Why does a mushroom picker need a knife

Knife requirements

A knife in the woods can come in handy for a variety of purposes. You can also prepare food outdoors. Or make a camping stick to check the foliage for mushrooms. It may surprise many people that there is a special knife for picking mushrooms. More often than not, no one knows about this. But there are even certain requirements for him:

the blade should not be wide;
it is better to choose stainless steel;
check its cut even when buying, it must be perfectly sharpened;
the handle should be made of moisture resistant material.

These small conditions already give some idea of the mushroom knife. Another useful tip, the handle is better to choose a bright color in order to quickly find the blade when it is lost in the grass.

Design features

In fact, today it is difficult to say what a mushroom knife should look like. Quite a few manufacturers offer their own special versions and options. And they all look different. The handle can also be of any color and shape.

Mushroom picker knife with a wood handle.

Quite a lot of domestic manufacturers characterize the mushroom blade as a mini hunting blade. Or, conversely, they offer a folding. But, as has long been known, a folding knife will be clogged with sand and dirt, so it is better to exclude such an option right away. It is true that it should be a monolithic structure. A kitchen knife is also not an option. Long blade will only be a hindrance. And professionals advise to have a sheath without fail.

Main characteristics

The handle must be comfortable and lie well in the hand, so it will be easier to wield in a handful of family. Which grows tightly to each other. And the blade should be best of all small and have a sickle-shaped body. The most important characteristics of such a tool include:

the width of the blade should not be thicker than 2 cm, the length should be from 8 to 10 cm, and the thickness of the butt should not be more than 1.5 - 2 mm. These are ideal parameters for a mushroom picker knife;
a folding mushroom knife, this is not the best option, it will get clogged with dirt, already described above;
for a correct cut, the shape of the blade must be slightly curved;
blade steel, should easily transfer moisture;
the shape of the handle, must have an anatomical shape, or processed with a special rubberized material

So it will not slip out of your hands, and pay attention to the moisture resistance of the material;
a blade of a fixed shape, more preferable;
it is imperative to have a scabbard, as a rule, they are hung around the neck, so it is more convenient.

If you think you can make the scabbard yourself, do so. You are not going to an exhibition - the main thing is the reliability of the structure, so as not to lose it.

Russian mushroom picker knife options

Among the Russian mushroom picker knives are in demand:

Released in the USSR. These are NSZ, PKMOOiR and others, they are bought for the sake of the collection.
Wolf model. I like the knife because of the unusual handle, but in the case it is not bad either.
V. Krutov's products. They will be useful in the forest, hunting, as a gift.
Knives produced by the Blacksmith yard. These are also quality products that are worth having for forest lovers and collectors.

From the USSR

The USSR mushroom picker knife is each of the following instances:

NSZ. Folding tool with mechanical opening type. The blade is made of stainless steel, its shape is "goat's leg", that is, with a straight blade and a lowered butt line. The grips are made of blue or yellow plastic. On it are embossed images of mushrooms.
PK MOOiR. This is also a foldable, but from a different manufacturer. The shape of the blade is the same as that of the NSZ, it is slightly longer. The total unfolded size is 21 cm. The handle is made of black or gray plastic. And it also has a decor in the form of a bear with mushrooms. A metal ring is attached to the pommel, with the help of which the knife can be suspended.
Kharkov "Gribnik", produced at the plant "Metallist".It is a folding weapon with a bowie blade and a curved black or light brown plastic handle. In working order, it has a length of 21 cm. The size of the blade is 8.8 cm, it is made of carbon steel.
Small mushroom picker. This knife, produced in the 80s of the XX century, has a curved blade 6.5 cm long and a handle measuring 11.5 cm. The latter is made of gray or green plastic. The blade is made of carbon steel.

Wolf

The Wolf knife has an original appearance thanks to the handle. It is made of brass and represents the figure of a predatory animal, stretched out in a jump, with a bared mouth or closed jaws.

The blade is made of steel 65X13, has a universal shape. Its length is 10.5 cm, width is 1.5 cm. And the total size of the tool is 25.5 cm. There is also a limiter that will not allow you to accidentally cut yourself.

