best survival folder

I agree with the others on the Victorinox Huntsman or trekker, It will do everything you will realistically need for camping/backpacking uses. The big locking folder idea looks like the fun option, but it will be limited in use. The SAK will sharpen a nice wooden spear if you were to need it....very unlikely.
 
The Vic Trekker looks like a solid option since, for whatever bizarre reason, you can't use a Leatherman. A Spyderco PM2 would be a good all-around folder choice too.
 
JasonG said:
Very very easy choice... forget frame locks and liners for heavy wilderness use. Axis is what you want.

Benchmade Adamas. Good luck trying to fail this knife, won't happen. Not in this lifetime anyway. ..
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:thumbup: Great Advice and very true close thread and buy an Adamas, I can't praise this knife enough, It has renewed my faith in Benchmade.
 
Out of the knives I own, I'd take either my ZT 550 or my Paramilitary 2. Are there better knives, sure, but I don't have them
 
As much as I too would probably go with a SAK as first choice(I like the Outrider), it doesn't sound
like that's an option. Sooo... I'm thinking being able to do light chopping would be a plus, as you
apparently have no saw. I may catch some counter arguments for this idea, but oh well.

I would seriously consider the Cold Steel Rajah II. It does technically fit the parameters.
Cold Steel offers some of the best AUS-8 around. Long blade that you can chop with the belly near
the end, and save the portion between the belly and handle for lighter tasks. Very long
handle offers a lot of leverage when chopping, but is also very comfortable. Combined
with a Tri-Ad lock and a wide FFG blade, I think it'd be a great choice.
I have had mine for years and put it through a lot of what I'd call abuse if it were
a smaller knife. Never had an issue. Also, a lot cheaper than some of the other ideas.
Whatever you choose, good luck, have fun and come home safe.
 
I have a CS Pocket Bushman in one of my small kits as a compact last ditch tool.
Its a little heavy, its big and the steel isn't the greatest but its the closest folder to a fixed blade that I could think of.
I like the larger size of the handle and blade, it locks up solid and is easy to sharpen.
Add a folding DMT or other way to sharpen and you will be set.
 
Seems like rust resistance and edge retention should be your primary concern. I'd consider a coated s30v steel from spyderco. I've run my pm2 through all sorts of materials, taken it to the beach, dirtied it up with mud, sand, and muck, and it has comes through with flying colors. Also, I don't see why a Manix wouldn't work for you and they are more readily available. Vg10 is a secondary choice BUT I have gotten surface rust after some negligence on my endura. Wiped off but definitely made me doubt it's resistance. I had a Griptilian before I really got into knife knowledge. It was a great blade before I even knew what that meant. So that's my 2 cents.

Pm2
Manix
Griptilian
Higher end steel (s30v or an equivalent)
Coated blade (not necessarily needed but they only run a few dollars more for a lot more peace of mind)
 
dragonram7 said:
{snip} No lodges, no cell phone coverage, no Leathermans, no guns, no fixed blades. Animals: bear, mountain lions, wolves, coyote, fox, etc. What is the FOLDER YOU would take and why? {snip}
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dragonram7 said:
{snip} They indicated "POCKETKNIFE".

. . . Im usually not the safe queen type of person but I haven't used it. I almost hate getting knives under serial number 100 for that reason.

I'm 6'4", 220-230 lbs. Retired cop. Hands Xxl gloves are snug. I'd say my skills are intermediate. I trained with the us army rangers, sas, etc (many years ago). However, my grandfather lived off the land in upper state NY as a park ranger, trapper, and hunter.

. . .
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Besides a SAK Trekker, considering your requirements, I second someone's suggestion with one of the large to extra-large Cold Steels. Furthermore it has all of the three features below to supplement your needs -

1. CHEAP enough so as not to make you too upset should you lose/break it in the sticks.

2. STURDY and capable enough to be used heavily (er, I'd use "STRONG" for fixed blades!).

3. BIG enough for your hands and to accomplish a variety of tasks (if you are going to use them heavily for long periods, a FULL ENOUGH grip will be a God-send).

