Best Bushcraft Knives
Bushcraft is the perfect activity to quiet the mind in troubled times. With a focus on knife skills and the outdoors, it makes the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy some nature. With the right knife you’ll be whittling spoons, making snares, and starting campfires in no time, and we’ve got plenty of options for beginners and more advanced users alike.
What is a Bushcraft Knife?
Bushcraft is all about getting out into nature and thriving with an emphasis on primitive skills. Unlike a “survival knife” that is meant to be a one-tool-option, a bushcraft knife is typically just one part of an assortment of tools you might have, and as such they can be a bit more specialized.
Most bushcraft tasks revolve around woodworking – carving sticks to create other implements, making feathersticks to get a fire going, even making notches for various traps or camp implements. Given those needs, most bushcraft knives tend to feature Scandi ground edges. You’ll also usually find blades in the 4” to 4.5” range, a workable size that can be easily controlled, ergonomic handles for comfort during extended woodcarving sessions, and even a centerline point to the blade to help with drilling tasks and delicate tip work. Another popular feature is a crisp, 90-degree spine, which can allow for scraping tasks and striking a firesteel without having to sacrifice your actual sharpened edge.
What is a Scandi Grind?
Most knives feature a primary grind that is steeper with a secondary bevel at the edge usually in the realm of 20-degrees per side. A Scandi Grind has no secondary bevel. The primary grind, usually in the ballpark of 12-degrees per side, comes all the way down to the edge, creating a blade that functions similarly to a chisel. This type of edge is prized for its wood carving performance, although they are not as tough for chopping tasks as more robust grinds.
Because of the wide primary bevel, Scandi grinds are easy to sharpen, especially for beginners, because it takes the guesswork out of finding the right sharpening angle. Simply lay the bevel flat on the sharpening stone and keep it flat as you sharpen the length of the blade.
Top 10 Best Bushcraft Knives
- Morakniv Companion
- Condor Terrasuar
- Real Steel Bushcraft
- Joker Montanero
- Kellam Wolverine
- Casstrom Lars Falt
- L.T. Wright Genesis
- ESEE RB3
- TOPS Fieldcraft
- Cold Steel Finn Wolf
Morakniv Companion
Despite bargain-basement prices, Morakniv’s high-performing Scandi-ground blades ooze quality. The cost to performance ratio is simply undeniable and the Companion is the quintessential modern Mora with rubberized handles for grip and a versatile clip point blade. Whether you choose carbon or stainless steel, or even the HD versions with a thicker blade, there are plenty of colors to choose from, and they make great additions to an emergency survival kit, camping pack, tool or tackle boxes, even the glovebox of your car.
There are a number of other worthy knives in the Morakniv lineup. Especially noteworthy are the popular Bushcraft Black, and the full-tang Garberg, among others, but if you are just starting out, the Companion is not to be passed over.
Condor Terrasaur
The Condor Terrasaur is the full-tang budget bushcraft knife to beat these days. A direct competitor to Morakniv’s Garberg, the Terrasaur features 1095 carbon steel with a sharp Scandi grind, comfortable molded handles, and an ambidextrous sheath that keeps things nice and tidy when you hit the woods. If Scandi grinds aren’t your thing, check out the Bushglider instead. It features the same handle but with a flat ground clip point blade, making it a great all-around camp knife and even better at food prep and hunting than the Terrasaur.
Real Steel Bushcraft
Whether you’re looking for a convex, flat, or Scandi-ground bushcraft knife, Real Steel has a high-value option that will exceed your expectations. Fully contoured handles make it easy to bear down into a cut no matter what grip you’re using, and quality materials (14C28N or D2 blade steel, G10 or Micarta handle scales) make these knives an excellent choice whether you’re new to the hobby or just want an affordable outdoors knife that doesn’t skip the important details.
Joker Knives Montanero
Joker’s Spanish-made fixed blades are no joke, despite the name. The Montanero offers a unique take on the bushcraft format, with flat or Scandi ground blades inspired by traditional trade and skinning knife patterns. A neutral handle facilitates a variety of grips and their heavy use of tough 14C28N steel makes them one of the few mainstream stainless bushcraft knife makers on the market.
Kellam Wolverine
The most traditional knife on this list is the Wolverine from Kellam Knives, an archetypal Finnish Puukko-style knife. It features classic stick tang construction and a birch handle, contoured for comfort, that completely shields the hand from having to touch any steel. The carbon steel blades themselves are hand-forged with a differential temper – softer at the spine for durability and harder on the sharpened side for better edge retention. The elements here come together for a knife that is as beautiful as it is utilitarian.
Casstrom Lars Falt
Inspired by one of the most famous custom bushcraft knives in the world (the Woodlore), the Casstrom Lars Falt is a more affordable, but no less premium, take on the pattern. They use traditional birch for the handles but the full-tang construction and Sleipner steel lean more toward the modern global knife aesthetic. This perfect blend of old meets new creates a bushcraft knife that will excel just about everywhere.
L.T. Wright Genesis
The knives produced by L.T. Wright are rugged workhorses meant to be handed down for generations, which is apparent from their classically traditional designs and durable materials.
The whole lineup is impressive but we especially want to call attention to the Genesis. Inspired by Horace Kephart’s primary belt knife, it features a versatile spear point profile that’s ideal for bushcrafting, fine woodworking, and skinning. Thumb scallops enhance the grip on the triple-riveted handles which are finished by hand to remove any possible hot spots.
ESEE RB3 by Ruben Boliau
Although primarily known for their combat & survival knives, ESEE’s RB3 is a perfectly sized bushcrafter, made in the USA with a lifetime warranty with all the hallmarks that have made their knives famous. Put it in your hand and you will instantly appreciate the rounded Micarta handles. Put it to wood and you will fall in love with the razor-sharp Scandi grind. With a classic leather sheath, this knife is sure to find a home on your belt in every adventure ahead of you
TOPS BOB Brothers of Bushcraft Fieldcraft Knife
One of TOPS’ most popular fixed blades, the Fieldcraft by the Brothers of Bushcraft (aka, the BOB) is a tank of a knife with a hybrid Scandivex grind and a bow drill divot in the handles to aid in friction fires.
Although a fixed blade is almost always preferable, sometimes a folding knife is called for, and TOPS answered the call with a folding version of the Fieldraft. The stellar ergonomics and satisfying heft of the original are echoed in this folding version, with a 4”+ blade that will stand up out in the wild.
Cold Steel Finn Wolf
For a more affordable bushcraft folder, the Finn Wolf from Cold Steel is ready to make memories with you as you enjoy the outdoors. Equipped with the Tri-Ad lock for a high degree of safety and security, this knife is utterly reliable in the toughest, most uncompromising conditions. Multiple color options ensure easy visibility and an AUS-8 blade with a wickedly sharp Scandi grind completes the package, making this perfect for campers and bushcrafters everywhere.