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I’ve been on the hunt for the best bushcraft knife for… a long while. If you’re new to knives and looking for the “best” knife in a given category, you can quickly become overwhelmed. There are so many different types of steel, blades, grinds, sheaths, features, etc. There are almost limitless knife options out there, which can lead to analysis paralysis.
My Buckmaster 184 is what I used as my survival knife. My Helle Temagami has been my go-to bushcraft knife. Both are great knives. The Buckmaster is just a bit of a monster knife, too heavy and bulky for everyday purposes, bugging out on foot, etc. The Helle knife is a great bushcraft knife, but I wanted something more… modern. The leather sheath and wooden handles make for a beautiful knife, but for durability’s sake, I wanted a stronger handle and a hard plastic sheath. I wanted a knife with firemaking features, a big part of bushcraft and survival.
So, I took my search for the best bushchraft knife to the largest knife show in the world – Blade Show.
What is Blade Show?
Blade Show is the largest knife show in the world, held every June in Atlanta. The company behind the show also hosts Blade Show West in Salt Lake City and Blade Show Texas. The Atlanta show typically has around 900 different exhibitors. Unlike a trade show, the event is open to anyone and attendees are able to purchase knives.
Beyond exhibitors selling their knives, Blade Show hosts Blade University, offering different knife classes from sharpening to writing for knife publications. The event also includes different competitions such as Bali Championship (a balisong flipping competition) and a cutting competition. I filmed the Bali Championship. Follow the link to watch it.
The Blade Show I attended was the Atlanta 2023 show.
9 Best Bushcraft Knife Options
I spoke with eight different knife makers at Blade Show, and from those discussions, found nine different survival/bushcraft knife options. There were other bushcraft knives at the show, of course, but I focused on asking a few knife experts what THEY thought was THEIR best bushcraft knife and why. Their answers, I figured, would help me find the knife I was looking for.
Spoiler alert: there is no one “best” knife. Knives are designed for different purposes. Even when you get into a niche like bushcraft knives, each knife will have different attributes. The “best” bushcraft knife for fire making might not be the “best” bushcraft knife for batoning wood, for example. There is give and take, so what I had to – eventually – was settle on the most well-rounded bushcraft knife – for me.
The “for me” is key here, because what makes the best bushcraft knife for me may not make the best bushcraft knife for you. For example, I live in Maine. A stainless steel blade is probably going to make more sense for my area of the country because it offers better protection from the elements. This comes at the cost of less hardness than carbon steel. If you live in the Southwest, carbon steel is probably a better steel for you. Likewise, if your budget is tight, carbon steel also costs less.
So, you can sort through these knives to see what might work best for you. Compare and contrast. Watch my video and hear from the knife designers and company representatives themselves. You can learn a lot by listening to the experts. I did.
Following are nine bushcraft and/or survival knives that I handled and considered in my quest for the one knife best suited for my needs.
1 – ESEE Laser Strike
I went to the ESEE booth in search of the ESEE 6, which is a very popular bushcraft knife. Shane, of ESEE Knives, instead described his favorite bushcraft-style knife, the Laser Strike. He said it goes under the radar because it’s often overshadowed by the other knives they carry. He made a compelling case for the Laser Strike.
The Laser Strike has a spear point blade and an ergonomic handle. These were selling points in the “well rounded” survival knife category because they are more aligned with self-defense. If I needed to bug out in a zombie apocalypse, this blade style would be better for piercing than some other bushcraft knives. The jimping on the back of the spine also adds some gripping/piercing attributes.
What I liked most about this knife was the “hidden” ferro rod and tinder. I liked the idea of having that backup ferro rod always present without my having to think about it. If I carried a separate ferro rod, this hidden one would make for a “just in case” spare, and in prepping, one is none and two is one. One contestant on a season of Alone actually had to quit because he lost his ferro rod. Maybe he should have brought a Laser Strike.
The ESEE Laser Strike can be purchased at: Blade HQ – Optics Planet – Amazon
Laser Strike Specifications
- Cutting Edge Length: 4.5?
- Handle Length: 5.25?
- Overall Length: 10?
- Steel: 1095 Carbon
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Blade Thickness: 0.19?
