If you’re searching for a bushcraft knife, here’s some things to try to find.
I checked out the Bark
River Aurora, and I am impressed. by Leon Pantenburg I did this review back in 2014 and it is reposted FYI. I did not get a free knife to test and examine. I got no payment for examining this knife, and nobody had any input into the evaluation. All I ever guarantee is a fair and objective testing and report
Somebody will get ticky about the distinction between a bushcraft and a survival knife.
Bushcraft, according to The Oxford English Dictionary meaning, is “ability in matters relating to life in the bush.” Survival is defined as “the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, usually in spite of a mishap, experience, or challenging situations.”
We have to begin someplace, so let’s specify a “bushcraft” knife as a tool primarily utilized for survival, camping, searching, and outside activities. The “no frills” appearance is what we’re looking for. Basically, a bushcraft knife is created to assist you achieve almost whatever required to get along outdoors.
The Bark River Aurora is a knife designed for bushcraft, and it carries out extremely, extremely well.(Pantenburg picture)The Aurora is the third Bark River knife I’ve reviewed, therefore far I have actually been actually pleased.(Check it out: Bird and Trout and Fox River reviews.)All Bark Rivers are made in the U.S.A. in Escanaba, Michigan. Client service is superb, and quality of the products is impressive. Here’s the Aurora specs: General Length: 9.5 Inches Blade Length: 4.5 Inches Blade Steel: A-2 Firmness: 58 rc Blade Density:.170 Inch Weight: 6 Ounces An
Aurora features The Sharpshooter Sheath Systems Bushcraft”A”Sheath. This leather sheath is difficult and resilient and will last under
tough use for a long period of time. Here’s the excellent things: Blade size: A four-to-five-inch blade has to do with best for
a bushcraft knife, IMO. It is simply the right size for skinning huge video game, however not too big to tidy fish or procedure small game. The blade is one-inch large, which is a great compromise. Wider would make it a better skinner, and a narrower blade would make it simpler to fillet fish. For general use, this is a great alternative. Blade length The convex grind of the blade is an excellent pick for a bushcraft knife. Bark River claims it offers maximum cutting power and allows simple batoning through wood, wood carving, and other camp chores. I found it works well in the kitchen for slicing and
slicing, though the blade is a little thick to be genuinely efficient for those tasks. Grind Blade thickness: The Aurora is.17-inches thick, which is a good width. Thinner would make this a better meat cutting, slicing and fillet knife. Thicker would make the Aurora a better wedge for splitting wood. However a bushcraft
knife requires to be rugged, and in the do-it-all category, you desire beneficial without being cumbersome. This density works. Blade thickness The manage is made of micarta, and is readily available in a wide range of colors. It is 4-7/8 -inches long, which is comfortable for my glove-size big hands. Ergonomically, the deal with fits my hand very well, and extended whittling didn’t reveal any locations establishing.(Prior to
buying any bushcraft knife, think about if you can easily utilize it while wearing gloves.) Handle The full-tang building and construction of the Aurora is more durable than other options, and I like the security. Steel: The Aurora is made from A2 tool steel with a firmness of 58 rc . It holds an edge exceptionally well. I deliberately dulled the blade, but rapidly brought it back to razor sharpness with a few swipes of my grandpa’s butchering steel.
Steel Drop point: Once again another great option for a do-it-all blade. I typically choose a clip point, since my bushcraft activities regularly include hunting and fishing, and I like more stubborn belly near the suggestion of the blade for skinning. But the Aurora’s drop point is probably better overall, because it centers the point near the middle. This will permit you to drill holes, skin huge animals successfully, sculpt wood and do other bushcraft activities quite well. Point Lanyard hole: Every stiff
blade knife must have a lanyard hole, IMHO. It permit rigging a safe hold on the knife under possibly hazardous conditions. The other stuff: Slippery deal with capacity: Any smooth product has the capacity for becoming slippery and dangerous if it gets enough slime, scales, blood and messy body fluids on it. If you’re purchasing a knife for filleting or hunting, and a slippery deal with is an issue, get one with a smooshy, soft material, like Thermorun. Or intend on attaching a lanyard, and understand how to utilize it. But after utilizing four Bark Rivers on a recent deer hunt, I discovered the
micarta gets tackier and more secure in my hand when damp. In one instance, I had to entirely dip my hand and knife in a bloody slurry of lungs and heart to cut the esophagus during a gutting process. The knife didn’t slip in my hand at all. Sharpening: A preferred knife of the mountain guys had a high carbon steel blade and was
easily honed. The harder steels hold an edge better, but may be more difficult for an inexperienced person to sharpen. Because knife honing is a survival ability, put it on your list of things to find out. Rate: You can purchase lots of, lots of inexpensive knives.
But every Bark River includes a no-questions, one hundred percent life time warranty. I examined the company out. They’re genuine. At first blush, American-made cutlery in some cases appears spendy. But that’s just when compared to knives produced overseas with cheap, starvation-wage labor. When you purchase a Bark River– or any”Made in U.S.A.” product– Americans who pay taxes and contribute to their communities benefit. There are some survival tools you can’t jeopardize on, and a survival knife is one of those. Think about equipment quality as an insurance policy. If the circumstance ever arises where you require a bushcraft/survival knife, then you will need it frantically. Failure is not an alternative, and at that point, expense isn’t even a consideration. Select your devices well, and invest wisely.