Krutova

Krutov's tools with the name Gribnik are more similar in size and appearance to hunting ones:

The first copy has a drop point blade 12.2 cm long and a wenge handle 12.5 cm in size.The width of the cutting part is 2.6 cm, and the thickness of the butt is 0.4 cm.The blade is forged from steel grade 110X18, between it and the handle there is a bolster. The handle also has a metal back with a lanyard loop.

The second has a blade made of Damascus steel, its length is 12-13 cm, width is 2.6 cm. The total size of the weapon is 23.5-24.5 cm. The thickness of the butt is 0.36 cm. The rounded curved handle is made of different grades wood, it is two-tone. There is a metal bolster and a lanyard hole in the top.
The third is distinguished by a blade made of steel grade D2, part length - 12.2 cm, width - 2.5 cm. The handle is made of black hornbeam. It is smooth, thickens towards the middle and tapers towards the top, which makes the knife more comfortable to hold. A metal bolster separates it from the blade. And in the upper part of the back there is a hole for the lanyard.

All tools have blades of high hardness - 60-62 HRC. Each comes with a leather sheath.

Blacksmith yard

Products of the Kuznechny Dvor brand are distinguished by their beauty and have the following parameters:

blade 12-12.5 cm long and 2.7 cm wide;
butt thickness - 0.32-0.4 cm;
total size - 23-24.1 cm.

When creating one of them, steel grade 110X18 with a hardness of 60-61 HRC and a black hornbeam for the handle, as well as brass for the bolster and the back plate were used. There are similar knives from "stainless steel" X12MF with a white wooden handle and cupronickel finish.

The Blacksmith's yard has several types of knives for picking mushrooms, in addition to those already listed earlier:

made of Kh12MF steel with a handle made of Karelian birch and a metal back plate;
with a blade made of 9XC material with a birch bark handle;
Elmax steel with wenge handle with metal bolster;
made of 9XC steel with stabilized maple burl handle, brass stop and index finger recess.

All have rather long blades of the universal type (11.3 cm), curved comfortable handles. Knives can be taken on a hike, hunting, they are reliable and well sharpened.

Mushroom knife

Why should you cut mushrooms?

If you recall the distant times and turn to the history of mushroom picking in Russia, then no knives were used. For the most part, mushrooms were picked by small children and old people. Adults at this time were engaged in household chores and subsistence farming. Therefore, children were not given knives, and they were very expensive in those days, the peasants simply did not have such money. Therefore, the children simply had to pick the mushrooms with their hands.

What happens when a mushroom is plucked straight from the root? First of all, the connecting threads are damaged, which connect the fruit body of the fungus with the main part of its body - mycorrhiza. And mushrooms will never grow in this place. However, if we take into account the fact that the population of Russia was not numerous and not so dense in a unit of territory, and there were much more forests, this practically did not affect the number of fungi and the general state of mycorrhiza.In our time, when many swamps were drained, and the rivers became shallow, every little thing became important in the forest. Any intervention in a small piece of a natural ecosystem is perceived by nature as very painful.

Therefore, in order to preserve as many myceliums as possible, it is necessary to carefully cut off the fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms with a knife and not touch those that you do not need. Remember that mycelium is not a factory for the production of an unlimited number of mushrooms, but a living organism

How to choose a knife?

Usually, among the majority of mushroom pickers, there are few of those who attach importance to the mushroom knife. They just take with them the first kitchen knife they see, so as not to regret losing it in the forest. Well, that happens. However, any knife needs to be prepared in advance for picking mushrooms: you need to sharpen the knife blade sharply, the handle should not be small. The tool must be firmly and securely in the hand.

It is imperative to cut off densely and nearby growing mushrooms. These are such types of mushrooms as honey mushrooms and boletus. And their legs are not as tasty as their hats.

For picking mushrooms, high-quality and convenient cutter knives are available for sale. A cutter knife in a light plastic sheath is hung around the neck (or attached to clothes with a clothespin) so that the cutter handle is turned into the ground. The knife is easily removed from the scabbard with a simple push of a button. The knife-cutter is inserted into the sheath with a characteristic snap-in. The handle of the knife should be of a bright color - yellow, red, white, so that the fallen knife is quickly found in the foliage. A folding knife should be of a similar design so that it easily and quickly emerges from its scabbard.

What else does a mushroom picker need a knife for?

