There is really no single perfect bushcraft knife. What works for someone else may not work for you. But, whether you want it for survival purposes, to put it in your emergency kit or rucksack, or just for daily life tasks, you may just be able to find the ideal knife for your needs.
So what is the best bushcraft knife? The Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife is my personal favorite. As a bonus, you also get a sheath and a fire starter in the package. How amazing is that?
Reviews of the Best Bushcraft Knives
1. Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife
When you talk about a blade with a pointed tip, this is it; the tip of this Morakniv carbon steel knife is fantastic. The blade is just as awesome because it is the right thickness and length – it is 4.3” long and made of carbon steel.
This product comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, and you also get a black plastic sheath and a fire starter in the package.
The knife also has a Scandi grind and a pretty good weight. With all these great features, you may expect this knife to be pricey, but it isn’t; it’s very reasonably priced and a very good bushcraft knife to own.
Features of this knife:
- Thick carbon-steel blade
- 4.3” blade
- 4.8” handle
- Total weight of the knife is 154 g
- Morakniv fire starter and sheath included
- Scandi grind also included
Pros:
- It comes with a fire starter and a sheath
- It has a very sturdy build
- Sharp
- Good grip
Cons:
- It’s not full tang
2. Perkin Knives Handmade Bushcraft Knife
The Perkin Knives Handmade Bushcraft Knife has a very sturdy build and is very effective. It’s suitable for bushcrafters who don’t have a large budget for buying a new bushcraft knife.
It has a very sharp blade that is made of carbon steel and a very pointed tip at the edge of the blade. It’s razor sharp and it comes with a full tang so it should remain quite sturdy.
With a wooden handle, this knife checks all the boxes for a good bushcraft knife. You should definitely place this product on your list of options before you make a final decision.
When you purchase this product, you will also receive a handmade sheath. The color of this sheath may vary with each purchase.
Features of this knife:
- Genuine carbon steel blade
- Full tang
- Handmade leather sheath for storage
- Scandi grind
- 4” blade length
- 4.5” handle
- 56-58 on the Rockwell scale
Pros:
- It has a very sturdy build
- It has a good length blade
Cons:
- The sheath is not great quality
3. Spyderco Bushcraft G-10 PlainEdge Knife
The handle of this Spyderco PlainEdge Knife is made of G-10 which is one of the best materials for a knife handle.
If you have the budget, this is a knife that you should consider. If you are not willing or able to spend a lot of money on a knife, this product may not be ideal for you.
It’s less than 9” in total length and it has a 4” cutting edge.
It’s sold with a warranty from the manufacturer and has a full tang, no hand guard, and a Scandi grind. The blade is made from carbon steel and when you purchase this knife, you will receive a sheath to place it in.
if you are looking for a knife that is made of premium materials and can last for a very long time, this may be the ideal product.
Features of this knife:
- 4” steel blade
- 0.23” blade hole
- 0.23” blade hole
- 0.14” blade thickness
- Full tang
- Scandinavian grind
- Carbon-steel blade
- Total length of the knife is 8.75”
Pros:
- It has a full tang
- The handle is made of G-10 material
- It has a very durable build
Cons:
- It’s an expensive knife
4. Condor Bushcraft Knife
If you’re trying to find a sturdy knife with a good blade, this Condor Bushcraft Knife may be the one that you have been looking for. You don’t even have to worry about getting a sheath separately because one comes with the knife.
You can get this awesome fixed blade bushcraft knife for an amazingly low price.
It’s an imported knife, but it’s very well made. Its handle is made of wood and the blade is made from carbon steel—a very strong material that is guaranteed to be durable and functional.
When you purchase this beautifully designed knife, you should receive a sheath that is handcrafted from leather.
The blade on this knife is 5” and the overall length of the knife is just under 10”.
