A new Bushcraft knife from Seki Japan.

K

KenHash

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Sep 11, 2014
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Camping and Bushcraft has been a boom in Japan over the last 10 years. And with Covid restrictions starting in 2020 more and more people are getting into it.
A new entry in the Japan domestic market is the Northern Land, designed by the custom maker Koji Hara and made by Mitsuboshi Hamono (Cutlery) of Seki.
From what I have been able to gather:
Blade Length 4.92 inches (125mm)
Blade Thickness 0.147 inches (4mm)
Weight 9.1oz (258g)
Blade Material: Monosteel SKH51 a High Speed Tool Steel manufactured by OitaSteel Co, normally runs HRC 64 but lowered to HRC61.
DLC coating. Convex Grind/Edge.
Developed over a 7 month period in a collaboration between Koji Hara and Mitsuboshi.
The choil is to allow two kinds of grips. There are two scale models one using reinforced wood from Spain in Bamboo form, and the other
using USA sourced micarta. Hand crafted leather sheath with option to put in your name.
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Prototypes over the last 7 months.
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Final Product.
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There is a line on the Micata Handled knife that looks like blade was Differentially heat treated perhaps or just a photo shadow? Nice Looking.
 
jfk1110 said:
Good looking blades!! I'd expect nothing less from Koji Hara though.
I'd shorten that piece in between the handle and the choil though!!!
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First thing I thought as well. The guard makes it difficult or impossible to cut on a flat surface with the full length of the blade.
 
They look nice, but they don't look like they'd be too comfy when actually using them. For processing wood and carving, I'd rather have the edge closer to the handle than have a finger choil like that that essentially forces you to use with the cutting edge that far out. The guard or whatever it is looks like it would put pressure on my finger that I would not like. The convex is a big plus, but it might be a little too thick for me. Unless a blade is really tall, 1/8" thick at the spine is about my maximum.

I'm just a novice at the bushcraft stuff, though, so take it for what it's worth.
 
I found some more pics. Two photos showing the different grip positions. And one cutting food in camp...lol
I myself am not into "Bushcrafting" and have little appreciation for some of these features. I don't baton or feather.
But as pointed out, there's a market out there.
I remember the forward finger choil being somewhat popular with deer hunters in the 1970s,but haven't seen it recently.
I am seeing these knives priced at roughly USD 500-550.00
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TC said:
First thing I thought as well. The guard makes it difficult or impossible to cut on a flat surface with the full length of the blade.
Click to expand...
As would wrapping your fingers around the handle to hold it...
So, what exactly is it that makes this a "bushcraft knife"? How is it any different from any number of other fixed blades on the market? Its just another "tactical hunter"knife.....as a matter of fact the design is quite similar to the Blackfox BF 0701 for instance.
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Arathol said:
As would wrapping your fingers around the handle to hold it...
So, what exactly is it that makes this a "bushcraft knife"? How is it any different from any number of other fixed blades on the market? Its just another "tactical hunter"knife.....as a matter of fact the design is quite similar to the Blackfox BF 0701 for instance.
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Click to expand...

I don't see any attempt to claim this particular bushcraft knife is any different from the countless others already out there.
 
They look nice but they seem more like hunters or even fighters for me. I prefer something more streamlined.
 
That is an M2 equivalent steel. I like the looks and materials but for me at that cost I'd probably go full custom. That is a nice looking sheath also. Thanks for bringing that knife to our attention Ken. I generally like Koji Hara's designs and wish I had enough money to buy knives just to try them out .
 
I like it a lot. I’m glad to see a “bushcraft” knife with a guard and choil as I’m partial to both and the majority of knives on the market don’t have them. I do wonder about the micarta handle causing hot spots with all those ridges, but hopefully it only looks uncomfortable.
 
Those are nice looking knives. Not exactly sure how the get labeled for "bushcraft".
I am always amused to see photos of people making feather sticks with their thumb on the back of the blade. A full fist (or hammer or whatever you like to call it) grip will give
significantly more power to the cut.
 
That choil is waaaaay too big. No offense to anyone, but the whole thing looks like it was designed as a "tactical" knife for "bushcrafting"
 
CWL said:
No worries. If they get used the same as most people "bushcraft" in the US, they'll get no more than a bit of batoning before careful cleaning and a trip home.
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True!

Last summer and fall I was practicing my one-stick fire skills several times a week, so my knives got a decent workout.
 
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