The mushroom picker needs a knife not only to cut the mushrooms from time to time. There are plenty of other useful things you can do with a small knife. For example, cut a special stick from a long branch to stir up the foliage without bending over to the ground. A knife will help make a fire for cooking or heating. With the help of a knife, bread and other products are easily cut and cans are opened. This tool is irreplaceable if you decide for a long stay in the forest.

Safety engineering

Like any other sparsely populated area, the forest is fraught with a lot of the unknown, and sometimes dangerous. You can stumble upon a random person or a wild animal. It should also be remembered that all knives are melee weapons. And very often, instead of cutting mushrooms, people accidentally inflict wounds and injuries on themselves.

It is worth remembering that the knife is not a toy and requires careful handling.

Knife at home

Knives are also useful at home for processing freshly picked mushrooms. Meat knives will no longer work in this case. You will need good, sharpened kitchen knives designed for cutting vegetables. The thickness of the blade should not be very large - no more than one millimeter. Previously, for mushrooms, you must cut off the leg from the cap. Mushrooms do not tolerate processing with a blunt instrument, because they lose some of the aroma and structure, sharpening is necessary at an angle of no more than 16 degrees. For drying and frying, the mushroom cap is cut into wide thin slices.

Signs of a good mushroom knife

A thin and short blade - often up to 7-10 cm. Longer - it is not so convenient to cut mushroom legs in inconvenient places, and a thick blade will more often break the fragile flesh of the mushroom than cut it carefully, without the need to damage the mycelium. In addition, with a small thickness, it is not scary if the blade is slightly dull. Experienced mushroom pickers also prefer rather narrow blades up to 20-25 mm at the widest part.
Curved cutting edge for easy cutting.
Comfortable non-slip grip. The palm may be sweating, wet from dew or rain, but the hand should not get tired from constant effort.
High-quality blade material is best of all stainless steel, since it is not very convenient to keep the blade clean and dry in field conditions.
Noticeable coloring.Not necessary, but very convenient, since it is especially easy to lose a small object in the forest, in the grass or dead wood. But since catchy colors are not to everyone's taste, this issue can be solved with the help of a lanyard, cord, etc.
Another optional, but handy detail is a brush on the top of the handle to remove adhering debris from mushrooms.

How to make a mushroom knife with your own hands

It will not be difficult to buy such a tool for hunting mushrooms in a store. A wide variety of models and affordable prices will allow you to choose products for every taste. But there are people who prefer to make tools, including knives, with their own hands. In this case, you can offer the option of making a mushroom knife from a piece of a band saw.

Everyone knows that a saw is characterized by sharp teeth, and it is one of them that will become the sharpened end of the future knife. For this, the metal part of the tool is cut out of it, according to the required dimensions. The holes for connecting to the handle are made with a drill. It is necessary to clean the blade from rust, if any, and treat it with an anti-corrosion agent.

The next stage is the direct manufacture of the handle. A piece of any wood is suitable for this. The shape also needs to be thought out for yourself on your own, it can be more straight or curved. Two dies dry well, grind and give them the desired shape. In order to connect all the parts together, you will also need to make holes in them.

It is worth not forgetting that the handle must be given a water-repellent effect. Any oil can handle this. It is enough to hold the knife a little over the hot steam and then liberally grease its wooden part. Now the product will lie firmly in your hand and will not slip out. The knife is ready, it only remains to sharpen it carefully.

If it comes to hunting any animals or birds, then hunters, first of all, acquire hunting tools - a good gun and a knife. After that, there is training and the development of the ability to use these dangerous devices for hunting. And only then, under the guidance of a well-known game manager or an experienced hardened hunter, you can get out into the forest, shoot animals.

When it comes to what kind of knife a real mushroom picker should buy
, then most often it happens impromptu in a hurry just before going into the forest. But this is a real omission!

In order not to get trapped, every mushroom picker needs to choose the right knife
and already, then use it for a quiet hunt.

Certain types of knives

According to the manufacturer, his knives are perfect. Russian knives have a very masculine appearance, brutal and, unlike European ones, have a simplicity of decoration and shape. For the manufacture of the blade, either Damascus steel or 9 XC steel is used. Knife "Mushroom picker 9 XC" is made by hand forging. It takes a blacksmith at least half a day to make it.

