What is the best bushcraft knife for the outdoor professional? [FREE buyers guide]
What makes the best bushcraft knife for outdoor professionals?
If you are using your knife regularly as part of a full time job, then function really does outweigh form. A robust knife made from high quality materials that will be able to survive a life time of hard use in harsh environments is key here.
Whilst it’s true there is a myriad of choices available, there are two key approaches to be considered:
Do you want to buy a top end commercial knife off the shelf?
Do you want to buy something made for you by a custom maker?
In either case, cost and the need to get it right first time will drive your choice, along side your intended use.
If you are using a knife daily to meet the needs of your chosen profession, you will have a very good understanding of what features are important to you. It’s likely you may decide to move away from a general purpose design into something a little more specific with an intended function in mind. For example, someone who is mainly processing game will want a different style of blade to someone who is mainly carving wood.
One word of caution here, it’s worth researching and understanding the types of steel choices available and what you need and expect from your choice. Modern steels designed with edge retention in mind have a tendency towards chipping and brittleness that may lead to a lack of longevity or robustness. Once again your intended use will be a guide to your choices. More information on knife steels can be found here:
Loveless style hunter
The first knife shown is a commercial hunter style knife with a Damascus style pattern welded blade. The knife itself is in the popular Loveless style. To my eye these knives shout pure elegance. The relatively short drop point blade is designed to be multifunctional, whilst the overall knife is optimised for game preparation tasks. The example pictured, of dubious origin, sports a pattern welded blade hollow ground to a fine edge that makes it suitable for skinning and food slicing tasks. Whilst capable of some wood carving activities, I would not be relying on the hollow ground edge for heavier duty activities like chopping and battoning.
Whilst somewhat specialised in nature, a knife of this type might make the best bushcraft knife for the professional hunter or game keeper.
Benchmade 162
The Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter is a very robust and popular choice around the world. Originating from the USA, this knife undertakes any bushcraft task asked of it without raising a sweat. Personally, I find the handle a little square on the corners for my tastes, but despite this, it is comfortable to use for extended periods of time, and in a variety of grips, without causing issues to the hand. The S30V steel is excellent at holding an edge whilst resisting rust effortlessly. The Benchmade 162 does a lot of things very well and is an excellent choice for a general bushcraft knife for everyday use.
Old Oak
The Old Oak brand are custom knife makers based in the UK making one or two knives a month to meet customer specifications out of top quality materials. For example, this Woodlore style bushcraft knife has a shallow Scandi grind with an included angle of 15 degrees making it more useful for slicing type food preparation tasks over the more common 30 degree woodworking Scandi grind. The downside to this is that knife has a tendency to bite deep into woodworking tasks so requires a good level of skill to use effectively.
Woodlore Style
A Wright and Sons come from a long tradition of Sheffield knife makers and produce a range of knives to suit a number of needs. Amongst them is this Woodlore style bushcraft knife made with a high carbon steel blade and stag handles. This style of knife has been popularised by TV bushcrafter Ray Mears and has become the standard for bushcraft enthusiasts in the UK.
Woodlore style knives such, as the Old Oak and the Alan Wright shown, have become very popular within the bushcraft community and may make the best bushcraft knife for you if you are a professional bushcraft instructor.
Summing up the best bushcraft knife for the outdoor professional
Whatever your preferences or budget, it’s very likely that there is a knife available, or can be made for you, that will have the vast majority of the features you seek. The best bushcraft knife for professional use will be as individual as you are.
