My First Bushcraft Knife (Not What You'd Expect)

[@PaulKirtley]

I've learned a lot since I got my first "proper bushcraft knife" in the 1990s. Moreover, since 2003 I've been professionally involved in teaching bushcraft and guiding wilderness trips. If you can't get to my field courses at Frontier Bushcraft but you'd like to learn more from me, check out my Online Elementary Wilderness Bushcraft course via the following link. You can even get a couple of free sample videos from the course 🙂 -> www.onlinebushcraftcourses.com/online-elementary

[@tennesseesmoky9012]

My first campcraft knife was an Old Hickory 7” butcher knife in carbon steel. Purchased from a collection of kitchen utensils at a local estate sale for $2.00. Just cleaned it up a bit and made a homemade leather fold over sheath. It was my primary knife for several years. Starting to be a more rare find now that the Old Hickory manufacturer has been sold off and shut down. I enjoy your content Paul. Thank you for the information.

[@liammalarky3483]

My first knife was an old pen knife. I had a blunt as a brick, John Nowill (?) later on, and to my eternal shame, bought one of those awful hollow handled, blob compass, "survival" knives. My first serious outdoor knife was a Clipper. My first book was the Eddie McGee one, then Lofty's massive SAS Survival Handbook. That book was so big it needed its own bergan! I spent most of the 1970's out in the cuds as a kid building dens, shooting/snaring rabbits etc. Unlike Les Hiddink, we had no access to "bushtucker" in Scotland, except autumnal gooseberries and brambles etc. Overnight food was usually a cheese and jam piece (a sandwich). I watched Ray Mears' 10-minute programme "Tracks" religiously. I think it was he popularised the term "bushcraft". It wasn't one we'd heard of or used. We were simply "out". I still dont use the term as I live in the cuds, not the outback LOL. Merry Christmas and all the best for Hogmanay.

[@PaulKirtley]

Haha, cheers Liam. Great comments. Made me chuckle. I had the same hollow-handle "blob compass" type of knife too :-) All the best to you and yours for the festive season.

[@mikemasek6249]

1st knife - Mora Clipper. Still have it. It has never failed me. Many special memories connected with that tool.

[@PiscatorLager]

I bought a Victorinox Ranger when I was 9 years old (64 German Marks, saved a long time for this one) and it's still one of my go-to-knives for everyday tasks. Actually got my first fixed-blade 17 years later (won a Buck Selkirk in a Facebook photo contest) and only then I realized how much I had missed. Frohe Weihnachten from rainy Saxony.

[@blackbird-25]

my first knife was a Finnish puukko by Tapio Wirkkala. I didn't understand what it was 43 years ago but I certainly do now. It was a birthday gift and not something I could afford now, but I treasure it. It's a very proud knife and cuts me whenever I disrespect it!

[@sams568]

I had an old buck with a leather sheath and a pocketknife. It was a two bladed antler trimmed knife of unknown maker.

[@BuckMckawtheotherone]

Hey Paul. Marcel L. here, from Canada. I'm from the 1960's and 70's when I first did a lot of bush stuff, but it was simply playing in the bush, not called 'bushcraft' officially. The first knife I bought was just a cheap knock off folder that was made like the Buck 110. I kept it relatively sharp and used it to whittle sticks, to cut cordage, and to fillet fish and dress game. I used it daily for over 10 years. Then, I bought a real Buck 110, and used it another 20 years. I got married in 1981, raised a family for 20 years, and never really thought of 'bushcraft' knives. The axe cut and split firewood. The buck saw made it manageable. I did not baton a knife. I practiced Boy Scout basics. I collected info from books and magazines, the Internet was just developing. In 2002, I was fortunate to have a good paying job, the kids were moved out, I had more money, so I splurged on knives and got into the Internet bushcraft community. I bought quite a few knives since then: 01 tool steel, 1095 and 1070 carbon steels, a stainless steel (not sure what grade, it works well). My oldest fixed sheath knife is a Finnish Maartini filleting knife that has cleaned a lot of fish in 55 years. Now, I use Caleb Musgrave's Dragonfly 4.0 dangler. It's been my go to knife for since the GBS in Alberta. Before that, I was using the Bushcraft UK knife for 5 years or so. In winter, I use a Condor Kephart 1070 carbon steel which hangs about my neck; that one is not heavy, and it works just fine for winter bushcraft. I suppose it's how you use your knife that matters, not what it looks like, or how much it costs. Thanks for posting.

