Camping and Bushcraft Knives

A camp knife is the one you reach for forty times a day and never think about. Splitting kindling, stripping bark, opening a bag of rice, boning out a trout, cutting cord. Nothing here is a specialist tool. Every knife on this page is a fixed blade between eight and thirteen inches overall, ships with a leather sheath, and is hand-forged in our Memphis, Tennessee workshop.

Why fixed blade and not folding

A folder has a pivot, and a pivot is a hinge full of grit after three days in the woods. A fixed blade has nothing to seize, nothing to clean out, and nothing to fail under a batoning load. If you are only taking one knife, take one with a full tang.

The length that actually works

Under eight inches overall and you lose the leverage to split wood. Past thirteen and the knife stops being useful for the small jobs, which is most of them. Eight to eleven inches overall, with a four to six inch blade, covers everything a camp knife is asked to do. The larger bowies on this page suit clearing and chopping if that is the work you have.

Steel choice for the outdoors

Our Damascus is 1095 and 15N20 forge welded, hardened to 58 to 60 HRC. It takes a very fine edge and it is easy to bring back with a stone in the field. It is carbon steel, so it will patina and it will rust if you leave it wet. That is the trade for the edge. If a knife is going to live in a wet pack or a boat, look at the 440C stainless or D2 tool steel versions instead.

Bushcraft grind versus hunting grind

A bushcraft blade wants a stronger edge geometry because it meets wood. A hunting blade wants a thinner, keener edge because it meets hide. Both are here. If the knife will mostly be used on game rather than timber, start with the hunting fixed blades.

Questions people ask

Can I baton with these? Yes, on the full-tang fixed blades. Batoning a folding knife is how folding knives die.

How do I stop the blade rusting? Wipe it dry before it goes back in the sheath and put a light film of oil on it every few weeks. Never store a carbon blade inside a damp leather sheath for the winter. Full method in our care guide.

Is the sheath included? Yes, every knife on this page ships with a leather sheath.

Can I have it engraved? Yes, in house before it ships. Names, initials, dates, unit numbers.

Please check your local law before ordering.