When I was first getting into the world of bushcraft and wilderness survival I didn’t have much money so I looked online and tried to find a good quality, but cheap bushcraft knife. I was lead astray and the knife I purchased ended up breaking within 2 weeks.
As I have become more experienced in bushcraft I have gone through a wide variety of bushcraft knives, cheap and expensive. I now feel confident in my ability to help you find the right cheap bushcraft knife for you, one that won’t fail you as mine did many years ago. I want to make sure no one ends up with buyer’s remorse like I did when I first started out. So with that said, let’s get into it!
Cheap Bushcraft Knife Product Reviews
Cheap Survival Knife – Morakniv Companion
If most of your time is spent on trips and camping, then Morakniv Companion is the best cheap bushcraft knife for you. With a versatile fixed blade, this knife is perfect for outdoor usage. The 4.1-inch Stainless Steel blade made of Sandvik 12C27 is useful for cutting, carving, and preparing food.
The blade is made from high-quality steel, which not only exceptionally sharp but will also not rust. The patterned grip is what makes the blade comfortable in your hand. You would not have to worry about it slipping from your hands even if they are wet.
The sheath of the knife is strong and tough, which means that the knife will stay completely protected. Specially designed for right-handed people, the sheath may be uncomfortable for left-handed users.
Overall, the Morakniv Companion is one of the Best Bushcraft Knives in this category.
Top Features
- Overall Length: 8.6” (218 mm)
- Blade Length: 4.1” (104 mm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.1” (2.5 mm)
- Weight w/ Sheath: 4.1 oz (116 g)
- Scandinavian Grind
- Scandvik 12C27
- ¾ Tang
- Treated to 56-58 HRC
- Plastic Sheath
- Rubber Handle with TPE Texture
Affordable Bushcraft Knife – Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade Knife
The Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade Knife is a versatile knife that is the perfect choice for campers. With a corrosion-resistant coating, the blade will not rust even if exposed to wet weather conditions.
Focusing on the comfort of its users, the handle, despite being small, has a nice grip. It will not slip out of your hands even if you use it in the rain. This lightweight knife is easy to carry. The diamond textures on the knife handle allow you to tightly hold the knife without feeling any pain in your hands.
Using this cheap bushcraft knife, you will have a comfortable time in the wilderness. Comfortable for cutting thick materials, this knife is highly durable and would not break easily during heavy-duty tasks. The Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade Knife is a budget-friendly life which will give you the best features possible without making a hole in your pocket.
Top Features
- Overall Length: 9.8”
- Blade Length: 4.8”
- Weight: 7.9 oz
- Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon w/ rubber overmold
- Fine edge options
- Rubberized diamond-textured handle
- Full tang 420HC stainless steel
- Pommel at the base of the handle
Best Budget Bushcraft Knife – Morakniv Garberg
This Morakniv Garberg is simply the best budget bushcraft knife on the market. The first thing that you would notice about the Morakniv Garberg is its full tang, which is essential for heavy outdoor tasks. Made from high quality 14C28N Swedish Scandvik stainless steel, this is the knife that you should opt for for all your adventures.
This cheap bushcraft knife is equipped with a flat spine, it is highly usable with the fire steel. Moreover, a flat spine is beneficial and comfortable while using it for specific cutting methods. The pommel, which is located at the end of the knife makes it function more versatile.
In addition to all the amazing features, the knife also provides three sheath options. This means that you can choose the sheath that you are comfortable with. The three sheaths are a plain polyamide sheath, a MOLLE compatible polyamide sheath, and a leather sheath.
The Morakniv Garberg is perfect for all your camping trips combined with extreme safety.
Top Features
- Overall Length: 9”
- Blade Length: 3”
- Blade Thickness: 13”
- Weight: 6 ounces
- Blade Material: 14C28N High-Quality Swedish Stainless Steel
- Handle Material: Rugged Polyamide
- Blade Finish: Semi-matte
- Grind: Scandi
Good Cheap Camping Knife – Ontario Knife 8696 Bushcraft
Another great option when looking for a cheap bushcraft knife is the Ontario Knife. One of the best products of the Ontario Knife company is its 8696 Bushcraft blade. Made from the best quality 5160 carbon steel, this blade has been the first choice for many travel enthusiasts. Equipped with a sleek but strong blade, this knife is suitable for bushcraft as well as for hunting or camping.
Bushcraft knives are generally known for their comfortable grip, and the Ontario Knife 8696 Bushcraft is no different. Manufactured from high-quality walnut wood, the knife’s handle helps in minimizing the hot spots in your hands.
You will develop no pain in your hand even after gripping or using the knife for a long duration or after heavy use. Coupled with an attachment loop, you can fix this tool on your belt. This makes it easy for you to carry around and use it whenever you want.
Despite the low quality of the sheath, it is well functional in rainy or other damp situations. The balanced grip of the knife is essential while cutting, splitting kindling, and other functions.
Top Features
- Overall Length: 10.125”
- Blade Length: 5”
- Blade Thickness: 0.125”
- Weight: 5.6 oz
- Blade Steel: 5160 Carbon Steel; 53-55HRC
- Handle Material: Walnut Wood
- Sheath: Nylon
Inexpensive Bushcraft Knife – Gerber Gator Fixed Blade Knife
If you are searching for a cheap bushcraft knife that you can take with you while hunting, then the Gerber Gator Fixed Blade Knife should be your first choice. The excellent sharpness of the blade would leave you astounded.
