Wondering what’s the best bushcraft knife under $100? When it comes to bushcraft, one of the most important tools in your utility belt is a good quality fixed blade knife. Some people call them “skinning or hunting knives.”
But regardless of what you call them, these tools are great for just about any outdoorsman.
I reviewed the top 6 bushcraft knives under $100 currently available on the market. Each knife has an in-depth review to help you decide whether it’s the right one you’re looking for.
These bushcraft knives were chosen based on a variety of factors: value for money, durability, ease of use, edge retention, etc. I’ve also included a guide on what to look for when buying one. Hopefully this helps you find the ultimate bushcraft knife that fits your needs.
Best Bushcraft Knives Under $100 Reviews
1. Morakniv Garberg Full Tang
There’s a reason that Morakniv has been making knives for over a century: because they’re the best.
The Morakniv Garberg is no exception. It’s got all the features you need in a bushcraft knife, and none of the extra fluff you don’t. It’s got a 4.3″ blade made from stainless steel, high quality 14C28N Sandvik stainless steel . Which is known for its strength, durability, and sharpness.
It has a full tang blade, which means it’s sturdy enough to withstand hard use in the wild. The handle is made from rubberized fiberglass composite. Which makes it easy to grip even when your hands are wet or cold.
The Morakniv Garberg has a MOLLE multi mount system. So you can wear it horizontally or vertically, on your belt or backpack strap.
The handle is made from fiberglass reinforced nylon. So it’s lightweight but still offers excellent grip.
This bushcraft knife comes with either a plastic or leather sheath. If you’re looking for a high-quality knife that will last for years to come, this is an excellent choice!
Knife Length: 9.0 inches
Blade Length: 4.3 inches
Blade Material: 14C28N Sandvik stainless steel
Blade Tang: Full tang
Handle Material: Rubberized Plastic
Sheath: Leather or Polyamide plastic
Weight: 9.6 oz
Pros
- Multi mount system
- Metal pommel for fire starting, batoning or scraping
- Scandi grind
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Heavy
2. Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade
The Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade Knife is a powerful tool that can help you get through just about any situation. If you’re looking for a knife that’s lightweight, extremely durable, and easy to use, then this is the one.
The Gerber Strongarm Fixed Blade Knife offers a number of features that make it stand out from other options on the market today:
– It has a 4.8″ blade made from 420HC steel and has a corrosion resistant black coating. This means it’s strong enough for serious work. But also lightweight enough to carry around at all times.
– The handle is made from glass-filled nylon. Which is both water-resistant and considered one of the most durable materials available today.
– The nylon sheath comes with two detachable belt clips and can be worn around your waist or leg. So you can always have your knife close at hand when you need it.
The blade is designed with a drop point shape that makes it ideal for skinning and dressing game.
The Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to use in any situation. Whether you’re hunting, camping or just out in the woods hiking.
Knife Length: 9.8 inches
Blade Length: 4.8 inches
Blade Material: 420HC stainless steel
Blade Tang: Full tang
Handle Material: Glass filled nylon with Rubber over mold
Sheath: Nylon webbing
Weight: 7.9 oz
Pros
- Excellent sheath (multi carry options and ambidextrous)
- Ergonomically designed
- Durable
- Full tang
- Good sheath retention
Cons
- Handle is small
3. Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade
The Morakniv Companion is a fixed blade knife with a blade length of 4.1inches. Which makes it an excellent option for bushcraft enthusiasts.
And it weighs just 4.1 ounces, so you can take it anywhere without worrying about being weighed down by your gear. It’s perfect for anything from skinning animals to whittling wood.
The handle is made from rubberized plastic, with a high friction grip. Which makes it easy to hold onto even when your hands are wet.
The knife comes with a high-quality leather sheath that can be attached to your belt or backpack. So you can easily carry it with you wherever you go.
The Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade is built to last—and with proper care, it will last forever!
Knife Length: 8.6 inches
Blade Length: 4.1 inches
Blade Material: Hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel
Blade Tang: 3/4 Handle Length
Handle Material: Rubber and plastic
Sheath: Polymer with belt clip
Weight: 4.1 oz (with sheath)
Pros
- Very affordable
- Durable
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to grip ergonomic handle
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- It’s not a full tang knife
4. Ka-Bar Becker BK-22 Companion
If you’re looking for a knife that’s both durable and beautiful, the Ka-Bar Becker BK-22 Companion is a great choice.
This knife has a blade length of 5.25 inches and is made of 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel. So it can take on any beating you throw at it.
