Mini Tundra- your best choice for an EDC knife?

I’m a long-time user of the Ambush Tundra. This latest, smaller version of the proven design may be just what the backpacker, hiker or outdoorsperson is looking for.

by Leon Pantenburg

the Ambush Tundra.

The Ambush Tundra (made by Bark River) design is one of the best hunting knife designs on the market. My Tundra has been used on several deer, elk, an alligator, catfish and crappie, and to whittle wiener sticks. I could happily use it as my only hunting knife from now on.

The Tundra was frequently my hard-use knife on river guide trips with Big River Wild Adventures. I liked my original Tundra so much, I got Pete Winkler to put a custom antique walnut handle on it.

The Mini-Tundra is a compact version of the popular Ambush Tundra.

The Mini Tundra is for those folks who like the Tundra design, but want something a bit lighter and smaller. Here is how the specs of the regular Tundra and the Mini-Tundra compare.

Specs and weights of the Mini Tundra are based on a standard black canvas micarta variant.

1. Overall Length: 8″
2. Blade Length: 4″
3. Blade Thickness: .125″
4. Handle Thickness: .66″
5. Tang: Full
6. Blade Steel: CPM 3V
7. Weight: 4.2oz
8. Country of Origin: USA
9. Leather sheath included.

Here are the specs on the standard Tundra:

• Blade Length: 4.5″
• Overall Length: 9.5″
• Blade Finish: Satin
• Blade Thickness: .156″
• Blade Steel: CPM 3V
• Weight: 6.7oz
• Made in the United States of America
• High Quality Sheath Included With Purchase

So the standard Tundra is 1.5 inches longer overall, and the blade is .031 inches thicker. The blade is half an inch longer, and the standard weighs 2.5 ounces more. So what’s the big deal?

I haven’t had a chance to really wring out the Mini-Tundra, since deer season was not quite here. I whittled some sticks, sliced some apples and did some kitchen work, cut some string and opened some boxes. It worked just fine for all these activities, but that is not much of a test. I haven’t gone squirrel hunting yet, since the unseasonably warm weather and mosquitoes have kept me out of the Mississippi woods. But looking at the mini, I can tell it will be great as a small game knife.

How does the Mini-Tundra handle?

Here is how the Mini-Tundra worked out so far.

Point: The drop point is one of the most useful for a hunting knife. The point is centered with the handle, so it is well designed for piercing or drilling (think fire bow). The Tundra point is particularly good for the initial, under the tail work when field dressing a deer or elk.

Blade design: The Canadian leaf blade is nigh-on perfect for an all-around user knife. I have other favorites, but if forced to choose only one, it would be the leaf.

Grind: Bark River Knives are convex ground, and IMHO, that is the most useful grind ever. For what I do, which is a mixture of hunting, fishing, backpacking, canoeing and loafing in the woods, the convex grind is perfect.

Steel: CPM 3V is one of my favorite blade steels. Before I discovered A2 and CPM 3V steels, I always carried sharpening gear when hunting in the backcountry. Not any more. I have several times field dressed, skinned and quartered whitetail deer without any need to resharpen the A2 or CPM 3V knife.

Blade thickness: I applaud the trend toward thinner knife blades. They just work better.  As I have mentioned ad nauseam, in some 50 years of woods rambling, I have never broken a blade. To break a CPM 3V blade would require deliberate, studied abuse. The Mini slices really well.

Handle: The handle design will be great for most users. I have large hands, so the handle is right on the edge of being too small for me. I can get a four-finger grip on it, but there is no room left over. I probably wouldn’t be able to use this knife safely with gloves on.

Spine: The spine is not sharpened, but it will still work well for shredding tinder and scraping ferro rods.

Do you need a Mini-Tundra?

Any experienced backpacker/backcountry hunter/long distance hiker will shave the ounces in their pack so they can cut the pounds. This is a knife a deer or small game hunter should consider. Because it is light and compact, it will be easy to carry. Subsequently, it is likely to be taken everywhere. This may be the EDC knife you’ve been looking for.