Top 5 Camp Knives for Five Outdoor Scenarios This Autumn 

A camp knife, when in the wild, is an adventurer’s best friend. And by a camp knife, I understand one with a blade of about 5 to 7 inches, a full-size handle, and capable of cutting, chopping, and even wood splitting if needed. And, of course, it should cut and slice stuff with ease. A good sheath should be a part of the package, too. With hundreds of knives available today, selecting the right camp knife for your scenario can be more challenging than you think. So I’m looking at 5 of my favorite camp knives I used during my recent outings to make it easier for you. Some of them can be harder to find than others, but if you dig through the internet hard enough you should be able to grab any of these. 

And please, don’t treat this article just as a review of 5 knives – instead, look at them as the 5 types of knives and decide which characteristics are most vital for you so that you can find your ideal blade (within your budget) for your next adventure.

Disclaimer: I measured all of these cutters by myself. Also, in my article, I refer to the weights of knives only, so without any sheath. That’s because each sheath can be modified, or you can make or order a custom sheath in Kydex or leather. You can add a firestarter, pouches, specific carry attachments, etc. So, the sheath weight for each knife can be between 150 and 400 grams – it’s up to you what and how you prefer to carry it.

1. GiantMouse GMF4

Knife weight: 231 g

Total length: 267 mm

Blade length: 145 mm

Blade thickness: 4.90 mm

Blade material: Bohler N690 Cobalt steel

MSRP: 245 USD (satin), 265 USD (DLC)

This is the lightest of the bunch, making it easy to carry all day on my belt. It’s a modern iteration of what has been considered a classic camp knife for decades. It was designed beautifully by two renowned knifemakers from Denmark, Jens Ansø and Jesper Voxnaes. It’s a true cutting machine, most optimized for that exact task. High grinds, a relatively thin edge, and fine tip make it the most slicy knife among this bunch here. 

Cutting is one thing, but the ability to craft wooden camp equipment and carve wood is another. Geometry and edge retention are everything in push-cut kind of work. When heat treated properly, Bohler’s N690 Cobalt steel offers a good mix of edge retention, cutting performance, rust resistance, and… cost. The GMF4 performs considerably better than expected due to perfect heat treatment. I’ve had an excellent experience with N690 in custom knives by Alexandr Afonchenko (from Ukraine), who perfected the heat processing of this steel – the GMF4 is on par with that. It whittles wood easily, with nice thin curls, so feathersticking with the GMF4 is a joy. When whittling, you can put your finger into the big ricasso for outstanding blade control.

Firewood processing is another critical area for a camp knife. You can’t beat a proper axe in this field, but sometimes, especially when camping with a backpack, a lightweight option of a folding saw and camp knife should be more than enough. Chopping with the GMF4 is certainly possible, but the weight distribution on a fine-tipped knife doesn’t make it a perfect chopper. Batoning, however, is okay – with .192-inch blade stock, it easily splits 2 to 3-inch branches into pieces. 

After 12 months of use I can say with confidence: the GMF4’s handle is stunningly comfortable and secure with that set of finely textured and contoured canvas micarta scales. The handle is not too thick or thin – just right for virtually any hand. Also, the curves and cut-outs are gentle enough to use in a handy chest-lever grip. The GMF4’s spine is smooth and finger-friendly but has no 90-degree edge to strike a ferrocerium rod (which is a pity). So you should either carry a rod with a striker or simply a good lighter to get the campfire going quickly and efficiently.

The GMF4 comes with a nice Italian-made leather sheath with a security strap and snap – the classic solution for a camp knife. Leather vs. Kydex is a never-ending debate. I still prefer Kydex, so I made one for my GMF4. 

Time for conclusions. The GiantMouse GMF4 offers a good mix of characteristics of a proper camp knife – optimized for slicing, cutting, and camp crafts rather than heavy chopping. It’s also lightweight enough for a backpacking trip, especially with a lightweight custom Kydex sheath. For overlanding, canoeing, or longer bushcraft camping, I’d pair it with a medium bushcraft axe and folding saw – such a set would be a joy. The price of $245 (or $265 for a DLC-coated variant) is not a budget option, but you get a seriously good outdoor tool for the money. 