The handle is made from thermoplastic polyamide. Which gives you a strong grip so that you don’t have to worry when things get wet or slippery.
The sheath is made from a heavy duty polyester material. So it won’t fray or tear easily. Plus it comes with a removable belt loop so that you can wear it on your hip while adventuring outdoors.
The Ka-Bar Becker BK-22 Companion comes with a 0.25 inch blade thickness. That can easily cut through thick pieces of wood.
But, is versatile enough to handle splitting kindling, skinning game or preparing food.
Knife Length: 10.5 inches
Blade Length: 5.25 inches
Blade Material: 1095 Cro-Van steel
Blade Tang: Full tang
Handle Material: Thermoplastic polyamide
Sheath: MOLLE compatiblepolyester front pouch
Weight: 14.9 oz
Pros
- Easy to sharpen
- Built tough
- Comfortable grip
- Sleek design
Cons
- Heavy
- Not corrosion resistant
5. Gerber Gear Ultimate Fixed Blade
The Gerber Gear Ultimate Survival Knife is the perfect blade for any situation you might encounter in the wilderness. This knife is a multipurpose tool. It can be used as a bushcraft knife, survival knife, utility knife, or self-defense weapon.
The knife has an overall length of 10 inches with a 4.8 inch blade. That can be used for chopping and cutting through branches and limbs.
The Gerber Gear Ultimate Survival Knife also comes with a double nylon sheath with a belt loop. So you can carry it on your belt or backpack strap.
The blade of this knife is made from 7Cr stainless steel. Which means it’s corrosion resistant and durable.
The handle on this knife has been crafted from rubber. So, it’s resistant against weathering and gives you a comfortable grip.
What makes this knife special are its built in innovative features. It comes with a fire starter that locks into the sheath along with striker notch built into the back of the blade. So you can start fires easily.
The sheath also comes with a sharpener. But, that’s not all. It also comes with an emergency whistle. So, you can be prepared for any survival situation.
If you’re looking for a knife that can handle anything from batoning wood to skinning game. This is definitely one to consider!
Knife Length: 10 inches
Blade Length: 4.8 inches
Blade Material: 7Cr stainless steel
Blade Tang: 3/4 tang
Handle Material: Rubber
Sheath: Double nylon
Weight: 11.02 oz
Pros
- Great edge retention
- Good quality sheath (built strong and can be worn horizontally or vertically)
- Good sheath retention
- Comes with a lot of extras
- Affordable
Cons
- 3/4 tang blade
6. Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife
The Condor Bushlore full tang knife was designed for survivalists, bushcraft enthusiasts, and outdoorsmen. It features a 4.25″ drop point blade made out of 1075 high carbon stainless steel. The blade itself is very durable and strong.
But it’s also lightweight enough that you can feel comfortable carrying it around with you on your adventures.
The handle is made out of hardwood and has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to grip in any situation. The handle also comes equipped with a lanyard hole for easy carry.
This bushcraft knife comes with a genuine black leather sheath, that fits over your belt. So, you don’t have to worry about losing it when you need it most.
The Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore Camp Knife is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an all-purpose knife.
This bushcraft tool can be used for hunting, skinning and gutting animals. As well as woodworking, chopping firewood and even cooking!
Knife Length: 9.25 inches
Blade Length: 4.25 inches
Blade Material: 1075 high carbon steel
Blade Tang: Full tang
Handle Material: Hardwood
Sheath: Leather belt sheath
Weight: 12 oz
Pros
- High quality craftsmanship
- Great value
- Scandi grind
- High quality leather sheath and hardwood handle
Cons
- Blade gets dull quickly
What to Look For In a Bushcraft Knife Under $100
Bushcraft knives are a must-have for any outdoor enthusiast. But they come in many shapes and sizes. So, it can be confusing when trying to decide which bushcraft knife is right for you.
When looking for the best bushcraft knife under $100, there are several important factors to consider.
In particular, factors such as size, materials and design. These factors help to determine the durability and functionality of a bushcraft knife.
Let’s look at these factors one by one.
Size
When it comes to a bushcraft knife, bigger isn’t necessarily better. A bigger knife may look pretty cool, but it just doesn’t kick it when it comes to functionality.
When looking for the the best bushcraft knife under $100, I recommend a knife with a blade between 3.5 – 6 inches.
Smaller bushcraft knives are better able to handle intricate tasks. Such as feathering, food preparation and whittling wood.
Materials
The material design of the bushcraft knife is another important consideration. The material that both the blade and the handle are constructed from are important.
