An Affordable Bushcraft Knife

By Mike Lummio

The term bushcraft is sometimes used synonymously with survival skills, but this definition does not encompass the full meaning of the word. Although there is considerable crossover, the idea of bushcraft is not just to survive but to live well, even thrive, in the wilderness through the use of traditional techniques from around the world. The modern world with all of its trappings is obviously a new condition and does offer us many comforts. However, the belief that our ancestors lived on the brink of starvation as they huddled in caves is a fallacy quickly dispelled with a little research. Anthropologists tell us of hunter gatherer cultures who lived comfortably, created beautiful artwork, and actually had much more leisure time than we do. Despite the rampant industrialization around the globe, many of these cultures still exist today. It is in this spirit that bushcraft practitioners view our relationship with the natural world. It shapes the attitudes and skills to be learned for use in the backcountry. Bushcraft also marries well with the new trend in ultralight backpacking since the more you carry in your head, the less you carry on your back.

One of the main tools used in bushcraft is a good knife. Now, a “good knife” means different things to different people, so let’s be more specific. A knife suitable for bushcraft must be sturdy, well made, and be designed with an emphasis on wood carving (both in handle and blade configuration). Ideally, the knife will also be of full tang construction. Scandinavian style knives with a single edge bevel and large, comfortable handles have become the standard. The single edge bevel, or Scandi-grind, is ideally suited for carving and performs beautifully for any other cutting job as well. In addition, this edge is incredibly easy to sharpen both at home and in the field. With no secondary bevel, the entire blade edge is laid flat on the stone to restore a shaving edge.

Many custom knifemakers around the world are creating absolutely stunning bushcraft blades of the highest quality, but custom knives carry custom prices that many of us cannot afford. This is especially true for those just getting into bushcraft and would prefer to learn and make mistakes with a knife that costs less than their car payment. I have experimented with many knives over the years, and one of my favorite inexpensive bushcraft blades is the Norwegian made Helle-Eggen.

The Helle-Eggen has a 4” blade and is 8.5” overall. The handle is fashioned out of Artic Birch that fills the hand nicely with no hard edges. The blade is constructed by laminating a soft, stainless steel around a core of hard, carbon steel tempered to 59 Rc. This tri-laminate creates a blade which takes and holds a razor-sharp edge without becoming brittle. It also provides protection from rust and corrosion. For those who use a firesteel and are accustomed to using the back of their knife to create the sparks, the laminated steel in this area is too soft. One way around this is to use the very rear of the knife blade where it meets the choil. Needless to say, this will dull the last 1/8” of the edge over time, but it’s good to know it can be done in emergencies.

I mentioned earlier that ideally a bushcraft knife is full tang, therefore it should be noted here that the Eggen is not. Rather, it has a narrowed tang which does run the full length of the handle but not at full handle width. I’ve put this knife through a lot of rough usage and have had no problems with loosening of the handle on the blade. The plus side of the partial tang is the knife is extremely lightweight at only 4.1 oz.

The sheath is Scandinavian style and uses leather that extends far up the handle to hold the knife snugly in place. I really like this type of sheath. Since the knife is secured without snaps and other fasteners, the temptation to set your knife down or not use the snap and potentially loose your knife during frequent usage is avoided. The Eggen sells for about $60.00 US and is available from various online importers.

Photos by K.G. Lummio

Photo #1: This Helle-Eggen has taken a lot of abuse and is still going strong.

Photo#2: Using a baton to split wood for kindling.

Photo#3: In emergencies, a firesteel can still be used with the Eggen by scraping with the edge of the knife instead of the spine. Since this will dull the blade over time, I use the rearmost section to cause the least amount of impact on the cutting surface.