2. Ka-Bar BK72

Knife weight: 442 g

Total length: 270 mm

Blade length: 133 mm

Blade thickness: 6.35 mm

Blade material: CPM S35VN

MSRP: 285 EUR (stonewash), 325 EUR (DLC)

This thing is a TANK! It looks similar to the classic Ka-Bar Becker BK2, but… it’s a different animal. If you’re after a highly heavy-duty survival knife that can still cut stuff (it’s not always the case with other “survival” knives), then this specimen is incredible… here comes the BK72, the up-specced version of the classic BK2, made exclusively for knivesandtools.com 

There are upgrades in almost every aspect of this knife: excellent canvas micarta scales, a genuine custom-made Kydex sheath, premium stainless S35VN blade steel, and either classy black PVD or a stonewash finish. Still, starting at 285 EUR, the BK72 is not a cheap knife by any means… but it was never intended to be. It’s a premium variant of the proven classic with an adequate premium price tag.  

I took the knife to the wild mountains in Poland as a camp knife this summer, using it for chopping wood for evening campfires, sharpening sticks for cooking outside and BBQ, preparing feathersticks, plus some basic bushcraft work. With a 0.25″ (6.35mm) blade thickness, this knife is ideally suited for wood chopping and batoning – you can use and abuse this beast all day long. Firewood splitting was just as easy and as quick as with an axe – place it on a 3″ or even 4″ diameter log, smash it with a mallet – job done! It was crazy efficient, even with hard oak. But it was equally easy to prepare small kindling and scrape birch bark with the edge to start a fire.

Basic wood-crafting projects are also fine with this knife. It was delivered crazy sharp from the Ka-Bar factory, with the cutting edge surprisingly thin and precise for such work. Preparing feathersticks was a piece of cake as well, especially with the ‘knife stuck in the log’ method, which was more convenient and safer.

The original Kydex sheath holds the knife fine and has multiple rivets for virtually any carry system – for a belt or backpack. It keeps the blade in place with zero rattling and doesn’t dull the edge like most injection-molded FRN sheaths. Just be prepared for occasional scratches on the blade, which always happens with Kydex sheaths. Still, that plain black Kydex was a bit too basic for me – I’ve been making Kydex sheaths for many years, so I made myself a fancier one in OD-Green with a classic brown leather belt loop.

The BK series handle shape is considered one of the most comfortable (and versatile) in the fixed blade world. The BK72 with upgraded micarta scales is not only crazy comfy but also very secure in all conditions. The grip area is really generous, so you can operate the knife even in heavy winter gloves. The spine is finger-friendly but not sharp enough for a ferrocerium rod, so either use a lighter or carry something with a striker built in (like the Exotac nanoSTRIKER XL).

The heavy-duty flat pommel can be easily used as an improvised hammer, and it’s pretty effective considering the knife’s overall weight. If it was 90 degrees sharp on the edges (for scraping and ferrorod use), the knife would be perfect! But you could easily do that at home with a diamond file.

The Ka-Bar BK72 is a heavyweight knife – carrying a pound of steel on a belt during hiking and backpacking could be too much. It’s best fitted for stationary camping, canoeing, or 4×4 overlanding adventures, where it shines like a pound of pure gold. It’s undoubtedly the most formidable knife of all 5, so if you need an indestructible tool the BK72 is for you.

3. TRC Apocalypse 

Knife weight: 400 g

Total length: 300 mm

Blade length: 172 mm

Blade thickness: 6.50 mm

Blade material: Elmax

MSRP: 490 EUR

And here we go, another beast of a knife! It’s the largest of all the knives here, but not the heaviest (this title belongs to the Ka-Bar BK72). It’s seriously thick at the spine (6.5mm, so slightly above 0.25″) and has the longest blade. TRC nailed the edge geometry – the saber grind goes relatively high, making the Apocalypse an impressive cutter and whittler (especially among other heavy-duty camp and survival knives).

The blade is almost like an artistic creation – intricate grinds and an immaculate satin finish with crisp grind lines. The spine is rounded, but the edge between that round part and the flats is still sharp enough to strike a ferrocerium rod to produce a rain of hot sparks. The edge was scary sharp out of the box. The handle scales are not as rounded as the Ka-Bar, but the Apocalypse is still comfortable to grip and very secure due to the pronounced texturing on the canvas micarta. The false edge looks fantastic and helps in bushcraft projects, where you must drill a hole in the wood. Overall, the attention to detail and final finish are A+.

