Best Bushcraft Knives under $50

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Sep 15, 2012
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Ive heard good things from a relative about the Bushman it got me thinking what kind of bushcraft knive would you trust if you had only maximum 50 Dollars to spend (note for Mora please specify there's just too many of the dadgum things)
 
Condor and Mora both make at least a dozen knives that could arguably be the best on the market under $50. It's all a matter of personal preference. Old Hickory also has a pretty good reputation in the bushcraft community.
 
A used becker on the exchange... BK5 or BK2. Or a Esee izula/BK11. Moras are great knives. Maybe try a ka-bar like the mark 1, heavy bowie, they even have a couple good machetes
 
Depends on what you mean by a bushcraft knife. If you mean a scandi/puukko style knife, Mora; it's not even a contest for those. If not that, then I say the becker tweeners by Kabar although they are a bit more than $50. Svord makes a good one I hear. Not the folder but they make a fix blade that guys in England seem to like a lot. A Kabar Mark 1 navy knife would be good as well. Just back up the edge bevel so that it glides through the wood better. Also maybe the Sog NW Ranger although I have never used one. Opinels get the job done fairly well although they do fold. Then the Condor line is not bad as I hear. Only thing you may find a problem is that they are all 1075 steel so you will have to sharpen those more often but, obviously, very easy to do so even in the field. Also, a good 12" machete makes a damn good bushcraft tool when you learn to use them. Hope this isn't too much, I can sometimes ramble
 
Sorry, I forgot to specify. Mora 711/731 are my personal favorites. Basically the same knife except that the 731 has nearly 2" more of blade. That is a great or a terrible thing depending on your knife preferences.
 
Mora 521 with the finger guard ground down. If you do food prep in the field, I'd get a stainless companion to go with it.
 
The reason most don't specify which "mora" is they are all good. Not to mention sometimes "mora" is the default word for "scandinavian knives" which is why I sometimes say a mora or mora like.

But I like the simple clipper for most everyday use. I even like the sheath, as it just clips on and off your belt or pants. The Mora 2000,is also nice, and is my go to kitchen knife, as the more rounded tip is good for cutting a lot of foods (leftovers) while they are still in the tupperware container...even with the knife held at around a 45 degree angle there is a good section to cut downwards...hard to explain...

The traditional wood handled ones have the best look in my opinion and you can't go wrong there...you can't go wrong with any of them, but you will likely find one your hand likes more than another.

In addition to the Mora and other Mora like knives, I'd say old hickory/green river knives. Again, you have several choices, and being both kitchen and outdoor knives all at the same time they range from small boning knives up to basically short matchetes. The green river hunter being the first I'd recomend as a "knife" and the larger (around 10" blade) models as an addition to either a mora or the hunter, to give you a great "Bush knife/short matchete."

For $50 you can buy several of each.
 
cold steel perfect balance ($50 should leave you about $20 left over to buy other stuff). its big without being "too big" (13'ish inches). heavy enough to do some light chopping. a great throw (and stick deep) knife. has a general knife shape and would be good for hunting/skinning and anything knives are used for in general. you can dig with it if you have to (gonna need sharpened when done).
 
I'll chime in to echo what others have said--lots of good options from both Mora and Condor. Also, if you don't mind polypropylene handles (I love 'em) the Svord Kiwi General Outdoors is a very nice knife with a high convex saber grind.
 
cold steel perfect balance ($50 should leave you about $20 left over to buy other stuff). its big without being "too big" (13'ish inches). heavy enough to do some light chopping. a great throw (and stick deep) knife. has a general knife shape and would be good for hunting/skinning and anything knives are used for in general. you can dig with it if you have to (gonna need sharpened when done).


Uh, that's a throwing knife.

Bushcraft style knives tend to be in the 4" range and trends to edge styles that favor working with wood.
 
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