Knives by Nuge is a fixed blade knife maker out of New Jersey known for making hard use knives. His Wicket line has been wildly popular for the better part of 2 years with hunting enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and EDC users. The Wicket was originally designed as a small neck knife but has evolved to include an XL version that is still pocket friendly and Big Boi for full sized bushcraft use. The success of the Wicket has allowed Knives by Nuge to branch out and bring back older designs like the Chickpea and introduce new designs like the Bruin we will be looking at today.
Above: The Knives by Nuge Wicket, Wicket XL, and Big Boi
Knives by Nuge Bruin Origins
According to Tom Nugent, owner of Knives by Nuge, the design idea for the Bruin came to him when he was processing a deer with his Wicket XL and needed a bit more reach. Taking some inspiration from two discontinued designs called the EDB and the Bushcrafter, Tom set out to create a dedicated hunting fixed blade knife with an ergonomic handle design, a good slicing belly, and enough blade length to get into the deeper cavities of a larger animal.
Like most KNB designs, Tom also wanted to ensure that the knife was easy to carry and would not get in the way when moving through the woods. Part of Tom’s prototyping process involves having trusted outdoor experts test it out in real life use scenarios. Through the testing process, he received a lot of positive feedback on the Bruin’s outdoor prowess, not just as a hunting knife but also as a bushcraft style knife, and he ultimately decided to offer the knife in both a saber grind and in a traditional scandi grind.
Knives by Nuge released the Bruin this year at the Georgia Bushcraft Fall Gathering and I got the opportunity to grab one of the first scandi grind versions in CPM-3V super steel. As I spend a good deal of time in the woods doing bushcraft related tasks its hard to resist a scandi grind especially when it’s combined with a super tough steel like 3V!
Above: The Knives by Nuge Bruin with G10 scales, a scandi grind and CPM-3V super steel.
Knives by Nuge Bruin Design
The Bruin’s 3.75-inch blade is more than enough for game processing tasks and a majority of your typical outdoor and bushcraft tasks. The belly allows it to effectively perform slicing tasks that you’d expect from a hunting knife such as processing game to prepping meat for a camp meal. While many would argue the saber grind is a better option for slicing, the 3/32 inch blade stock combined with KBN’s sharp scandi grind did just fine when I used to cut meat, fruit and vegetables.
The Bruin’s spine has a 90-degree angle allowing it to be used for striking a ferro rod or performing wood scraping tasks, so you won’t need to potentially dull or damage your blade to get your fire started.
The blade point does a great job piercing while still having enough material behind it to prevent accidental breakage, especially when combined with tough steel options. Speaking of tough steel choices, this makes the Bruin ideal for hard use tasks such as batoning wood even with a relatively small blade and thinner stock.
The Bruin’s handle is ergonomic with some contouring for grip making it comfortable over long term use with a hammer grip and performing push cuts. There are scalloped areas closest to the blade that allow for a pinch grip when doing detailed work. The butt of the handle has a slight flare that helps prevent slipping when the Bruin is wet or covered in blood.
Bruin Fixed Blade Knife Specs
- Overall Length: 8.25 inches
- Blade Length: 3.75inches
- Handle Length: 4.50 inches
- Blade Grind: Saber or Scandi
- Steel Options: AEB-L, Nitro-V, CPM-3V
- Handle Materials: G10 or Micarta
Bruin Carry Options
The Bruin I got came with a custom made Kydex pocket sheath and Tom was kind enough to also give me one of the prototype leather belt sheaths made by Badger Claw Outfitters.
Above: The Custom made Kydex Pocket Sheath, makes a for a very slim package.
Kydex Pocket Sheath
The Kydex sheath is ambidextrous, allowing the knife to be inserted into the sheath in with the edge facing either direction. The knife is held in by a friction fit that is secure enough to prevent the knife from falling out, even when I tried to aggressively shake it, but still allow for easy draw. The pocket clip is made by Discreet Carry Concepts and has exceptional retention. There is a small drainage hole on the bottom of the sheath to allow water to exit the sheath should it get in.
Based on the size of the Bruin, I was a bit skeptical of the comfort of carrying it in my pocket, but I was pleasantly surprised that the full-sized knife not only fit in my pocket it did some comfortably and I was even able to put other items like my cell phone in the same pocket.
Above: The optional Badger Claw Outfitters leather belt sheath is a great choice for traditional carry.
Leather Belt Sheath
If you are looking for a more traditional fixed blade knife carry option, the leather belt sheath is an excellent option. The leather belt sheath made by Badger Claw Outfitters is made from Crazy Horse Leather, and in my experience only looks better with age! The Bruin sits snuggly in the sheath, with just enough handle exposed for good purchase to draw the knife. The belt loop is large enough to accommodate wide belts and can easily accept a dangler should you want it to ride a bit lower.
Above: The Bruin is an excellent Field knife that can serve as both a hunting knife and a bushcraft knife.
Final Thoughts
While my usage time on the Knives by Nuge Bruin is limited, I am impressed with the design. Through a weekend of use while camping as well as putting it to work as an EDC knife for a few days, and it performed admirably in all tasks. For outdoor use the Bruin seems like it fits the bill for an all-purpose field knife that can act as both a hunting knife and bushcraft knife. For EDC, it’s a great fixed blade if you are looking for an easy to carry full sized knife, that the overall size is not so apparent to others thanks to the pocket sheath.
The first batch of Bruin’s will be available on knivesbynuge.com on Friday, November 15th 2024. As the Bruin is handmade, supplies are limited!
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