Casstrom

Casstrom Knives: Swedish Forest Knives & Bushcraft Tools

Casstrom knives are built around Scandinavian design, quality materials, and meaningful collaborations with respected figures in the bushcraft and wilderness-skills world. Every model in the lineup is built for real field use: carving, wood processing, and general camp tasks.

Whether you're drawn to the classic Swedish Forest Knife series, the collaboration-driven Woodsman, or the precision-focused Lars Fält designs, this collection covers a range of sizes, steels, and handle materials suited to different hands, different tasks, and different approaches to time spent outdoors. This guide walks through what Casstrom offers, what sets each model apart, and how to pick the right knife for the way you work in the woods.

What Makes Casstrom Knives Different

Casstrom's identity is built on three things: Scandinavian design, quality materials, and collaborations with respected figures in the bushcraft and wilderness-skills world.

The knives feature full-tang construction throughout the lineup, meaning the steel runs the full length of the handle. Blade steels are selected for real-world performance: Sleipner tool steel, Sandvik 14C28N stainless, and Böhler K720, each with a distinct character depending on how you use and maintain your knife. Handles are crafted from curly birch, a traditional Nordic wood valued for its natural grip and feel in hand, or green micarta, a layered composite built to resist moisture and wear in demanding conditions.

Many models offer an optional integrated firesteel mounted to the sheath, a practical addition for anyone who wants fire-starting capability alongside their cutting tool.

Browse the full camping knives collection to see the broader range of outdoor cutting tools available.

The Casstrom Knife Lineup

Casstrom's collection at Appalachian Outfitters spans fixed blades in three Swedish Forest Knife sizes, the expert-designed Woodsman, and the Lars Fält line, including both fixed and folding options.

Swedish Forest Knives: No.8, No.10, and No.14

The Swedish Forest Knife series forms the backbone of the Casstrom lineup. Each number corresponds to the approximate blade length in centimeters, making it easy to visualize the size before you handle one.

No.8 Swedish Forest Knife. The most compact of the series, suited to those who prioritize maneuverability and a smaller, lighter kit. Available in curly birch or green micarta, with or without a matching firesteel.

No.10 Swedish Forest Knife. A mid-size option that sits in a versatile range, long enough for wood processing, food prep, and general camp tasks, compact enough to carry comfortably all day. Available in curly birch or green micarta handles, Sleipner or stainless blade steel, and with or without firesteel. For anyone comparing across the Swedish Forest Knife sizes for the first time, the No.10's blade length and configuration options make it a useful reference point.

No.14 Swedish Forest Knife. The largest of the series, built for heavier camp tasks like batoning timber and splitting wood. The thicker spine and full-tang construction are suited to harder use than the smaller sizes. Available in curly birch and green micarta with and without firesteel.

Casstrom Woodsman

The Woodsman is a collaboration design created with Roger Harrington of Bison Bushcraft, a figure known in the UK and international bushcraft community. It shares Casstrom's full-tang construction and Böhler K720 steel, shaped around Harrington's preferences for a general-purpose, all-round wilderness knife. The design emphasizes tip control and a handle shaped for extended use. Available with curly birch scales, with or without an integrated firesteel.

Lars Fält Bushcraft Knife & Folders

Lars Fält is a Swedish survival instructor with decades of field experience. The Lars Fält Bushcraft Knife is a fixed-blade design built around handle geometry and edge geometry developed for varied bushcraft tasks. A firesteel version in curly birch is also available.

For a folding option, the Lars Fält Lock Back and Slip Joint offer the same design sensibility in a more portable format. The Lock Back provides more positive blade engagement and is suited to harder use; the Slip Joint is traditional in form and appropriate for contexts where a locking blade isn't needed.

How to Choose the Right Casstrom Knife

With multiple steels, handle materials, and sizes across the lineup, a little decision-making guidance goes a long way.

Blade Steel: Sleipner, Stainless, or K720

Sleipner steel is a Swedish tool steel valued for toughness and edge retention, and is responsive to field sharpening. As with any high-carbon steel, it needs some maintenance attention to prevent surface rust: wipe it dry after use and apply a light oil coat during storage.

Sandvik 14C28N stainless offers strong corrosion resistance, making it a practical option for wet environments, near saltwater, or for anyone who wants lower-maintenance care. It takes a fine edge and is more forgiving for those still developing sharpening skills.

Böhler K720 is a high-carbon tool steel used in the Woodsman collaboration. It's tough, holds an edge well, and sharpens with a consistent, predictable feel, a traditional choice suited to the Woodsman's all-round wilderness role.

If low maintenance is the priority, stainless is the more practical choice. If the performance characteristics of high-carbon steel matter more and some upkeep is acceptable, Sleipner or K720 fit that use case.

Handle Material: Curly Birch vs. Green Micarta

Curly birch is a traditional Nordic handle material that develops character with use and provides a natural grip. It can absorb some moisture over extended exposure, so periodic treatment with a natural oil helps maintain it.

