A bushcraft knife, also known as survival knife, can be used for various outdoor chores like cutting rope and other materials, cutting tree limbs, carving wood or cleaning game. The large range of jobs it can accomplish is vital since many outdoorsmen don't want to be burdened by multiple tools.
Bushcraft Knives vs. Survival Knives
Bushcraft and survival knives are pretty much identical. Some people might state a bushcraft knife is more for a general outdoors situation, and a survival knife is created for an unexpected, emergency event. In practice the difference is negligible at best and you won't encounter many manufacturers that discriminate between them.
Further muddying the issue is that these blades are also frequently called "wilderness" blades or "camping" blades.
A task that does seem appropriate for a survival tool although not for a bushcraft knife is "batoning". Batoning is utilizing a tool as a tool for cutting mid-sized branches. The tool is placed upon the wood to be cut and the worker pounds upon the back of the blade of the tool to force it into the wood.
Blades
Survival knife blades usually measure around four inches in length. People with a bigger hand might prefer a longer blade, though a blade in excess of than five inches is not advised.
Higher quality blades generally are made with a full tang or a hidden tang. A full-tang knife has a blade that runs the entire width and length of the instrument and is usually visible on the edges of the handle. A hidden-tang knife covers the full length of the knife as well, however it tapers as the blade enters the handle and is totally hidden by a handle.
Steel may be stainless steel or carbon steel. Stainless steel does not rust, one big benefit in exposure to moisture. Carbon steel edges can be less difficult to sharpen and should maintain a keener edge.
Edges can be serrated or straight. Full-serrated edges are not suggested since they are difficult to sharpen, but many blades will have a limited part of the blade that is serrated while most of the blade is straight.
A2 is an excellent choice for carbon based steel. VG-10 is another excellent option. For stainless steel, some good options include 440C or AUS8.
Handles
When looking for a survival blade, you'll need one that you can hold onto easily no matter what the weather is like. Best options include rugged materials like micarta or rubber. You may also wish to look into stacked leather, though only if you're not anticipating consistently rainy conditions.
Survival knife handles usually don't feature protection for your fingers. This is because they were not intended to be used with a sawing movement, but rather for of the vertical movement of cutting.
You can hide undersized accessories in the tool if it has a hollowed-out handle with a screw-on lid, such as strike-anywhere matches. This type of design makes the handle prone to wear, though, so is not a good choice.
Complementary Knives
While versatile, these blades are not designed to be "utility tools". Tasks that demand twisting, prying, or screwing, for example, will not work with this type of knife. A multi-tool is a superior option for such jobs and makes a ideal partner to a survival tool.
If your task requires a bigger knife, try a machete.
Brands
Many significant knife companies produce a blade in this category. Popular options include blades from Fallkniven, Bark River, and Kershaw Knives.
More Info
To read about an introduction to survival skills, see the Wikipedia. It's succinct, but a good starting point. Wikipedia also has a decent page on survival knives.
Posted at 09:02 am by knifeguy