- Blade Style: Spear Point
- Handle Material: Micarta
- Weight: 9.4oz
- Removable Handles with Ferro Rod, Tinder, and Bow Drill Divot
- Kydex Sheath with Clip Plate
- Lifetime Warranty
- Made in the USA
2 – White River Firecraft FC5
I wanted this knife, designed by Jason Tietz. Frankly, it’s pretty. White River’s Firecraft series is designed especially for – you guessed it – firemaking. The blade was big enough to lend itself to general survival/camp use as well. The deep finger choil helps with close, precision cutting and it offers finger protection in some uses. The top of the blade includes a notch for striking a ferro rod (included) and it was the only bushcraft knife I handled that included a stainless steel bow drill divot in the handle. Several knives had bow drill divots, but not stainless steel divots. Overkill? No such thing!
There are different knives in White River’s Firecraft series, but the FC5 was my favorite. This size was consistent with most bushcraft knives and it was the general size I was looking for, measuring 10? overall with a 5? blade made from CPM-S35VN stainless steel. I was leaning stainless steel because I live in Maine.
The wide blade and thin handle make it great for many outdoor/survival applications. On the “survival” knife front, the holes in the handles have tube style pins that would allow you to lash the knife to a stick to make a survival spear in case you need to hunt wild hog like Rambo in First Blood.
The sheath was also made of Kydex, which I wanted over leather, and included a dangler loop with ferro rod.
The White River Firecraft FC5 can be purchased at Blade HQ and Amazon
Firecraft FC5 Specifications
- Blade Length: 5?
- Overall Length: 10?
- Steel: CPM S35VN
- Blade Thickness: 0.158?
- Handle Material: Micarta with Stainless Steel Bow Drill Divot
- Weight: 8oz
- Kydex Sheath with Ferro Rod and Options for Various Carry Positions
- Made in the USA
3 – Willumsen Copenhagen Wild1
I hadn’t heard of Willumsen Copenhagen before attending Blade Show. Walking by their booth, the Wild1 caught my attention. The design fit the style I was looking for.
The biggest selling point of the Wild1 is the price-to-quality ratio. It’s made in China, which will turn some people off, but that also means lower production costs, so the retail price is lower when compared to other bushcraft knives made in the USA.
The spine of the blade features a hardened area with a sharp 90-degree angle for scraping a ferro rod. The sheath is leather, not what I was looking for, but a leather sheath makes the retail price even more impressive. Then there is the included ferro rod. The one feature that the Wild1 has that no other knife I handled has is the notch on the back of the knife for grabbing pots over a fire – an interesting idea!
The Willumsen Copenhagen Wild1 can be purchased at Willumsen (European site) and at Amazon.
Wild1 Specifications
- Blade Length: 4.5?
- Overall Length: 9.25?
- Steel: Sandvik14c
- Blade Thickness: 0.157?
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Handle Material: Pakka Wood
- Leather Sheath with Ferro Rod and Dangler
- Weight: 6.8oz
- Made in China
4 – Ka-Bar BK11
Also known as the Becker Necker, the BK11 is a knife that really wasn’t on my radar as a “survival knife” per se, but after speaking directly with the legendary Ethan Becker, the knife designer of the BK series, I became convinced that – while not the “best bushcraft knife” out there – it’s certainly a survival knife.
The BK11 is one of the most popular neck knives on the market, hence the Becker Necker name. Being small and lightweight, it makes around-the-neck carry easy and convenient. This easy carry style of this knife could mean you’re more likely to wear it, which in a survival situation, could increase the odds you actually have a knife on you when you least expect the need for one. It could serve quite easily as a survival EDC knife.
It’s a very handy knife, perfect for almost all everyday knife needs. You could use it to skin animals, whittle wood, or for food prep. They Kydex sheath allows for upright or carry or upside down carry. It has a locking mechanism around the knife for additional security when carrying upside down. There is a notch at the back of the handle that can be used as a wire breaker and/or a bottle opener.
Becker (in the video posted) describes the custom survival kit he wrapped around this knife. He cut a piece of inner tube and wrapped it around the sheath. Then he added a ferro rod, small compass, flashlight, etc. Creative! Smart!
One thing to note – the BK11 is not great at throwing sparks off a ferro rod.