Green micarta is a layered synthetic composite built to be highly moisture-resistant. It holds up well in rain, mud, or cold conditions and needs less routine care than natural wood. Some users lightly abrade new micarta handles with fine steel wool to improve grip texture out of the box.

Neither material is universally better: curly birch suits those who prefer a traditional, natural-feel handle and don't mind occasional oiling; green micarta suits those prioritizing low maintenance and moisture resistance.

With Firesteel or Without

Several models come bundled with a firesteel integrated into the sheath, a pairing for anyone who treats fire-starting as a core wilderness skill. If you already carry dedicated fire-starting gear or prefer a cleaner sheath profile, the base models cover the same cutting function without the bundle.

Size Guidance

• No.8: smaller, general camp tasks and carving where maneuverability matters most.
• No.10: a versatile middle size for general camp use, carving, and food prep.
• No.14: larger blade for heavier work such as batoning and splitting wood.
• Woodsman: a general-purpose, all-round design built around Roger Harrington's specific preferences.
• Lars Fält: a purpose-tuned option shaped by a career survival instructor's field experience, including fixed and folding formats.

Casstrom Knives in the Field

Casstrom knives are designed around the tasks that come up outdoors. The Scandi grind used across much of the lineup is well suited to push cuts, carving feathersticks, and detailed woodwork, the traditional grind of the Nordic forest. Flat grind variants offer more versatility for slicing tasks and food prep.

For camp kitchen tasks like processing game and prepping food, the No.10 covers general use and the Woodsman handles heavier cuts. For wood processing tasks like making tinder, shaping stakes, or carving camp implements, the Scandi grind provides a controlled cutting feel suited to longer carving sessions.

Paired with a good camping axe or folding saw for larger wood processing, a Casstrom knife rounds out a functional wilderness toolkit.

Caring for Your Casstrom Knife

Consistent care keeps a Casstrom knife performing well over the long term.

For high-carbon steel blades (Sleipner, K720): After use in the field, wipe the blade clean and dry it thoroughly before storage. Apply a thin coat of mineral oil, camellia oil, or a similar blade oil. If the blade develops a patina, that's a normal part of high-carbon steel and can improve corrosion resistance over time.

For stainless steel (14C28N): Rinse and dry the blade after use. While corrosion-resistant, prolonged exposure to salt or acidic substances can still affect the finish over time, so a light wipe-down remains good practice.

Sharpening: Scandi-ground blades are relatively straightforward to sharpen because the bevel geometry is easy to follow on a flat stone or strop. Maintain the original angle and work consistently on each side.

Sheath and handle care: The leather sheath benefits from periodic conditioning with a leather conditioner or beeswax-based product. Curly birch handles can be lightly treated with linseed oil, tung oil, or a similar wood-friendly oil once or twice a year. Keep handles away from prolonged submersion.

Explore knife and axe accessories for sharpening tools, blade oils, and care products to keep your kit well maintained.

FAQs

What is a Swedish Forest Knife? 

A Swedish Forest Knife is a traditional fixed-blade knife with Scandinavian roots, designed for general outdoor tasks including carving, wood processing, and camp use. The Scandi grind and relatively thin blade make it well suited to detailed cutting work.

What blade steel does Casstrom use? 

Casstrom uses several steels depending on the model: Sleipner high-carbon tool steel, Sandvik 14C28N stainless, and Böhler K720 tool steel. Each has different characteristics for edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

What is a Scandi grind and why does it matter? 

A Scandi (Scandinavian) grind is a single flat bevel that runs from the spine to the edge. It's straightforward to sharpen in the field using a flat stone, performs well for carving, and is the traditional grind of Nordic outdoor knives.

Are Casstrom knives good for batoning wood? 

The No.14 and Woodsman models, with their thicker spines and full-tang construction, are built for batoning. The No.8 and No.10 can manage lighter batoning tasks, but heavier splitting work is better suited to the larger models.

What is the difference between the Lars Fält and No.10 models? 

The Lars Fält fixed blade has a handle shape developed by Lars Fält himself for grip across varied tasks, and a blade length close to the No.10's. The No.10 follows a more traditional Swedish Forest Knife profile. The choice often comes down to handle feel and intended use.

Do Casstrom knives come with a sheath? 

Yes. All fixed-blade Casstrom knives include a leather sheath. Many models are available with an integrated firesteel mounted on the sheath as an optional bundle.

What handle material is better, curly birch or green micarta? 

Neither is universally better. Curly birch has a traditional, natural feel and grip, and benefits from occasional oiling. Green micarta is more moisture-resistant and requires less maintenance. Choose birch for a natural-material preference; choose micarta if durability and low upkeep are priorities.

Find the Right Casstrom Knife for Your Kit

Casstrom knives are built on consistent craftsmanship, considered material choices, and a design approach that prioritizes field function. Whether you're drawn to the versatile No.10, the specialist appeal of the Lars Fält, or the heavier-duty No.14, every model in this collection is built to hold up across years of outdoor use.