The Prepper Insider is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Finding the best bushcraft knife can be a challenge. But if you have a good understanding of how these kinds of knives work, the search process may not be so difficult. You want a knife that will serve so many purposes when you’re outdoors. Especially when you’re out camping and you need a knife that will cut down brush, carve or whittle wood, and any other purpose that may seem necessary for a bushcraft knife to come in and get the job done.
To ensure that you find the best knife that will be your best friend for bushcrafting, we’ve taken the liberty of handpicking six of the best bushcraft knives on the market. Before we get to the list, we’ll talk about what a bushcraft knife is and what kind of uses you can get out of it. We’ll also discuss what you’ll need to look for in order to find the best bushcraft knife for your own personal use.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Bushcraft Knife
- OUR TOP PICK: KA-BAR Becker BK2
- RUNNER-UP: Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Morakniv Craftline Pro S
Comparison of the Best Bushcraft Knives
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
What is a Bushcraft Knife?
A bushcraft knife is used for the purpose of multiple outdoor uses. Such examples include wood cutting and whittling for the purpose of camping and building firewood, trapping, and any other skills that may pertain to self-sufficiency and survival. A bushcraft knife is usually a must-have item in many survival and EDC kits.
Best Uses For Bushcraft Knives
Bushcraft Knives are quite useful when needed for certain situations. It’s important you know what they are so you’ll be able to use them properly if and when the opportunity arises. Here are some of the following uses:
Wood Working and Cutting
In survival, wood is something that is an absolute must. Especially when you need it for the purpose of building shelter, carving up firewood for warmth and cooking food. This knife will come through in the clutch in any survival or camping situation.
Making Traps
In an outdoor environment, food is essential. Especially when you need a knife that will be used to kill an animal that will be used for the purpose of meat consumption. A bushcraft knife will be able to serve as an implement that is part of a creative trap that you can use to capture your next meal. Plus, it sets the stage for the next purpose.
Cleaning and Prepping
Once you have trapped what you have hunted, the next part is cleaning is out. Depending on the animal you have trapped, you’ll need to clean it out in the quickest time possible to ensure that the quality of the meat is preserved longer. Failure to do so will hasten the spoilage and render the meat non-edible.
The knife can also be used to cut and prep your meat before it can be cooked over an open flame.
How to Choose a Bushcraft Knife
Knowing how to distinguish a great bushcraft knife from one that is considered crappy in quality and unreliable is key. Because you want something that will last you a long time and can be useful if and when you need it the most. Here are a few things to look out of:
Price
Budget shoppers will often look at the price tag first before moving on to anything else. Granted, this should not be the only reason why they purchase a bushcraft knife. You should choose a knife along with other additional factors besides what fits in your budget. Remember to find a knife that will be the best in quality and performance, but is affordable for your budget.
Materials
Many bushcraft knives are made from high-quality materials. The important thing to know is that these materials should last you a long time since they are solid, hard to wear down, and built to last you years or even a lifetime. But you still need to take good care of it over time to ensure longevity and making sure it stays sharp.
Your Intent and Purpose
Although most knives are best used for general purposes, a bushcraft knife can excel at one purpose or another. If it’s designed perfectly as a trapping knife, then it’s a knife that can excel at that department. If it’s got a certain attribute that will make the knife stand out for some other purpose, it will excel at that subcategory.
Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162
Review of the Best Bushcraft Knives
The following is a list of six bushcraft knives that are currently on the market. It is important to take note of any characteristics and features that will possibly match with your ideal bushcraft knife. If you find one that is a perfect match, you know it’s a winner in your eyes. Let’s take a look at the first bushcraft knife on our list - the “best overall” choice:
Best Overall:
KA-BAR Becker BK2
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New users were quite satisfied with this knife in general. They were quick to report that it was sharp like a tack and is able to get the job done in many bushcrafting uses like woodcutting and trapping. One user said that it serves as a really good multipurpose knife.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The knife is made from high-quality carbon steel. It is proven to be one of the most durable materials for any knife out there. Not to mention, they can get really sharp in a short amount of time. So if you need to sharpen it in a flash, it can be done. The handle is also made from a solid material that can provide you with a good ergonomic grip.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be used in a multitude of ways. If you are a beginner, you might use this like any other knife you’ve used. If you tend to be creative, it can be your best tool for trapping animals.
Bottom Line
The KA-BAR Becker BK2 will probably be the knife you want in your arsenal when you want something that will have its uses in an outdoor setting. Whether you’re new to bushcraft or a seasoned vet, this knife will help you become well equipped with what you can possibly do in an outdoor survival situation.
Runner-up:
Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were happy with the knife. They said it was sharp right out of the box and provided them with excellent cutting and whittling. Not to be outdone, it also excels as a cleaning knife for most. One user said that it has fast become his favorite cleaning knife for hunting purposes since it’s sharp and can cut through no problem.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This knife has a sheath that is made from Kydex. It is a tough material that is usually hard to tear apart. It is also used in most concealed carry holsters. Either way, you have a knife that is sharp but won’t be able to easily cut through this sheath.
Who Will Use This Most
This will probably be used by a lot of hunters for the purpose of cleaning out their fresh kills. But at the same time, it will be a great knife for bushcraft enthusiasts or camper. Simply put, it’s a multipurpose knife that get the work done no matter how you use it.
