Best all around survival knife

Hate to go against the flow but, where do you live and in what type of environment do you plan to use it?
In most environments, I would recommend a good machete paired with an SAK or multitool. You can do that for WAY under $130!! Don't get me wrong, I love the pricey, thick stock, wonder blades. However, in most settings the machete and SAK will get alot more done and not weigh any more.
(The only setting that I know of where I would rather have something other than a machete is a very arid climate with not much vegetation.)
 
Since I'm not limited to $130, I will go with one of the HI Khukuris (15" or 16.5") instead of the machete. The one I've got on order will probably be a truck knife.
 
If your talking about long-term survival/pioneering/settlement making, then I would recommend a machete or an axe.

But if you mean short-term survival till you are rescued or hike back to civilization, then I recommend a multi-tool like the Leatherman Super-Tool.

I've also considered the military style Entrenching Tool (Soldier's folding shovel) for long-term survival.

Happy hunting,
Allen.
 
Well, I don't really think there's any such thing as a best all-around survival knife. Almost by definition, a survival situation will be filled with unknowns, and no one knife can be expected to cover every base.

Personally I think a two knife solution makes a lot more sense than trying to find the one knife that will do it all. It's no burden at all (IMO) to carry a folder or small fixed blade in addition to a large knife, and by doing so, you won't need to depend on your "big chopper" to perform any smaller, more precise jobs than it's designed for.

Keeping within your $130 price range, you could buy a BK9, plus any of a number of acceptable folders -- maybe a Spyderco Native in S30V? -- or small fixed blades.
 
All-around requires some context. City, rural, backwoods, all of the above...

Obviously a survival knife for an office setting could be something as simple as a Superknife for opening packages or a letter opener for mail. A SAK would work well as would a good 3" locking blade. As you go rural and backwoods your choice in a survival knife may change.

My survival knife "system" is layered. First layer is my EDC, a Benchmade lockback. I carry one all the time, regardless of setting. I feel naked when flying 'cause that's about the only time I don't have one. When I go anywhere rural there's a second knife, sometimes it's a fixed blade.

Next is what I carry in my truck, right now it's a bigger locking blade, a SAK and a Leatherman. Then I have my Eagle bag with a large fixed blade and lotsa other goodies. Once my khukuri gets here, it will go in my truck because it's always with me when I'm working and that's what that will be used for. A Khukuri makes a great knife for survival situations because it's such a great chopping tool and can easily transition to weapon.

So what is the context of the survival knife you need? Where do you intend to need it? How will you carry it? Do you really think a single knife can everything?
 
Swamp Rat Camp Tramp

BM 710HS

Leatherman - Wave or Super Tool.

V-Nox SAK of the day

In some areas I toss in a decent hatchet. Depending on the mood, when I add the hatchet, replace the S.R.C.T. with a smaller FB.

Not only do I get a little redundancy out of this, but I often find the need for the pliers and screwdriver at the same time, so the LM and SAK.

I figure if my day turns into an all out survival situation and I have too much I can either share or dump... But you can't make something outta nothing.
 
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