This, among other things, explains its price and quality. It is impossible to repeat the knife, each of them is unique, and their sizes do not always coincide. But this is the result of manual work. A separate workpiece is taken, which is compacted by the blows of a blacksmith and forms a sharp blade. It will not dull for a long time and will cut rather than saw. This is what the manufacturer assures. A portion of the blade is left unpolished as proof of handwork. The same evidence is the narrowing of the thickness of the blade from the handle to the nose and its uneven width. It is a favorite knife of fishermen and hunters. The knife, according to the manufacturer, is so versatile that it is suitable for cutting food, for cutting game, even such large ones as wild boar or elk, and fish, in order to make notches on a tree. When not even the first animal is sanded, the knife without additional sharpening goes without pressure and effort, very softly. This is all information from the manufacturer.

Hand-forged knife "Gribnik-2" is used for cutting and cutting meat, for shredding vegetables, the cut of which is very smooth. If you cook soup in nature, then it copes well with all operations.

He even copes with boar ribs. He cuts the flesh of chilled meat gently and without tension, does not cut, does not crush, but, emphasizes the blacksmith, cuts. The knife does not feel any resistance. It is difficult, almost impossible to blunt it. His sharpening is universal. The handle is stabilized from This is how the manufacturer characterizes its knife. And I want to believe it! But what is it really?

Knife at home

We really need knives and houses to process freshly picked mushrooms from the forest. Knives for cutting meat will no longer work in this case. It will take good sharpened kitchen knives
used for cutting vegetables. The thickness of the blade should not be very thin - no more than one millimeter. Previously, for mushrooms, you must cut off the leg from the cap. Mushrooms do not tolerate processing with a blunt tool, sharpening is required at an angle of no more than 15 degrees. For drying and frying, the mushroom cap is cut into thin slices.

Mushroom picking is a fascinating and interesting business, for someone it is a kind of hunting or an additional source of income, for someone it is a way of unity with nature and recreation. One way or another, with the onset of the season, thousands of mushroom pickers rush into the forest in anticipation of receiving trophies.

Like every fisherman or hunter, the mushroom picker has his own equipment: rubber boots, a raincoat, a basket for mushrooms and, of course - mushroom picker
... When choosing this tool, many people prefer to stop at the first kitchen knife they come across, which is not a pity to lose in the forest, which is not always the right decision, because a specially selected mushroom knife can make the process of picking mushrooms more comfortable and enjoyable.

What should be a mushroom picker's knife?

To prevent the knife from crushing or breaking the fruit stem, its blade must be sharp enough.

The optimal thickness of the blade at the butt is up to 2 mm, this allows you to delicately cut off the mushroom legs.

More preferable are compact models of knives with a blade length of 70 - 100 mm.

A knife with a stainless steel blade is unpretentious and durable, and the mushrooms at the cut site do not darken as much as when using a carbon steel knife.

The knife should have a handle that is comfortable for long-term holding and does not slip in the hand.

A handle or lanyard of bright colors will allow you to find a fallen knife in the grass or on a coniferous carpet.

A knife with a fixed blade will become a versatile, convenient for cutting and processing mushrooms. With the help of this knife, you can perform a number of other tasks, for example, cut a special stick from a long branch in order to stir up foliage without bending over to the ground, cut food at a halt.

An example of a mushroom picker knives are:

Folding knives are also quite popular among mushroom pickers. As a mushroom, you can use a knife from Dmitry Chertov's workshop, the advantage of these knives is the opening of the blade with a button, rigid fixation of the blade and the ability to use the knife with one hand.

Opinel knives are also a great option for a mushroom picker. Their advantages are low weight, reliable knife lock and low cost, which, given the frequent loss of knives by mushroom pickers, is of great importance.

A good mushroom knife is a versatile tool that can cope with a variety of tasks - cutting lunch in a forest glade, preparing twigs for a fire, and of course cutting and processing mushrooms. Such tools are the "Mushroom" and "N26" knives produced by ZZOSS
... Their advantages are compact size, solid construction, comfortable grip that is not afraid of moisture and optimal blade shape - all that is needed for correct mushroom knife
.

You can't do without a knife at home when processing freshly picked mushrooms. Here the best assistant will be a small vegetable knife, such as "Vegetable Small" from the "AiR" company.

