Camping knife: freedom in the palm of your hand

You know the moment, just after setting up. Tent up, shoes on, silence restored. The fire crackles gently. The smell of wood and fresh grass wafts through the air. The knife rests on a stump. It’s already been used three times today, without you really thinking about it. A rope is cut, a branch pruned, an apple peeled. Gestures slow down. Each object regains its rightful value. And among them, the camping knife. The real thing. Not a multifunctional gadget. No. A beautiful blade, a noble wooden handle with perfect ergonomics. Going out into nature means reconnecting with what’s living and vital. And when you do, your knife becomes an essential. Here’s why and how to choose the right one!

Camping knife: the essential outdoor tool

Wilderness camping is gradually giving way to luxury camping: camper vans, GPS, converted tents and swimming pools at the foot of the bungalow. However, if for you, vacations mean waking up to the sun’s rays, treading fresh grass in the morning and listening to the infinite silence, then you probably prefer to bivouac in the wilderness.

A few survival tools make everyday life easier for true adventurers. Among them, the knife. On its own, a good blade replaces scissors, a hatchet and so on.

Day one: you finally find that perfect, peaceful spot you’ve been waiting for. You’ve already got to pitch the tent, hang a washing line and chop wood for the campfire.

Then, as you dream serenely on the edge of the camp bed, basic needs catch up with you:

• cooking your food, so feeding the fire;
• pick a few wild (and edible) fruits or mushrooms;
• cut off a branch to make a wooden stick, because yes, tomorrow you’re going hiking.

The camping knife, a versatile bushcraft tool, lets you slice an apple, sharpen a stake, improvise a fire starter, mend canvas or de-head and fillet a freshly caught fish. Carving, sculpting, slicing and dicing: life on a camp is no picnic. On the other hand, it offers invaluable disconnection.

Bivouac knife or survival knife: the differences

The camping knife (or bivouac knife) is versatile. Like a bushcraft knife, it can be used for all outdoor tasks: cooking, tinkering, hunting, fishing and more. Multi-purpose, it’s designed to make everyday life more comfortable.

The Wilderness Survival Knife is ideal for more intense work: fending off a wild animal attack, building a shelter, clearing an obstructed path. It withstands extreme conditions and covers tactical needs in total autonomy (first aid, self-defense).

Both are outdoor companions. Your choice will depend on the specific activities you plan for your camping vacation. If you’ll be camping or hiking, choose a knife that’s both handy and sturdy.

13 everyday gestures where the camping knife becomes essential

On a campsite, the bivouac knife becomes an extension of the hand. Every gesture depends on it, from setting up shelter to preparing meals. Here are a few practical uses, for those who appreciate functional simplicity.

Meal preparation made easy

When camping, cooking takes place in the open air. A good knife becomes the mainstay of daily life.

• Slice a sausage mid-ride.
• Peel an apple for the kids.
• Slicing vegetables for an impromptu pan-fry.
• Open a package (even a stubborn one).
• Cut up barbecued meat.

Building shelter and setting up camp

When the bivouac begins, every tool counts. The camping knife helps you set up and adapt your environment.

• Cut a branch to make a tent peg.
• Cut a rope or strap to stretch a tarpaulin.
• Repair a bent sardine.
• Carve a support for the saucepan over the fire.

Tinkering and coping with everyday life

A knife is more than just a cutting tool. It’s a true multi-purpose tool for gentle survival.

• Clean an area or scrape a dirty surface.
• Sharpen a walking stick.
• Make a spoon from a branch.

Select your knife according to your camping and hiking activities

For light hiking and picnics

For long walks, opt for a lightweight knife. Folding, it slips into your pocket, ready to use to cut the fruit for a snack, slice fresh bread or do the odd job setting up your group.

For bushcraft and outdoor use

Several days in the middle of nowhere? Think versatility. You’ll need to cut wood, chop shavings to light the fire, maybe even make a few tools. A full tang blade guarantees greater resistance. 

For hunting and fishing

Choose a stainless steel blade for better corrosion resistance, especially if you’re deep-sea fishing. For hunting, a fixed blade gives you greater strength.

For camp cooking

At camp, the knife you use to eat every day has to be practical, robust and multi-purpose. Whether you’re slicing chops from the barbecue, gutting fish or simply buttering your breakfast baguette, this knife is multi-purpose. It offers the essential in every gesture.