Batoning even through 4″ diameter logs with such a thick blade is quick and effortless – it just splits timber like a dedicated splitting wedge. Chopping is also easy – the knife has a lot of mass concentrated in the front portion of the blade, so it swings well and bites deep. Heavy-duty work with the TRC Apocalypse gives the user a good dose of satisfaction. 

The Apocalypse comes with a Kydex sheath, one of the best Kydex works I’ve ever experienced on a factory knife. It looks good and works just great. A perfect sheath. You could also purchase it with an additional custom-quality leather sheath.

But such perfection will seriously drain your wallet – at 490 EUR it is the most expensive knife on this list. But also, without any doubt, it’s a top-tier knife, of which the manufacturing is just flawless. It’s a bit oversized to carry around the whole day comfortably on a belt, but it could be a perfect knife for a wild adventure in a canoe or Jeep or even attached to an expedition backpack. It’s big, bold, and beautiful – a class of its own.

4. Helle Nord

Knife weight: 285 g

Total length: 281 mm

Blade length: 144 mm

Blade thickness: 3.70 mm

Blade material: Sandvik 14C28N 

MSRP: 249 EUR

Such an article would only be complete with a Scandinavian Leuku knife, but this time with a modern twist. First, it’s a full-tang knife, so it’s more robust than a traditional hidden-tang Leuku. Also, the Scandi grind on the Helle Nord is not a true zero-grind variant, but there is sort of a delicate secondary bevel. It makes the edge more robust and considerably easier to maintain on the go (especially with a small hand-held field sharpener).

Initially, the Leuku knives were used by Norsemen for all kinds of jobs, including chopping and splitting wood. Even if it’s not a heavyweight knife, it’s still long and hefty enough to be an adequate chopper, especially if you grip the knife by the oversized pommel, designed precisely for that. It extends the “chopping arm” by at least another 3 inches with a shockingly good effect. Chopping through forearm-thick branches with the Helle Nord is easily possible.

It’s a genuine multitask forest tool – not only is the Nord an effective cutter and chopper, but also, with the 90-degree sharp spine, you can scrape fatwood, remove the bark, or strike a ferrocerium rod. A broad and flat portion of the blade is a fantastic tool for smashing nuts, mincing garlic, etc. The Nord can be used as a draw knife, too. Or even, thanks to nicely polished flats, it could work as a signaling mirror in critical situations. Its relatively low grind angle doesn’t make it the most practical kitchen knife, but you can easily use it for general food prep at a camp.

The handle comfort on the Helle Nord is exemplary. It works with multiple grips in both bare hands and when wearing gloves. Oiled curly Siberian birch is not only a beautiful material to look at but also dense, solid, and relatively grippy. The handle has no hot spots – I could use it for the whole day without any hand fatigue. Plus that oversized pommel for chopping. Overall, it has an excellent handle design. Well done, Helle!

The leather sheath is simple but works fine, especially if paired with the recently introduced Belt Clip accessory – essentially a dangler loop with a carabiner. It helps to carry such a long knife comfortably on a belt, and should be supplied with a knife as standard. So just add that Belt Clip to the cart when shopping for the Nord – it’s easily worth the $25. 

Overall, we’ve got here a surprisingly practical camp knife from Helle – it blends a traditional look with all the modern features you may ask for. Sandvik 14C28N steel is also a good performer – it keeps the edge sharp for a long time and is truly stainless. It’s also relatively lightweight for its size (below 300g) and easy to carry in a dangler sheath. It’s a well-composed adventurer’s package for all-day on-belt carry.

