Bushcraft knives are fixed blade tools built for everyday outdoor jobs: carving, making feather sticks, cutting cord and preparing kindling. This guide covers blade steel, handle, tang and edge, plus care, price and safe handling.
What Is a Bushcraft Knife?
Morakniv, a Swedish maker, says bushcraft is the art of using nature's resources to survive and thrive in the wilderness. It describes a bushcraft knife as a versatile fixed blade knife that you use every day outdoors, designed to handle a wide range of tasks, so one knife is meant to cover multiple tasks. The guide traces the term bushcraft to Australia, where it meant the skills needed to live in the bush. Its typical features are a strong carbon or stainless steel blade, an ergonomic handle for long use, a rugged build that is often full tang, and a spine that can work with a ferro rod. Those are one maker's examples, not a rule for every brand. Morakniv makes its knives in Mora, Sweden.
Mora Companion Size, Weight and Blade Length
Blade length and weight are easy to compare on a specification page. The Mora Companion lists a blade length of 104 mm (4.1 inches), a blade 2 mm thick, and a weight of 118.4 g. Its overall knife length is 219 mm. The Garberg with Survival Kit is listed at 109 mm, 3.2 mm thick, and 247.3 g. Thickness and the included kit differ by model, so read each model's own page.
Scandi Grind and Edge Angle
On a Scandi grind, a flat bevel runs all the way down to the edge. The maker adds a small micro bevel that makes it less fragile, with a total angle of 23 degrees on blades up to 2.5 mm thick. The Companion's specification page gives its total grind angle as 22 to 24 degrees. Utah State University Extension says a sharp edge is key to safety, because a dull blade needs more force.
Blade Steel: Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel?
Blade steel is the main trade-off. Morakniv says carbon steel is easier to sharpen than stainless but needs more maintenance, because it is more prone to rust in humid conditions. Its advice is to wipe and oil a carbon blade after use. The maker says its stainless needs less maintenance and has better edge retention, so it stays sharp longer. The Companion page lists C100S carbon steel from a German maker, with a nominal hardness of 58.5 HRC, while the Garberg comes in 14C28N stainless or, as the Black Blade, in C100S carbon steel.
Handle and Full Tang
The tang is the steel that extends into the handle. On a full tang knife it runs through the whole handle, and Morakniv says that gives strength and durability. Morakniv lists a TPE grip on the Companion and a non-slip polyamide grip on the Garberg, and both have a finger guard. Utah State University Extension notes that plastic is easy to clean, while wood warps when wet. Hold a few before you choose.
Hiking Bushcraft: Sheath and Carry
A sheath protects the blade and you. Morakniv lists a polymer sheath with the Companion and the Survival Kit model, and a leather sheath as an option. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises storing a knife in a rack or sheath. California State University, Chico adds that you should carry it point down, cutting side away from your body.
For hikers, the National Park Service lists a knife, with duct tape and scissors, in the repair kit of its Ten Essentials, and the Forest Service lists one too. A multi-tool is a compact alternative. A knife is not allowed in carry-on bags, and the Transportation Security Administration says sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped.
Care and Maintenance
Keep it sharp, since a sharp blade is safer and more effective than a dull one, in Morakniv's words. California State University, Chico advises cleaning a knife right after use and not leaving it soaking. North Carolina Cooperative Extension says to wash a kitchen knife by hand and let it air dry alone on a towel.
What Jobs Do Bushcraft Knives Do Best?
- Feather sticks and fine kindling for a fire
- Tent pegs
- Cutting cord
- Preparing food at camp
- Batoning, with the right knife
The Companion page says it handles all types of tasks in the wilderness, from food preparation to building shelters. Bushcraft knives suit these jobs, and Morakniv's Learn Bushcraft guide suggests beginners make tent pegs or feather sticks first, then practice fire starting at home in a fire safe environment. Batoning means splitting wood by striking the spine of the blade with a stick. Morakniv says the Garberg is designed for tough tasks like carving, cutting and batoning, so check the maker's guidance before you try it.
Bushcraft Knife vs Survival Knife
Morakniv says a survival knife is designed for critical situations where you need to rely completely on your gear. A bushcraft knife handles a wide range of everyday tasks outdoors. Read our advice on choosing a survival knife, and see our neck knife page separately.
Handling a Bushcraft Knife Safely
Keep your hands and fingers out of the cutting path and cut away from your body. Morakniv's bushcraft advice agrees: keep your fingers away from the cutting edge. The University of California extension service says cutting toward the body raises the risk of a cut and that dull blades are not safe. Store the knife in its sheath when you are not using it. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises against handing a knife to someone. Put it down and let them pick it up. Carry rules differ from place to place, so check your state and local rules on an official government site.
Budget Bushcraft Knives: Price, Weight and Reviews
Start from the jobs you expect to do, then compare weight, steel and handle on each specification page. Morakniv shows these list prices in Swedish kronor at the time of writing, and they vary by model and region. The Companion has the lowest list price of the six.
- Companion: 179 SEK
- Bushcraft Forest: 549 SEK
- Bushcraft Survival: 949 SEK
- Garberg: 1,099 SEK
- Garberg Black Blade: 1,199 SEK
- Garberg with Survival Kit: 1,299 SEK
Some product pages carry owner reviews, and the Companion page showed an empty Customer Reviews section when we read it. Read knife reviews, then check them against the listed specifications.
Best Bushcraft Knives: How to Choose One
No single knife is best for every job, so match bushcraft knives to the bushcraft work you plan to do. Once you own one, practice with our whittling knife for beginners tips.
Sources
- TSA, Knives: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/knives
- OSHA, Safe Knife Handling: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/Safe_knife_handling.pdf
- UC ANR, Utility Knife Safety: https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2016-03/235577.pdf
- Utah State University Extension, Knife Skills: https://ucanr.edu/sites/LassenMFP/files/393200.pdf
- NC Cooperative Extension, Caring for Kitchen Knives: https://polk.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/03/caring-for-kitchen-knives/
- Cal State Chico, Knife Handling: https://www.csuchico.edu/ehs/_assets/documents/knife-handling-tips.pdf
- National Park Service, Ten Essentials: https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm
- National Park Service, Hiking Safety: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/learn-about-hiking-safety.htm
- Forest Service, Hiking Essentials: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes/safety-ethics/hiking-backpacking-essentials
- Morakniv, Bushcraft Knives: https://www.morakniv.com/en/collections/bushcraft-knives
- Morakniv, Survival Knives: https://www.morakniv.com/en/collections/survival-knives
- Morakniv, Garberg: https://www.morakniv.com/en/collections/garberg and https://www.morakniv.com/en-ca/collections/garberg
- Morakniv, Garberg with Survival Kit: https://www.morakniv.com/en/products/garberg-survival-kit-s
- Morakniv, Companion: https://www.morakniv.com/en/products/companion-c
- Morakniv, Grinds: https://www.morakniv.com/en/blogs/knife-knowledge/grinds-and-edge-angles
- Morakniv, Learn Bushcraft: https://www.morakniv.com/en/blogs/outdoor/learn-bushcraft