Best Survival knife

btfury said:
I'm new here, and unfortunately can't search... otherwise I would have. I'm looking for a survival knife, and am looking for some recommendations. Thanks!
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:thumbup:Greetings ! New Blood ... fresh meat.... No not really ....
Gerber lmf II or the Portigy ... Both are the same Great quality and will not fail... Do not cost $$$$$$ and will stay with all the others. Many troopers in Iraq use them daily. I wish I could have 71-74...
Check out www.Knifetests.com
I bought one for every member of my family and a few spares.:)
I am not an employee or have stock in Gerber.
 
I am seeing some kind of traditional divide here. The European and the North American way of choosing a knife, though it is not that obvious in this particular discussion.

The European "survival knife" is a development of the classic Mora knife and the Sami knives. Quite short, 3,5-4" blade, low hanging leather sheath, relatively low grade carbon steel (compared to modern super duper steels), handmade, no fancy things whatsoever. Basically the work knife you wear every day. Look at a modern plastic handled Mora knife and the Fallkniven F1. They look almost the same. It could also be that they are "outdoor" survival knives. You cut some wood, rope, fish, animals and such. Rarely some harder things. You use an axe for harder work.

The North American "survival knife" is sometimes a development from the Bowie knife, bigger blade (6" and up), tougher looking knife, leg straps, modern knives usually have serrations and other "cool" gizmoes on them. They are primarily "combat survival" knives.

A quick example. Fallkniven F1 and Gerber LMF II are developed for survival. The big different in size, style, sheaths and whatnot is that when the F1 starts to see use the pilot has already landed on the ground and has to "survive" the elements. Usually a jet pilot ejecting over friendly Sweden :) The LMF II is made to break glass, cut straps, saw through fuselage etc. It might do that very good, mine just cuts fingers very well.
So by just looking ath the knives you come to the conclusion that Swedish pilots eject before the plane crashes, US pilots cut their way out when it has landed :)

One way to figure out which knife you want is to get both (or in extreme cases make a mockup of one) to see which one you like to carry around most. Thinking about it I realise that last time we were walking in the reservation, I had my fancy survival knife in a pocket on the back of my backpack, not hanging in my belt. My "excuse" was that we were four people and not more than five km from a road and we had cell coverage. I dont like things in my trouser pockets. It might because of my figure. The thigs press on whatever is in the pockets and it starts to chafe.
 
btfury said:
Basically I want a knife that will be able to perform a variety of functions should I ever be faced with a survival situation.
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You mentioned quite a few functions which I've never had to implement, but I can tell you that I went from the big chopper camp (Kabar to CR) to the small sharp school. My wallet is much thicker for it too!

One half of my current setup for futzing around chaparral and oak woodlands of California and the quaking aspen and evergreen forests of Utah on day trips is a small sounding hatchet that cost about $20 when I got it a few years ago after reading Old Jimbo's article on them. It was convexed by hand over the course of a week of watching NFL preseason games and now can be used to shave if needed :). It out chops any fixed blade knife under 9".

The other part of the equation changes depending on whether I will be hiking or fishing. If the former, I bring a Victorinox Farmer. If the latter (or if I will be fiddling with the quads), a Leatherman KF4. The common thread is the small woodsaw which is quite useful (BTW, the Farmer saw beats the KF4 hands down, but sometimes you just need those needlenose pliers).

The Victorinox blade was fine out of the box and the awl is the best!

The KF4 blade and awl needed some work, but now are cutting just fine. It's a damn shame, that Leatherman discontinued the KF4. It had just what I needed and nothing more (except a can opener which I added on later). Who needs a blessed corkscrew? The only thing I wish the folders had are a locking mechanism, but I only use the blades for fine whittling stuff or cutting soft things. The hatchet does most of the cutting. I may end up getting a Trekker for the locking blade.

The setup is very light probably coming in less than 16 oz and cost about a fifth of what the CR set me back (love that Shadow IV though). In addition to holding up to the abuse that any inexpensive tool gets, the hatchet/slipjoint setup is very non-threatening to the sheeple that seem to be so prevalent in the Angeles Range. Though not particularly TackTickle, I think that the hatchet is more than enoughfor protection against Critters of all kinds.

I hope this different approach to hiking/camping sharps gets you thinking about how you will be using those tools!
 
