Quick Summary
- Best overall: Morakniv Bushcraft, a 4.3-inch, 3.2 mm Sandvik 12C27 stainless blade made in Sweden.
- Best carbon steel: Condor Bushlore, 1075 carbon with a full tang, walnut handle and leather sheath.
- Best lightweight: Morakniv Bushcraft Forest, 2.5 mm stainless at about 5.4 oz.
- Best for chopping: Gerber StrongArm, a full-tang 4.8-inch 420HC blade.
- Key point: a Scandi grind, 4 to 5-inch blade and secure sheath suit most bushcraft.
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Bushcraft is the craft of living and working comfortably in the woods: making fire, carving tools, building shelter and preparing food. A good bushcraft knife is simple, strong, easy to sharpen and comfortable for long carving sessions.
You don’t need to spend much. Several of the most respected bushcraft knives cost well under $100.
Our older version of this list included knives over $100, a custom knife we couldn’t identify and a cheap Damascus hunting knife. We’ve rebuilt it with knives that genuinely suit bushcraft.
Our Picks at a Glance
| Knife | Blade | Steel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morakniv Bushcraft | 4.3 in, 3.2 mm | Sandvik 12C27 stainless | Best overall |
| Condor Bushlore | 4.3 in, about 3 mm | 1075 carbon | Best carbon steel |
| Morakniv Bushcraft Forest | 4.3 in, 2.5 mm | 12C27 stainless | Lightweight |
| BPS Adventurer | Scandi-ground | Carbon steel | Traditional style |
| Ontario Bushcraft Field Knife | 5 in | 5160 carbon | Larger blade |
| Gerber StrongArm | 4.8 in | 420HC | Chopping and batoning |
| Morakniv Eldris | About 2.3 in | 12C27 stainless | Compact carry |
How we chose: we haven’t lab-tested these knives side by side. We compared blade length and shape, steel, construction (forged or stamped), handle design and the makers’ published specifications, and we favored models with a long track record and consistent owner feedback over newer, unproven listings.
Specifications come from manufacturers and established dealers. Prices change, and some knives can exceed $100 at full price.
What Makes a Good Bushcraft Knife?
| Feature | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Blade length | About 3.5–5 in | Long enough to baton, short enough to carve |
| Grind | Scandi or flat | Scandi is easy to sharpen and bites into wood |
| Thickness | About 2.5–4 mm | Strong without being clumsy |
| Spine | Sharp 90° edge | Strikes a ferro rod and scrapes tinder |
| Tang | Full or robust partial | Strength for batoning |
| Sheath | Secure retention | Won’t lose the knife in the brush |
The Best Bushcraft Knives Under $100
1. Morakniv Bushcraft — Best Overall
Best for: most people starting bushcraft who want a proven, low-maintenance knife.
Morakniv makes its knives in Mora, Sweden. The Bushcraft has a 109 mm (4.3-inch) Sandvik 12C27 stainless blade that’s 3.2 mm thick, with a Scandi grind and a spine ground for striking a ferro rod.
The rubberized handle is grippy and comfortable during long carving sessions. The plastic sheath holds the knife securely and clips to a belt.
It’s tough enough for light batoning, very sharp and easy to maintain. See our Mora knife review for the rest of the range.
What we like:
- Made in Sweden
- Ferro rod-ready spine
- Stainless, low maintenance
What to consider:
- Partial tang
- Plastic sheath looks basic
Check the current price of the Morakniv Bushcraft on Amazon →
2. Condor Bushlore — Best Carbon Steel
Best for: traditionalists who want carbon steel, wood and leather.
The Bushlore has a 4.31-inch 1075 carbon steel blade just under 3 mm thick, with a full Scandi grind and full tang, according to GP Knives. Walnut scales are fixed with epoxy and brass pins, and it comes with a black leather sheath.
It’s made by Condor in El Salvador and weighs about 5.8 ounces. 1075 carbon is tough and very easy to sharpen in the field.