While the BK11 wasn’t the one all-purpose bushcraft knife I was looking for, Becker made a convincing argument for owning one. As a prepper, I felt a bit embarrassed for not already owning a BK11. I bought one at the show!
The Ka-Bar BK11 can be purchased at Blade HQ and Optics Planet and Amazon.
BK11 Specifications
- Blade Length: 3.25?
- Overall Length: 6.75?
- Blade Thickness: 0.17?
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Steel: 1095 Cro-Van
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Handle Material: Steel
- Sheath: Polymer
- Weight: 3.2oz
- Made in the USA
5 – Ka-Bar BK2
Also known as the Becker Companion, the BK2 was a knife I went looking for at Blade Show. Many people have purchased this knife over the years and put it through very hard use. The knife is built for abuse. As Becker said, if you need to field dress a Buick, this knife will do it.
Like the BK11, the BK2 is made of hardened 1095 Cro-Van steel with a black finish. Given its size and width, it’s great for tasks like batoning wood and whacking at branches. It’s the heaviest duty knife I handled.
One thing to know about the BK2, like the BK11, it’s not great at throwing sparks off a ferro rod.
While not the one all-purpose bushcraft knife I was looking for, I was convinced enough to buy one! This knife has become my truck knife. Because everyone needs a truck knife. Am I right?
The Ka-Bar BK2 is available at Blade HQ and Amazon.
BK2 Specifications
- Blade Length: 5.25?
- Overall Length: 10.75?
- Blade Thickness: 0.25?
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Steel: 1095 Cro-Van with Cerakote Finish
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Handle Material:
- Sheath: Polymer
- Weight: 15.9oz
- Made in the USA
6 – Zero Tolerance 0006
Looking for one of the highest end bushcraft knives out there? Zero Tolerance has a reputation for using the best materials available. More of a military-style knife than a bushcraft knife, the 0006 could be the right choice for the person who primarily wants fighting knife features over bushcraft features. For this reason, the 0006 wasn’t the choice for me, but it’s still a very impressive blade.
The 0006 reflects its 6? blade. It is made of rugged CPM-3V steel. The high carbon steel makes for a strong blade, but it lacks the corrosion resistance of stainless. Zero Tolerance mitigates that by giving the entire blade a Cerakote coating for greater durability and life.
I still want it, but my wallet was limited. I couldn’t buy every knife… unfortunately.
The Zero Tolerance 0006 can be purchased at Blade HQ.
0006 Specifications
- Blade Length: 6?
- Overall Length: 10.62?
- Blade Thickness: 0.189?
- Blade Grind:
- Steel: CPM 3V
- Blade Style: Clip Point
- Handle Material: Kydex
- Sheath: G10
- Weight:
- Made in the USA
7 – Demko Knives FreeReign
If you watch my YouTube video of this best bushcraft knife search, you’ll see Andrew Demko describe the MagnaCut version of the FreeReign, which is the version made in the USA. Unfortunately, I can’t find the MagnaCut version for sale online, so what I describe here is lower cost, made in Taiwan, stainless steel version.
Andrew Demko originally came to my attention as he’s the designer of the Ocaso Solstice gentleman’s knife. He’s a well-known designer in the knife community. Like the Willumsen Wild1, the FreeReign blends quality with affordability.
The blade has jimping on the spine for precision handling and is built from AUS-10 steel, a decent all-around steel. The drop point blade is almost a spear point, so it will offer better piercing attributes than some of the other knives examined here. Despite that, the thick blade and full tang allows for bushcraft tasks such as batoning wood and whacking sticks.
The simplicity of this knife’s design is probably its best selling point – that and the reasonable retail price.
The Demko FreeReign can be purchased at Blade HQ and Amazon.
FreeReign Specifications
- Blade Length: 5?
- Overall Length: 9.875?
- Blade Thickness: 0.187?
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Blade Steel: Japanese AUS-10A Stainless Steel
- Handle Material: Injection Molded Rubber
- Sheath Material: Molded Plastic
- Weight: 7.2oz
- Made in Taiwan
8 – Lion Steel T6
Overcoming the Italian accent when interviewing a Lion Steel representative was a bit of a challenge, but quality speaks for itself. The Lion Steel T6 reflects the 6? blade (a common size in the knives I surveyed). The T6 is made from the strong CPM-3V steel. It’s a beast of a knife!