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"btfury"
Survival Knife to survive what?
Overall knife abuse, constantly in misuse and continued full hard use?
All of the above is absolutely correct!
A trouble-free wilderness survival knife must firstly meet this criteria of extreme "forced" or emergency usage.
Most knives are usable up to a stage until where the task it's used for, far exceeds it's material capabilities or physical limitations.
This has been said many times; that besides individual preferences, it is important that your "survival tools" are fully suited to the terrain in which you hope to deploy them in.
Besides a fancy lable or new hot vogue design, always take into account the weight and size considerations (unfortunately "legal" too) for the journey.
It's safer to always start up with a personal "survival knife collection" with the smaller and compact tools first.
Mainly because they are safer-in-the-longterm buys.
Multibladed tools in the form of SAKs are worth their weight in gold.
A pliertool may or may not be really that useful...
Bigger or sizable heavy duty devices are probably more suited for exploration or expeditions miles away from a friendly 7-11 store.
There will be many new knives out every year and I wish you good luck not to get caught up owning one knife to many...
But make sure you own at least an SAK, a machete and any fixed blade that has a higher than average users confidence vote.
 
If you stay out of digging and prying about any knife will do.
I think many people, who are not out in the wood all day, belllieve that a "survival knife" must be something big and macho, like what Rambo uses.
If you look at it from the other way, which knives helped people to survive?
You probably end up with SAKs, multitools and the average Mora knife. Most people who need to go into "survival" mode usually do that because they are not prepared for it, if you are it is just a week of rough camping.
Yes, you can prepare for a survival situation but since it might strike you when you dont expect it the best way is to get a small knife, maybe a 3-4" knife or a strong folder that you carry all the time. One easy example. You are out camping and you go to the stream to get water, you fall in and end up some miles downstream. Your normal camping stuff is in the camp. Your "survival kit" is lying on the beach upstream and all you have is a SAK and a firesteel. It is enough if you know what you are doing.

Well, I too have piles of "survival" gear, but I dont bother carrying it all around everywhere. My last line of survival is a LM Fuse and a firesteel on my keyring.
 
I get the whole "what you have with you" idea. But I'm wondering how many people would EDC a larger knife if it was socially acceptable ? Is a four inch knife the best survival knife or just the biggest knife you think you can carry without being shunned by your neighbors ? If you are restricting yourself, is the BEST survival knife bigger than four inches ?
 
I guess that a 4" is where the weight and efficiency curves meet.
A bigger knife might me more efficient but too "heavy".
A lighter knife might be easier to carry around, but not that useful.

Although I saw one guy on the series Generation Kill carrying around a CS Kukri inverted om his left chest I doubt that it would be useful while inside the Humvee.
Most people seem to carry around some kind of big folder. Not survival in that sense, but more practical.
There was also some guy who seemed to have a shorter knife in his cargo pocket or strapped to his thigh. He who cut the cuffs on the EPW.
By the way, are aPOW good guys taken by the bad guys and an EPW the other way around?
 
btfury said:
I was looking at knives like the Benchmade CSK, Kabar Gen II, Gerber LMF Infantry, SOG Seal etc.


I'm also a Scuba Diver, and it would be great if the knife could stand up to a little diving as well.
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Don't go for the next gen Kabar. if you're talking about this one https://www.kabar.com/product_detai...ryId=1,2,3,7,9&categoryName=Military/Tactical

I wouldn't trust its 440a stainless in a "survival" situation. My USMC KaBar (1095 Carbon steel blade) has gone through anything I've ever thrown at it. I recommend it, or As others have stated, the Rat RC4 (or RC6 when it comes out). I hope to get one of those soon.

If you are looking at scuba knives that won't rust, check out Spyderco's H1 knives (they have a lot of models, but you might like this one http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=295, or this one http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=291)

If you want two knives, get one for survival, and one for diving! (spyderco has a bunch of smaller folding knives for diving, so you could carry both at the same time)
 
I too used to be of the "bigger is better" school, and if it looked like it could chop through a tank and take on the whole army afterwars then so much the better, tghen once i had to actually carry it when out hunting or camping...well now i take something smaller, lighter and useful.
Hard to beat a leatherman (I have a wave) or a swiss army knife for both acceptance by others and portability, as well as being very useful.

For around camp a light axe or a machete or kukri is a great chopper-but then you have to carry them in and out.

A small fixed blade (say 5 inches max) is handy though, not too big to carry, do not have to unfold it to use, very strong, can pry but best not too (broken many leatherman/sak blades).