Our older list described it as an 8-inch 420HC stainless knife; that was wrong. Carbon steel needs drying and oiling to prevent rust.
What we like:
- Full tang
- Classic wood and leather
- Easy to sharpen
What to consider:
- Carbon steel can rust
- Leather sheath needs breaking in
Check the current price of the Condor Bushlore on Amazon →
3. Morakniv Bushcraft Forest — Best Lightweight
Best for: hikers who want a capable bushcraft knife at minimal weight.
The Bushcraft Forest has a 109 mm 12C27 stainless blade that’s 2.5 mm thick, with a Scandi grind and a grippy TPE handle, according to Morakniv. It weighs about 154 grams (5.4 ounces) with its polymer sheath.
The thinner blade carves and slices more easily than the 3.2 mm Bushcraft, though it’s less suited to heavy batoning.
It’s made in Mora, Sweden, and is a good choice for food prep and fine woodwork.
What we like:
- Light
- Excellent carver
- Stainless steel
What to consider:
- Thinner blade for batoning
- Partial tang
Check the current price of the Morakniv Bushcraft Forest on Amazon →
4. BPS Adventurer — Best Traditional Style
Best for: buyers who want a wood-handled Scandi knife at a low price.
BPS is a Ukrainian knifemaker known for affordable bushcraft knives. The Adventurer has a carbon steel blade with a Scandi grind, a wooden handle and a leather sheath, according to the listing.
The design follows classic Scandinavian bushcraft knives, which makes it well suited to carving and feather sticks.
As with any carbon steel knife, wipe it dry and oil it after use.
What we like:
- Classic Scandi design
- Wood and leather
- Inexpensive
What to consider:
- Carbon steel needs care
- Fewer reviews than Mora or Condor
Check the current price of the BPS Adventurer on Amazon →
5. Ontario Bushcraft Field Knife — Best Larger Blade
Best for: users who want a longer blade for more chopping.
The Ontario Bushcraft Field Knife has a 5-inch 5160 carbon steel blade at 53 to 55 HRC, a walnut handle and a nylon sheath, and weighs about 5.6 ounces, according to North River Outdoors. It’s made in the USA.
5160 is a spring steel known for toughness, which suits chopping and batoning. The softer hardness makes it easy to sharpen but means more frequent touch-ups.
Its regular price can exceed $100, so look for it on sale.
What we like:
- Made in the USA
- Tough 5160 steel
- Longer blade
What to consider:
- Nylon sheath is basic
- May exceed $100 at full price
Check the current price of the Ontario Bushcraft Field Knife on Amazon →
6. Gerber StrongArm — Best for Chopping and Batoning
Best for: users who want a full-tang knife for heavier work.
The StrongArm has a 4.8-inch, full-tang 420HC blade with a ceramic coating and a rubber-overmolded handle, according to Gerber’s listing. Its modular sheath mounts on a belt, horizontally or on MOLLE webbing.
It’s not a classic Scandi bushcraft knife, but its full tang and thick blade handle batoning confidently.
See our best Gerber knives guide for more options.
What we like:
- Full tang
- Versatile sheath
- Rust-resistant
What to consider:
- Not Scandi-ground
- Heavier than Mora knives
Check the current price of the Gerber StrongArm on Amazon →
7. Morakniv Eldris — Best Compact Carry
Best for: a small backup knife or neck knife for light bushcraft.
The Eldris has a short Sandvik 12C27 stainless blade of about 2.3 inches with a Scandi grind and a spine that strikes a ferro rod, according to Morakniv.
It’s too small for batoning, but excellent for feather sticks, food and fine carving.
Pair it with a saw or small hatchet for a light, capable kit.
What we like:
- Tiny and light
- Very sharp
- Made in Sweden
What to consider:
- Too small for heavy tasks
- Short handle
Check the current price of the Morakniv Eldris on Amazon →
Knives We Removed
The LionSTEEL M4 and the TOPS Brothers of Bushcraft knives are excellent but usually cost well over $100. We also removed an unbranded custom knife and a budget Damascus hunting knife, neither of which we could verify.
