I've owned a few bushcraft type knives and this one fits right in. The blade length is perfect at 4" and it features full tang construction which I prefer on a rugged outdoors type knife. Blade thickness on the Bushcraft is 9/64" which gives the knife some heft and inspires confidence in it's strength. At 7.75 ounces, the knife feels solid without being too heavy.
The Bushcraft features O-1 steel, which surprisingly, I have little experience with. I have read that it's a non-stainless American tool steel that is favored by some for it's high carbon content and excellent edge retention. I plan on putting it through it's paces and finding out. I am curious to know how much effort it will take to resharpen O-1. I will have to report back on this.
The blade profile was one of the first things that stood out for me. The Bushcraft features a wicked Scandi grind. For those who don't know, the Scandi grind lacks a secondary bevel, much like a zero grind. The primary bevel extends all the way to the blades edge. This makes for a thin sharp edge that can be field sharpened easily, however, the spine remains thick and sturdy. Mine came razor sharp from the factory.
The handle on the Bushcraft is simply beautiful. It really compliments the overall fit and finish of this knife. The G-10 is polished smooth and the pins and lanyard tube are rightfully flush. I can run my fingernail across the pins and it will not catch at all. The same can be said about where the scales meet the tang. The maker really did a superb job on the handle construction. The lanyard tube will easily accomodate typical 550 paracord. The contoured handle feels great in my hand. I wear a mens large glove size and I can get a secure firm grip in all positions. Nothing needs to be said about the strength and durability of G-10.
Finally, we have the sheath. Spyderco's website shows a brown leather sheath, however mine is black, which I prefer. The sheath is a simple design and it seems well built. It features the standard belt loop carry with leg strap holes. I'll admit, I've always preferred kydex for it's durability and optional carry positions though. I would have liked to have seen a water drainage hole of some sort also, but that's just me. In this case, the leather sheath seems to add to the overall elegant feel of this knife and it remains true to the bushcraft style.
Overall, what you have here is a well designed, beautifully crafted knife, that begs to be used. Once you get the Bushcraft in hand, you'll see that the quality is easily on par with the price tag. The thick blade stock, full tang construction, and G-10 will make it a viable option for hunter's, outdoorsman, and survivalist's who require ruggedness and durability. It should perform very well at slicing, skinning and bushcraft, hence the name. I know it's inspired me to get out and put it to work.
:)
Just wanted to know if you guys noticed the same thing.