Mushroom picker knife: selection rules and features of use

Any intervention in the natural ecosystem leaves a painful mark. In our time, in a difficult environmental situation, every little thing is important, so all kinds of trips to the forest should not bring the slightest harm to the environment. This fully applies to lovers of "silent hunting" - mushroom pickers. It should never be forgotten that the mycelium responsible for the further growth of fungi is a living organism, not a factory.

When picking mushrooms, you need to carefully cut off only edible ones and do not touch all the others (inedible, overgrown, wormy) in order to preserve the mycelium as much as possible. There are mushrooms that grow densely in families (milk mushrooms, mushrooms, butter mushrooms). The expression "mushrooms - oblique mow" is just about such mushrooms.

In the forest, a knife is needed not only to cut mushrooms. They can cut a tree horn from a branch and rake up the foliage without bending down every time looking for mushrooms. With a knife, it is easy to organize a fire to keep warm or cook food, open canned food, cut bread if you plan a long hike. An extreme situation can also happen - even an experienced person who has gone mushroom hunting more than once can wander into an unfamiliar forest and get lost. In such situations, the knife is simply irreplaceable.

No wonder there is an expression among hunters: "In the forest it is better to lose a gun than a knife."

Mushroom pickers say: what knife to choose - answer this question for yourself. There are no universal recommendations. Someone will prefer a compact folding tool, someone will like a more brutal product with a fixed blade. Real mushroom pickers take a responsible approach to choosing a knife and know what to look for first of all:

• production material - stainless steel, this will ensure minimal care for the product;
• comfortable handle from moisture resistant material (dense rubber, wood, special types of polymers);
• narrow blade (in the zone of the butt, optimally 2 cm);
• good blade sharpening, in functionality, the key word is cut (do not cut);
• blade length 7 - 10 cm (preferred);
• when choosing a model with a brush in the handle the pile must be hard.

In addition, you should think about security. It must be understood that a sharp knife is not a toy, but a dangerous edged weapon. It is better to opt for a knife with a slightly rounded tip of the blade - this will reduce the risk of accidental injury. When choosing a knife with a fixed blade, do not neglect the sheath.

The color of the handle is also important. It is better to choose a bright option, as mushroom pickers often lose their knives. The probability of finding a brightly colored object in thick grass is much higher. Last but not least, the cost of products. The loss of knives is a “professional disease” of mushroom pickers, which makes you look at the price not least when choosing.

The prevailing opinion among mushroom pickers is that folding knives are less convenient when you need to carry a basket for mushrooms in one hand, and unfold and fold the mushroom knife with the other. It is much easier to use a product with a fixed blade. It is easy to remove and put back in the sheath.

Nowadays, in retail chains you can find mushroom knives of the most diverse assortment for every taste and budget. There is no universal design. Developers strive to take into account various subtleties. There are models with a fixed or folding blade, with a straight or curved blade, with different handle shapes.

In the lines of manufacturers there are models with a special brush built into the heel of the handle or on the side, which will allow you to quickly shake off small debris from the mushroom cap. Not every Russian mushroom picker, having cut a mushroom, will begin to sweep away the adhering specks from it, but there are people who want to bring home a basket of mushrooms in a more presentable form.

Of the foreign manufacturers, it is worth noting the French company Opinel and the Swedish company Mora. Their models of mushroom knives are compact, weigh little and have a convenient shape. Both Opinel and Mora use Sandvik laminated steel for their blades. A significant disadvantage is the high price of products of these companies. Not all lovers of "quiet hunting" can afford to buy a tool for 20-30 euros.

Products of Russian manufacturers are characterized by reliability and durability. Knife "Russian Bulat" can be confidently called a visiting card. It differs from European samples in simplicity and brutality of finish, it can have a characteristic pattern on the blade. The blade is made of Damascus steel or 9XC steel, has high strength and resistance to external influences.

Parameters of "Russian Bulat": total length 23 cm, blade length 11.3 cm, blade thickness 0.24 - 0.34 cm. The wooden handle is made of birch bark, famous for its ergonomic shape, due to which it "flows" into the palm of your hand. Such a knife can be used when performing many chores, and not just walking with it for mushrooms. Often the question “why did you choose this knife?” buyers answer "for everything".

Another version of the knife of the Russian damask steel company is the small mushroom picker knife. This is a miniature model, the total length is only 20.5 cm, the blade length is 9.2 cm. It has a high-quality blade of increased strength (hardness index 60-64 units).

Silent hunting carries with it peaceful messages. Under the silence of the silent forest, in which the melodic sounds of bird voices are occasionally heard, it is easy to relax and indulge in relaxation, and even bring home the forest gifts of nature to prepare a delicious dinner. You just need to know the types of edible mushrooms very well and remember that even one poisonous mushroom can cause a very sad outcome. A constant rule is not to put the mushroom in the basket at the slightest doubt.

True connoisseurs of such a wonderful hobby as mushroom hunting know that pulling out a mushroom from a mycelium is comparable to damaging a person's arteries. All those who love and protect their native nature will never destroy it with "barbarian raids".

For information on which knife to choose for picking mushrooms, see the following video.