Planning of camping in the woods on the weekend? Well it is important to keep all the necessary protective gear with you or else you can get into serious trouble. If you are fond of survival activities you must always keep a knife which you can use as your defense against wilderness. Bushcraft knives are one reliable tool that you must own for long-term survival in the woods.
Want to buy the best knife for bushcraft? Well here in this post we are going to tell you all about the top bushcraft knives and what factors you should consider before you buy a good bushcraft knife. These kinds of knives can be very expensive which is why most of you might refrain from buying one. But now we have compiled a list of the best bushcraft knife.
Best Bushcraft Knife Under $100 | Most Affordable Bushcraft Knives
Here are some of the most affordable and top rated bushcraft knives that you should consider buying before going into the woods.
1. Gerber StrongArm Serrated Bushcraft Knife
If you are looking for a strong & sturdy bushcraft knife, you should consider the Gerber StrongArm Serrated Knife. This knife is quite versatile and can be used for multiple tasks. With this bushcraft knife one can easily cut/trim bushes, clean fish, and cut through strings without much effort.
The Gerber StrongArm Knife’s blade is made of partially serrated steel. The handle on this knife is made up of a rubberized glass-filled nylon material which is quite comfortable. Nylon webbing is also used in the sheath of this knife. In addition to this, the knife has a full tang so you don’t have to worry about durability.
Serrated Bushcraft Knife
Strong & Sturdy Bushcraft Knife
Blade Length: 5 inches
Weight: 11 OZ
| Pros | Cons |
| Pommel sheath | Heavier than other knives |
| Multiple uses | Can be complicated to use for new users |
| Serrated blade | Bit expensive |
| Rubber grip | |
| Lifetime warranty |
2. TOPS BRAKIMO Survival Knife BRAK-01
This knife is one of the boldest options in this list. BRAKIMO bushcraft knife is designed for heavy uses like shaving branches, stripping saplings, splitting logs and many others. The blade is incredibly sharp as it is made up of sturdy 1095 carbon steel.
The thing that we liked about this knife was its durable design which doesn’t bend or break. The blade of this survival knife is 5mm thick which makes it an aggressively strong option as compared to others. This bushcraft knife has a zero-angle grind which makes it an ideal option for all kinds of bushcraft activities. Having a zero-grind means that the blade of the knife would function as a splitting wedge when swung.
Survival Knife BRAK-01
Comfortable Handle & Grip
Blade Material: Carbon steel
Blade Length: 5.25 inches
Handle Material: Micarta
| Pros | Cons |
| Durable and thick blade | No sheath cover |
| Easy to sharpen | Steel is not prone to rust |
| Ideal blade length | The blade is not stain proof |
| Full tang | No carry belt available |
| Comfortable handle and grip |
3. KB Fixed Blade Knife for Bushcraft
KB knives is one of the most famous knife manufacturing companies. The KB Fixed Knife for Bushcraft is best for heavy duty jobs as well as camping activities. This knife is not only sharp but is also very safe for campers and hunters.
The thing we like about this bushcraft knife is that it has a full tang construction and is quite sturdy. If you are looking for an affordable and durable option, you should probably check this one out!
KB Fixed Blade Knife
Rust Resistant Blade
Blade Thickness: 5.5mm
Blade Length: 7.1-inch
Blade Material: Carbon steel
Handle: Lightweight Micarta
Sheath Material: Kydex
| Pros | Cons |
| Rust resistant blade | The blade of this knife is a big lengthy which can be hard to manage for newbies |
| Comfortable grips | The handles are not that strong |
| Protective sheath | Grips get lose over time |
| Convenient to carry | |
| Lightweight | |
| Full tang design |
4. Morakniv Garberg Steel Blade
Another top contender in this list is the Bushcraft knife by Morakniv Garberg. The knife is quite famous because of its Molli Multi Mount style. This is a heavy bushcraft knife as compared to other models we have mentioned in this list.
The knife is ideal for camping, hiking, bushcraft and for other outdoor activities. The DLC blade of this knife is quite protective against rust and reflections. This Knife can be used as a striker because of its square edged spine. It is a very good choice for professional bush crafters.
Morakniv Garberg Steel Blade
Durable Razor Sharp Edge
Handle Material: Carbon steel
Blade Material: Carbon steel
Blade Shape: Straight
Blade Edge: Compound Bevel
Length: 4.3 inches
Thickness: 3.2 mm
| Pros | Cons |
| Durable razor sharp edge | No warranty |
| Thick and strong blade | Leather sheath has a low quality |
| Easy to handle | Needs regular sharpening |
| Polyamide sheath | Blade length is a bit small |
| Rust proof | |
| Full tang |
5. KA-BAR 7503 KA Bar
This is a strong knife with a strange name. The KA-BAR JAROSZ Knife is one of the most popular options for bushcraft experts. The knife has a very strong build and a good length which is larger than other knives in this list. Even with the large blade length, this knife is quite easy to handle.
The comfortable grip and handle of this knife makes it a reliable choice to handle tough activities in the wild. The design of this knife is also quite attractive and sturdy. If you want to get maximum value for your money, you must try this bushcraft knife because this the best budget bushcraft knife available in market. This knife is specifically designed to satisfy the needs of a camper.