[@PaulKirtley]

Hey Marcel, as always it's lovely to see one of your comments pop up. Thanks for sharing your memories here. they are always interesting to read. Thanks also for your continued support and engagement with my various forms of material and output across the interwebs :-) Hope you are doing well. Cheers, Paul

[@1969pah]

My first bushcraft knife was a Brusletto Hunter. I got it when I was 15 years old for my confirmation. This is a solid hunting knife! This is Norway's best-selling hunting knife since it was launched in 1963. 14116N steel in the blade, sharpened and durable. I guess you can cal it a bushcraft knife to.

[@bilbotification]

I was given the Normark gralloching knife for my 12th birthday 47 years ago . Excellent for first steps in survival and bushcraft. Sadly now lost.

[@zoltanpuskas5279]

Appreciation sir, I myself have also been collecting knives since the 1990s, always driven by the mindset beyond, how deep mankind missed even the cheapest and most simple one in the past… Despite of todays CPM steel knives etc. and all the other stuff, soft skills you have been teaching, are great! Keep on and have a good new year.

[@shanesims2864]

I love great stories like this 👍🏻 You just learn about other people and there lives . But no matter where they are in the world there story is kind of like our on . All the best Paul 🤝

[@BlackthornBushcraft]

My first "bushcraft" knife was marked Venture Sheffield England it was given to me while in the army as part of a debt repayment. It was a antler handled hunting style knife unknown steel and i suspect stick tang. I took an angle grinder to it years later to reshape the blade and used it successfully for many years. Still have it in a draw upstairs.

[@stetomlinson3146]

I saw your Garberg Knife video when it first came out, so bought one. It’s a cracking knife and I liked it so much and felt confident and comfortable using it, so much so I stopped looking for knives and still use it. So thanks Paul. 👍

[@PaulKirtley]

Hey Steve, good to hear from you. I'm glad that knife is still serving you well. Cheers for the feedback! All the best, Paul

[@antaress8128]

I also got the Garberg because of that video. My first was Mora Companion Heavy Duty though.

[@davidgreally4347]

First cutting blade was a tramontina machete in early 80's whilst camping/surviving! After joining army in 88 I had a plain old red Swiss army knife, don't remember which type. Needed nothing else... Now I have several ,most used is an Eklund hand made 80mm RWL34. Great knife Best wishes to you all

[@PaulKirtley]

I realy like RWL34. Fantastic steel.

[@lewisward4359]

Nice little knife for the time. I knew about small hunting and camping fixed blade knives from Kephart's work. The magazine Fur, Fish, and Game were advertising small booklets of Kephart's, Camping and Woodcraft in the late 60's and early 70's. At one point I saw the 1930's version of the Marble's knife he recommended in an antique store. I didn't have the money so I left it for someone else... I kept looking for a proper knife, but didn't get a dedicated Bushcraft Knife until 2009 when I got the Skookum Bush Tool. The I realized it wasn't the best knife for gutting or butchering game, but I think it's got the best Scandi grind that I've handled. I reverted to using a small (2-5/8" blade that I got for woodcarving in 1989) Frost's Mora Solid knife which was perfect for the. task and much lighter in weight. I bought a Brusletto, but the blade was SS and thin with a steep Scandi grind. Never liked the steel. Always appreciate your thoughts.

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi Lewis, thanks for your comments. It's interesting to read through the knives you have tried and your resulting preferences. It's always an evolution, isn't it? All the best to you.

[@lewisward4359]

@@PaulKirtley It's often a slow learning curve. I did pick up a Case skinning knife made in the 50's Carbon steel wickedly sharp, but the aluminum nut in the handle was shot as was the old letter. I replaced the leather with section of antler and poured lead in the hole that house the tang where the nut would go. Sheath was too rotted.

[@najroe]

As a Swedish man past 50 it was a classic Mora with laminated blade, my first knife actually,got it from my grandfather, I was not even 6 years old, year after I got a small hatchet from my other grandfather, still have both, knife has a new sheet and axe new mask, they are used to nubs and more or less never used, more memorabilia than anything.

[@antaress8128]

My first ever knife was a pocket knife and was a gift from my grandfather. Managed to cut myself on the first day of having it!

