Barbarian test on the R.J. Evans Bushtool II

[martineden]

Ahhhhh, sometimes I’m so tired to be wise. I try in fact to be wise any hour of my life, but being wise is just…well, you know.
I know, I know…doing bushcraft and using a knife in the bush is matter of being precise, humble, prepared, silent…just like Ray Mears i.e.. And I agree, completely, believe me. But how funny is to use a knife in the bush being arrogant, beating like a jackhammer (especially if is not my own knife) on the blade and doing a lot of noise…just like Bear Grylls

And that’s was I done, at least for two days, testing this Bushtool II by R. Evans

The knife is the 2nd generation of the very first Bushtool (that I own): it’s very similar, just a bit shorter on the blade and whit a third hole in the handle (done to adjust a screw, I didn't used it)

Ok, weather is good enough today

That’s a war area, on the WWI that was a fighting zone, still today it’s possible to see hundreds of bomb’s craters

My first test is carving woods, nothing special

well done, I just would like the blade 2mm thick instead 3 mm for carving, it will be perfect for this kind of jobs.

Next, we’ll move on a small lake’s area

Lots of woodpecker here

I want to cut a wood just batoning, again a la Bear Grylls, using another piece of woods as a hammer

No problem at all, the cutting ability of this knife is great.

to be continued...

 

[martineden]

Ok let’s move again, here we are on the top of the Mount Grappa, at the War Cemetery. On the first pic you may see the Piave River right down to the valley

This tunnel, long approx 400 metres, under the top of the mountain: it was done on 1916 by the Italian soldiers to live during winter and move safely from the East to the Ovest faces of the mountain

That tool was used on the WWI to move up and down persons and material from the mount to the valley, and the contrary of course

Down there the road we had some 30 minutes ago

Another stop, Mount Miesna, next to the Piave River

Let’s continue with the test, I want to split this log

So I decide to beat the knife whit a stone (1 kg approx) on the butt and on the spine

The log don’t want to split, its’ very very hard, I just may separate some small wood pieces

So, I decided to baton this smaller log for the fire

done without problems.

Now I want to truncate this log, always using the rock as an hammer on the knife’s spine

its' not the best way to use a knife, but again done, still no problems.

How about the edge after all this hammering? Well, this is where the knife impressed me, no problem at all doing feather sticks

to be continued

 

[martineden]

Can I leave without doing a camp fire? Of course, not

My “bushcraft madness” it’s over, so let’s cover whit some sand the fire as a real wise guy before leaving

Last shots, the knife show some sign of the ordeal, yes

but the edge, excluding two small nicks next to the point (probably I touched some rocks), is always in great shape

Conclusions: there are hundreds of good knives out there, and I own some of them. What I like especially about this particular knife is the razor sharp edge and how the knife hold an edge, also after some heavy works. I like the metal butt also, as it allows me to use the tip of the knife as a scalpel. The handle is maybe not the best I experienced, anyway is still one of my favorites. I didn’t like so much the shorter blade, I understand that probably is better for some precise works, but always I like a blade 1 cm longer for bushcraft. I would like to see, on the contrary, this knife with a blade of 6-7” long, to improve the ability to clean branches and split woods; the combo whit a short fixed blade should be great to cover 99% of my needs in the woods, in my opinion.

Hope you enjoy, ciao
Alfredo

 

[Morales]

What else can you say: Mille grazie for this great test and those beautiful pictures! :thumbup:

 

[The Mastiff]

Nice knives, excellent pictures and some history. Great thread!

What steel is that knife made of? It looks like a very nice slicer.

Mt.Grappa was the scent of some terrible battles. The Austrohungarian soldiers and the German Alpfencorp ( spelling ?) where Rommel learned his trade. Such a beautiful place for all that carnage.

Joe

P.S., Is Grappa the drink named after the area or mt?

 

[martineden]

Nice knives, excellent pictures and some history. Great thread!

What steel is that knife made of? It looks like a very nice slicer.

Mt.Grappa was the scent of some terrible battles. The Austrohungarian soldiers and the German Alpfencorp ( spelling ?) where Rommel learned his trade. Such a beautiful place for all that carnage.

Joe

P.S., Is Grappa the drink named after the area or mt?

Thanks a lot, Joe.
The steel is O1.
You're right, both for the history and the drink.
Cheers, Alfredo

 

[Rockywolf]

Gorgeous pics and a nice knife. Where can I get one?

 

[Lapsa]

Thanks for this test! This knife seems very good, and i like how you use it, like a useful tool!

 

[WILLIAM.M]

GREAT Photos and review!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for taking the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[martineden]

Gorgeous pics and a nice knife. Where can I get one?

Hello, thanks.
Try to contact Rob Evans on BB, he is the maker.

 

[martineden]

Thanks for this test! This knife seems very good, and i like how you use it, like a useful tool!

Thanks mate, it's my only way to use knives, as tools!

 

[martineden]

GREAT Photos and review!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for taking the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks a lot.

 

[martineden]

What else can you say: Mille grazie for this great test and those beautiful pictures! :thumbup:

Mille grazie to you too