Pocket Bushman Review and Controversy

The more that I see that pic, the worse it looks. Sorry that it happened.

Did you hook your thumb under the blade while trying to close the knife?

Not bashing, just asking so as to know what to look out for.

Chuck
 
A lot of people seem to talk about carrying the knife for an emergency backpack, truck, pioneer tools situation. In situations like that, especially with cold and or wet weather the very last thing needed is a knife that demands practice , concentration and correct technique to open and close it safely. I almost had an accident with mine and figured out right away how easy it could happen, even when paying attention. Almost severing a finger during a situation that's already an emergency/near emergency could put you over the edge into the can't fend for yourself category. Try making a fire, and setting up a rain shelter with one hand in bad conditions. no thanks. Mine went into the curiousity box, not the emergency gear. The largest problem was the bar needed much force to work it, suddenly releasing unexpectedly. That was before it broke in. Nevertheless it said all I needed to know about the knife.Joe
 
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The Mastiff said:
A lot of people seem to talk about carrying the knife for an emergency backpack, truck, pioneer tools situation. In situations like that, especially with cold and or wet weather the very last thing needed is a knife that demands practice , concentration and correct technique to open and close it safely. I almost had an accident with mine and figured out right away how easy it could happen, even when paying attention. Almost severing a finger during a situation that's already an emergency/near emergency could put you over the edge into the can't fend for yourself category. Try making a fire, and setting up a rain shelter with one hand in bad conditions. no thanks. Mine went into the curiousity box, not the emergency gear. The largest problem was the bar needed much force to work it, suddenly releasing unexpectedly. That was before it broke in. Nevertheless it said all I needed to know about the knife.Joe
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You are right on the mark there, my previous post about opening the knife one handed was somewhat in jest(different thread), but WHAT IF??
I wont sell the thing, I like it, but maybe it wont be the back up in the kit after all.

Chuck
 
I've been able to open it one handed without a problem and haven't had any real issues closing it. YMMV
 
DocNightfall said:
I consider the Pocket Bushman to be a two-handed opening and closing knife. It's safer that way.
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Absolutely. In fact, if you grab the handle from the top, pull the release and start the closing with the heal of your hand, it is virtually impossible to injure yourself. The Pocket Bushman is one of my favorite knives and there is no way that blade will close without being manually released.
 
A.P.F. said:
Absolutely. In fact, if you grab the handle from the top, pull the release and start the closing with the heal of your hand, it is virtually impossible to injure yourself. The Pocket Bushman is one of my favorite knives and there is no way that blade will close without being manually released.
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Except if the cord snaps and the knife slips and cuts you. :eek:
 
Amazon.com has Douk Douks and I often see them on ebay.

CFA Francs? Were you with the 13DBLE? I was out in Djibouti in 1973 and 1974 and spent some time at the Texas Bar with some of the lads. Great times!
 
just ordered a pocket bushman.
a guy i spoke on annother forum used his one in wet conditions, when he pulled the cord the slippery handle slid through his hand leaving him holding the blade while still using force. he was cut pretty bad.

so i was thinking of using a file ( the tool not some paper) and roughening the handle a bit.
or take a chisel ( making myself work to remember english names of tools) and making some small carvings in it.
any ideas regarding this?
 
scotchleaf said:
i cannot recommend the pocket bushman!

charlie%27s%20injury%20016.jpg


10k doctor bill & permanent impairment of thumb
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omg!!
 
My problem with mine was that I got some muck in it and couldn't get it clean so I took it apart and I couldn't figure out to get it back together with that lock needing to be compressed while screwing it back together. Lot of other knives that are much easier to use, clean and repair if you need to.
 
I have a PB and closing it can be very secure. Best way I have found is to grasp the handle tightly in one hand with a four finger wrap around grip, same as if you were getting ready to cut with it. Pull the cord just enough to free the blade and with your thumb push on the spine and move the blade a small amount (15 degrees?) to prevent the lock from re-engaging. Let go the cord, shift your grip/move your fingers to open up the slot and close it the rest of the way with the cord hand. Easier to do than it sounds.

BTW Cyblade, there are a few videos on the tube site that have some pretty good step by step how-to's on taking them apart and putting them back together. I suggest doing a search for "pocket bushman disassembly" there if you still need some help with yours.
 
robin11 said:
just ordered a pocket bushman.
a guy i spoke on annother forum used his one in wet conditions, when he pulled the cord the slippery handle slid through his hand leaving him holding the blade while still using force. he was cut pretty bad.

so i was thinking of using a file ( the tool not some paper) and roughening the handle a bit.
or take a chisel ( making myself work to remember english names of tools) and making some small carvings in it.
any ideas regarding this?
Click to expand...

The easiest way to make the knife slip resistant is to apply some skateboard grip tape to the sides of the handle (I bought some glow in the dark stuff for my PB, but haven't got around to putting it on yet). Get a sheet of it and cut it to whatever size and shape (or multiple sizes and shapes) you want, and then stick them on. The adhesive on this stuff is very strong and should last for years. If it does eventually start to slip or peel off, you can always just apply some new pieces. Just don't put any near the pocket clip or it will make it impossible to slide into your pocket. Somebody also mentioned being concerned with the paracord snapping while closing. Highly unlikely but possible. Get a nice heavy gauge stainless steel split key ring and use it in place of the cord. :thumbup:
 
I have one, i like how it looks and its not too expensive. like the auto lawks or an axis, i perosnally just see it as another locking mechanism that i just deal with how it works, unlike the kudu, that is the only knife i just couldnt accept how inconvienient it was to use it. i think id rather chew through a rope lol. but as for the bushman, im not %100 its a flop, but ive seen quite a few say its not really a win either. but, there is now the tri ad. case closed
 
OK, so we've all cut ourselves from time to time (though maybe not to permanent impairment), but given the strange mechanism, the unfamiliarity of the operation, and the ease with which failures or misoperations can occur (yeah, I just invented that word), what does the Pocket Bushman have going for it? There are others with just as good steel, as tight a lockup, and more familiar mechanisms (like a simple lockback) at the same price point. What gives?

Zieg
 
The Zieg said:
OK, so we've all cut ourselves from time to time (though maybe not to permanent impairment), but given the strange mechanism, the unfamiliarity of the operation, and the ease with which failures or misoperations can occur (yeah, I just invented that word), what does the Pocket Bushman have going for it? There are others with just as good steel, as tight a lockup, and more familiar mechanisms (like a simple lockback) at the same price point. What gives?

Zieg
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it was the theory of an unfailable lock. untill the tri ad, cold steel was bested by benchmades axis because you literally had to break the blade, it wouldnt fold. cold steel had good locks but nothing quite like that untill the recenter tri ad so i imagine they said "hey lets jam a piece of steel in here so it cant fold, how do we do that? an all steel handle, a piece of steel jammed in to keep the blade fromfolding, and a thick flat ground blade of decent size for medium outdoor tasks seemed to be the first folding fixed blade. it still is a strong lock and a useable knife but it kinda was one of their lesser liked products. it happens to everyone.
 
I have a Pocket Bushman. Too much trouble to take a chance on injuring myself. Too tight to close safely. I wouldn't gift it to my worst enemy.
 
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