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#156803 - 12/02/08 01:08 AM why no handguard on a bushcraft knife
Hookpunch Offline
Member

Registered: 06/11/07
Posts: 128

I notice some survival experts/enthusiasts prefer their knives without a hand or finger guard, like the basic Mora. I have never heard a reason for it though.

anyone know why?

Thanks

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#156806 - 12/02/08 01:16 AM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: Hookpunch]
Frankie Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 736
Loc: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Sometimes when you're creating notches by batoning the guard would get in the way. A guard is really there only for knife fighting. Butcher knives or filleting knives don't have guard and people just don't slip and cut themselves.

Frankie

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#156808 - 12/02/08 01:31 AM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: Frankie]
Chris Kavanaugh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/09/01
Posts: 3824
A guardless knife is easier to choke up on for finer work.
The retaining sheath can be deeper for greater security in traditional materials.Many cuts can be done with a drawstroke and push cuts done two handed with one pushing against the but, as traditional done in the Saami Puukka.
That said, a dedicated SURVIVAL knife should have a lower guard.
Even the chance injury by a lifetime user can happen in a stress situation of injury, exposure to the elements, hunger, fatique or fear.
Pack a primary rough duty survival blade like a Fallkniven F1
( my personal choice.)
Once you have a fire going, that can of beans opened when you couldn't find the P 38 and a lean to set up the mora can come out to carve wooden spoons.

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#156862 - 12/02/08 03:20 PM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: Chris Kavanaugh]
KenK Offline
"Be Prepared"
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/26/04
Posts: 2208
Loc: NE Wisconsin
Originally Posted By: Chris Kavanaugh
the mora can come out to carve wooden spoons.


But its hard to use a knife to carve its own handle ... kinda like touching one's right elbow with their right hand.

I always wondered why bushcraft folks get so excited about carving spoons when I saw Gilligan create his own pedal-powered car out of a palm tree.

grin

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#156864 - 12/02/08 03:34 PM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: KenK]
Chris Kavanaugh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/09/01
Posts: 3824
Takes a big, wooden cooking spoon from the kitchen, holds in a reverse grip and touches my elbow with right hand.
I've carved hadles for my Mora blade in the PSK.

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#156904 - 12/02/08 11:47 PM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: ]
sodak Offline
Addict

Registered: 03/20/05
Posts: 410
When it's cold and you are losing fine motor skills due to hypothermia, a lower guard is essential, IMO.

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#156918 - 12/03/08 12:39 AM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: Hookpunch]
BruceZed Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 01/06/08
Posts: 319
Loc: Canada
Technically a Mora without a hand guard is a little more responsive if you are carving or making notches. I used to grind off my hand guards, but lately I skip this step. Those who are scared to cut themselves should definitely not grind them off, all others it is purely optional.
_________________________
Bruce Zawalsky
Chief Instructor
Boreal Wilderness Institute
boreal.net

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#156931 - 12/03/08 02:40 AM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: sodak]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
Or when you are wearing thick gloves. I've trashed a lot of gloves on SAKs.
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

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#156944 - 12/03/08 04:27 AM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: ]
sodak Offline
Addict

Registered: 03/20/05
Posts: 410
Originally Posted By: Smash
And when losing fine motor skills you should probably put the knife back in its sheath. hand guard or not.


In an ideal world, yes. When hypothermia sets in, judgement is often also impaired, reaction times are also much slower. Things aren't always this cut and dried in the real world.

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#156950 - 12/03/08 08:43 AM Re: why no handguard on a bushcraft knife [Re: sodak]
bigreddog Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 07/02/06
Posts: 253
Bushcraft and survival are different things. Related, but different.

For bushcraft give me a nice hand made wooden handled guardless carbon steel knife in a leather sheath - a thing of beauty I can enjoy using

For survival give me rubber, stainless steel, kydex and every feature available so that I have a safety margin when tired cold hurt etc. (and as we are talking survival, lets also hope I have a knife on me when disaster strikes!)

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