Why You Should Not Buy Anymore Bushcraft Knives

Searching for the perfect bushcraft knife is just an excuse to buy more knives

Congratulations, you're right. My father taught me to survive in the woods when I was growing up in Alaska, before the Survivalists, Preppers, SHTFers, Bushcrafters. Pick a good tool, learn how to use it. The term "Bushcraft" allows a manufacturer to jack up the price.

Very, very sympathetic to this concept. Too many people in too many fields obsess about gear instead of working on their skills to where they can make just about anything work. That said, if you enjoy collecting knives for their own sake—which I do—I don't see a problem there. The problem is in thinking the gear will somehow substitute for discipline and effort, because it won't.

best advice: "Start practicing and stop designing"

Great observations, and you are totally correct. Knowing how to use one knife to the absolute limits of its capabilities is far more useful than carrying around a bag of knives. Funnily enough, whenever I get a new knife these days, I put it on my desk, in front of my keyboard to remind myself its there. I use it for every knife chore in the house, and whenever Im thinking, waiting for a loading screen or have nothing in my hands, I pick it up, practise taking it out of the sheath and putting it back, and get used to its form generally. I learned to open a few folders one handed this way. As much as I love knives, and love collecting them, I know a guy who served two tours of Afghanistan with his kabar. He used it for every knife job, opening fuel cans and digging holes. In this time of abundance its really seductive to purchase a new tool for every job, rather than getting better at the craft. Thanks for the thoughtful video.

Look at the iceman Ötzi and his equipment. The cheapest, crappiest steel knife today would have been a really magical wonder tool for him. Still he managed to survive to late age (for those days) until he was murdered. It is the skill, body and mind that matters the most.

"Use what you got!" Good advice. "Finesse beats Brute Force." "Without the knowledge and skills, no knife will keep you alive." "The "best" knife is the one you have with you." Cliches, perhaps, but all are true as death.

No such thing as the perfect knife you will always be looking it's an addiction .

Just like firearms: “Beware the man with only one gun/knife. He probably knows how to use it.”

Great advice. The endless search for the perfect knife simply never ends.

That was the biggest voice surprise I've ever had. Great advice.

Without knowledge and skills, even the finest knife would be useless.

A lot of wisdom for someone so young.

We live in the golden age of knives. More the merrier. Find a knife you like and use it. Never force yourself to love a knife.

Fully agree. There is no end to knife buying. When I go out for some fun in the woods it is always a Gerber Strongarm, a folding saw and a small axe on a good day. Those three things do the bulk of all the work. A multitool serves as universal backup.

Don't know your age but Im 68 and been camping my whole life. I have to say I am very impressed with your advice about learning to use one knife and use it well as opposed to keep buying other knives ! Great job !

My grandfather never owned a big knife ,he just had a jack knife but could do just about anything required on a farm with that old jack. Commercialization of bushcraft really hit hard after YouTube came about. Just one good hunting knife is all you need.

You nailed it. Skills are usually what is lacking in a survival situation, not gear. Make smart selections on basic gear and then go use the heck out of it to determine strengths, weaknesses, and as you identified - workarounds. Great video sir!

You made good sense. pick whatever knife you feel comfortable with, and does what is needed. All knives cut, some are a little better at one thing, but give up another, so the perfect knife for all things does not exist. The knife is a tool but you are correct, learning the skills of wood-crafting, and what nature offers you, is far more important to survival.

Wise words young man. It’s not about the gear, it’s about the skill acquired by practice and experience. Most of us will never be in a “survival” situation, man! I hope I never am. I just go to the woods and enjoy nature. Thanks for your video.