[@najroe]

@@antaress8128 i got one few days later from the other grandfather, sadly that got lost somewhere in my teens

[@jeanyves8585]

As a kid, I got one of those cheap Rambo knife, my first big « survival » knife was a Becker BK9 but the first woodlore clone I bought when I really got into learning bushcraft, is a Bernie Garland blank blade for which I built the handle out of stabilized wood. I still use it from time to time and love it and I hope to give to my daughter some day if she keeps an interest for bushcraft… my latest is the Shemanese designed by Craig Caudill and manufactured by LT Wright knife, a really fantastic interpretation of the colonial long knife in the US and a woodlore, a knife totally worth checking for any blade enthusiast! Happy new year Paul!

[@eturnerx]

My first bushcraft knife was a Mora Companion SS in orange. I've given it away. My main bushcraft knife is a Mora Garberg SS in the leather sheath.

[@Scotland_my]

The first filleting/bait knife I had was a Normark and I loved it. The first bushcraft knife I had was a Mora Robust that I still have and use now and again. I'm a bit of a knife geek and have many "fancy" knives, even one I designed myself, but I keep going back to the Moras. A Mora will do everything I'll ever ask of it. 👍

[@PaulKirtley]

It's hard to beat the Mora, especially for value.

[@joeriley5059]

My first was a jacklore classic. Then a Mora. Both excellent in the bush.

[@gpietra]

My first one was a Garberg, bought long time ago back in 2023, and your video about it strongly contributed to my choice. Cheers!

[@DaryooshF.Sh.P-vq6mu]

My first knife as an adult was/is buck vanguard in 420 hc and rosewood handle got it along my first gun. Now after 30 years it still shines and has served most even in my decent collection of best custom knives with super stills and exotic handles. I believe first one is always special to people.

[@nicholashayes3716]

Thanks for sharing Paul, I was knocked out to see your Normark, mine has a more pointed blade and a nice dangler leather sheath from about 1970. I think they were made by Fiskars. I now really like my Real Steel mk1 bushcraft, but have a Mora robust that probably gets more use! Thanks again for all the videos, I appreciate your sharing of your knowledge.

[@wealdjourneyman]

1992 I went on a Scout trip to Canada as a 16yo, and bought a copy of Kochanski’s Northern Bushcraft (I still have that copy) in Rocky Mountain House. The following year we had a family caravan holiday in Sweden where I found the red birch handled Mora that Mors was using so I bought one - my first bushcraft knife.

[@PaulKirtley]

You had some great formative experiences! Thanks for sharing.

[@wealdjourneyman]

@@PaulKirtley yes, although being brutally honest I had no idea that I had bought such a seminal work at the time

[@stevensad38]

Many years ago, like you, I bought a few crap knives as they were what I could afford and were available. Now I have a standard Mora Knife SS with plastic sheath, a Pacific full blade carbon 6 in x 1/4 in blade for heavy work and a 4 in drop-point blade folding knife for field work and a Lansky EDC plus a few other knives I seldom use or even look at.

[@drosevthokie]

Martini of Finland. Same company makes the popular rapala fillet knives. Great company. Mora adjacent

[@finhiggs4437]

I started with a Mora heavy duty which is pretty bomb proof, done the job for years and when I honed my skills I got myself a Casstrom No.10 forest knife, both really good knives and worth checking out

[@cb3391]

My first camp knife: The Survivor From the 80's Yes that was my first real sheath knife Loved that knife it was fun. My original fell into the crevice of time. But I have acquired an exact replacement.

[@eriktaylor5704]

My first bushcraft knife was a Mora Basic 511. Still have it. I used it to practice knife sharpening on a scandi grind.

[@peterwebb8732]

I was a farm kid, so my early knives were all stockman-type folders. First fixed-blade belt knife was a clip-point “bowie” style Because my outdoor activities were biased toward hunting, I ended up with a preference for a straight-backed knife with a reasonable belly for flaying and a point for sticking. Very much like a short butcher’s knife or a Finnish Puukko with a more profiled handle.

[@broostube5759]

My first bushcraft knife was an Opinel #6 bought on a school trip to France when I was 9. It was just so lovely, I couldn’t resist. It had a carbon steel blade. My brother pinched it a few years later. Decades later, I kept a #7 in the kitchen draw in my house in France, but that too went walk about. 😢

[@jamesparker6383]

My first bushcraft knife I bought back in the early 70s and it was the Puma White Hunter and I still use it now.

[@PaulKirtley]

Puma White Hunter is a classic!

[@rodvandaalen1219]

Hi Paul, I've still got my Normark, knife with a martini stainless steel blade like the one you have. Many thanks for showing us. Take care, Rod.

