Best knife for survival ?

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WORM1595

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Jan 17, 2007
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I am thinkin' bout the Tom Brown desighned "Tracker" as my first survival/outdoors utility knife.....What say you ?

Any other suggestions anyone ?
 
i'm happy with my mora clipper 860 or my cold steel srk for general knife work.

srk tends to have a bit more heft to it so clearing small branches is ok.

i like my grohmann #4 survival knife too.

the tracker design is ok but the one released by TOPS is not supposed to be that good. i believe the original design was done by beck. there is a very nice looking one you can get from aaron on the forums who makes the red scorpion six version. personally i'm not partial to that knife design.

what environment are you in? what kind of blade do you want to carry? what size? what kind of work do u want to do?

i personally suggest a SAK like the OHT and a Mora clipper 860 with a pair of nice kydex pants from normark.

cheers
 
there are gonna be alot of differnent opinions about the tracker knife here from alot of experienced outdoorsmen, most are against it. i hate the price on it way out of my budget
 
I'm confident few will agree with my suggestion...but here it goes anyway...I suggest you take the money you'd invest in the Tracker knife and go spend three days in a good survival course - even if it means borrowing a knife from the instructor - and then make a decision. It doesn't really matter what we think about "which knife" is best or suits you...you need to determine that for yourself based upon your particilar survivial mission profile.

Once you complete the course then you'll have a 1000% better understanding of what gear works and doesn't work for you. Too many $$$ are poured down a hole based upon "feelings, looks, or trends" and not based upon a true grasp of what is needed or not needed. Trust me...I bought $400 worth of knives based upon forum recommendations before I took my first wild class and now they sit in a drawer because they are absolutely useless for my particular needs. Had I taken my own advise I'd would have bought the knife after the class and been much happier...but what the heck do I know?
 
Some people love the tracker and some people hate it. I'm in between, I like them, but it would have to be heavily discounted. My personal suggestion would be to get a good fixed woodsy blade such as a Bark River (Aurora, bravo 1 or fox river), Fallkniven (f1, a1 or a2), a Rat Cutlery blade (rc3,4 or 6) and the list goes on. Also pick up a nice swiss army knife and an axe or hatchet. In my opinion the tracker will not hold a candle to a good trio of tools.
 
Redscorpion6 blades are allittle better made than the tops version and cost about the same.

I would sugest a Busse ash-1 as a alround do it all fixed blade.

A good mora and machette/hachet would serve well for about a 5th of those other two.
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526818
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338463
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307484
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-513609.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-338463.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-526818.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480819

Let me know if you'd like some more reading than that. Google search will help you.

The general consensus (and my opinion) is that you are far better served by a good, simple fixed blade plus a hatchet or saw. A good 4-5" knife (Bark River, RC knives, Fallkniven, etc.) plus something like a Fiskars hatchet, Fiskars saw, Wetterlings hatchet, or GB hatchet, will run you way less than the Tracker will and will perform many more tasks, and do a better job.

Think 'jack of all trades, master of none'.

But there are people who've found that the design works for them, so try one and see if you're dead set on it.

Hope that helps-
 
Probably a bad choice for your 'first' survival knife. My advice is to stick with something more conventional. Learn to use a knife for what a knife does best first, like fire prep, notching, making tent pegs/staks, traps and skinning.

Worry about the 'all in one' designs like the tracker later once you've developed your skills in the above area. You just might find that you really don't need or want the tracker type design, or you might find that it is right for you.
 
The Tracker is a novelty item IMO. The Fallkniven A1 is roughly the same overall size (IIRC) but much more practical design (costs less too), people also seem to like rat cultery knives and they're coming out with a 6-7" knife the RC-6.

For me a "survival knife" is a SAK or a 3.5-4.25" knife. I don't like big knives. :D
 
personally, i don't care much for the tracker... and the price is just rediculous... it weighs almost as much as my GB wildlife hatchet...:eek: there are a lot of people that are really happy with it... it's just not for me..

you can get 2, maybe even 3, really nice utility/field blades for the price of the tracker... check out the RAT line, BARK RIVER KNIFE AND TOOL, blind horse knives, FALLKNIVEN, ranger knives.. just to name afew.. there are even some affordable custom makers out there ML knives, KOSTER knives and GOSSMAN knives...

mike
 
speaking of GB.

a gransfor bruks small forest axe + mora clipper 860 + sak one hand trekker is my typical woods trio.

havent had a task or chore i couldnt do with those 3.

cheers.
 
IH8U said:
Some people love the tracker and some people hate it. I'm in between, I like them, but it would have to be heavily discounted. My personal suggestion would be to get a good fixed woodsy blade such as a Bark River (Aurora, bravo 1 or fox river), Fallkniven (f1, a1 or a2), a Rat Cutlery blade (rc3,4 or 6) and the list goes on. Also pick up a nice swiss army knife and an axe or hatchet. In my opinion the tracker will not hold a candle to a good trio of tools.
Click to expand...

Good call, I would also rather have a good fixed blade, SAK, and hatchet over a WSK any day.
 
Best for survival? The one that fits your hand well, cuts and keeps a decent edge, stout and isn't prone to breaking, and fits the most uses you intend on using it for. The sheath....is just as important.


There is no one knife that is THE perfect survival knife. But, considering what other tools you intend on carrying in the wild along with the uses you plan for...it helps to narrow down your options and choices.
 
I had a tracker and gave it away after 2 weeks. My bro-in-law got a very expensive gift of the knife and a kick-ass sheath from hedgehog leatherworks. My biggest problem with it was the unconventional blade shape. It did a little of everything but nothing well. Give Busse a try the infi is awesome!
 
bearthedog said:
Any Knife from Rambo or First Blood!
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LOL! yeah and attached to a 50 cal!

the best answer I've seen is: "the one that's on you" is the best.

do some reading here, try and take some courses as mentioned and you'll know/figure it out.
 
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