Choose ONE (1) "Survival" knife.

I need a survival knife to do a number of things. It must be able to scrape tinder to start a fire, carve a wedge or be used as a wedge to split small wood, cut branches to make a shelter with, whittle figure 4 deadfall triggers, sharpen readily on a smooth riverstone, skin the small game my deadfalls catch, whittle fish hooks, and carve plates out of wood so I have a full table setting when my rescuers arrive.

I do not need a survival knife to function as a weapon, to have a compass in it's handle, or anything else, in all reality. I don't need a knife that can chop down large trees, or even medium or small ones.

In short, my knife of choice for survival would be a small fixed blade, relatively low hardness, with a belly. This knife would need to fit my hand well enough I could whittle small things with it. I would guess it would be about six inches OAL, maybe eight.


Stryver
 
If i could afford them it would have to be either the battle mistress or the project 1. Personally i would probably go for the battle mistress, what are pockets for? within my price range, either the SRK or the fallkniven A-1. I owned an SRK, extremely durable knife that could handle anything up to heavy chopping. Then it was always a matter of there simply not being enough blade... still, an excellent knife.

I am somwhat drawn to the idea of a khukri...... not much can better them in chopping.... still, likely to raise a few eyebrows if it was strapped to your belt.
 
If i could afford them it would have to be either the battle mistress or the project 1. Personally i would probably go for the battle mistress, what are pockets for? within my price range, either the SRK or the fallkniven A-1. I owned an SRK, extremely durable knife that could handle anything up to heavy chopping. Then it was always a matter of there simply not being enough blade... still, an excellent knife.

I am somwhat drawn to the idea of a khukri...... not much can better them in chopping.... still, likely to raise a few eyebrows if it was strapped to your belt.

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All knives are created equal, then i get my dirty big hands on them and the real fun begins.
 
...If asked a month ago, I would've said the Camillus or Kbar version of the usmc knife. Today, the answer is my Camillus BK&T Campanion.
This thing is a razor/knife/axe/hammer/shovel rolled into one!
The problem with the Campanion is you could build a nice enough house that you might not want to leave!!

In any case, there's enough steel in the knife, if you wanted to, you could melt it down, build a helicopter and fly yourself out!
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Originally posted by Stryver:
I need a survival knife to do a number of things. It must be able to scrape tinder to start a fire, carve a wedge or be used as a wedge to split small wood, cut branches to make a shelter with, whittle figure 4 deadfall triggers, sharpen readily on a smooth riverstone, skin the small game my deadfalls catch, whittle fish hooks, and carve plates out of wood so I have a full table setting when my rescuers arrive.

I do not need a survival knife to function as a weapon, to have a compass in it's handle, or anything else, in all reality. I don't need a knife that can chop down large trees, or even medium or small ones.

In short, my knife of choice for survival would be a small fixed blade, relatively low hardness, with a belly. This knife would need to fit my hand well enough I could whittle small things with it. I would guess it would be about six inches OAL, maybe eight.


Stryver
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Stryver,
I agree with you 100%. I see a lot of emphasis being put on big honking knives but as much as it is tempting to want to go this route, I tend toward the smaller knife. Of course in reality, I would never be caught anywhere with just one knife so a combo of big knife and small knife is great, but if it is just one knife, then give me a smaller knife-something capable of performing all the utility functions you mention. There are a lot of small knife tasks required that could add up to saving your life. Actually, perhaps I should say "medium" sized knife. I like the Becker Companion but I'm wondering just how well it will work as a one and only survival knife. It would probably be my "large" knife and then I would opt for a smaller knife like my Grohmann camper. But if it is just one knife and one knife only, I think I would want something like the Chris Reeve Project I or II. It would have to be small enough to skin a mouse (yes, mouse) or a squirrel but big enough to use as a spear point whack down small saplings for a shelter.

Or even better, give me an SAK multitool or LM Wave.

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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
Rucksack SAK. Now if that's considered a multi tool and the starter of this thread said "No Multi tools," then I'd have to go with my RTAK. It is the best cross between a machete and a big knife, and I believe pocesses the best of both. I could use it for most anything, and by choking up on the blade I can handle most delicate tasks that a smaller knife would handle better.
 
Cobalt:
You're right on both counts. However, Mad Dogs have contoured, ergonomic handles that will index well and not rip my paws to shreds after 15 minutes of chopping. They also cut and chop far more efficiently than Busse's. Remember that this knife, being your only one, is a compromise. Having owned various MD's, Reeves, and Busses, and having spent time surviving in the desert, the MD is my pic.

smile.gif
 
Leo, I agree that ergonomically they are hard to beat. In fact the Reeve's project series feels like a rough work out barbell bar. I, however, will forego ergonomics for durability.
 
Those who mentioned two knives, a large and small are right on. But, this question was for just one knife. Just like it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it, I'll take too much over too little and bring my Project 1, thank you.

But, the point is well taken for those who prefer a smaller "large" knife. For those, might I suggest the Shadow IV. It's a 2 inch shorter Project 1.

Generally, when afield, my large knife is the chopping, digging, hot pot handling do whatever needs to be done "tool" while a smaller fixed or quality 4"+/- folder is for cutting. Though nowhere near 100%, knives even get to cut once in a while during a "survival" exercise.
 
Originally posted by Jake Evans:
I think I'd have to opt for the best quality machete I could find, maybe one of those Terminators. It might be a bit awkward for smaller tasks but you could do everything you need with it.

Jake
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Jake said it right!


 
For sub-urban use I ALWAYS carry a Carson U2.
If I was just in the bush a Machete.

Cheers,

ts

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Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
I aquired a Busse Steel Heart II Varient with a clip point and 2" of large tooth serrations. It is the "ultimate survival tool."
I have cut down trees with ease, rigged traps, and have managed to make the sheath tight enough were I can shake it like a margarita and it will not even budge.
The "best" over all survival tool I have ever owned.
My Mad Dog ATAK would be my next choice.
Horse
 
I like Stryver's answer best because he described the particular uses he need his knife for...

Does anyone else want to comment on exactly what they'd be doing with their particular choice of knife and why their chosen blade is the best one for the task?

Jeff Randall, you're not allowed to answer until others have...
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Brian.



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Brian Jones
Co-moderator
Wilderness & Survival Skills Forum
 
CR Project I..
Solid Survival Knife.. Virtually Indestructible..
I have used several great survival knives, prefer the CR Project I..
 
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