[@PaulKirtley]

I'm in good company it seems 🙂

[@erikrolander1754]

My first knife was a blue handled Mora, an early model from before they were called Morakniv. I was 7 years old. Now i have a mora kansbol. Merry christmas paul and everyone else 🎉

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too Erik.

[@arthurlambart7115]

My first bushcraft was a German army pocket knife I bought in the mid 70s of course at the time I didn't know it was useful for bushcraft. My first fixed blade bushcraft knife was a bushcraft black and it's still my favorite.

[@phillipschris2274]

Great seeing your videos again. Learned a great deal from the Elementary Bushcraft course. More info than you can absorb in months, thank you for that. My first bushcraft knife was a Mora craft line robust. Still have it and fond of the memories I made while carrying it. Happy new year Paul!

[@nathanielbetteridge4978]

My first legit bushcraft knife was a Maverick Scout knife by Blindhorse Knives, which happened to be from the first batch ever produced as a prototype. Still have it, still use it, primarily as a hunting knife. Not the best for carving or firecraft but it excels at all things food prep including field meat handling. But it truly is a good all around knife.

[@oferbechor1579]

🌺🙏🌺Thank you very much for sharing - My first knife is BAHCO 2446 stainless steel I really like it and still use it🌺🙏🌺

[@Louiseskybunker]

My Kuhn mini cleaver is still the most amazing knife to have anywhere any time.

[@Phootaba]

My first bought for the purpose of bushcraft and utility was a Lars Fält knife with a 'drop point'. I did choose a longer blade for the sake of baton-ing. Before that being swedish, and a scout it was all the different types of Moras. And I worked up a lot of different ideas and principles around knife usage with kids as that are scouts.

[@ezel1954]

Hey Paul, merry x mas en happy nj from Holland, first knife and still going strong the Mora classic knife with red wooden handle gr Cees

[@PaulKirtley]

Merry Christmas Cees!

[@nigellack2576]

Hello Paul, this is a bit of a sad story. I bought my first bushcraft knife in the early 2000s, and it was a Alan Wood/ Ray Mears original bushcraft knife, with leather sheath and ferro rod. Sadly, I lost it in 2009. After that I just used my spare, and rather excellent, Swedish 'Frosts' Mora green plastic handled, and Scandi ground knife. A few years ago, I purchased a Lars Falt Casstrom, which is a beast of a knife, but more reasonably priced than Ray's knives are now. When I ordered the original Ray Mears knife, it cost me c. £60, and I remember going on a waiting list for less than a year! I miss my Wood/Mears original knife, but I can neither justify or afford to replace it. Keep up the excellent and useful videos Paul, appreciated, Nigel, Scotland.

[@hb.canada]

Hello Paul, I watched the video discussing your early, meaningful moments in bushcraft, your first knife, your initial readings, Thanks for sharing these significant moments with us. It was interesting. See you soon 🤠

[@PaulKirtley]

I'm glad you enjoyed this video. Thanks for your feedback. Warm regards, Paul

[@neoaliphant]

my first knife was a hollow handle survival knife, it was 1984 and thats all the shops had, and bowie and the occasional opinel. my first survival book was loftys SAS guide in 1986, but in 1993, my first buscraft book was that same raymond mears book, ...

[@jurgenkrebbekx4329]

My first scandi Bushcraft knife was a gift from a friend, the Spyderco bushcraft with black G10 handle, still love it, this knife got me hooked on bushcraft knives so I bought a bunch of different brands,TP knives from the UK,Adventure Sworn from the USA to name a few but finally got myself addicted to the knife Mors Kohanski described in his book and which was made by Rod Garcia, the Skookum Bushtool, the first one I got was a birthday present from my wife, after that I couldn’t help myself, sold all my Bushcraft knives but kept the Spyderco because it was gifted to me and bought more Skookums, now I have 9 of them🤷🏻‍♂️ thanks for sharing your story,merry Christmas 🎅‼️

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi Jurgen, thanks for you comments. I'm glad you liked my little story too 🙂

[@richardregosa3666]

Not my first but i've had it for a long time. It has never failed me; EKA Nordic h8. Unfortually they are no longer in production so im glad i got it while i could.

[@srh1101]

My first proper bushcraft knife was the Mora you gave me on the Essential bushcraft course back in 2008.Still have it tucked away somewhere as well.

