Buying your first bushcraft knife is harder than it should be. Walk into any outdoor shop and you will find a wide variety of knives, many advertised with vague promises of tactical performance. Choose wrong and you will end up with a blade that is too heavy to carve with, too soft to hold an edge, or not suited to the way you work in the wild.

This guide works through the decisions that matter, such as steel, grind, blade shape, handle, and budget. Every example comes from the range Woodlore actually sells, so you can compare real knives at real prices.

What Makes a Knife a Bushcraft Knife?

Before comparing blades, it helps to know what the category means. A bushcraft knife is built for working with natural materials and undertaking tasks like carving wood, preparing food, cutting cord and rope, and general camp chores. It’s important to note that it is not a combat knife or a machete. Most carry a blade of roughly 10 to 13 centimetres, use a full or partial tang, and favour a flat or Scandinavian edge that is easy to maintain in the field.

Woodlore has been teaching this craft since 1983, when Ray Mears founded what is now the world’s oldest school of wilderness bushcraft. The knives recommended are tested in real outdoor conditions by Ray and the instructors, which is why the range stays small and considered.

Blade Steel: Carbon or Stainless?

The first real decision is which steel type to choose. Carbon steel knives, like the O1 high carbon tool steel used in The Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife, are tough, easy to sharpen and hold a fine edge. They are the traditional choice for carving, and many bushcrafters prefer the way they bite into wood. The trade-off is maintenance. Carbon steel discolours and can rust if you do not keep it clean and lightly oiled.

Stainless steel trades some of that easy sharpening for corrosion resistance. The Fallkniven TK4 Folding Pocket Knife uses Elmax stainless steel hardened to 62 HRC for excellent edge retention, while the Morakniv Companion MG Stainless Knife offers a low-maintenance blade at entry-level pricing.

In short, carbon suits carvers who will keep the blade oiled, whereas stainless steel suits wet weather and low upkeep.

Grind and Blade Shape

The grind is how the blade is shaped from spine to edge, and it changes how a knife performs more than almost anything else. A Scandinavian, or scandi, grind is the bushcraft favourite. It is a single long bevel running from the blade’s ridge to the edge. It is easy to sharpen freehand and tracks well in wood. The Marttiini Lynx Forged Knife and the Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife both use this style.

Blade shape matters too. A drop point gives a strong, controllable tip for detail work. The Woodlore Knife Pro goes further with a more tapered point, developed over 30 years of use, for fine carving and small-radius work. The British Army Knife, by contrast, uses a sheepsfoot blade. This is a straight-edged shape with a rounded spine that slices well and is safely stored in a pocket.

Handle, Tang and Build Quality

A good handle is the difference between a bushcraft knife you enjoy using and one that blisters your hand. Look for a handle that fills your grip and stays secure when wet. Keep in mind that materials vary. The Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife uses linen Micarta, a robust and stable composite and the Marttiini Lynx, for example, uses traditional Finnish curly birch.

Tang is the part of the blade that runs through the handle. Full-tang knives have steel extending the whole length of the grip, giving maximum strength for heavy work. The Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife and the Woodlore Knife Pro are both full-tang, hand-built in the UK by Emberleaf Workshops. Half-tang designs like the Morakniv Companion range are moulded into durable handles, more than adequate for standard bushcraft tasks at a fraction of the price.

Fixed Blade or Folding Knife?

Most bushcrafters end up with a fixed blade as their main knife. There is no pivot to fail, and the full-length handle transfers force more efficiently. That is the role the Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife and the Woodlore Knife Pro play.

A folding knife earns its place as a secondary, everyday carry. The Fallkniven TK4, used by Ray Mears during the Goes Walkabout series and exclusive to Woodlore, is a compact folder whose blade spine doubles as a striker for a fire stick. The British Army Knife is a Sheffield-made classic with a locking or non-locking stainless folder with a 70mm sheepsfoot blade, tin opener and flat screwdriver.

What Is Your Budget?

Bushcraft knives range from under £20 to several hundred pounds, and price is a useful guide to what you are getting.

Entry level, up to £30:

·         The Morakniv Companion MG Stainless at £20 is a superb first knife. It’s comfortable and sturdy enough for real use.

·         The Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty MG at £28 adds a thicker 3.2mm carbon steel blade, and it is the knife issued to students on Woodlore’s Fundamental Bushcraft courses and used by Woodlore’s instructors.

Mid-range, £50 to £100:

·         The British Army Knife at £50.95 is a Sheffield-made folder with genuine history.

·         The Marttiini Lynx Forged at £68 pairs a forged carbon steel blade with a scandi grind and curly birch handle, and Ray has praised how easily its carbon steel sharpens.

Premium, £100 to £200:

·         The Fallkniven TK4 at £174.95 delivers Elmax stainless steel at 62 HRC in a light, carry-everywhere folder.

Investment pieces:

The Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife at £544 and the Woodlore Knife Pro at £635 are hand-made in small batches by Emberleaf Workshops using O1 high carbon steel, full tangs and premium handle materials. These are not beginner knives. The Knife Pro is aimed at professionals who want Ray’s own working design.

If you are new to bushcraft, do not feel you must start at the top. Many experienced bushcrafters carry a Morakniv for daily work and keep a hand-made knife for special occasions.

Why Buy a Bushcraft Knife From Woodlore?

Every knife in the Woodlore range earns its place in the field and nothing sits on the shelf because it fills a gap. The range is curated by people who teach bushcraft for a living, and the course team issues and uses these knives day in, day out. When you buy from Woodlore you also get honest advice. If the right answer for your needs is a £20 Morakniv, that is what you will be told.

If you want to build your skills alongside your kit, the Fundamental Bushcraft course with Ray Mears starts from the very basics of knife work and safety, and every student is issued with the same Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty MG that the instructors use. Learning with a recommended knife removes the guesswork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the best bushcraft knife for a beginner?

A: The Morakniv Companion range is the usual starting point. The Companion MG Stainless costs £20 and the Companion Heavy Duty MG costs £28, and both are sturdy enough for genuine bushcraft work. The Heavy Duty version is the knife Woodlore issues on its Fundamental Bushcraft courses.

Q: Carbon steel or stainless steel for a bushcraft knife?

A: Carbon steel is tougher, easier to sharpen and preferred by many carvers, but it needs regular oiling and care in damp conditions. Stainless steel resists corrosion and needs less maintenance. Choose carbon for carving performance, stainless for wet weather and low upkeep.

Q: What is a scandi grind?

A: A Scandinavian grind is a single long bevel running from the blade’s ridge down to the edge. It is easy to sharpen freehand, tracks well in wood, and is the classic bushcraft grind, used on knives like the Marttiini Lynx and the Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife.

Q: Should I buy a fixed blade or a folding knife?

A: Most bushcrafters use a fixed blade as their main knife because there is no pivot to fail and the full-length handle transfers force better. A folder such as the Fallkniven TK4 or the British Army Knife is a practical secondary carry.

Q: How much should I spend on my first bushcraft knife?

A: A genuine, field-worthy bushcraft knife starts at £20 with the Morakniv Companion. Most newcomers find the £20 to £100 range covers everything they need for years. Hand-made knives like the Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife at £544 are long-term investments.

Q: Is the Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife worth the price?

A: It is a hand-made, full-tang knife in O1 high carbon steel, built in the UK by Emberleaf Workshops to Ray’s specification. At £544 it is priced as a serious long-term tool rather than a first knife. Hand-made knives like this are produced in small numbers; check the collection page for what is in stock.

The right bushcraft knife is the one that fits your hand, your budget and the work you will actually do with it. Browse the full Woodlore knife collection to compare every model on offer.