4. Oh yeah, costs CHEAP (see #1).

Noz_Cold_Steel_Voyager_Large_Clip_Point_29TLCH.jpg
 
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If is is a custom I would take my Andrew Demko AD 10, Alan Davis Custom, or an XM18 Hinderer. If it is production then I would take my Benchmade 940, Spyderco Para 2 with CTS 20CP, or a Cold Steel Recon 1. Those are just some of the ones I have. There are plenty of good ones out there like a ZT560 or Spyderco Manix. Good Luck! Kevin :D
 
+1 for the SAK Farmer. Good blade geometry, easy to sharpen, and the saw is very nice to have.

If that isn't a possibility, then it would be hard to decide. A full flat grind, drop point would be a good start. I do really like the Adamas but there are lots of other good folders out there.
 
dragonram7 said:
They specified pocketknife.
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But did they specify not a mulit-tool? If they didn't, go with a multi-tool. I'm guessing they specify "pocketknife" so people don't bring big honkin knives or machetes to hack away at everything. Enthusiasts like us can argue the difference between a multi-tool and a "pocketknife", but others probably don't bother making that distinction.

A Leatherman Charge TTi or AL would be my top recommendation. Not that there's anything wrong with the Trekker, but with the Charges, the extra tools like pliers, scissors, and file can come in very useful, and the blade(s) have better steel. Despite being a "pocket knife", I'd carry it in the sheath on a belt rather than loose in the pocket, or even clipped with pocket clip.

BTW, do they specify only one pocket knife? If not, compliment the MT/SAK with a "proper" pocket knife.

I'd also see if I could "get away" with having a Leatherman Squirt PS4 on your keychain, as well as other little gadgets like a AAA flashlight, ferro rod, a Peanut or Split Pea lighter. If you're allowed a flashlight, a headlamp is a great idea. A headlamp leaves you with both hands free, and you don't have to hold your light in your teeth.
 
Great. Swisstool, leatherman would be the first choice. Id love to take my crk ubajani, bk1, cs trailmaster, etc. Ideally, 1 fixed, 1 folder, 1 multi but I dont believe it is in the cards.

We'll be hiking in 8 miles after we reach the no cell phone coverage. I have a maxpedition/condor pack, water bladder (3L), sleeping back, rain gear, clothing, 1st aid kit (emt still), red wing boots.

Of the knives mentioned, here is what I have
Bm940
Bm810
No xm-18 but crk large sabenza
Zt301 (never use #51)
Swiss champ
Cs voyager x2
Dpx hest
Microtech L-udt (never used)
Kershaw Emerson auto commander
Cs recon 1 lock back not triad
Emerson cqc10
Bm5000 axis auto
I have so many sd microtechs
Spyderco Dallara drop point
I have considered both zt 550 and 560
Xm18 are scarce.
 
dragonram7 said:
Great. Swisstool, leatherman would be the first choice. Id love to take my crk ubajani, bk1, cs trailmaster, etc. Ideally, 1 fixed, 1 folder, 1 multi but I dont believe it is in the cards.

We'll be hiking in 8 miles after we reach the no cell phone coverage. I have a maxpedition/condor pack, water bladder (3L), sleeping back, rain gear, clothing, 1st aid kit (emt still), red wing boots.

Of the knives mentioned, here is what I have
Bm940
Bm810
No xm-18 but crk large sabenza
Zt301 (never use #51)
Swiss champ
Cs voyager x2
Dpx hest
Microtech L-udt (never used)
Kershaw Emerson auto commander
Cs recon 1 lock back not triad
Emerson cqc10
Bm5000 axis auto
I have so many sd microtechs
Spyderco Dallara drop point
I have considered both zt 550 and 560
Xm18 are scarce.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good time to give the ZT 0301 some use:thumbup:

-sh00ter
 
An xl version of one of the many cold steel folders.

Another one I am not sure if its been mentioned is the tops xcest delta. That is a beast of a blade that is crazy overbuilt.
 
what about Extrema Ratio RAO?
i-qXGd5wM-XL.jpg

I am no expert , but this is one of toughest folders i have ever seen .
and it comes with sharpener .
 
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