[@PaulKirtley]

Good stuff. The Moras are very good knives. Glad you still have it from the course. Hope you are doing well. All the best, Paul

[@Schleifuchs]

2022 I startet to search for a knive that was not too expensive, produced in europe with lethersheet and firesteel included. I have made my decission. I bought my joker knives "ember" with a scandinavian grind. I love it. Greeting from the very north of germany.

[@Suriel08]

The first knife I used for bushcraft was some kitchen knife I ... uh ... liberated from my mother's collection. My first real bushcraft knife was a handmade hunting knife my grandfather had a colleague make for me. Today I have a Mora Bushcraft and a Casström. I like the weight of the Casström better, but the Mora definitely saw more use and never let me down.

[@Bearded_Tattooed_Guy]

My first knife, birthdaypresent at seven years old, was the classic Frost 3-4 inch red wodden handle, and cheap plastic sheath. Cut my tongue(!) the first day I had it. Scandi grind, high carbon blade. Would rust, yes, but in constant use that was not an issue. I would use it for everything. The sheath was the weak point. Had an upgraded Frost with a decent leather sheath and black injection molded handle at 14-15. In my early twenties, my army years, I carried a 3,5 inch Stømeng small Sami knife. Amazing cutter/slicer. And a bigger Helle, for serious cutting. Today I carry folders day to day, or a fixblade when hiking. Found my deceased father-in-law's old survival knife in a drawer on X-mas eve. The sheath is some plastic pretending to be leather. They are still around, and still no better than they ought to be.

[@PaulKirtley]

There are some good knives in your history 🙂

[@PaulKirtley]

PS - I need to ask - how did you cut your tongue? Playing Pirates?? 🙂

[@Bearded_Tattooed_Guy]

@@PaulKirtley Pirates were not a thing at the time, but decent guess. I just had to taste the steel... 😄 Why? Nobody knows. I was seven at the time. Still not my brightes moment, and I had a new knife. It happeneed so fast, I was confused, and didn't know what I was doing. I did not need stitches! On that particular occation. Merry Christmas!

[@mike_outdoors4918]

I like this story. I remember the first Ray Mears book I read, it was simply called The Survival Handbook, from my local library. Oh and my first bushcraft knife was a Mora Clipper, many years after the book. Cheers Paul 👍

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks Mike. Glad you liked the story 🙂

[@timdrinnan]

Must have got them at a similar time I have the exact same knife. Severed a purpose for a while. Regards Tim

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Nice one Paul, I remember those knives and the maker. My local fishing shop used to stock their knives. I started with Bowie knife. My grandma bought myself and my cousin one each for Christmas when we were 14. I've still got it over 40 years later and still take it out occasionally for old times sake although it doesn't campare to my Lars Felt Classtrom or my 11 Yr old Mora ( Great knife) Atb, have a great Christmas Rick n Billydog

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks Rick 🙂

[@theom7476]

My first real one is the mora hd companion, that I received on my course with you. I still use it because it works great. I do have some specific for wood carving as well though

[@JackKlumpass]

Blimey Paul - I’m 52 so memory is fuzzy - my older brother and I tended to share, so was either one of those ubiquitous lock knives from keane’s tackle shop in Plumstead or a rambo knife with the floating compass thing at the end of the handle lol

[@PaulKirtley]

I'll be 51 in January ;-)

[@glbwoodsbum2567]

Slipjoint and an Estwing hatchet were my first, many many moons ago.

[@godoit3795]

The first fixed blade I bought was a red plastic handled stainless frost mora I bought on Vancouver Island in 1989. Now I cary two cold steel knives the master hunter and trail master.

[@getsmart3701]

First "bushcraft" knife for me was a Mora 2000. Looking back on it, how lucky was I? What a fantastic knife, first or otherwise. I still have it and it still use it as it's tied semi-premently to my ski pack. Of course I had the "Rambo survival" knives from the military surplus stores but they were all terrible for everything except creating a baseline with thich to judge later knives🙂

[@freespirit8655]

My first bushcraft knives ( bought the set ) where the condor bushlore & mini bushlore and are still in my backpack as backups , 🙂 .

[@garytru563]

Great vid, Thank you

[@canadafree2087]

Mine was a Mora red handle made for Premier. Some 30 years later I come to find that it was also Cody Lundin's first Mora too. They were not well known in Canada in the late 80's-90s. I always noted that European knives had very thin sheaths, not as good as American ones. However, the 70s and on was kind of a low point in knives with many companies seeking to lower costs. Thanks for sharing Paul!