"On the picture. Small Vegetable Knife (A&R) "

A good mushroom knife will serve you for many years, performing the tasks assigned to it as efficiently and safely as possible.

It is difficult to imagine hunting without firearms or edged weapons. You will not stock up on a trophy, nor will you fight back if something happens. But there is a kind of hunting that does not need to use a gun at all. An exception may be the situation if some squirrel puts its eye on the vending object. The situation is rather bloodthirsty, so it is better not to tempt fate, but to go on a "quiet hunt", where you do not need to damage cute fluffy animals, chase deer, and put the gifts of nature - mushrooms in a basket.

However, this type of hunting is not so harmless. Going into the forest, you should first find out and remember well which types of mushrooms are edible, and which can become a direct one-way ticket to the next world. It is worth remembering that even one small poisonous mushroom can infect an entire basket with its poison. Therefore, if at home it turned out that a very pale and very bad grebe accidentally got to the pretty mushrooms, then it is better not to risk it, but to say goodbye to all the "catch" and amuse yourself with the thought that now there is a reason to return to the forest thicket again.

Silent hunting weapon

A mushroom picker needs a knife as a working tool. With its help, the stem of the fruiting body is cut off without damaging the mycorrhiza.

This is especially important for the mycelium, which germinates with whole families of fruit chalk. With the edge of a mushroom knife, it is easy to remove the caps without pulling out the legs

"Hunters" - amateurs pay little attention to the choice of a special mushroom knife. This approach has its drawbacks. An ordinary table knife or a folding pocket knife is also used. But it does not always meet all the requirements that a real tool for "quiet hunting" has. Also, the skinning tool popular with ordinary hunters will not work. Mushroom knife:

Made of stainless steel. The blade must not corrode.
The quality of the stainless steel will be important, its ability to remain sharp for a long time.
A narrow blade is required for human convenience. It is better to use it when cutting mushrooms, because this will allow the fruiting body to be incised closer to the ground.
The handle is made of moisture resistant material. The most popular are rubber and wood. Also, the handle is made of polymer materials.

When choosing a mushroom tool, it is better to give preference to bright colors of the handle. If lost, the red, yellow or blue tool will be easier to find in the grass. A product with a special brush or brush will also be useful, which will allow the mushroom picker to clean the mycelium from litter before moving it to the harvest basket.

Usage Tips

In order for a mushroom picking knife to retain its properties for a long time, you must adhere to a few simple tips:

the wooden handle should be cleaned regularly, do not allow it to stay in mud or swamp for a long time. This part of the knife is periodically lubricated with fat or oil - a simple technique will prevent the wood from swelling with prolonged contact with dew or rain drops;
before long-term storage, the blade must be washed and dried well. The slightest ingress of moisture can damage the product;
before going for mushrooms, you need to check the sharpness of the blade, sharpen it in case of dullness.

The handle must be thoroughly and promptly cleanedThe blade must be washed and dried if it will not be used.Make sure the knife is sharp before going into the woods.

To the question of the edibility of mushrooms: the subtleties of the definition

Passion for "quiet hunting" rolls in waves, confirming the cyclical course of history. In my conscious memory there were at least two such “waves”: in the seventies, when the intelligentsia once again turned “to face nature,” remember? Massive cacti on the windowsills, hiking in the forest, "natural food", "sugar - white death", yoga, and so on.And in the late eighties - early nineties, against the background of a general shortage, empty shelves in grocery stores and the distribution of roadsides for vegetable gardens, "mushrooms replace meat", "pasture will save the world" and other costs of restructuring.

And now, In my humble opinion, we are experiencing another such wave.
A walk in the woods is definitely a useful activity: fresh air, warm-up of joints, rest from the monitor. And if we go out into the forest not with a half liter, but with a basket for mushrooms, this is generally super! Looking closely to see if the mushroom is hiding where is very good for the eyes tired of the TV, and bending and squatting behind the find are good for the back and legs.

What's next? Got some mushrooms, and? "Quickly pickled and fifty each?"

Or try to figure out what we have there in the basket?
Eh, good now! In the seventies mentioned, it was possible only to consult with the grandmothers at the entrance, well, maybe call by phone. In the nineties, especially advanced people could ask their fellow FIDOShniks, the rest were consulted by the same grandmothers at the entrance. And now! Beauty, progress! Almost everyone has mobile phones with a camera, click-click, and the network, for help in determining. And the eternal question: "Is it okay to eat it?"