This has a big impact on how easy to use and durable the knife will be.
Blade Material
There are a variety of steel options to choose from. With so many options it can be difficult to decide which one is best for your specific needs. Generally, there are two main types of steel, carbon and stainless steel.
Depending on what you’re planning to use your bushcraft knife for, you’ll need to know the pros and cons of each.
The main difference between these types of steels is the level of chromium that is added to them. The more levels of chromium added to steel the more stainless it becomes and the softer it becomes.
A carbon steel blade has low levels of chromium. While a stainless steel knife has higher levels of chromium.
A carbon steel blade is much tougher than a stainless steel one. But lacks the stain and corrosion resistance that a stainless steel knife will have. So, a stainless steel knife is much easier to maintain.
But, a carbon steel blade is tougher, easier to sharpen and keeps a sharp edge for longer.
Handle Material
Although more focus is put on the blade of a bushcraft knife, the material the handle is made of is important too. The material the handle is made from will help to determine how comfortable your grip will be. As well as how long it will last.
A bushcraft knife under $100 will typically come with one of three handle types. Wooden, rubberized plastic or glass filled nylon.
Wooden handles are beautiful to look at. Wood is what bushcraft knives are traditionally made from. But, wooden handles don’t hold up to moisture and the elements, as well as modern synthetic materials.
Rubberized plastic and glass filled nylon handles are much more durable. Rubberized plastic gives an excellent grip and is also durable and affordable.
But the toughest handles are made from glass filled nylon. Which is basically indestructible.
Blade Design
The design of the blade is another important factor to consider. The grind, shape and tang all help to determine how well the knife will perform.
Blade Grind
The blade grind is the shape of the knife above the cutting edge. The best grinds for a bushcraft knife are the ones that are built with toughness and versatility. Here are the grinds that you tend to see in the best bushcraft knives under $100 :
Scandinavian Grind: Popularly known as scandi grind. These blades are easy to sharpen, can take a fine sharp edge and are great for carving and other woodwork.
Flat Grind: A flat grind knife has a thin blade and point. Which makes for a very light and agile knife.
Chisel Grind: Strong and sturdy blade great for cleaving branches.
Convex Grind: Great for slicing and chopping.
Blade Shape
A flat shaped fixed blade design is most suitable for a bushcraft knife. A flat blade offers a lot of versatility to do bushcraft tasks. Such as chopping, batoning, skinning game and cooking.
Blade Tang
The blade tang is how much of the blade runs through the handle. A partial tang will only go partially through the handle. While a full tang blade goes all the way through.
A full tang blade is preferable as it is much stronger than a partial tang.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What size knife is best for bushcraft?
The answer to this question depends on your personal needs and preferences. Generally speaking though, smaller blades are easier to work with because they’re more agile and easy to use. My recommendation is that a bushcraft knife should have a blade between 3.5 inches and 6 inches long.
Is s35vn good for bushcraft?
The answer is yes! CPM s35vn steel has been shown to be an excellent material choice for bushcraft knives. The steel has a high hardness rating. Which makes it ideal for heavy use in the woods, such as chopping and cutting through branches.
It also has good edge retention, meaning that your knife will remain sharp for longer.
How hard should a bushcraft knife be?
When you’re looking for the best bushcraft knife, you want to make sure that it’s tough enough to work through all of the tasks you’ll be doing. A good rule of thumb is to look for a knife that has a hardness rating between 58 and 64 on the Rockwell scale.
This means that it won’t chip or break easily, and will be able to handle all of the things you throw at it. If your knife doesn’t have this level of hardness, then it probably isn’t going to be very durable over time.
What is the difference between a bushcraft and survival knife?
The main difference between a bushcraft knife and a survival knife is that the former is smaller and lighter than the latter.
A bushcraft knife is designed for tasks that require a bit more finesse than a survival or camping knife. Such as dressing game or preparing campfire meals. It should also have a smaller blade and finer edge. For easier manipulation and less risk of cutting yourself.
A survival knife, on the other hand, is designed for tasks that require more brute force. Such as splitting wood or digging in dirt. It should also be larger and heavier to better handle any task you throw at it.
Final Words
The Morakniv Garberg is by far the best bushcraft knife under $100. The affordable price is ideal for beginners and intermediate users alike. And it won’t hold up poorly to the test of time and use. It’s got all the features you need in a fixed blade knife, and none of the extra fluff you don’t. And it comes with a lifetime guarantee to boot!
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