Quality knives and cutting tools may seem dime a dozen, but really they’re not. If you’re the type that likes to hit outdoor and trade shows, sure, you might run into a number of vendors and small boutique brand knifemakers, but how many of them really go the distance? The other issue is a matter of access and reach. Large commercial organizations often sellout when they get too big, and end up sacrificing material and workmanship quality over the bottom line. We had the chance to chat with the folks at Battle Horse Knives at the 2024 Great American Outdoor Show and they offered up one of their knives for testing and evaluation. After getting a chance to take the Woodsman out into the field, we were impressed.
About Battle Horse Knives
The Battle Horse Knives company is a family owned and run operation located in Cambridge, Ohio. Battle Horse specializes in the handmaking of high quality knives. According to Alicia McQuain, one of the co-owners and co-founders, Battle Horse was created out of the necessity of having quality and American made knives available on the market.
Battle Horse Knives is not just a manufacturer, but they also have a brick-and-mortar location in Cambridge, where they showcase and sell their products. Battle Horse Knives goes beyond just knives, offering a full line of both leather and kydex sheaths for their knives.
The Woodsman
We got our hands on a handsome model, the Woodsman. The Woodsman that we received was “born on” January 29, 2024 and was made by Caleb McQuain.
Each Battle Horse Knives knife comes with an information card indicating the model, type of steel the knife is crafted from, the edge grind, handle color, sheath #, and craftsman.
The Woodsman we have came made from a 01 steel, which is a high carbon steel known for holding a sharp edge, but also known for its ease of sharpening. The grind of the blade is flat and is 2 and 7/8″ in length. The overall length of the Woodsman is 7” and weighs four ounces.
Battle Horse Knives offers knives outfitted with G10 handles or micarta. The unit we have seems to be constructed of bead blasted micarta and is black in color.
We received a full grain leather sheath to house our Woodsman and according to our product card, it’s sheath #30.
Impressions on the Woodsman
When first breaking leather on the Woodsman, the knife felt well balanced and fit nicely in the hand. Immediately the thought that this knife would be a great companion while out camping, hiking, or engaging in other outdoor activities came to mind.
Whether engaging in bushcraft or using the Woodsman to skin out game, this knife seemed like it’d go the distance when put to task.
The blade is sharp and very sturdy.
When attached to a belt, the sheath holds the Woodsman snugly but allows for easy deployment. Depending on what kind of “baggage” a user has, care must be taken when re-sheathing, as skewering one’s own fat can quickly become a hazard if you’re of the more hefty variety.
How’d the Woodsman perform in the field?
I had the chance to take out the Woodsman several times while engaging in some outdoor activities.
The first thing that popped up when donning the sheath of this artfully made knife was my junior adventurer said, “That’s really cool,” pointing at the knife on my belt. With the approval of the youngest member of the tribe, we went off into the unknown bearing a quality blade.
The biggest task I ended up using the Woodsman for was actually cutting up some fire starting tinder. Nothing like being thrown the “keys” at a scouting event and being asked, “You can start a fire, right?” Looking left and right at the damp area, lack of fire starting material, and pile of “fuel” sized firewood, I said, “Of course.” With that, the head of our group left the event.
With Woodsman in hand, I took to making my own “small stuff” to use to get the fire up and going. The knife made short order of allowing me to slice nice, long, semi-curled shreds to use as a starting aggregate.
Overall, the Woodsman made a great companion in the field and when used while camping.
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Handmade, high quality. Lifetime warranty. Made in the United States. Family owned business. Sharp and holds an edge. Ergonomically fits well in the hand. Moderately priced.
Minuses: 01 steel is known to be not very corrosion resistant, however if cared for properly will not rust or patina.
The Woodsman was a pleasant surprise that I stumbled upon while chatting with the folks at Battle Horse Knives. If you’re in the market for a sturdy, well-made in the United States knife, the Battle Horse Knives Woodsman might fit your needs. After handing and using the Woodsman, it’s not just another knife, but a crafted piece that seems like it’ll stand the test of time and get handed down as a family heirloom.