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks for your comments. I did some training with Cody back in September. He still has is red Mora around his neck 🙂

[@davidbratley5318]

ah interesting question, my friend Adrian (who sadly passed away many years ago) and I had the SAS survival guide, he got a locking knife and a big Rambo type knife, I just had a little Texas locking knife with a sliding lock, we were about 10 at the time :), thought my mum wouldn't let me get away with more :). In recent years it was the Light my fire Fire knife, before I got a 'Proper' Mora with a Carbon steel blade which sharpens and holds it's edge better.

[@campfirediaries2349]

Victorinox Trail master that I got for my 12th birthday. Still have it and use it on picknick outings with the family (I'm 42 now). First fixed blade a Mora Companion. That knife you're showing looks a lot like a Martiini from today. On my quest for the perfect knife I've gone in circles around the Garberg. Trying all sorts except that one because to me it's an ugly knife. But it does have all the traits I look for in a knife that I finally succumbed and gotten me a carbon black one and I'm very happy with it 😁

[@RobGb100]

Mine was a hollow tin scaled knife with a thin leather sheath that my older brother gave me in 1978 or1979. It worked well for making basic stuff until I lost it. Merry Christmas Paul and thank you for bringing back an old memory.

[@PaulKirtley]

Merry Christmas to you too. I'm glad you enjoyed this video. Thanks!

[@jackkellar8019]

My first knife was Cold Steel SRK. I carried it for several years while in the army and it was perfect for that purpose, but for bushcraft I prefer something shorter with scandi grind and recently I saw a Spanish knife called Joker Lynx but it is not scandi grind now I m in doubt wether to buy it or not... Paul you are best yt channel I found and thank you for sharing the knowledge (sorry for bad english im from Bosnia)

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi Jack. Greetings from England. Thanks for your positive words about my channel. I'm glad you have found it. I lok forward to sharing more videos with you in 2024. Warm regards, Paul

[@lovelyrainflowerfarm]

I was so desperate to start practicing Bushcraft and I had absolutely no money. My first knives were kitchen knives. One was full tang, and the other one was a fixed blade butcher knife. One of them I absolutely destroyed. It looks like this now 📈📉 lol. Sometimes it’s good to start off with no money, because you learn to use what you have and focus on developing the skills. and then you can destroy the less expensive stuff lol So glad you’re back Paul!!!

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks. Glad to me making more videos for KZbin :-) Yes, it's good to have constraints (financial or otherwise) as they make you more resourceful.

[@erickmo1188]

Mora 711. It was perfect. Honestly it’s still very serviceable but I’ve retired it because I had the means to upgrade to something a bit more available. I don’t want to loose my old trusted friend. I wish they still made the 711. I’d buy five of them if they did.

[@johngriffiths3309]

I had one late nineties but I also had the cheep Rambo knife but I was well into pioneer clasp knifes at the time have a good Christmas mate

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks John.

[@dtl5623]

My first knife was a Buck 110 knockoff. My first Bushcraft knife was a Bahco 2444 (rebadged Morakniv).

[@ChateauBeaufort]

I got myself a "Dadley" 1800 Spear Point design, made in 50 s in Solingen... (drop forged 1080 Carbon Steel, I think): Short grip, 5" Blade (8 3/4 OAL), screwed pommel, robust "through tang" full flat grind, 3/16 spine. That design is the "grand dad" of the Kephart the Nessmuck and the Canadian belt knife: Blade like a mini Price "San Francisco" Bowie. Still the most effective woodcraft/trekker knife I own. Fits in the pocket, so always with you as a survival companion. I had a recent replica made, in 1/4" M2 Steel, with a true full tang & High Scandi grind... (11 degrees/Side bevel). The 2 still play together with me. Great wood splitters, notchers, & "feather- stick" makers... Oh.. the later has an X shape grip that nests the hand nicely. (good throwing knives, specially the older one... that sports a tougher steel... Kits like to throw knives while camping, you know?)😂

[@hansesselink9386]

Very nice video, a trip down memory lane. My first bushcraft knife is still being used and it is a mora black. Very nice knife. My children use a mora companion. Merry christmas everybody

[@PaulKirtley]

It's nice to reminisce sometimes :-)

[@OldForestBushcraft]

Wow! Old Normark, they were made here in my village, Fiskars. Lol. I used them also in the 90s. Very nice discussion! Subbed! Cheers from a fellow outdoors lover/youtuber from the village of Fiskars, Finland!