Bottom Line
The Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 is a knife that won’t quit on you, even in the applications where you need it most. If you want something that is sharp as a tack and gets the job done, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything quite like it.
Best for the Money:
Morakniv Craftline Pro S
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, most recent buyers were quite satisfied with the knife. They said that it was sharp right out of the gate and could cut through a lot of soft materials. They also said the quality and performance excelled their expectations to a point where it should have been worth more in price.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This knife has a high-quality carbon steel blade that will stay sharp for a long time. So long as you maintain it and take good care of it, you’ll have a knife that will last you a long time. Other than that, the grip quality is excellent and gives you ergonomic friendly handling each time you use it.
Who Will Use This Most
If you’re starting out with bushcraft and need a knife that will be useful in more ways than one while you’re in the outdoors, this could be exactly the knife that you’re looking for. Don’t be surprised by the fact that by the time you get the hang of it, you won’t need another knife quite like this for a very long time.
Bottom Line
The Morakniv Proline S is a durable, sharp, and will serve its purpose in an outdoor environment just like any other knife on the market. Even better, it won’t take a bite out of your bank account in the slightest. If you want something that will excel the value of an affordable price tag, this bushcraft knife could be right up your alley.
Best Under $100:
Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new buyers were happy with this knife. A majority of them were new to bushcraft while others were using it as a knife for the usual outdoor activities like whittling, cutting, and animal cleaning. They were also happy to report that it was really sharp right out of the box.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This knife is the closest you can get to a possible outdoorsman’s knife. Even better, it’s affordable for most budgets. Quality-wise, it’s not cheap and flimsy. And the blade isn’t really dull at all. What matters is that it is a solid all-around knife that can come through in any tough outdoor situation.
Who Will Use This Most
This is another knife that will stand out as an excellent knife for beginners to use. You don’t have to be a master at bushcraft in order to own a knife like this. If you want something that has excellent quality and can be the closest you can get to a basic bushcrafting knife, here it is.
Bottom Line
The Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore is something that will be put to good use if you’re looking for a starter knife that won’t break the bank. While it’s great in quality, it will be your best friend out in the wilderness without having to break apart on you so easily.
Best Under $50:
Schrade SCHF36
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most new users were beginner bushcrafters that wanted an affordable knife that is also decent in quality. Many have stated that the quality is quite decent, but not flimsy. One user was able to put this to good use as a regular outdoor knife for a ton of purposes.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This knife doesn’t look like some kind of cheap knife. It’s the kind of knife that hits the perfect combination of high in quality and low in price. It’s carbon steel blade has an added finish to ensure that it doesn’t scuff up easily. Plus, the high-quality grip is ergonomically friendly and will give you an excellent hold even if your hands are sweating.
Who Will Use This Most
This would be a good knife for younger users. For example, if you have a family member that is a Scout, this would be the perfect knife for them to start with. Especially when they are getting around to using the knife for any bushcraft activity.
Bottom Line
The Schrade SCHF36 is a great beginner knife (especially for the new and young users). Sharp, affordable, and reliable for just about any outdoor or bushcrafting application this knife can be your cup of coffee if you want something that is simple in use and simple in design.
Best Bushcraft Folding Knife:
Kershaw Blur
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, new buyers were quite satisfied with the knife. The folding and retraction is easy and the locking mechanism does a good job locking the blade securely in place. The blade is quite sharp and can cut through a lot of materials according to one user.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The knife is a quick deploying knife that is ready to go at a moment’s notice when you need it. It’s sharp out of the box and has the ability to cut even through some of the toughest materials. Plus, the added finish makes it even durable. It might be the toughest and may be the sharpest folding knife for bushcraft.
Who Will Use This Most
This will likely be a knife that creative bushcraft users will use. Just unfold it, set up a trap, and you’ll be ready to catch your next meal in no time. Of course, it can do a great job with the wood cutting and carving for firewood.
Bottom Line
The Kershaw Blur is a proven winner when it comes to folding knives for bushcraft. Once you put this to good use, you might stick with this for a long time. You’ll never know how many tasks you can perform with this when it comes to the great outdoors.
Types of Bushcraft Knives
Not all bushcraft knives are created equal. So it’s important to know the difference between one type from the other. The following are some of the best types of bushcraft knives on the market:
Tactical Bushcraft
Tactical knives are proven to be the toughest in the business. They are usually made from some of the highest quality materials and by far the best in terms of durability and performance. On top of that, they are sharp enough to get you out of some dire situations. Some tactical bushcraft knives can even be used for self-defense.
Long Knives
These long bushcraft knives are long in length and are usually designed for cutting brush and branches for shelter, firewood, and anything that can be used for outdoor survival and camping purposes. As expected, the knives will be slightly longer than most standard knives.
Stainless Steel
Aside from the usual carbon steel knives, stainless steel is also one of the types of bushcraft knives that are used for multiple purposes. Typically they are easy to clean and won’t damage or stain easily. These may be used more so for wood cutting.
Conclusion
Finding the best bushcraft knife will take a bit of time and spotting out all the characteristics and features that make one great. These knives are built to last you quite a while, so be sure to choose one that will stick with you and be as reliable as possible for years to come.