Choosing your first bushcraft knife is one of the most rewarding decisions you'll make as an outdoor enthusiast — and one of the most confusing, given how many options are out there. This guide cuts through the noise and tells you exactly what to look for.

What Is a Bushcraft Knife?

A bushcraft knife is a fixed blade designed for wilderness skills: carving, fire preparation, food processing, shelter building, and general camp tasks. Unlike tactical or hunting knives, bushcraft knives prioritise control, durability, and versatility over raw size or aggression.

Blade Shape

For bushcraft, a Scandi grind or flat grind is ideal. The Scandi grind — a single bevel that runs from the spine to the edge — is easy to sharpen in the field using a flat stone, and gives excellent control for carving and feathersticking. Look for:

  • Blade length: 90–120mm (3.5–4.7 inches) is the sweet spot — long enough for camp tasks, short enough for fine work
  • Blade thickness: 3–4mm spine for a good balance of strength and cutting performance
  • Drop point or clip point tip for versatility

Steel Choice

For beginners, carbon steel (such as O1 or 1095) is often recommended because it's easy to sharpen in the field and takes a very keen edge. The trade-off is that it requires more care to prevent rust — keep it oiled and dry.

If you prefer lower maintenance, a stainless steel like MagnaCut or 14C28N offers excellent corrosion resistance without sacrificing too much edge performance. For more on MagnaCut, read our MagnaCut care guide.

Handle

Your handle needs to be comfortable for extended use and secure when wet. Look for:

  • Natural materials like stabilised wood or micarta — they look great and provide a secure grip
  • A finger guard or choil to prevent your hand slipping onto the blade
  • Full tang construction — the blade steel runs the full length of the handle for maximum strength

Sheath

A good sheath is part of the package. Leather sheaths are traditional and look beautiful; Kydex is more weather-resistant and easier to clean. For bushcraft, either works well — just make sure it retains the knife securely and allows a clean draw.

What to Avoid

  • Blades over 150mm for a first knife — bigger isn't better for most bushcraft tasks
  • Hollow grinds — they're harder to sharpen in the field
  • Serrations — they complicate sharpening and aren't needed for bushcraft
  • Gimmicks like saw spines or built-in fire starters — a good knife does one thing brilliantly

Ready to Choose?

Browse our Bushcraft Gear collection and Fixed Blade Knives to find your first — or next — bushcraft knife. All the blades we carry have been chosen for quality and real-world performance. If you're not sure where to start, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.