KA-BAR 7503 KA Bar
Unpolished Spine for Starting Fire
Material: Carbon steel
Weight: 0.58 KG
Shape: Clip Point
Length: 11.5 inches
| Pros | Cons |
| Unpolished spine for starting fire | Big blade length |
| Rust resistant | Blade not thick enough |
| Rubber grip | Handle might get lose overtime |
| Warranty | Blade dulls overtime |
| Leather sheath |
6. Condor Tool & Knife, Bushlore Camp Knife
The condor tool & knife is also one of the leading bushcraft knife to buy under $100. This is one of the highest quality bushcraft knife in this league and this is majorly because of its minimalistic design and impressive built quality. The knife has been manufactured by Condor Tool & Knife and every material used on this knife is of imported quality. This stainless bushcraft knife is of the highest quality.
The grip of this survival knife is quite comfortable as the handle is made up of hardwood material. The overall weight of this knife is not more than 200 grams which makes it an ideal choice for EDC. The combination of the wooden handle and the straight back blade makes the knife an ideal tool for tough cutting situations.
Condor Tool & Knife
Hardwood Handle
Material: 1075 High Carbon Steel
Blade Finish: Blasted Satin
Item Length: 10-Inches
| Pros | Cons |
| 100% leather | Needs sharpening before use |
| Imported | |
| Crafted with high quality blade | |
| Durable | |
| Hardwood handle | |
| Comfortable grip | |
| Value for money |
7. NEDFOSS Survival Knife – Outdoor Knife
This is one of the best bushcraft knife option available in market. The knife contains a high quality blade that is made up of 5Cr13Mov steel material. The knife blade is razor sharp and is also quite tough which makes it an ideal choice for survival activities. The recommended uses for products include construction, outdoor and camping.
The knife has a full-tang construction. This fixed blade knife receives a great heat treatment to harden it to a 58 HRC. This full tang blade is much more durable than the typical survival knife. The knife also comes with a comfortable handle. It has a pommel to protect your fingers and offer comfort and balance during tough cutting jobs.
The glass reinforced fiber handle’s linear pattern makes it easy for the user to maintain a firm grip on this bushcraft knife. It has excellent abrasion resistance, is moisture-proof, and is non-slippery.
NEDFOSS Survival Knife
Ergonomic Design
Components: Knife and whistle
Handle Material: Fiberglass
Blade Material: Stainless Steel
Style: Survival/Wilderness
The knife also comes with a KYDEX sheath which makes it easy to carry it during outdoor activities. Experts recommend it for hiking, outdoor and other survival activities.
| Pros | Cons |
| High quality blade | some users have complaint about the handle quality |
| Strong full tang construction | |
| Ergonomic design | |
| Versatile sheath | |
| Value for money | |
| Loud whistle |
How Sharp Should a Bushcraft Knife Be?
Usually beginners who are training for survival activities would wonder how sharp a bushcraft knife should be. Well the simple answer to this question is that a bushcraft knife should be sharp enough to cut through objects like bushes, branches, meat, vegetables, etc. In addition to this a bushcraft knife must be able to withstand all kinds of tough situations. In a nutshell, you must always go for a bushcraft knife which does not break or bend while cutting/trimming.
The level of sharpness of a knife depends on your usage. For instance if you want to use the knife for cutting branches and bushes, you would need to get a sharp tool but if you want to use it as an everyday carrying utility, you don’t have to worry about it getting too sharp.
Some common uses of a bushcraft knife include:
- batoning
- hunting
- cooking
- chopping
- trimming
4 Points to Note Before Buying the best survival bushcraft knife
As we have told you earlier, bushcraft knives are not ordinary tools rather they are made to serve a specific purpose. It is important that you get the best knife and for that you need to consider the features we have discussed in this section. You can select one of the above mentioned knives by comparing these factors.
• Fixed Blade
A bushcraft knife must have a fixed blade. If the blade of the knife is not fixed, there would always be a chance that it would bend or break. You cannot afford your bushcraft knife breaking in the woods which is why we would always suggest you to buy a knife with a fixed blade. Knives with fixed blades are always more durable.
• Full Tang
Full tang construction of knives is best when it comes to durability. You have to make sure that the bushcraft knife you buy has a full tang construction. Full tang means that the blade and handle of the knife are in one piece. The handle of full tang constructed knives are usually fitted with grip panels for comfort.
• Moderate Length
Longer knives are quite difficult to control and the same is the case with short ones. You have to make sure that you pick the knife which is of moderate length. The ideal length a bushcraft knife should have is somewhere between 3.5 and 5.5 inches.
• Comfy Grip
One of the most intriguing features of a bushcraft knife is its comfortable grip. If the grip of the handle is not well-suited for your hand, it would be hard for you to use it. This is why you must always check the grip of a bushcraft knife for safety as well as comfort.
What is the Best Bushcraft Knife?
Bushcraft knives are not ordinary knives. Bushcraft knives are a bit different from camping knives. These are special survival tools which are only used by people who have bushcraft skills. A person who wants to go into the woods for survival activities and stay over there for an unspecified amount would often need this kind of knife.
Bushcraft is actually a unique term which refers to survival skills in the wilderness. Bushcraft knives are basically used for managing chores in the wilderness. For instance, you can use these knives for kindling a fire, carving or trimming wood or even for saving yourself from wildlife attacks.
End Words
Here we have listed the top seven best bushcraft knife that you can buy before going into the woods for camping or other bushcraft activities. You can buy any of these knives as they are all best budget bushcraft knife. Each item mentioned in this review has its pros and cons and it is important to carefully select the one which suits your requirements and utility. You must consider all factors we have mentioned in the end of this post before buying a bushcraft knife.