The Trapper knife (N690 steel blade) and the EDC knife (90MCV8 steel blade) meet the everyday needs of adventurers.

Choosing the right camping knife: 6 essential criteria

Vacation village, bushcraft or primitive bivouac – what’s your vision of camping? It defines the type of knife that’s right for you.

3. Ergonomics

A hand-crafted camping knife offers perfect ergonomics, a key criterion for a French master cutler. When the handle and blade are in perfect balance, and the knife naturally fits the palm of your hand, then you’ve found the ideal camping knife – yours.

At the JHP workshop in Saint-André des Eaux, Loire-Atlantique, visitors touch the handle and feel the age-old wood under their fingers. They instantly judge the quality of the grip.

4. Weight and size

Logically, choose a lighter knife if you hike a lot, preferably a folding knife. When traveling, every kilo counts. To fill up your backpack, give priority to small, multi-purpose tools. Pocket knives fit into any cargo pants or survival bag.

Sedentary bivouac or hunting enthusiasts prefer a fixed-blade knife.

And what about you? What activity are you planning for your next camping weekend? 

5. Easy care

While the stainless steel blade can be washed with water, it is advisable to clean your craft knife with a soft cloth. Wiped clean after each use, it remains clean, safe and ready for the next cut.

Never run your Morta knife under water. As our loyal readers know, the Morta, the swamp oak, has lived buried in peat for 5,000 years. Now it longs for a dry life. A careful wipe is all it takes.

6. The pleasure

These first five characteristics guarantee you the best possible use of your most beautiful vacation blade. But don’t forget about pleasure. Choosing your camping knife also means personalizing your adventure experience. In your image and respectful of your values, your knife testifies to your involvement in the world. A handcrafted French camping knife reveals your commitment to the environment and to society.

Engraved with a first name, a discreet message or a strong symbol: personalizing your camping knife makes it a unique object, deeply linked to you, your adventures and your history.

How to use and care for a bivouac knife?

A camping knife is like a good fire: it requires respect, care and a little maintenance.

To handle it safely, choose an open area away from children. Use calm, precise movements. When hiking or bivouacking, a poorly controlled cut can quickly spoil your adventure.

As far as maintenance is concerned, as we saw earlier, a damp cloth is all you need to clean the blade in the wilderness.

Protect your fixed knives in a leather case or sheath. For pocket knives, our clip-on sheaths attach to your belt.

Wooden handles, especially Morta, deserve special care. If necessary, a natural oil (beeswax) can nourish and protect it, but this treatment is not obligatory.

Finally, for a blade that’s always sharp, check out our sharpening demonstration video: quick, easy and effective, even in the tent.

The Morta choice: back to nature and our essentials

Under the tent, between two pine trees, the Morta handle warms you with just the touch of your hand. This black wood, extracted from the Brière marshes, does not seduce by chance. It embodies the passage of time, the patience of the elements, the memory of the oak sleeping under the peat. Each piece is unique, marked by the whims of nature, hand-carved with respect for the artisanal gesture.

In camping, the knife transcends the notion of a tool: it prepares, makes, protects, connects. It slices a piece of cheese, splits a branch, helps with knotting, repairs and cooking. The Morta knife is the perfect companion. It helps you out in the moment, with the simple, robust beauty of objects made to last.

Choosing a Morta knife is certainly equipping yourself! It’s also anchoring yourself in a heritage, a land, a way of life. A truer way. Closer to nature, back to basics.

Between utility, beauty and durability, it doesn’t choose, it combines.

Knives for camping: a reminder of the law to pack in your backpack

In France, a knife (camping, kitchen or survival) is considered a category D knife. The law does not prohibit possession, but strictly regulates carrying and transportation. You must have a legitimate reason for carrying it: hiking, camping on official land or bushcrafting in the wilderness are good examples.

Don’t worry: if you use your knife in a coherent context (camping, cooking, outdoor DIY), you’re in the clear.

👉 Find out all the details in our article: Carrying a knife, what you need to know.

Now it’s up to you to find the perfect companion for your next adventure. Choosing a camping knife isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about recognizing the right object, the one that will bridge the gap between your hand and the environment. It’s about solidity, balance and that little extra soul that only Morta wood can offer. Whether you’re a rustic bivouac enthusiast or a well-prepared hiker, a good knife will follow you everywhere. Browse our handcrafted collection and find the model that’s right for you.

Article written by Christelle Lorant 🪶

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