Scandi vs Flat vs Saber Grind
| Grind | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Scandi | Easy to sharpen; bites into wood; great for carving | Less efficient for slicing food |
| Flat | Excellent slicer; versatile | Harder to sharpen evenly in the field |
| Saber | Strong edge; good all-rounder | Thicker behind the edge |
Most bushcrafters prefer a Scandi grind because a flat stone and a steady hand are all you need to sharpen it.
Carbon or Stainless Steel?
Carbon steels like 1075, 1095 and 5160 are tough and take a keen edge quickly, and they throw good sparks from a ferro rod. They rust if neglected, so dry and oil them.
Stainless steels like 12C27 resist rust and need less care, which suits wet climates and canoe trips. Modern stainless bushcraft knives sharpen almost as easily as carbon steel.
Essential Bushcraft Knife Skills
- Feather sticks: shave thin curls from dry wood for fire lighting.
- Batoning: tap the spine with a wooden baton to split small logs.
- Notching: carve notches for pot hangers and shelter joints.
- Ferro rod striking: scrape the rod with the sharp spine for sparks.
- Food prep: slice and dice around camp.
Only baton wood thinner than your blade is long, and never baton with a folding knife.
How to Make a Feather Stick
Choose a straight, dry stick about thumb-thick and split it to expose dry inner wood. Brace one end on a log and hold the knife with the bevel flat against the wood.
Push the blade down the stick in long, thin strokes, stopping before each curl breaks off. Rotate the stick and repeat until you have a bundle of fine curls at the bottom.
The thinnest curls catch a spark from a ferro rod; the thicker ones feed the flame. A sharp Scandi edge makes this far easier than a dull or thick blade.
Batoning Safely
Stand a log upright on a solid base, such as a larger log, never on the ground or your leg. Place the knife across the top with the tip extending past the far side.
Strike the spine near the handle with a wooden baton, then strike the exposed tip to drive the blade down evenly. Don’t twist the blade to pry the wood apart.
Common Bushcraft Knife Mistakes
- Buying too big: long blades are clumsy for carving and fine work.
- Choosing a hollow-handle survival knife: the joint between blade and handle is often weak.
- Skipping the strop: a few passes on leather keep a Scandi edge razor sharp.
- Batoning too-large wood: use a saw or axe instead.
Safety and Carry
- Use the chest-lever and knee-brace grips taught in bushcraft courses for safe power carving.
- Keep a first-aid kit with you on every trip.
- Sheath the knife whenever you’re not cutting.
- Check local laws on carrying fixed blades.
Caring for a Bushcraft Knife
- Dry the blade after use, especially carbon steel.
- Oil carbon steel lightly with food-safe oil.
- Strop often on leather to keep the edge keen.
- Sharpen a Scandi grind by laying the whole bevel flat on the stone.
- Dry leather sheaths away from direct heat.
Building a Simple Bushcraft Kit
A knife is only one part of a bushcraft kit. A folding saw handles branches far more efficiently than batoning, and a small hatchet adds chopping power.
Add a ferro rod, a small sharpening stone, cordage and a first-aid kit, and you have a light, versatile setup. For a heavier all-in-one option, see our Tom Brown Tracker review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bushcraft knife under $100?
The Morakniv Bushcraft for most people, or the Condor Bushlore if you prefer carbon steel and a full tang.
What blade length is best for bushcraft?
About 3.5 to 5 inches.
Is a Scandi grind best for bushcraft?
For most users, yes; it’s easy to sharpen and excellent for woodwork.
Should a bushcraft knife be full tang?
Full tang is strongest, but robust partial tangs like Mora’s handle normal bushcraft well.
Carbon or stainless steel for bushcraft?
Carbon is tough and easy to sharpen but rusts; stainless needs less care.
Can you baton with a Mora knife?
Yes, for small wood, but avoid heavy batoning with thin blades.
