best survival knife?!

I would be happy with any one of the following:
Scrap Yard "SS4"
Vic "OHT" or "Farmer"
Mora # 780
Cold steel "Roach Belly"
Spyderco "Endura 4"
Buck 105 "Pathfinder" or 110
Buck "Vangaurd"

But my favorite is the SS4!
 
These threads are usually fun as long as it's kept at "what's your ideal/favorite woods knife"...

Too often to devolve into an objective ideal, but that implies that all our hands, habits, environments, intended use, and knowledge are perfectly equal. Just ain't so.

I used to do a lot more shooting/shooting talk that knife using/knife talk, and similar debates about the best defensive handgun pop up. 9mm? .45? .380? The end point is that the caliber of the gun is about the least important point to consider. Having a good mindset, attitude and knowledge/skills about how to properly use whatever tool you may have are what is key. Past that, it's all gravy.

I've got a few users that might suffice, but aren't my cup of tea for the most part (SWAK, Glock field knife, KaBar USMC, etc...) so they sit in a closet largely.

My personal choices are from this line-up-
Mora 510
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Tora Bushcraft
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KaBar Heavy Bowie
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The Vic Farmer is always in my pocket, and certainly when on a hike, so it's always going to be available. It's a great knife and certainly good enough as a stand alone for most things.

The Koster Bushcraft will likely become the primary user once they get shipped. :thumbup: :cool:

The Fiskars hatchet almost made the line-up as a standalone item because it's just that awesome. Great for chopping, easy to control, good balance, and easy to choke up on for wood work. Seems like a reach for it almost as much as a blade.
 
Noshtero said:
The problem that people have in these threads is that they are hard set in the "be prepared for all situations" mindset. These are the people that when you ask them "if you could pick one knife" and they reply "no sorry, I insist on a knife, an axe, and a multitool."

You're answering the quesion "What is your sharps layout of choice?"

The question you were asked is "I fully understand that it might leave you in a less than fully prepared situation, but if you truly had to pick 1 knife to make you as prepared as possible, what would it be?"

Let me throw another wildcard in. If I'm answering "What is your sharps layout?" The fixed blade I choose will be different from the one I choose when answering "If you could only take one knife."
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I agree 100%, even though I'm one of the guys that insists I'll have a "layout". Re3ason being, the originators of these threads often narrow the question too much. They ask what is my favorite woods survival knife, or such. I, like just about everyone in the world, don't go into the bush unintentionally. So, why would I get stuck with only one knife? Answer: I wouldn't. Yess, I carry my "trio" on my person. If my pack goes off the cliff, or down the river, my sharps won't be in it.

Now, in case I get into that one in a million situation where I'm in my truck on the way home, and NEED to bail, and NEED to stay off road where I might need a knife, I won't have a cutlery layout. I did buy one knife for that, and as unlikely as that situation is, it would be a survival situation.

The knife I bought for that is an Ontario RAT-7. Since I won't have a hatchet or kukri, I want a large-ish knife. Another reason is there is a higher probability of two-legged problems in that scenario and a 7" kniofe is nicer to have to defend oneself with than a 4" knife.

It's a different mission than the woods survival one, but it is a survival situation and the only one where I'd likely only have one knife (OK, even there I'd have a Ka-Bar Mule on my belt and SAK Rucksack in a pocket, but. . .).
 
3 pages into it and only one person that ive seen(sorry if i missed someone) has mentioned a busse product?
 
Cpl Punishment said:
So, why would I get stuck with only one knife? Answer: I wouldn't. Yess, I carry my "trio" on my person. If my pack goes off the cliff, or down the river, my sharps won't be in it.
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Yup, I'll have a SAK or scout/utility, one of the belt knives I mentioned, and a machete or hatchet, depending on what I thought I might be doing. And they will be scattered about my person so they don't go missing with my pack.
 
3 pages into it and only one person that ive seen(sorry if i missed someone) has mentioned a busse product?
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At this time, it would without a doubt be a Busse Basic 5, but that may (possibly) change in the next few days when the BTAC gets here (Lord willing) - but until it gets here/ is tested / passes forementioned test, the Basic is my # 1 pick.

Despite the ability to take punishment (Batonning/prying)- that knife takes an edge better than ANY fixed blade or folder I have (other than a SAK), holds an edge better than any other knife I have, is perfect balance and fit for my hands, very easy to sharpen, not to mention corrosion resistant.

With a spine 1/4 thick - it is AMAZING they are such efficient cutters!

I know it's been said before, but I was a skeptic about their knives - until God made a way to get one on a good deal.

The cool thing for all of us, is when we find the blade that "just fits". - When it comes to a Fixed blade / Woods knife - it's Busse for me :thumbup:.
 
Barrabas said:
At this time, it would without a doubt be a Busse Basic 5, but that may (possibly) change in the next few days when the BTAC gets here (Lord willing) - but until it gets here/ is tested / passes forementioned test, the Basic is my # 1 pick.

Despite the ability to take punishment (Batonning/prying)- that knife takes an edge better than ANY fixed blade or folder I have (other than a SAK), holds an edge better than any other knife I have, is perfect balance and fit for my hands, very easy to sharpen, not to mention corrosion resistant.

With a spine 1/4 thick - it is AMAZING they are such efficient cutters!

I know it's been said before, but I was a skeptic about their knives - until God made a way to get one on a good deal.

The cool thing for all of us, is when we find the blade that "just fits". - When it comes to a Fixed blade / Woods knife - it's Busse for me :thumbup:.
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:D only one I own is a Dumpster Mutt LE (not counting the HR)and it is a hoss,but to me it is the knife on you not the blade sitting all comfy in the Gun safe and yes that is a stout blade & razor sharp but it does me no good if it is not EDC...and that is why I mentioned a RC-3, I have that blade on me always. now if I am camping then the DMLE is with me but when SHTF the odds are I will have the RC-3 on my person !
 
Liam Ryan said:
Spooky, how about a mini review on the ka-bar bowie?:D
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When I get a chance to give it a really thorough use in the woods, a good review will be quickly forthcoming. And for a few other new ones! Just hate to give any opinions prematurely. Impressions thus far are very good though!

Edited to add: I chose this instead of the KaBar Camp Knife, and so far I think I chose a real winner!
 
Of the ones I have tested, the Ritter Benchmade is tops for a factory blade.
ritter.jpg

My favorite custom is the OSK by Charles May.
OSK.jpg

There are several knives that are similar and could do just as well but these two have handled everything I need.
 
That OSK is freaking cool. Charles May is one of my favorite makers, and I can't wait till I can afford his stuff.
 
the one that i have on me that works when I need it to.
but if you're asking what knife i preferr to carry in the wilderness in case of said situation:

what I carry: Ontario RAT 7, CS Roachbelly, CS Trailhawk

what I really want to carry but can't for lack of funds: Anything Busse makes.
 
It's hard to pin it down to just one, but at the moment, probably one of these three:



1) Swamp Rat Ratmandu
2) Busse Steel Heart
3) Busse Active Duty


SHSH_Ratmandu.jpg


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Tyrkon Lawson said:
Too many good answers here. Would it be a different knife for wilderness -vs- urban?
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IMO - Yes.

Urban: I would go with the Gerber LMF II A.S.E.K.
Wilderness: I haven't decided yet, and these type of threads make it a difficult choice:). This forum is very Pro-Fallkniven, and other knives that are very pricey, which I do not mind for a quality knife. I just need to wait till I can handle them in person - I am hoping to get the opportunity at a gun show in the near future. I kinda like the BK7;)
 
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