Do you have a passion for camping, hunting, fishing, or hiking through the wilderness? Then you need to pack the best bushcraft knife. These solid, sturdy, and razor-sharp knives are specifically designed for rough and tough outdoor environments, from the barren wilderness to a dusty desert or a steamy jungle.
Whatever type of adventure you have planned, a bushcraft knife is an essential wilderness survival tool for any outdoor enthusiast.
The 7 Best Bushcraft Knives
- Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Fixed Blade Knife
- TOPS Knives Scandi Trekker Fixed Blade Knife
- Benchmade Bushcrafter Fixed Survival Knife
- ESEE Knives RC6P-BRK Fixed Blade Knife (Our Top Pick)
- Perkins Handmade Bushcraft Hunting Knife
- Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife
- Grand Way Tactical Knife
Our Top Pick for the Best Bushcraft Knife
Our top pick for the best bushcraft knife is the ESEE Knives RC6P-BRK Fixed Blade Knife.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast or you love exploring undiscovered wilderness or jungle terrains, the ESEE Knives Fixed Blade Knife is destined to be your new bushcraft buddy.
Designed by bushcraft experts, this superbly crafted knife is tough enough for the harshest outdoor conditions and its high versatility for all types of cutting and carving tasks means it is an essential knife for any type of outdoor survival scenario.
Check the price on AmazonWhat is a Bushcraft Knife?
If you are planning a trip into the wonderful untamed and unspoiled wilderness, there are 3 things you need to do:
- Learn some basic survival tips.
- Take a survival kit.
- Pack a bushcraft knife.
What sets the best bushcraft knife apart from other survival-type knives is its shorter blade design that ranges in size from 3-5-inches. Anything longer than 6-inches falls into the machete category which is better suited for heavy-duty cutting such as chopping through dense vegetation.
The best bushcraft knife has a small compact size so it is easier to pack in your camping gear and gives you more cutting and chopping control for lots of different tasks such as:
- Batoning – Cut or split wood into kindling for a fire by using a baton-sized stick or mallet to repeatedly strike the spine of the knife, which then cuts the wood into more manageable pieces.
- Carving – Carve a piece of wood into a fishing spear or a piece of bark into a water container, tree limbs into a shelter, or create feather sticks.
- Ignite a fire – Ignite a fire by making a firestick or rubbing the spine of the knife against a firestarter to create sparks to use on dry grass, leaves, or paper.
How To Choose the Best Bushcraft Knife
Blade Construction
As well as its short blade, the best bushcraft knife should have a fixed-blade, drop-point design and be full-tang if possible. You also need to consider the grind of the blade which refers to the cross-section of the blade.
Blade grinds can be flat, double bevel, hollow, chisel, or Scandinavian grind. Knife enthusiasts have their blade grind references but the Scandinavian grind or Scandi-grind is considered to be the best and most versatile type of grind. A Scandi edge has a single bevel grind that is wide and flat and cuts with superior strength and can withstand twisting and hacking in hardwood.
The blade will also vary in thickness. A thicker blade is better suited to heavy-duty cutting or chopping tasks, and a thinner blade provides excellent cutting action for carving up meat but it may not be strong enough for batoning.
Stainless Steel or High Carbon Steel
Best Bushcraft knives are either made out of highly polished stainless steel or high carbon steel.
Stainless steel is strong and sturdy and highly rust-, stain- and chip resistant, which means it is low maintenance. Bushcraft knives that are made out of stainless steel have different hardness levels such as 53-55HRC or HRC 56-58, which is considered to be the hardest type of stainless steel.
You will have to sharpen the blade more often as stainless steel is softer than high carbon steel which also means that the knife can lose its edge faster than a high carbon blade bushcraft knife can.
High-carbon Steel
High-carbon steel is the best material for the best bushcraft knife, such as the Tops Knives Scandi Trekker Knife. Carbon steel is extra hard and enables the knife to hold its edge very well over the long term, but it is not as easy to sharpen as stainless steel.
This type of steel rusts easily so you will have to take care of it especially in wet environments. To minimize the rust factor some knives have a special DLC anti-corrosive black coating that protects the blade from rust such as the Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Fixed Blade Knife. However, for superior blade hardness for tough cutting tasks, nothing beats high carbon steel.
Handle
Bushcraft knife handles are made out of either hardwood, dense rubber, Micarta, or fiberglass. Hardwood, such as walnut wood, is a good choice as it is a dense wood that creates a solid and sturdy handle and it has an attractive natural swirl pattern.
