What blade length for bushcraft/survival knife

S

slipjoint99

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Aug 10, 2015
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I’ve heard anywhere that you need a balance in blade length so you can have a blade that’s long enough to do the hard tasks like cutting tree limbs but small enough for lighter tasks like making a feather stick.

If I had paired this with a 2-3 inch pocket knife as a secondary (a Buck Cadet or other slip joints are my usual EDC) what blade length would be sufficient as a bushcraft/survival fixed blade? 4 inches? 5 inches? 6+ inches? If there’s a thread identical to this one please link it to me.
Thanks,
 
most of the literature on so called 'survival' knives is fantasy conjured up in peoples' bedrooms. You are better off seeking a knife that is well designed for a purpose you will actually use it for.

That aside, a standard Mora/Hultafors is a good choice for a field knife and on that basis, would also be a good size for a 'survival' knife.

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Here is a sample of my fixed blades with a blue Mora Pro S (8 1/4") in the middle for reference. The knife at the top is for killing witches, the two at the bottom for zombies, the remainder are general purpose.
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As you can see, the Mora is right in the middle of the size range and that ain't no acident. The Mora is recognised as a good all round size, just strong enough for tasks that go beyond camp duty and food prep, such as processing vegetation.

The ironbark/A2 Bark River Snowy River Matterhorn is close to it and likely the knife I would choose as a belt 'field' knife if I had to choose from my own collection. Its got a 4 1/2" blade and is a bit less than 9" long, but its more of a hunter than a field knife due to its thinness.. but those proportions make it beautiful in hand.

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There are other Bark rivers that are also highly favoured and more bushcraft orientated than the Matterhorn.
 
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Camillus said:
most of the literature on so called 'survival' knives is fantasy conjured up in peoples bedrooms. You are better off seeking a knife that is well designed for a purpose you will actually use it for.
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Definitely! :thumbsup: The designs of such knives has changed massively over the past thirty years, as fashions dictate. Twenty five years ago, when I wanted a shadow pattern, flat-ground drop-point with an integral guard, I had a job even getting one made. Now, almost every 'Bushcraft' knife is copied from the same mediocre design, with an obligatory 'Scandi grind'.

In my opinion, unless jungle is anticipated, 4-5 inches.

It's worth noting that for many years, the Swedish Army used a version of the Mora knife (in both carbon and stainless with the simple addition of a guard), and as part of their survival training, used the knife to take down a tree. I have a few of these knives, but no photographs to hand.
 
When I was a boy and began going into the woods with my father to hike and camp (early 1960's) he had a pocketknife (TL29) and his M4 bayonet that both had returned with him from his US Army service overseas. Other than a filet knife for cleaning fish I never saw him use another knife for field or bush carry. That must have influence the way I carry when hunting and in the woods, as a Stockman knife and a Buck 110 Folding Hunter are what I carry and use - game cleaning or cutting whatnot. Never felt "under-knifed" with that combo - but I have always used an axe or heavy machete for cutting trees and limbs (size dependent). OH
Ps I keep a Buck 118 fixed blade in my pack - favorite deer skinner/butchering knife - don't use it for anything else. In this photo I have a Buck 303 Cadet with me, but I most often carry a Case 6318 or a Buck 307 - any of the three will do the small chores.

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Old Hunter said:
When I was a boy and began going into the woods with my father to hike and camp (early 1960's) he had a pocketknife (TL29) and his M4 bayonet that both had returned with him from his US Army service overseas. Other than a filet knife for cleaning fish I never saw him use another knife for field or bush carry. That must have influence the way I carry when hunting and in the woods, as a Stockman knife and a Buck 110 Folding Hunter are what I carry and use - game cleaning or cutting whatnot. Never felt "under-knifed" with that combo - but I have always used an axe or heavy machete for cutting trees and limbs (size dependent). OH
Ps I keep a Buck 118 fixed blade in my pack - favorite deer skinner/butchering knife - don't use it for anything else.
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Did that bayonet get much use?
 
Screened porch - my Dad has always been a frugal man, used what he had - he would be blown away to see all the knives I own (and even all the ones I use via rotation) - whatever needed doing with a fixed blade he did with that knife. I only have vague recollections (other than seeing it on his hip - he cut the wire off the scabbard and painted it and the knife black), but I can remember him showing me and my brother how to open a C-Ration can with it. That is the only vivid recollection I have of him using it that is still in my minds eye. Whatever he did with it before I was born he never mentioned - general stuff I would imagine - C-rats, ammo crates, etc. Here is my Dad before I knew him and the same Imperial knife he brought back from Japan - I have owned the bayonet since 1990. I scrounged the replacement scabbard from the armory supply room in 1990 - so I could attach it to my web pistol belt. OH

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a lot of your question would depend on what you think a knife is to do. if you don't intend on splitting your winters wood with a knife instead of a axe, digging a slit trench, chopping though the side of a aircraft, slaying dragons, or other such nonsense then 4-5 will do a just fine. more important, and something we rarely or never talk about, is the shape, size, length, of the handle. a longer handle, with no odd shapes, bumps, etc. so it can be held in any manner with out cramping your hand with extended work. a long handle on a short bladed knife my look odd, but as you get older and your hands get stiff this becomes even more important.
 