5. Spartan-Harsey Tactical Nessmuk

Knife weight: 308 g

Total length: 268 mm

Blade length: 135 mm

Blade thickness: 4.80 mm

Blade material: 1095 Carbon 

MSRP: 190 USD

This knife means a lot to me. It all started about a decade ago at the Blade Show, with my crazy idea that I could convince Bill Harsey to make me a special knife. So there was me, Bill, a bottle of fine Scotch, another one of Zubrowka (Polish hunter’s liquor), a gallon jar of awesome Kentucky moonshine, and some outdoor and bushcraft stories Friday night in the Pit (official Blade Show bar). The next day at the show, we discussed some Nessmuk knife elements, perfect size, handle shape, etc., and one year later, Bill delivered me the custom knife #001, which you see in the photo (the uncoated one). Then, I flooded Curtis and Mark with photos, stories, etc., throughout the years. So, one day, the decision was taken, and now you too can enjoy the Spartan-Harsey Tactical Nessmuk in the field. True story! So, please forgive me, but I might be biased when talking about that knife!

The production variant is slightly different from my prototype. The overall shape is the same, but the production model is made of 1095 Carbon Steel (with a protective black coating) and has injection-molded scales. But in principle, it’s the same Nessmuk knife of Bill Harsey design – US-made by Spartan Blades.

At almost 5mm at the spine, it’s a pretty hefty knife, with a full flat grind and a truly keen edge. Which, combined with a front-heavy blade, makes a surprisingly good chopper. With such blade geometry, it is also an excellent general cutter. 1095 is US-made carbon steel – a time-proven blade material for big outdoor knives – tough, very easy to sharpen, and takes a remarkably aggressive edge. It’s not stainless, but the black coating protects the blade, so rust shouldn’t be a problem if you take care of the exposed cutting edge. Another benefit of carbon steel is using it with an ordinary flint stone to generate hot sparks, adding another fire-starting method to your arsenal. 

The coated spine won’t work either as a scraper or a ferrocerium rod striker. If you plan to use a firestarter, bring a dedicated striker or use the actual edge in a last-ditch scenario. But it won’t be good for the cutting edge, so I don’t recommend it if your safety doesn’t depend on this. The handle has an enhanced pommel, which can extend the effective “arm” when chopping through either branches or green vegetation. The Harsey Nessmuk can be used as a splitting tool, too, of course – the front portion of the blade is thick and heavy, so you can pound it hard with a mallet to split the arm-thick logs. It’s a sturdy knife, and 1095 steel will take even severe abuse with its head held high.

The handle slabs are made of rigid polymer with a finely fluted texture. The material and overall appearance are so good that one could easily take it for a finely finished Micarta or G10. The feel of the handle is smooth, solid, and super comfy- it easily rivals the Helle Nord in that area. No hot spots – still, the grip is sure and secure. But that comes as standard with all of Bill Harsey’s designs.

The sheath is sound and secure – no complaints. Even the nylon webbing belt loop is heavy-duty and comfortable to use. But still, it’s an injection molded sheath, so it can dull the blade if it contacts the very edge. That’s why I made my own Kydex sheaths, which don’t do that. In Coyote Brown, since black sheaths are a bit too standard for me (almost boring). 

The Spartan-Harsey Nessmuk is the most budget-friendly of all the presented knives. At $190 you get a perfectly designed wilderness tool, made in the USA, and backed by the legendary Bill Harsey – one of the most respected knifemakers and knife designers. I’ve been using the custom prototype #001 for almost a decade, so I know what this design can do in the wild. It’s a wilderness animal and my usual companion in the forest. This knife blends toughness, ease of carry, and multitask performance. If you’re in the market for a sub-$200 tough fixed blade, this one should be on top of your shortlist.

Final Thoughts

This is my subjective choice of the top 5 high-end camp knives on the market. Of course, you can purchase the Mora Pathfinder at a considerably lower price and still get a capable camp knife. But knives are like packs and other gear. After owning a basic model, you naturally drift towards more refined ones with better steels, advanced construction, finer grinds, and sophisticated designs. But even this is not the end of the journey – where factory models end, custom work begins. But that’s another story for another day. 

Here is my bullet point summary of which knife is for whom:

• GiantMouse GMF4 -> fast and light, a classic camp knife, can be carried easily on a belt
• Ka-Bar BK72 -> heavyweight chopper and survival blade, perfect for 4×4 overlanding or stationary camping
• TRC Apocalypse -> high-end, heavy-duty modern survival knife to carry on a pack, in a 4×4, or canoe
• Helle Nord -> long, lightweight, and beautiful outdoor knife for a traditional outdoorsman
• Spartan-Harsey Nessmuk -> tough and functional all-around outdoor knife for all-time on-belt carry