Is It Actually Worth Wallet Space?
Quick Take: Most EDC credit card multi-tools end up forgotten in a drawer—flimsy, flex-prone, and mostly redundant. The MRF Bushcrafter is a rare exception. Machined from solid 2mm-thick 440C stainless steel, it offers zero flex and real-world durability. We tested it cutting meat, making feather sticks, processing paracord, creating sparks and even lashing it to a branch as an improvised mini-hatchet. Aside from a somewhat easy to lose ferro rod setup, this is a genuinely robust piece of wallet EDC.
At a Glance: Specs & Value
| Feature | Details |
| Material | 440C Stainless Steel (Natural or Black Finish) |
| Dimensions | 85 mm × 54 mm × 2 mm (Standard Credit Card Footprint) |
| Weight | ~55 g (1.94 oz) |
| Key Functions | Knife, Mini Saw, Shovel, Fire starter, Sundial, Distance Measurer, Line Winder |
| MSRP | Approx £25 ~$33 |
| Included in Box | 1× Bushcrafter Card, 1× Ferro Rod, 2× Replacement O-Rings |
| Origin | Designed & CNC-machined in Ukraine/Poland by MRF Tools |
MRF Bushcrafter Real-World Testing: What Works and What Doesn’t
Build Quality & Rigidity (5/5)
The biggest weakness of single-piece wallet tools is flexibility. Thin stamped metal bends under load, making cutting or prying dangerous. At 2mm thick 440C stainless steel, the Bushcrafter pocket multitool has zero flex. It feels like a solid slab of functional steel rather than a novelty item.
Edge Performance & Utility (4.5/5)
Food & Camp Prep: The precision-ground knife edge will slice through vegetables and meat for camp meals easily.
Fire Prep: It comfortably shaves tinder, stripping bark, fashions pot hangers and feather sticks.
Cordage: The saw blade effortlessly cuts paracord and heavy rope.
The “Hatchet Test” (4/5)
To test MRF’s claim, we lashed the card securely (we could have done this better, but I had limited cord) to a thick wooden branch using paracord to create an improvised mini-hatchet or mini-axe.
The Result: It held up impressively well. While you won’t be felling trees, it successfully chopped through small branches, delimbing a larger branch and processing kindling without bending or chipping the steel. Few wallet survival tools possess the sturdiness to withstand this level of impact.
The Firesteel & Ferro Rod (3/5) — The Downside
While having an integrated fire-starter sounds great on paper, it instantly felt a bit gimmicky. But here is the catch, this gimmick could save your life.
The Issue: The included ferro rod is tiny and lacks a proper handle, making it awkward to get a solid grip.
Verdict: While the card’s serrated edge throws 2,000°F sparks effectively, you will almost certainly prefer using a full-sized, large-handled ferro rod. This is your absolute last resort. But that is the key: this is not a replacement; it’s a credit card-sized, always on you, ready to go in a pinch, fire-starting life saver. SOLD.
Land Navigation Extras
The back features an engraved sundial (usable in both northern and southern hemispheres) and a distance-estimation scale. They don’t take up functional real estate and offer nice battery-free backup navigation capabilities for your pack. For this feature, I would recommend reading the instructions and practising a few times before you ever consider relying on this as a method of navigation. Now, here is a real bonus: MRF Tools has excellent, super detailed instructions on how to use their tools.
For example:
How to Find North Without a Compass
Find Your Latitude Without GPS
For more, check out the EDC Journal, https://mrf.tools/blogs/edc-journal, and Field Skills, https://mrf.tools/pages/field-skills, short interactive guides to what the cards can do, built from what customers asked.
Pros
Extremely Rigid: 2mm 440C steel won’t flex or bend.
Multi-Functional: Can be improvised into a functional mini-hatchet.
Usable Sharpness: Sharp edge cuts meat, rope, and wood out of the box.
Replaceable Parts: Ferro rod and O-rings are easy to swap out.
- Gimmicky Ferro Rod: Too small for a comfortable grip during extended use, but if needed it can start a fire.
- Website Resource: Fantastic, detailed resources at MRF.tools on how to use the features.
Cons
It is potentially not legal to carry for everyday use (Everyday Carry / EDC) in the UK (public places) without a valid, justifiable reason. However, it is perfectly legal to buy and own in your private home.
UK EDC Knife Laws – GREY and clear as mud.
- Cutting Edge: The blade must measure 3 inches or less from the hilt to the tip.
- Non-Locking: The blade must fold freely and must not lock into an open position.
- Design Ambiguity: Credit card tools often lack a traditional knife handle. Police and courts have final discretion on whether a flat card tool qualifies as a standard pocket knife or an unexempt bladed article.
- Good Reason: If the tool locks or fails the folding exemption, you must have a lawful reason—such as work or camping—to carry it.
Conclusion
If you spend a lot of time in the woods, love bush craft, survival skills, prepping and are looking for an ultra-light backup tool that fits directly into your wallet, glove box, or bug-out bag without taking up space, the MRF Bushcrafter earns its keep. It bypasses the common pitfalls of cheap credit card tools by offering true structural integrity and usable edges.
Final Rating: 4.2 / 5 — A practical, rock-solid EDC card tool that trades a slightly awkward fire-starter for true real-world durability.
Get 10% off with the bestoutdoorsuk discount code for MRF Tools.
https://mrf.tools/products/bushcrafter-survival-card-multitool
Check out our review for the MRF Leather Wallet and MRF Leather sleeve, the perfect companion for the MRF bushcrafter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the MRF Bushcrafter on an airplane?
No. Because it features a sharpened knife edge and serrated saw, the Bushcrafter is not flight-safe, put it in your cargo luggage. It must be packed in checked luggage or left in your vehicle/bug-out bag.
How do you start a fire with the Bushcrafter?
Hold the small ferro rod against a firm surface and scrape the card’s serrated spine sharply down the rod to throw sparks onto dry tinder.
How do I maintain the steel edge?
Although 440C stainless steel offers strong rust resistance, keep the tool dry after camp use (especially after cutting food or wet cordage) and apply a light coat of mineral oil periodically.