The wood may have a contoured design such as the Perkins Handmade Bushcraft Hunting Knife or the Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife, but it can get slippery in wet conditions. The best type of material is micarta or canvas micarta, dense rubber, or fiberglass.
Micarta, canvas or line, is a silicon or melamine resin and it is a highly durable and resistant material and is easy to grip when the handle is wet. Dense rubber is also very durable and feels comfortable in the hand and fiberglass, also known as G10, is strong, lightweight, and impervious to moisture.
Whichever type of handle you choose, it needs to be reliable and not rot or crack under rough wilderness conditions, and more importantly, its hold must be ergonomic and fit comfortably in your hand.
Sheath
Keeping your knife at your side for quick and easy access is important. A sheath allows you to safely store and attach the knife to your belt for quick and easy access and will maintain the blade’s sharpness.
7 Best Bushcraft Knives – Reviews
1. Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Fixed Blade Knife
Tough and dependable, the Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Fixed Blade Knife is an excellent choice for the serious survivalist. It features a superbly hand-crafted 4.3-inch drop-point blade that is made from extra hardened HRC 56-58 carbon steel, which gives the knife its extra strength to withstand the stress of harsh outdoor environments.
For long-term durability, the blade has a DLC anti-corrosive black coating to protect it against corrosion from moisture, rain, and snow.
The razor-sharp blade is ground to perfection with a special Scandi grind for extra blade traction for cutting into wood without getting stuck. Even though the 0.125-inch blade (3.2mm) is relatively thin, it gives you a very good level of control for carving tasks but is still robust enough for batoning.
You can also use the knife’s spine against a firestarter to creak sparks to light dry grass, leaves, paper, or bark and even light up your favorite gas grill or stove.
The ergonomic over-molded anti-slip black rubber grip hand is comfortable to hold and gives you good control while you slice through animal meat or carve wood for a spear.
The only downside of the Morakniv bushcraft knife is that it is not a full tang knife.
Morakniv offers a limited lifetime warranty on its fabulous knife and it comes with a black plastic sheath with a belt loop to keep the knife securely at your side.
Pros
- High quality
- Very affordable price
- Great value for money
- Superb craftsmanship
- Razor sharp fixed-blade, drop-point knife
- Strong black high carbon steel
- DLC anti-corrosive black coating
- Extremely durable blade
- Multi-functional
- Ideal for batoning, firestarting, and carving a wood feather stick
- Ergonomic high-friction anti-slip black rubber grip handle
- Great performance and works extremely well in wet and cold conditions
- Black plastic sheath with belt loop
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Sheath is not very strong
- Not full tang
2. TOPS Knives Scandi Trekker Fixed Blade Knife
If you are looking for a rugged and effective bushcraft knife but want something a bit smaller for hiking and hunting, the TOPS Knives Scandi Trekker Fixed Blade Knife is perfect for you. Incredibly versatile, you can use this fixed blade knife to construct a shelter, ignite a fire, slice off bark to make a water reservoir, field dress a deer, or as a self-defense weapon against predators.
The 7.63-inch Scandi Trekker has a full-tang design and the 3.63-inch straight back/drop-point blade is made from extra strong and thick 1095 high carbon steel which can withstand harsh outdoor conditions. This superbly crafted knife features a modified Scandinavian Grind that gives you excellent control while skinning wild game or performing other wood-related tasks.
Its razor-sharp blade holds its edge well but if you need to resharpen it, just a few strikes against a whetstone will give the blade long-lasting sharpness.
Easy to grip, the TOPS KNIVES Scandi Trekker knife has a well-balanced design and an ergonomic green canvas Micarta scales handle. Finger jimping on the top of the blade allows your finger to safely grip the knife and offers more comfort and for prolonged cutting tasks.
You can use the pommel of the blade as a baton or as a scraper for striking a Ferro rod safely and efficiently. The bushcraft knife comes with a black embossed leather sheath that you can attach to your belt or you can use the lanyard hole to tie the knife to your backpack.
TOPS Knives offers a limited lifetime warranty on the Scandi Trekker Knife.
Pros
- Outstanding quality
- Superbly crafted
- Great value for money
- Full-tang design
- Extra strong 1095 high carbon steel
- Thick straight edge/drop point blade
- Versatile modified Scandinavian Grind is ideal for a range of bushcraft and hunting tasks
- Razor-sharp edge
- Ergonomic green canvas micarta scales handle
- Finger jimping on the top of blade offer more comfort and control
- Exposed pommel can be used as a pommel and a Ferro rod scraper
- Easy to resharpen
- Black embossed leather sheath
- Lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- Rough material on the handle can feel uncomfortable after continuous use
- Clip on the sheath is quite bulky
3. Benchmade Bushcrafter Fixed Survival Knife
The Benchmade Bushcrafter Fixed Survival Knife features a superb design and delivers a superior cutting performance, which makes it an excellent tool for wilderness survival. Although it is one of the more expensive bushcraft knives it is worth every cent and will not let you down.