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Nice looking knife. I like it. I’m not a bushcrafter but I watch a lot of bushcraft videos (go figure). That said I did buy a Mora Bushcraft Black. 😊

[@jorggardenier]

My first the Casström from Lars Fält, and still going on 👌😎👍

[@alexanderbielski9327]

My first knife was a super dulled (on purpose by my father) Swiss army that I loved and lost in my grandfathers woods 😂 oops bushcraft knife, that would be a condor Hudson Bay knife and I still love it! Monster of a knife!

[@Mugwumps107]

My first ( Survival ) knife was a cheap hollow handled thing called an Explorer waaaaaaay back in 1986, it had all sorts of attachments to its sheath, fishing kit, harpoon heliograph, catapult 🤣 very probably a rocket launcher too. It was a heap of junk but I loved it 😁 while it lasted. My first Bushcraft knife was a green Frost Mora 760, I think it was 760 anyway. I used the hell out of it, still have it somewhere I’am sure. It was a nice little knife.

[@yellowboot6629]

Happy New 2024❣️

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks. You too.

[@1life2risk]

Back in the early eighties (the term "bushcraft" wasn't known at all) in the military i bought a KaBar knockoff because the knife given by the German Bundeswehr was dull shit. Then it was a Glock 81 influenced by Rüdiger "Sir Vival" Nehberg. Both were far from optimum in wood working. After that it was a Marttiini from Finland, the first one with a real scandi grind. Then I had the money to by a duo of "real" knives: the "German Expedition Knife" and it's small brother, the "Europamesser", both designed by Tony Lennartz. All of them except the Marttiini flat grinds with secondary bevels. From this smaller "Europamesser" knife I learned the advantages of smaller knives for outdoor use. When "bushcraft" startet and became nearly a flood through social media, I got my first Moras, bought them directly at the Mora factory outlet. Long journey since then and lot's of more knives for a knife addict.

[@PaulKirtley]

😀

[@alanbierhoff6831]

* I live in the United States and I’m in my 60’s… My first ‘Bushcraft’ knife was a 7 inch blade Ontario Knife Company butcher’s knife that I permanently “borrowed” from my mom’s kitchen lol. My first real sheath knife was a drop-point Case hunting knife that my father bought for me in 1972 as I was about to go off to a summer camp called Adirondack Woodcraft Camp in Old Forge NY. (Founded in 1925 and still in business today!) The term Bushcraft wasn’t used back then. At least not in my circles. I have that same knife as yours, only it has the “Martini” brand on it. I know they are/were the same company at some point. I got mine in the late 1970’s or very early 1980’s if I remember correctly.

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks for your comments, which I enjoyed reading. Interesting you have the same knife but branded differently. I think they are good little knives!

[@doogsm6013]

My first real bushcraft knife was a D.H. Russell #1 Manufactured by Grohmann out of Pictou Nova Scotia that I purchased in 1978. Unfortunately I no longer have that knife but own several Grohmanns now. I alsoown a Garberg in carbon but prefer my Terava Jaakaripukko 110.

[@robertfinneide5044]

My first "bushcraft" knife was a Mora, do not remember model name or number but haven't seen one like it in many years, after that I got a Mora 2000 and a Brusletto Hunter.

[@forestedforestschool]

My first proper knife was a SAK 'Camping', my first 'Bushcraft' knife was a TBS Boar, still using it now, about eight years later. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too!

[@lyndonmarquis414]

My first actual bushcraft knife is a TBS Grizzly Mk II. A friend won it in a KZbin draw and wasn’t using it so I bought it from him at a fairly knockdown (but very fair) price. It’s great though possibly slightly thick in the beam (the blade stock is almost as thick as my 13” khukuri). Still get used to the scandi grind; my knife experience is very much based around kitchen knives. Splendid thing though and happy to be making its acquaintance.

[@TorArneHegna]

Mine was also a Martiini (branded Normark in several markets).

[@38thfoot]

Like many others I bought a wood lore training knife which is a mora companion. Still got it and use it regularly.

[@Boub65]

My first bushcraft knife was a Fallkniven F1. I still have it !