For diving get a dedicated diving knife-they are designed to be beaten up and you tend to do that to them.
 
If you want a beater to try and not spend alot, get a Cold Steel Bushman for about $20 bucks , it can strap to a pole for spear, not that I can see you needing to fend off a bear with it, but maybe for fishing. SK5 steel, and will take a good edge and easy to sharpen. In the old days,CS made a smaller version, the mini bushman with a 4 (?) blade, maybe find one at a gun show. Lousy sheath though, be careful when carrying.
 
I picked up a regular Bushman as well as much more expensive knives over the last year or so - Kbar Fallknivens S1 F1, mora etc

The bushman is not a bad suggestion has an appeal. It is so decidely primitive and simple - yet a good design, decent metal, very flexible in use (spear, throwing knife etc) and probably scares people less as it looks like a working knife...

I also like the drop in the blade - not only does it eliminate the need for a guard but actually makes it more useful as a food prep knife - you can actually dice carrtots, chop parsley etc - which is very difficult with most survival blades

Crap sheath though - but there are many after makrets if wanted - ironically possibly costing more thant the knife

You could also have fun putting the wind up people with much more expensive knives.

of the ones you listed I'd do the Benchmade - Good brand and Black Class should be good quality - and design is very close to the Fallkniven F1 which allways comes up in the faourite lists - which is one of the reasons I got mine

Also a SAK - thye are hard to beat and are always in your pocket (or a benchmade mini griptiliian preffarably Ritter)
 
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I have a few Busses and while they're great knives many of them are a bit too large for use as a general purpose survival knife (for me anyway).

I really like my Zero Tolerance 0100, damn near as tough as a Busse, better ergonomics, and a few bucks cheaper.

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btfury said:
I'm new here, and unfortunately can't search... otherwise I would have. I'm looking for a survival knife, and am looking for some recommendations. Thanks!
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Basic Swiss Army Knife.:thumbup:
Add a solid fixed blade of 4-6 inch, and you're all set.
 
Silverdagger said:
BUck 119 and Swiss Army knife does good for Les Stroud.
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I'll second that one. A reasonably good knife that you have learned how to use is far better than the latest whiz-bang steel in a knife that costs more than a rifle, and doesn't get used often because you are afraid of damaging/losing it. Get a simple knife of a decent steel, and go try it out. More than once. After you have learned what you do or don't like about it, look for a knife that might fit you better. A $10 Mora that you know how to use will keep you alive just as well as a $500 Whatever in most situations.

-Mb
 
One way of using a "mainstream common cheapo" knife is that you are not tempted to do too abusive things to it. Lets say you have a Mora knife. If you do that special bending/prying thing with it, it breaks. So in order to keep tour knife you ned to invent a better solution than using the knife. If you then end up in a survival situation and you have that super fancy knife you will not abuse it because you have a better way of doing it. A "weaker" knife hightens the creativity of the user.
A very recent example: I was on a boat tour on the Swedish west coast. I saw at least four knives lying around on the boat. They were to be used it "survival" situations. They were all cheapo SS Moras.
 
nodh said:
My suggestion, as always, is the Fallkniven F1 or S1. Yes, they dont look as fancy as something like the LMF II (crappy knife by the way) or SOG SEAL but they perform exceptionally well, they come at a good prize and are as much "developed by military" as the other ones.
Any Bark River,RC-3, RC-4 or similar might do as well.
Remember that it is not the size that decides if you survive or not. It is if you have the knife with you when you need it. People have "survived" with pocket knives or Mora knives. The problem with a big Rambo-super-macho-kill knife is that it most likely ends up in your backpack and not in your belt. One idea is to get a small neck knife or good folder. No, you can not chop with a folder but you can still cut stuff.

Good luck with your choice.
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I wholeheartedly agree

I have a gerber lmf II, its far too for its heavy. I bought it for the same reasons you are looking for one last year. Weighs far too much for the blade size, coating is worthless, ect. Next time I went on of an exercise with my unit, it stayed home.

Just got a fallkniven S1 from newgraham.com 5 inches fixed blade with 2 types of sheaths and other options, plain blade. Fantastic solid utilitarian knife. VG-10 stainless steel and almost completely and nicely coated.

Many of my army buddies carry the seal pup. Yes it looks good, but as far as chopping ect, well, the fallkniven has better materials, and the blade looks stronger. (The pup has a very thin pointed end, like many SOGs.)
 
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