Made from 420C stainless steel, the blade would not easily corrode and would maintain its sharpness even after plenty of usages. The handle of the knife is very comfortable and easy to grip.
The best thing about this knife is that the grip would keep your hands and fingers comfortable, and you would not feel any pain or pressure. Even if you are using it for cutting thick materials, it will be like driving the knife through butter.
Being an easy maintenance knife, this would be your friend on all your trips. You would not have to worry about sharpening it frequently or damaging it during any heavy usage.
Top Features
- Overall Length: 8.86”
- Blade Length: 4.02”
- Weight: 6.6 oz
- Blade Style: Drop Point
- Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon with Gator Grip overmold
- Blade Type: Fine
- Sheath Material: Ballistic nylon with molded plastic insert
- Blade Material: 420HC Stainless Steel
Finding the Best Cheap Bushcraft Knife on a Budget
If you are looking to head into the Bush soon but first need to find yourself a quality budget bushcraft knife, you are in the right place. Having a knife which can help you in different situations is a wonderful thing. If you are a frequent traveler, then your backpack would surely need a high-quality knife. Bushcraft knives or survival knives have seen a rise in demand in the last few years.
Due to its versatility and capability to function in different circumstances, these knives have become the number one choice for adventurers. In fact, it can serve both as a weapon to save you from danger or as a tool to make your camping experience better.
A good bushcraft knife will have a sharp blade along with a comfortable handle. Moreover, it should be lightweight so that you can easily carry it around. Choosing the right bushcraft knife in your budget would depend upon many different factors that should not be overlooked.
Features To Look For In a Cheap Bushcraft Knife
Having a good cheap bushcraft knife in your survival toolkit is essential. Whenever you go on a trip, you must have a knife that can keep you safe from any unforeseen situation. A good bushcraft knife is the first item that a backpacker would carry with them.
However, it is also necessary that you pick the right blade for yourself. Not all bushcraft knives are the same, and you do not want to end up having a useless one with you. There are certain features that you should keep in mind while choosing your bushcraft knives.
- Blade Metal
A standard bushcraft blade is generally made from either stainless steel or carbon steel. It is a debatable matter over which material is better since both of them have unique qualities. However, stainless steel blades are said to be more durable and cannot be easily destroyed.
If you are going on a trip where the blade would be used for heavy tasks, then it is always advisable to use a stainless steel blade. The stainless steel would also not be prone to rust, and this increases the lasting capacity of the blade.
- Handle
All bushcraft knives are famous for their good quality handle material and comfortable grip. However, there are variations in this feature, depending on the knife that you choose. While some handles are made from polymer, there are some which contain rubber.
None of these materials is perfect for your ideal cheap bushcraft knife. Wooden handles with textured grip are said to be better since they relieve your hands from any pain. Moreover, wooden handles are safe to use and more durable than both polymer and rubber.
Certain knives feature a compass handle, which might seem attractive to new travelers but are not efficient in the long-run. They will not provide a comfortable grip and create undue issues for you.
- Tang
The tang is the section of the knife that extends down to the knives’ handle. The tang of a knife and its blade are generally made from one solid steel piece. The best bushcraft knives are those which feature a full tang.
A full tang would give the blade its desired strength, which would maximize its function and impact. In fact, you can easily differentiate an affordable bushcraft knife by seeing its tang, which would just be joined separately at the peak of the handle.
There are several bushcraft knives at affordable rates that have a full tang. These are the ones that you should always choose from.
- Length
Most bushcraft knives have an average length of 6 to 12 inches. Any blade smaller than this would not be feasible in tough situations. If you need a knife to help you chop bark or baton wood, then you need to go for larger knives.
In this case, smaller knives are more fragile and would not serve the purpose for which you have bought it. The best thing about a good cheap bushcraft knife is that no matter their size, they are very lightweight.
Therefore, you do not have to worry about carrying around a heavy large-sized knife. However, do not go for a blade which is larger than 12 inches as it might be hard to handle.
- Thickness
This may be a hard feature to understand or determine if you are choosing a knife for the first time. However, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the necessary thickness that should be present in your bushcraft knife.
The best knives will have a thickness of 0.1 to 0.25 inches. In fact, having a good thickness would make the knife more reliable and solid. A thick knife will be able to perform any hard tasks such as wood chopping and others.
- Sheath
If you are unfamiliar with the importance of a good sheath, then the quality of the sheath may not be relevant to you. However, the sheath is responsible for carrying the knife as well as for drawing it out.
There are three things that need to be present in the sheath for you to use the knife effectively. The first is the lower attachment, the second is the belt and lanyard attachment, and the last is the strap of the sheath.
If these three things are ideal in your sheath, then you will effectively be able to carry around the knife and use it conveniently at all times. Moreover, ensure that the sheath is also of good quality so that it can endure different situations.
Final Verdict about Affordable Bushcraft Knives
If you are planning for a trip in your future, then it is time for you to buy a good cheap bushcraft knife now. Sort out your preferences and choose the one that you think is suitable for you. There are many more choices of bushcraft knives than the ones mentioned above.
Overall, the knives that you see here are the ones that have received great reviews over the years. Whether it is their handle size, blade quality, or their overall size, these knives are perfect for your trip.
Do not compromise your safety and order your chosen affordable bushcraft knives today!
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Hey I’m Josh! I have been practicing Bushcraft for a little over 6 years now! I Started this website to review awesome bushcraft gear that I love as well as share information I have learned along the way!