Whether you need to fashion a piece of wood into a spear or field dress a deer, the knife features a 4.40-inch, 0.164-inch (4.17mm) thick blade that is made from rust-resistant extra strong 58-60 stainless steel, which gives the knife its powerful strength and super sharp edge.
Although the Benchmade knife does not have a Scandi-grind like other knives, it has a double beveled edge and the smoothly polished blade glides effortlessly through hardwood.
The stylish ergonomic green and red contoured G10 high-pressure fiberglass handle feels solid in your hand and is impervious to moisture, and stays stable under extreme temperatures.
To keep your bushcraft knife ready for action and in optimal condition, the durable leather sheath has a belt loop and a D-ring.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp service if it needs to be repaired or sharpened, which will keep your knife in the best condition.
The Bushcrafter comes in forest green or sand color.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Superior design and cutting performance
- Superb sharp edge
- Ideal for heavy-duty cutting tasks
- Made from extra strong stainless steel
- Smoothly polished blade
- Rust-resistant
- Stylish ergonomic green and red contoured G10 high-pressure fiberglass handle
- Durable leather sheath has a belt loop and D-ring
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp service
Cons
- Expensive
- Knife can slip easily out of the sheath due to a poor belt loop
4. ESEE Knives RC6P-BRK Fixed Blade Knife
Field-tested in the US and the Peruvian Amazon jungle, the ESEE RC6P-BRK Fixed Blade Knife is a tough, efficient, and comfortable-to-use bushcraft tool.
If you are stuck out in the harsh wilderness, this reliable knife is ideal for heavy-duty use and can perform almost any task, from sharpening wood into a spear, batoning wood for a fire, or making wood shavings for kindling.
Guaranteed to deliver an exceptional cutting performance, the 6.5-inch powder-coated 1095 high carbon drop-point blade retains its razor sharpness over the long term.
The fixed blade knife has a full-tang design which also gives it superior strength. So whatever type of survival task you need to do, the ESEE knife can withstand twisting and hacking in hardwood.
This well-balanced knife has an ergonomic gray canvas Micarta handle that fits comfortably in your hand. You can use the rounded pommel as a glass breaker and there is thumb jimping on the spine. The handle has a hole for a lanyard and the Coyote Brown polymer sheath has a removable clip.
You can also choose a black blade knife with an OD Green sheath, a Dark Earth Blade with a Black sheath, and a Venom Green Blade with a Black Sheath. ESEE offers a limited lifetime warranty on the fixed blade knife.
Pros
- Exceptional quality
- Great value for money
- High-performing knife
- Field-tested for quality and durability in the US and Amazon
- Tough high-carbon drop-point blade
- Ideal for heavy-duty tasks such as wood batoning, making a spear, or creating kindling
- Full tang design
- Blade edge can withstand twisting and hacking in all types of wood
- Long-term sharpness and easy to sharpen
- Well-balanced design
- Ergonomically designed contoured handle
- Thumb jimping on the spine
- Coyote brown polymer sheath has a removable clip
- Available in other blade and sheath colors
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Can rust easily
- Expensive
- Sheath is not overly durable
5. Perkins Handmade Bushcraft Hunting Knife
Whether you enjoy camping, hiking along the forest trail, or hunting game in the woods, the 4.5-inch Perkins Handmade Bushcraft Hunting Knife is a beautifully designed knife that comes at an exceptional price.
Razor-sharp out of the box, this excellent handmade full-tang bushcraft knife has a 4.2-inch, 4mm thick, extra-wide flat-saber grind blade which is made from highly polished, extra-strong 56-58 HRC carbon steel.
It is the perfect tool for batoning or creating wood shavings as it cuts through the wood effortlessly and its strong edge is ideal for carving bushmeat.
The walnut buffalo-horn handle is solid and its contoured design feels comfortable in the hand while the thick spine is designed for batoning and splitting wood at the campsite.
The Bushcraft and Hunting Knife also comes with a durable handmade brown leather sheath with quality hand-stitching and there is a hold on the handle to attach a lanyard cord.
Perkin only offers a 1-year warranty on its bushcraft knife.
