Bushcraft Knife Test Tasks?

[dRobinson]

Twig fires don't always work.

Plus they are boring IMHO. I just like using my tools when I'm out, and making a one stick fire even if it isn't necessary.

[zpstl321]

If you remove batoning they would be no need for any knives other than Mora.

I too believe it is important your knife be able to perform this task.

Any knife will process game, it isn't a very demanging task.

Carving would be the next biggest test because you need to be able to make spoons, chairs, or drying racks, or other items that make life great i the woods.

[smokejumper]

That Bindlestitch guy knows a few things about knife testing. heh heh

[Wood PF]

One stick fire and carve a bowdrill set including the bow.

[Wood PF]

I also like to make four or five working primitive traps to put a knife to test

[rainforest]

carve a "try stick". There is info here but I'm having a hard time finding it. Google it

[crookedknife]

Don't take me wrong here, but I'm wondering why batoning is so important.

I've spent quite a lot of time on beaches next to large expanses of tundra. The only wood is driftwood, and the twig-size wood is rare and what there is of it is always wet. All driftwood is wet in the outside, but most has dry centers. Since I might not always have an axe, batoning is a good skill to have even if I might not use it very often. Conditions vary.

[Sefton]

try stick

[WoodsJack]

Don't take me wrong here, but I'm wondering why batoning is so important. In the area I live in will all its thick forests, I can always find all sorts of sizes of useable wood just lying about the forest floor for use in building a fire without ever even needing to pull the knife from its sheath except to scrape the fire steel for sparks. So my question is, "is the reason you all have to baton due to not finding any small wood in your area" ? I carry a hatchet for cutting fire wood to shorter lengths, but I can always find enough of the small stuff to get a fire going without the need to split anything.

For that matter, a lot of wood can be simply just broken off to shorter lengths, too, with no real need for an axe/hatchet, either. Even often able to split quite a bit of wood, using no blade. I did quite a bit of camping for many years, with no axe/hatchet and never batoning. No problem.

But I do *enjoy* using the tools. And it's good to know how well enough. A lot of bushcraft isn't "necessary" but chosen and enjoyed/appreciated.

[Itegorm]

For me tests would include...
Sharpenablity.
Edge holding ability.
Ability to make feather sticks.
Use as a planner/scraper.
Abillity to drill a hole in a bit of wood (for prepping a hearth board for a fricton fire set)
Food prep, I have no use for a knife that I can't slice veggies with.
Game processing, skinning and jointing.
Light batoning, to finish notches such, not spliting logs. I carry a tomahawk/hatchet/axe anyttime I am out.
For what its worth, my prefered knife is usually something along the lines of a butcher type knife with 5 to 6 inch blade that has had its tip width narrowed down to a bit sharper point or a typical style pukko. Never stainless steel and usually a plain jane wooden handle.