You asked a question, posted a photo, but there is no answer yet. What to do?

Place the mushrooms in the refrigerator, in a bag or tray with a lid.
Look closely at the photos: maybe they turned out not good enough? In this case, it would be a good idea to try to take clearer photos. Here are instructions on how to photograph mushrooms.
Add a description to the mushroom: where it grew, smell, some distinctive features

“Where I grew up” - in no way coordinates! Where did it grow - in the forest (which one? Coniferous, deciduous, mixed), in a meadow, on the side of the road, on a stump (which one?) - describe this, it is important.
If the mushroom remains undetermined during the day, throw it away.
And then let it turn out that it was white or a chanterelle, that it could be eaten. You will find more and you will know what it is.
It is much worse if you decide to try an unknown mushroom, and in the end it turns out to be a pale toadstool, fiber or gallerina, but you no longer know what it was.

The best knives for mushroom pickers

Typologically, these knives belong to hunting models. This means that they have a fairly strong and solid blade, a comfortable handle that allows you to wield the product without additional effort. but mushroom knives
have a number of features:

their shape is often curved and resembles a sickle. This is due to the fact that they are intended for mushroom pruning, not for frontal slicing;
many models have a special brush that allows you to clean off accumulated debris on the surface of the cap;
its blade must be sharp. After all, the key word in his work is to cut, not saw.

A model such as folding hunting
knife mushroom picker
08 VRI. It is a curved product with a blade, the S-shaped shape of which smoothly passes to the handle. Anti-corrosion sandvik steel is taken as a starting material for the blade, its length reaches 7 cm. This model has a stiff brush for cleaning the cap, which is built into the heel of the handle. This knife is especially good for its knife lock - viroblock, which is one of the most reliable in its class.

There are developments and original samples designed specifically for mushroom pickers. This is proved by the Karl-Johan Mushroom model. It has a fixed blade and a fancy handle. The latter is shaped like a pear. This is an ergonomic model that is comfortable to hold in your hand even for a long time. The 6 cm blade has a rounded tip, which is done in order to protect the user from accidental damage. The handle also has a built-in brush, which in its structure is much softer than the previous sample, because it is made of horsehair.

Knives from a Russian manufacturer are considered one of the most reliable and durable. The real business card is knife mushroom picker russian damask
... It is fundamentally different from European models due to its brutality in decoration and simplicity of form. For the blade, either zone-hardened 9XC steel or Damascus steel is used. Its total length is 23 cm, of which 11.3 cm falls on the blade. The blade thickness ranges from 0.24 to 0.34 cm, which indicates the sufficient endurance of the product, which is not afraid of hard work. A special article is occupied by the handle of a knife. It is made of birch bark, has a hole for the strap and is famous for its ergonomic shape that literally fits in the palm of your hand.

This knife is called a mushroom picker because of its small size, but in fact it will be convenient for it to carry out different types of work, including going for mushrooms.

Another variation on this theme from the company Russian damask
is the model small mushroom picker
... Its blade is 9.2 cm, and its total length is 20.5 cm. This is a miniature specimen that has a high-quality blade with a hardness of 60 - 64 HRC. Given its size, it is difficult to assume that he is able to perform work not only on cutting mushrooms in the meadow, but also to do something more serious, but this one “small
"Is capable of that.

A knife has been a faithful helper of man since time immemorial. Therefore, probably, a lot of structures have been developed that are adapted for various operations. The main thing in it is the blade and the handle. The cutting section should not bend and the handle should rest comfortably in the palm of your hand.

When the knife "Mushroom" was developed, and this is a relatively recent invention, they took into account all the features that will be convenient when a person goes on a "quiet hunt."

The difference between a mushroom knife and a regular one

The knife belongs to the type of hunting blades. Unlike ordinary kitchen and dining rooms, the blade does not press on the mushroom stem, does not break it, but cuts it off without additional effort. He easily handles not only single mushrooms, but also densely growing families close to the ground, carefully separating and keeping their legs clean from dirty turf.