Pros
- High quality
- Solid construction
- Fantastic handmade knife
- Made from strong and durable carbon-steel
- High-polished blade
- Very thick razor-sharp blade
- Full-tang
- Extra wide blade
- Flat-sabre grind
- Ergonomic solid walnut buffalo-horn contoured handle
- Easy to use
- High-quality handmade leather sheath
- Handle has a lanyard hole
- Thick spine is ideal for batoning
Cons
- Handle may be too thick or big for small hands
- Blade can rust easily in wet environments
- Only 1-year warranty
6. Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife
The German-made Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife has been expertly crafted from the finest quality materials in El Salvador, which means this fantastic knife is tailor-made for all sorts of wilderness adventures.
A highly functional knife, the Bushlore is an excellent all-around cutting and chopping tool. You can use it to cut, slice, whittle, and carve a maple branch into a fishing spear, shave seasoned hickory to make a fire, baton small branches, or even gut a fish.
It is easy to see why the Condor Bushlore knife is the most popular bushcraft knife with many outdoor enthusiasts. The Bushlore features an overall solid and sturdy construction which is designed for rough and tough outdoor conditions. Its razor-sharp, 4-5/16-inch long, and the 1.8-inch thick blade is made from extra hard high carbon steel with a blasted satin finish.
The modified Scandi-grind with a micro bevel grind ensures that its blade will maintain its razor-sharp edge over the long term. Even though the blade does not have a “true” Scandinavian grind, it is very easy to grind and resharpen.
The full-tang well-balanced handle is made from beautiful walnut wood which is securely fitted to the steel with brass pins. As the handle has a smooth finish, it is a good idea to attach a lanyard cord through the brass reinforced lanyard hole to maintain a firm grip on the knife. There is also a high-quality 100% Welte thick leather sheath with 2 reinforced rivets and solid stitching to keep your bushcraft in.
For extra peace of mind, the Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Excellent price
- Strong and super sharp 1075 high carbon steel with a satin finish
- Superb German-made construction
- High cutting performance
- Scandinavian grind
- Heavy-duty blade
- Ideal for wilderness survival, hunting, and fishing
- Beautiful walnut handle is comfortable to hold
- Handle is securely fitted to the blade with brass pins
- Easy to sharpen
- Brass reinforced lanyard hole
- Quality handcrafted 100% Welte leather sheath
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Blade can rust easily in wet environments
- Beveled edge may need to be ground back for a true ‘Scandi’ grind
- Handle may be too bulky or big for small hands
- Not ideal for batoning large pieces of wood
7. Grand Way Tactical Knife
Whether you enjoy camping, hiking, or fishing, the Grand Way Tactical Knife is a great fit for light to medium bushcraft-related tasks, and it comes at an extremely affordable price.
The Grand Way bushcraft knife is the perfect mix of high functionality and stylish craftsmanship. Its durable factory-sharpened 4-inch, rust-resistant 440C stainless steel fixed point blade is sturdy and strong and has a brilliant shine.
This well-balanced knife has a contoured and textured black plastic handle which is easy to hold and maneuver while you are stripping a tree branch for kindling, cutting rope, or cleaning a fish. For tough hunting work such as dressing a deer, the full tang design handle absorbs any shock and the partially serrated blade makes cutting easier and also helps to keep the main cutting edge razor sharp.
To keep the knife by your side for quick and easy access while you hike through rough terrain or hunt for game, the heavy-duty black molded plastic sheath can be attached to your belt.
Grand Way offers a 100% money-back guarantee and the knife is covered by a 10-year warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Excellent price
- High-durability
- Ideal for camping, hiking, and hunting
- Sturdy and strong rust-resistant stainless steel blade
- Attractive brilliant shine
- Extra sharp serrated blade maintains its sharp edge for a long time
- Contoured and textured black plastic handle
- Full tang design
- Heavy-duty black molded plastic sheath
- 100% money-back guarantee
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- Blade is a bit thin
- Handle can get slippery when wet
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
Our Top Pick for the Best Bushcraft Knife
Our top pick for the best bushcraft knife is the ESEE Knives RC6P-BRK Fixed Blade Knife.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast or you love exploring undiscovered wilderness or jungle terrains, the ESEE Knives Fixed Blade Knife is destined to be your new bushcraft buddy.
Designed by bushcraft experts, this superbly crafted knife is tough enough for the harshest outdoor conditions and its high versatility for all types of cutting and carving tasks means it is an essential knife for any type of outdoor survival scenario.
Check the price on Amazon