Old Hunter said:
Screened porch - my Dad has always been a frugal man, used what he had - he would be blown away to see all the knives I own (and even all the ones I use via rotation) - whatever needed doing with a fixed blade he did with that knife. I only have vague recollections (other than seeing it on his hip - he cut the wire off the scabbard and painted it and the knife black), but I can remember him showing me and my brother how to open a C-Ration can with it. That is the only vivid recollection I have of him using it that is still in my minds eye. Whatever he did with it before I was born he never mentioned - general stuff I would imagine - C-rats, ammo crates, etc. Here is my Dad before I knew him and the same Imperial knife he brought back from Japan - I have owned the bayonet since 1990. I scrounged the replacement scabbard from the armory supply room in 1990 - so I could attach it to my web pistol belt. OH

Dad_Airborne_School_Graduation_Ft_Campbell_KY_-_1954.jpg


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The reason we're here is because of men like your father. I love that photograph.
 
Buzzbait nailed it.

I have been involved with Wilderness Survival/Bushcraft for a long time and the perfect knife is all hype or for those who don't spend much time in the woods.

A 4" fixed blade, pocket knife, hatchet and bow saw will cover anything you are going to need unless you plan on living deep in the woods.

If I do not want to carry a hatchet or a large saw, I will carry a Cold Steel SRK and Bahco folding saw with a pocket knife. It works for me.

Don't get hung up on all the hype. Learn to sharpen your tools in the field and get what floats your boat. You do not need to spend a lot to have a great field tool set.

On the other hand, I love knives so I have some really nice knives and too many of them. That's OK too. Just know why you are buying your knives. In reality a Mora does work well.

Geoff
 
Know your area and what works best for your situation. You can get by with a lot of non-ideal stuff. For me and my area I've found I like a small knife for finer tasks and a big knife (8-10") for wood tasks. A big part of that is there is a ton of dry, deadwood I use so I can leave the green stuff along but it's a lot harder to cut into so I find chopping notches easier than slicing into them like you can with green wood. I also carry a saw now. Truth be told, in my last few jaunts I've used mostly the saw and big knife for all wood task and then the little knife for food. I like to do a clean knife/dirty knife thing as best as possible. The little knife has varied from a pocket knife to a bird and trout knife to a 5" bushcraft/camp design knife.

Mora companion is a great knife as long as chopping isn't a task you ask from it. It's not supposed to be. A mora and a hatchet, hudson bay axe, or saw can handle a lot of tasks in the bushcraft realm.

I'm not gonna lie, I enjoy using axes a lot but I really don't need to keep one in my kit with the big knife and a saw. I could get by with a hudson bay axe and smaller knife but the saw is nice in the dry wood I work with lately so I would still want that. If I don't mind the weight I'll carry the hudson bay axe and saw in a little sack backpack deal and knifes on a belt. I'll keep water in the sack as well. I leave everything else at camp.
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Some redundancy here because I haven't used the 5" camp knife much and I'm playing with the irwin saw and a cardboard sheath to see if it's worth carrying that or the longer dandy saw.
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Thanks for all the advice guys! I’m thinking of getting a Grohmann #3 as my main fixed blade, and carrying another tool such as a hatchet or saw for any large tasks that would be considered knife abuse.
 
g123 said:
Buzzbait nailed it.

I have been involved with Wilderness Survival/Bushcraft for a long time and the perfect knife is all hype or for those who don't spend much time in the woods.

A 4" fixed blade, pocket knife, hatchet and bow saw will cover anything you are going to need unless you plan on living deep in the woods.

If I do not want to carry a hatchet or a large saw, I will carry a Cold Steel SRK and Bahco folding saw with a pocket knife. It works for me.

Don't get hung up on all the hype. Learn to sharpen your tools in the field and get what floats your boat. You do not need to spend a lot to have a great field tool set.

On the other hand, I love knives so I have some really nice knives and too many of them. That's OK too. Just know why you are buying your knives. In reality a Mora does work well.

Geoff
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Me too, but for much of my childhood, up to my mid teens, my woods knife was an old paring knife out of the kitchen drawer. Dad put a good edge on it, Mum made me a sheath. I've had a lot of more expensive knives over the years, but I'm not sure any of them were really any better :thumbsup:

slipjoint99 said:
Thanks for all the advice guys! I’m thinking of getting a Grohmann #3 as my main fixed blade, and carrying another tool such as a hatchet or saw for any large tasks that would be considered knife abuse.
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Nice choice, wish they were available over here, particularly with the optional flat-grind :thumbsup:
 
Bushcraft? Survival? Run what ya brung. Argentine Gauchos like the criollo. Filipinos use bolos. Finns use puukkos and leukus. Nepalese have the khukuri. It really depends on your environment and preferences.
 
As an armchair bush crafter and sometime motorcycle and car camper. I heartily endorse the conventional wisdom regarding 4”-5” blades. The next time I have an opportunity to pitch a tent, I will be sure to have a fistful of such knives handy, Moras, Marttiini and Condors, plus a USMC Kabar and a Cold Steel Bushman, along with a couple of heavy-duty chopperish machetes, a hatchet and a folding saw. That is if I am in a car.

If I am on a bike, I will add a Mora to the SAK, Opinel and small Anza I have schlepped along for years.
 
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I try to cover all the bases when I'm outdoors. If I'm just tramping around, I'll carry a 5" bladed fixed blade along with a larger multi-blade folder, like a 4¼" stockman. When hunting, I usually carry a 4 to 4½" fixed blade hunter, along with a Pioneer or Farmer for my pocket knife. Sometimes I'll add a modern OHO that's in between the other two for size.

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4”-6”. Everything else is dependent-but as you noticed majority of people said Hatchet and/or saw as well. North American bushcrafters seem to go with that a lot. Farther south, a machete, and something for smaller tasks. It becomes weight and terrain dictation, as well as personal taste. You can always get a gigantic Busse and chop down a tree, if that sounds fun too.:D;) You just have to envision what your cutting tasks may involve. Some people love 3-3.5” on a fixed, which can be bigger than it seems. Hard question.:)
Thanks, Neal
 
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