The mushroom picker's knife has:

Strong, very sharp blade. A blade of a rather short blade (no more than 10 cm) of a special shape, the so-called "fish belly", with a safe tip. Made in the form of a small curved sickle, for more efficient cutting of the mushroom;
A small special brush built into the handle for easy cleaning of adhered moss and debris to the head;
Ergonomically shaped handle with a lace hole. With a rough surface to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. They are often made in bright colors so that they can be easily found in the grass.

What does "conditionally edible mushroom" mean?

This means that the mushroom is not poisonous, that it is completely edible, but only under certain conditions. Which ones? - usually written in the article about the mushroom. Most often it happens:
- the mushroom is edible at a young age (usually this refers to edible tinder fungi and is due to the fact that as it grows and matures, the mushroom becomes tough, woody, it is simply impossible to chew it, like that chicken from the Three Musketeers. Or the mushroom begins to grow strongly in old age taste bitter.)

For example, a sulfur-yellow tinder fungus in the "piece of wood" stage is already inedible:

- needs soaking (this usually applies to milkmen, soaking allows you to get rid of the bitterness)
— needs preliminary boiling (usually it is recommended to drain the broth, not to use for making soups)
- in rare cases, the edibility factor is tied to some other factors, for example, the type of tree (forest) where the mushroom is harvested: sulfur-yellow tinder fungus from conifers can cause side effects. Or weather conditions: stitches grown in high temperatures accumulate much more poison in the fabric than the same stitches grown in cold weather (we are talking about spring stitches).

Failure to comply with the conditions can cause digestive problems.
Of course, everything that has been said about edible mushrooms is applicable here: we collect not old, not wormy, not in the city limits.

Several models that meet the criteria for a good mushroom knife

Jackknife Opinel 08VRI 001334 - a product of the French, who know a lot about mushroom hunting and even came up with the idea of using pigs to search for prey.

Opinel 08VRI folding knife 001334

A very specific sickle-shaped blade and the presence of a brush directly indicate - in front of you is a mushroom knife! It is convenient not only to cut off mushrooms, but also, if necessary, remove spoiled or questionable pieces, cut off small branches.

The material of the blade is solid chrome steel, which keeps sharpening well, does not rust and has good durability. The advantages include a non-slip beech handle, a simple and reliable design, the presence of a hole for the cord directly in the handle array. No clinging or loose elements other than a completely reliable folding mechanism.

Of the minuses, a discreet color can complicate searches at dusk or thick grass, and the beech handle should be additionally impregnated with oil or, if possible, protected from moisture, because beech without impregnation can swell from moisture.

Mora Of Sweden Karl-Johan Mushroom 11195 - Swedish-made model with a six-centimeter blade of a more familiar shape.

Mora Of Sweden Karl-Johan Mushroom 11195

This knife, it seems, was conceived as the most ergonomic and safe tool for a law-abiding and respectable European mushroom picker. The short blade is also equipped with a blunt tip so that you do not even accidentally get hurt. There is enough sharpness for cutting mushrooms, but the knife is not intended for anything else. Everything meets the stated criteria. The teardrop-shaped handle, as well as the blunt point, apparently should make this knife suitable even for a person with disabilities and problems of coordination or motor skills. But the convenience and ergonomics will surely be appreciated by many, the main thing is to get used to it. By the way, here even the brush is positioned so as to force the wrist and hand to work less when you need to change the position of the knife to shake off adhering debris.

Knife Vorsma MT-52 the Russian manufacturer Metallist LLC pleases with a more affordable price and slightly more versatility than its European counterparts.

Vorsma knife MT-52 from Metallist LLC

Blade 9.5 cm - closer to the upper limit of the length of the traditional mushroom knife. Connoisseurs of short, safe blades can look at him critically, but with such a tool you can cut off not only a mushroom, but also a branch, gut a fish, dig up an edible root, and leave a notch. Slightly less refined narrow specialization, more chances to cope with the problems and tasks of survival in the forest. The forged steel of the blade holds the sharpening well, and, if necessary, can withstand serious loads. The simplicity of the design makes the knife especially durable, because apart from the high-quality metal of the blade and the handle made of natural hornbeam, there is almost nothing in it. So there is nothing to break. Cons - discreet colors, no lanyard, no loop, even holes for the cord. There is no brush either, this brings Vorsma closer to utility knives.