[@markhaywood7307]

i've have many now..😜 I have and have to this day lost many Mercator folders or gave them away.(standard all steel versions) I have also had and have to this day a 14" tramontina plastic handle jungle manchette- same pattern as used in vietnam . Snapped one, once. I cherish my Puma skinner from 1980- first owner.(don't use it much- looks cool.) The others are nice, "all bought because i can". some in Stainless, i trust the others. Out there doing and using them +45 years.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

I went through a phase of buying knives that looked good but were actually not suited at all well to bushcraft jobs. I bought a clipper before it became the companion and have been using the same knife for over ten years, the only damage is a bit off the tip when I had to use a roofing hammer to break down some hard wood on a trip. total abuse on my part but its still going. I give companion knives to anyone with the slightest interest in the outdoors as a good base to start with.

[@alf3553]

My first blade was also a Normark. If I had to guess…. Early 1970’s. Dangler sheath & the blade was more of a companion style with a scandi, still have it.

[@THE.JEWELLERY.GUY64]

merry CHRISTMAS PAUL i to still have a rambo style one from back in the day , but have been converted to mora .

[@PaulKirtley]

Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

[@ReasontoLiveAdventures]

Back in the late eighties,my first knife was a Rambo knockoff. I was sixteen and didn’t know about full tang knives. Needless to say, it broke while on a week long survival training course. Since then I have refused to purchase knives that are not full tang knives. I have a Mora Garberg now, and love it. Best wishes to you and yours for a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

[@PaulKirtley]

Thank you. Wishing you the best for the festive season and a great start to 2024.

[@pault1289]

I was lucky enough to have come across a recommendation (maybe from Ray) and sought out a Mora online. Mine was in stainless bright orange - so I would be less likely to lose it (and I never did). 😊 Merry Christmas Paul, thanks for all the content and advice you've provided. All the best for the New Year, Paul

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks for your kind and positive words Paul. Wishing you all the best for 2024.

[@CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

Reminds me of my Marttiini Rapala Skinner knife. Same blade shape. I believe my first Bushcraft was a Mora. Like to see this kind of stuff. Merry Christmas Paul!

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks Merry Christmas to you too!

[@davehumpleby3440]

Embarrassingly, I, too, started out in the late 80s with a ridiculous 'Rambo' knife complete with 'survival' kit in the handle. Im my defence, it was all the rage and there weren't many alternatives. Fortunately much has changed since then. I'm very happy with my current Mora Garberg. I do love the aesthetics of custome knives with bespoke wooden handles however I was lucky enough to get the Garberg at a discounted price (a fifth of the price of some custom knives) which made it a no-brainer. It robust, dependable and does everything i require of it so I cant complain.

[@petenordic-ef1zh]

Merry Xmas Paul, from around the S. Claus base, with temperatures from 2 to 22, luckily all of those in minus. Got given a v similar knife 60 years ago, a Marttiini. Have gone thru abt 20 since, but still have it. BTW, I prefer stainless to carbon as one can be a little bit more careless after use... Assuming that it is 'out and into the sheath' often enough for that difference to matter. Best, Pete

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi Pete. I also generally prefer stainless steel these days. I've come full circle via carbon steel. Some stainless steels are much better than others though, so the caveat is that it has to be a good one. Best wishes to you up north :-)

[@JustInCases72]

My first knife was the official Boy Scout knife it’s is made by western. 4 3/8 in blade at the same time I got a ulster folding scout knife with 2 blades, awl\ reamer and can opener. Still have both and that was about 50 plus years ago. Now I have move up to a Swiss Army knife and an Mora bushcraft black.

[@ParkourEh]

Got my first fixed blade when I was 16 and it was a $16, red-handled Mora classic with a finger guard. Beat the crap out of that thing, even batoning through lots of very knotty conifer. Not sure how it survived all that. It's still going strong although I've since bought a Mora Bushcraft (orange/stainless) as my actual wilderness knife.

[@Bluejay1968]

Hi Paul, hope all is well. I had a Mora, but my first what I would consider proper knife was the Falkniven F1. Which I brought with me on the Frontier course many years ago and am still using now. I am currently awaiting delivery of a BPS knives B1 in 1066 carbon steel, which is more of a woodlore design. I have seen many very positive reviews on youtube so it will be very interesting to see how it performs. Will let you know. All the best for Christmas and the New Year. Duane.

[@PaulKirtley]

Hi Duane, it's good to hear from you. How long ago was that Elementary course? How time flies.... Yes, let me know how you get on with your new knife. Wishing you a good last few days of 2023 and a good start to 2024. Cheers.

[@cocovasquez1]

Mine was the Condor Bushlore