Best Bushcraft Knife Of 2024 (5+ Ranked)

You might think that all bushcraft knives are the same right? They all have a sharp edge that will allow me to cut into objects, right? There are many things to consider. If you’re going to purchase a knife that is meant to get abused and used in the woods, then my article will help you find the best bushcraft knife out there. 

I speak about this at the end of the article, but some things you want in a survival knife are a scandi grind, 90-degree spine, carbon steel blade, and full-tang knife that is a fixed blade. (The bottom of the article will go more in-depth).

---

What’s The Best Bushcraft Knife?

Let’s get into the fun part of discussing the best knives for survival and bushcraft. While there are more options than one can possibly recognize, this list contains the tried and true survival knives that are used by many survival experts.

Preview: Bushcraft doesn’t have to be expensive, and I am going to give you a full list of knives for every price point. The best part is that the less expensive knives on this list do not sacrifice function. Also. at the end of the day, the best knife is the one on you.

1. Morakniv Garberg Carbon Steel Black

Best Knife Overall

If I had to choose just one knife as the best bushcraft knife in 2023, this would be it. This is an excellent mixture of function, price, and durability and has long been recommended by survival and bushcraft experts like Dave Canterbury, Mors Kochanski, and more.

This knife has taken beatings from people all over the world, and Morakniv has become a household brand because of it.

It’s worth noting that they guarantee their knives for life. Truthfully, you won’t ever need it though.

Because of the dependability of the Mora fixed blade knives, there’s now almost a “cultish” following behind the brand. For example, there are tens of thousands of people in a Morakniv Facebook group. If you don’t take my word for it, take theirs!

2. Pathfinder Knife Shop Scorpion

Best Handmade Knife

Another close second on my list and one that could easily be the best bushcraft knife of 2023 would be Pathfinder Knife shop knives.

The only reason they didn’t receive the top spot was that Morakniv offers too good of a knife for such an affordable price so I can’t recommend them enough- especially for beginners who just need to get in the woods.

However, if you have a bit more money and want a knife of the same premier quality, but with a bit more of the “handmade” feel, here is a great option. 

3. Helle Temagami CA

Design by Les Stroud

Not sure if you grew up watching Les Stroud survive in the most remote places in the world, but I surely did. Les is an expert in outdoor primitive living and his knife design shows the expertise that he carries. While the knife doesn’t have a high-carbon steel blade, it does cross everything else off the list.

Also, it is worth noting that the knife comes with a half-full tang construction, where the blade is visible along the spine of the handle but not toward the fingers.

This is better for use in colder environments in the far north. Helle has been making excellent knives in Sweden for many years, and they are well known in the bushcraft field.

4. Casström Lars Fält Knife

Design by Swedish bushcraft and survival legend Lars Fält

Probably one of the best bushcraft knives of 2023 would have to be this knife. However, the major drawback is that it carries a price tag much greater than all others. At the time of this writing, this knife is around the $190 range whereas a mora is about $80.

However, a knife is a tool piece that should last many years if not forever, so this could certainly be an excellent choice.

5. Swiss Army Knife Or Multi-Tool

It is worth noting the value that either a Swiss Army knife or Multi Tool can bring to a bushcraft situation.

Survival Tip: Aggregate berries such as Raspberry, Blackberry, Thimbleberry, Dewberries, etc. are known to be 99% edible. Aggregate berries basically mean fruits that are made up of multiple connected berries. This could be important to know if ever in a survival situation!

As a backup option, a good item like these can prove to be invaluable due to the options of having a blade, saw, etc. all on the same tool.

Dave Canterbury, the first survival instructor I met, preaches a “2 is 1, 1 is none” mentality. One of these tools becomes your backup blade for a hip knife.

What Makes “The Best” Bushcraft Knife?

There are Five main things to look for when searching for the best bushcraft knife, and each of these has a reason why. When you purchase a knife that is meant for the woods, you want to make sure it has these features:

1. Full-Tang
2. Carbon Steel
3. Unbeveled, 90 Degree Spine
4. 5 Inch Length (approximately)
5. Scandanavian Grind Blade

Now, are you wondering why? Here’s why: 

1. Full-Tang: 

Full tang is another important feature when selecting your perfect bushcraft knife. A full tang means that the blade extends all the way through the handle of the knife, creating one solid piece of metal instead of two separate pieces joined together at the handle.

This type of construction offers superior strength and durability compared to partial tang knives, which have blades that only extend partway into the handle and are prone to breaking under increased pressure or torque.

A full-tang knife offers the ability to use it for batoning or overall extended abuse. Full-tang would likely be one of the most important features of a knife as it offers the only true genuine durability that extended wilderness use would require. 

2. High Carbon Steel: 

A carbon steel knife is going to allow you to ignite sparks if struck on the spine (using certain rocks like flint or quartz) since the carbon reacts chemically with air during a striking process which can then be used to ignite charred material.

This is designed to be more of an emergency task as you are actually shaving away part of your blade each time you strike the spine. Famous bushcrafters like Mors Kochanski have spoken on this topic and have always recommended carbon steel. Lastly, carbon steel is durable as hell. 

3. Unbeveled 90-Degree Spine: 

A 90-degree spine of a knife can allow you to scrape off shavings for tinder material or to strike a ferrocerium rod into either char cloth or tinder bundles for sparks without dulling the cutting edge. It can also aid in removing outer bark material or processing material into fine shavings for fire starting.

Sometimes, processing outer bark can be a great challenge and the difficulty is eased when you have a blade that has a sharp 90-degree spine. This effectively makes the back of the knife useful just as the blade part would be. 

4. Around 5 Inches In Length:

A five-inch blade would allow you to do most camp tasks and baton the knife while still keeping most of the finer tasks available as well. 

5. Scandinavian Grind Blade:

Often, but not always, you will find the blade of a bushcraft knife to be a Scandinavian grind. The main reason this grind is better for heavy bushcraft use would be easy to sharpen back to razor sharpness. This type of grind ensures great functionality for most uses in the bush.

Now, let’s dive into some of the blades on the market and see what some of the options are while comparing the advantages and disadvantages.

Bushcraft Knife FAQ

---