Designed by Molletta, the T6 is aggressive and good for tactical uses. In fact, it’s more tactical than bushcraft. The Kydex sheath a with MOLLE system is consistent with that tactical style. The T6 is available with satin-finished or black treated blade.
It wasn’t the bushcraft knife I was looking for, and the retail price was higher than what I wanted, but if I wanted tactical first and bushcraft second, the T6 may have been my choice.
The Lion Steel T6 can be purchased at Blade HQ and Amazon.
T6 Specifications
- Blade Length: 6.03?
- Overall Length: 11.5?
- Blade Thickness: 0.22?
- Steel: CPM-3V Tool Steel
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Handle Material: Micarta
- Sheath Material: Kydex
- Weight: 13.66oz
- Made in Italy
9 – TOPS Brothers of Bushcraft Fieldcraft
TOPS is probably the single biggest knife maker of bushcraft-style knives. They make many knives and many of those incorporate outdoor, camp, and survival features. In fact, they have an entire series of Brothers of Bushcraft knives, described by TOPS as “a coalition of men across North America focusing on sharing wilderness living skills of all categories. From tracking to building shelters, the Brothers of Bushcraft make it a point to show the skills to all people, of all ages, from all over.”
TOPS was on my list to visit even before Melissa Backwoods suggested them. The Fieldcraft knife in particular was on my list. This knife, as TOPS described it, is the culmination of the Brothers of Bushcraft’s knowledge, “combining experiences from the broad and humid rain forests, the arid and scorpion-littered deserts, and the frigid northern lands that span the Americas.” That’s a very broad range of environments, much more than the unique environments I face in the Northeast, but that broad range also speaks to the knife’s well-rounded, all-purpose features. On the plus side, you can choose between high carbon or stainless steel blades.
I like the Scandinavian grind found on my Helle bushcraft knife, and the Fieldcraft incorporates that same grind. The grind is great for carving, skinning, and general wood work. It takes a thick, rugged blade and gives it a tighter cutting profile. The blade is 4.75?, smaller than the 6? blade on some of the other bushcraft knives, but that also makes it lighter and easier to carry.
The handle is also ergonomic, fitting the hand much better than some of the tubular shaped handles. That handle also includes two bow drill divots, one on each side, and you can access those while the knife is in its sheath, offering greater blade safety when in the field. The rear end of the handle, the back end of the full tang blade, includes a “scraper” for striking a ferro rod.
The sheath is made of durable Kydex, like most of these knives, and includes a steel belt clip and ferro rod. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include a dangler loop.
The TOPS Brothers of Bushcraft Fieldcraft can be purchased at Blade HQ and Optics Planet and Amazon.
BOB Fieldcraft Specifications
- Blade Length: 4.75?
- Overall Length: 10?
- Blade Thickness: 0.19?
- Steel: 154CM Stainless Steel OR 1095 Carbon
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Blade Grind: Scandi
- Handle Material: G10
- Sheath Material: Kydex with Ferro Rod
- Weight: 9.6oz
- Made in the USA
My Best Bushcraft Knife Choice
I chose the TOPS Fieldcraft knife. While not perfect (no knife is), it had the best blend of features I was looking for – Made in the USA, Kydex sheath, wide blade, and stainless steel. Importantly, like the BK2 and unlike MagnaCut, the Fieldcraft has stood the test of time. There have been many Fieldcraft knives made and purchased. There are almost countless reviews of this knife, and TOPS is a solid company with a strong reputation.
I really liked the ferro rod “notch” at the back of the handle, but – so far – I’m not finding it throws as many sparks as the back of a 90-degree blade, like on my Helle.
I’m happy with my Fieldcraft choice at this point. I plan to use it in the field and test it myself, however. That’s the only way to know for sure – self testing. Of course, like Shane said in my video, the tool is just one aspect of the job. Skill is the other. While I am by no means a bushcraft expert, use and testing of the Fieldcraft will have the added benefit of improving my skills along the way.
Let me know in the comments which knife you like the best, or is there another bushcraft knife that you think is the best.
If you want to see other, interesting knives, see my video from SHOT Show 2023:
