. Helle Mora martini Eka, a couple of Gerber and Buck knives. I agree with you completely about buying a Mora knife and learn your tasks and sharpening skills on that. I always have difficulty sharpening the full flat grind but you made it look easy. I have two Boker arbolita knives in full flat grind, i think it's time to strop the edges. Most of my knives are stored in the gun room, im thinking selling off some knives to get money to buy a Falkniven top of the range knife. Great to see your not a knife snob telling people to use Super Steels. Stay safe.
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Excellent video my friend, im a hunter and camper and I carry a Mora companion knife in my game bag and a Buck light knife on my belt for field dressing Deer and other game. I have a collection of Scandi knives eg. Helle Mora martini Eka, a couple of Gerber and Buck knives. I agree with you completely about buying a Mora knife and learn your tasks and sharpening skills on that. I always have difficulty sharpening the full flat grind but you made it look easy. I have two Boker arbolita knives in full flat grind, i think it's time to strop the edges. Most of my knives are stored in the gun room, im thinking selling off some knives to get money to buy a Falkniven top of the range knife. Great to see your not a knife snob telling people to use Super Steels. Stay safe.
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