Features of this knife:
- Blade length is 5” and it is 1/8” thick
- The blade is made of 1075 high carbon steel then coated with epoxy black powder
- Hardwood handle
- Comes with a handcrafted leather case
- Full tang
Pros:
- It is full tang so it is very sturdy
- It has a very good blade
Cons:
- The handle is not very comfortable
5. Real Steel Bushcraft Knife
The Real Steel Bushcraft Knife features the premium G-10 material as the handle and it’s very affordable. Instead of a leather sheath, you receive a Kydex sheath with this knife.
When you purchase this reasonably priced product, you will receive a limited-lifetime warranty.
With a blade that is just over 4” long and 3.5mm thick, this knife has some pretty good features. The blade is made of real steel.
There’s also a Scandinavian grind and the overall weight is just about 6 oz.
With all these premium features, it’s unbelievable that this knife is priced so low. It’s definitely a great product for the price especially since you also receive a great sheath with your purchase.
Features of this knife:
- Real steel blade
- G-10 handle
- Blade length of 4 1/8”
- Overall length of this knife is 8 5/8”
- Kydex sheath is included in the package
- Full tang
Pros:
- It has a very sturdy build
- The materials used on this knife are of premium quality
Cons:
- The handle could give a better grip
How to Choose the Best Bushcraft Knife
For any purchase you make, you want to know that it is solid. Nobody wants to purchase something today only for it to fall apart or be easily damaged shortly after. This also holds true for a bushcraft knife.
You don’t want your knife to fail you when you most need it. You want your knife to have a good construction so it can last you for a long time. So how do you go about choosing a great bushcraft knife?
Pay attention to the blade size
Having the biggest knife blade does not necessarily mean that you have the best knife; you also don’t want a knife blade that is too small. You need to determine the ideal length for your bushcraft knife and find one that matches that size.
Generally, a knife blade that is 3.5”- 6” should be sufficient. If you think you will need a bigger knife, you can always carry an axe or machete.
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Consider the materials used
When you consider materials, think about the blade as well as the handle. The type of material that is used to make the knife will significantly affect its durability.
Stainless steel and carbon steel are two very popular materials that are used to make the blades. Although there are newer types of steel available, be careful when purchasing them. They may resist corrosion well but they are often difficult to sharpen.
As it relates to the handle, wood is a good option. Other materials that are durable are Micarta and G-10. Stay away from things such as bone, antler or horn.
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Look for the different tang types
There are three tang types that can be used on a knife: partial, full and hidden. A full tang is the best feature on a knife. It means that the blade extends all the way to the end of the handle. These types of knives are usually much sturdier because the blade has a lot of support
You may also purchase a knife with hidden tang, but stay away from a partial one. Knives that have a partial tang are not usually sturdy since the blade does not extend into the handle.
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Check the blade shape and design
Try to find a knife that has a thick blade, as the thickness of the blade is generally an indication of its strength. You also want to make sure that the knife has a sharp and pointed tip but not excessively so.
The tip of the knife tends to get used a lot, so ensure that it is both sharp and strong. In fact, the best blade designs for a bushcraft knife are drop point and spear point.
Blade durability and performance
This is the most important thing to look for when purchasing a bushcraft knife, and you need to find one that is going to be a durable product. At the end of the day, no matter how sharp the blade is, it’s useless if it only lasts a few months.
You want a bushcraft blade that is going to help you in the case of an emergency and that is going to be sharp enough many years down the road.
As for performance, this topic definitely varies for everyone. Some want to buy the sharpest blade they can find as this is what matters to them.
While sharper blades are very important, for many beginners it’s not a deal breaker. Maybe they are fine if it isn’t the sharpest, but fits the best in their hand.
Whatever the case may be, you should find one that comes pre-sharpened as it is going to save you a lot of time at the end of the day.
My Choice for the Best Bushcraft Knife
Once again, my top pick for the best bushcraft knife is the Morakniv Carbon Steel Knife.
It’s not overpriced, has a great handle grip, it’s extremely sharp and durable, and it comes with a bonus feature—the fire starter. That is definitely a great value for your money.
Thanks, great article.