What Makes the Best Bushcraft Knife?

It's winter, which means it's the ideal time to go through your belongings and make sure everything is set for spring. Even if you don't want to go camping in the cold, you may still practice some of the essential survival skills you'll need. If you want to learn more about bushcraft or enhance your own skills, finding the right knife for the job is crucial. Finding the best bushcraft knife can be difficult, especially given the diverse range of jobs that fall under the bushcraft umbrella.

Bushcraft
Bushcraft is the use and practice of wilderness survival skills. While bushcraft encompasses a wide range of abilities, the majority of them revolve around the capacity to build or find shelter, fire, water, and food. These abilities are incredibly useful, particularly in survival situations. There are many different bushcraft projects to choose from, and you could easily spend a lifetime practicing bushcraft while learning new abilities every time you venture into the woods. A decent knife will be required for a lot of bushcraft techniques.

Choosing a Knife
When it comes to selecting the best bushcraft knife, there are numerous possibilities. While some of it will be a matter of personal taste, there are a few excellent rules to follow. A decent bushcraft knife should have a fixed blade with a complete tang that is between 3.5 and 6.5 inches long. User discretion will ultimately determine the blade's exact design and manufacturing, however spear point and drop point designs remain the most popular possibilities.

Small Knives
Smaller knives are obviously better suited to activities that need precision. A folding knife may be sufficient if you only need a knife to conduct fine intricate jobs. Folders' biggest flaw is that they can't withstand high-impact situations like cutting and batoning. Regardless, carrying a folding knife or small fixed blade in your pocket or pack is never a bad idea if you require a compact knife for whittling or other fine activities. Here are a few possibilities to consider if you're looking for a small knife for your next bushcraft expedition.

Ontario Rat Model II - The Ontario Knife Company's Rat II folding knife is a terrific tiny knife. These no-nonsense folders have a three-ring binder "AUS-8 stainless steel blade with a drop point. They're small and light, making them ideal for carrying in your pocket or as a backup blade for bushcraft. These knives are strong, constructed to last, and simple to use. At the tender age of four, "The RAT II is small enough to fit in your pocket or knapsack when closed. These knives are easy to open and control thanks to their textured handles and jump jimping.

All Purpose Knives
If you're only packing one knife, aim for one that's between 3.5 and 6.5 inches long. This sweet spot will give you the most bang for your buck. When clutching the handle, you can either swing or chop solidly, or choke up on the blade to perform more controlled actions. We have a couple suggestions for a superb all-around outdoors knife.

Architect Field Buddy 5.5 - The Knife Connection's Field Buddy 5.5 is the result of years of effort. The Knife Connection's founder, Dale, began to think about what he would like in his perfect outdoor knife. With a 5.5" blade made of 1095 carbon steel, the Field Buddy 5.5 is a true workhorse. These knives are built to perform, with a skeletonized handle for weight reduction, thumb jimping for a strong grip, and pommel jimping for a striking surface. We are confident that the blade and handle of these knives will last for the rest of their lives.

Other Bushcraft Gear
A good knife is necessary if you're going on a bushcraft excursion, but it shouldn't be your sole piece of equipment. Fortunately, it's simple to pick up a few items of kit for your pack while looking for the best bushcraft knife for you.

Architect Ferro Rod Firesteel with Striker - One of the greatest firestarters to take in your bag is ferro rods. Ferrocerium is a pyrophoric alloy with a unique composition. When heated by the friction of a strike against a hard surface, ferrocerium pieces quickly ignite. The use of a ferro rod is similar to that of a flint and steel. The fundamental difference is that when a flint is struck, it ignites the iron in steel, whereas when striking a ferro rod, it consumes the substance of the rod and not the metal. Starting a fire shouldn't be difficult if you have a ferro rod, tinder, and a knife with a sharp spine. Our Architect ferro rods come with a variety of handle styles so you can find the right one for you.

Paracord - It's difficult to imagine a more versatile material than paracord. While you can always construct your own cordage out of plant fibers, having paracord on hand can help you get things done faster when doing bushcraft tasks that need cordage. This paracord is produced in the United States and is built to last. The inner core stands can be removed to form sewing thread or fishing lines, or it can be utilized as is. You won't regret having some paracord in your bushcraft kit because it has a million uses.

So make sure to stock up on supplies here at The Knife Connection before your next journey to the woods. See our Bushcraft Knives category for a range of high-quality knives and to find the ideal bushcraft knife for you. Please contact one of our knife specialists if you have any questions regarding finding the best bushcraft knife for your needs.