Durable Survival Knife?

G

Glorymuffin

Joined
Jan 21, 2013
Messages
3
I have an old G96 I am looking to replace with a new multi-purpose camping / survival knife. I will use this as a go-to knife on hiking and kayaking trips to cut firewood and kindling, pound in tent pegs, prepare meals, etc. It needs to be sturdy as I will be relying on this as one of a few emergency survival tools if I ever lose my pack in the wilderness.

I'm hoping to get a few specific recommendations here which I can research to make my final decision. I *really* appreciate your thoughts!

Can you recommend a survival knife (under $200) that fits these criteria:

- Full-tang
- ~ 6"-7" blade length.
- 90-degree flat-back on most of the blade so it can be used for batoning.
- Impact-resistant steel - will be used for striking and prying.
- Striking surface on the butt to be used for hammering / pounding.
- A good finger guard and handle grip.
- Rust-resistance - will be used near the ocean.
- Ideally a flat grind w/secondary edge or compound-grind... this knife doesn't need to be the sharpest thing ever but it will cut a lot of wood and needs to be sturdy and keep its edge well.
- Easy to sharpen in the field - no serrated blades.

Thanks ~

- Eric
 
Swamprat Rodent 6. Swampratknifeworks.com

It is a great knife.Made of a fantastic tough steel that takes and holds a tremendous edge. The Ratmandu has a little shorter blade, is thinner, and is one of the most popular knives around.

Either will serve your needs exceptionally well.
 
Some good/solid recommendations here but you may find it a challenge to locate a stainless/rust resistant blade with those sort of characteristics (ie. for pounding/chopping/battoning, etc). May want to consider CPM3V but may pay more than $200, Infi is also an option but at a slightly higher premium. The laminated steels in Fallkniven's may be a good bet if you want something nearly corrosion resistant and in a relatively hard use package.
 
Glorymuffin said:
- Rust-resistance - will be used near the ocean.
Click to expand...

Probably best to look into something more stain resistent than carbon steel. Fallkniven has great options. Entrek would be another good option. They work a lot with 440C. Something like the Commando maybe? ...although that is supposedly double-edged, not good for batonning.
 
Might want to keep a eye on SURVIVE! knives, I have a GSO-5.1 that's a 5" in ELMAX, there will be a 6" soon if memory serves. It also comes in CPM 3V if that tickles you fancy.
 
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British MOD survival knife :)

1/4" thick bomb proof carbon steel, they come with a protective black coating but I removed mine. Takes a razor sharp edge as it's pretty much scandi ground (needs 10 minutes or so to make the edge match the grind) and made to last for ever, unlike other 'survival knives' that are just to fund annoying wee drinking celebrity's island buying habbits! ;)

Mine has the plastic handle scales but they also come in wood, both are tough but the plastic will never ever break. The knife was designed for arctic and general survival for aeroplane crew that crash landed in the crapper. It's thick enough to pry open cabin doors, cut open ammo crates, oil drums and dig hole etc while still being capable of cutting a stick to roast a mouse on :)

deffinately my favourite survival knife, mainly because it's not just a plastic fantastic toy and actually works.
 
Bk 7 would be good even for around the ocean. The black coating will keep most salt water off of the metal. Just keep it clean and the ocean will not bother it.

I also feel the Browning Crowell and Barker Competition Knife is a great survival blade.

Most anything you have is going to be ok as long as you know its limmits.
 
Glorymuffin said:
I have an old G96 I am looking to replace with a new multi-purpose camping / survival knife. I will use this as a go-to knife on hiking and kayaking trips to cut firewood and kindling, pound in tent pegs, prepare meals, etc. It needs to be sturdy as I will be relying on this as one of a few emergency survival tools if I ever lose my pack in the wilderness.

I'm hoping to get a few specific recommendations here which I can research to make my final decision. I *really* appreciate your thoughts!

Can you recommend a survival knife (under $200) that fits these criteria:

- Full-tang
- ~ 6"-7" blade length.
- 90-degree flat-back on most of the blade so it can be used for batoning.
- Impact-resistant steel - will be used for striking and prying.
- Striking surface on the butt to be used for hammering / pounding.
- A good finger guard and handle grip.
- Rust-resistance - will be used near the ocean.
- Ideally a flat grind w/secondary edge or compound-grind... this knife doesn't need to be the sharpest thing ever but it will cut a lot of wood and needs to be sturdy and keep its edge well.
- Easy to sharpen in the field - no serrated blades.

Thanks ~

- Eric
Click to expand...

I use various MISSION titanium knives when hiking, camping and kayaking.

Extremely tough knives and being titanium totally impervious to any kind of corrosion EVER.

Salt water simply doesn leave any trace - even when left in my vest to dry on their own after a light fresh water rinse.

My MPS has been reprofiled, which is better for my use.

The knives are BETA ti and cut just fine.

They would have been a very good solution to present to you....until your $200 stipulation blew them out of the water.
They cost.....a tad more:o


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Titanium trio
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Here is my kayaking rig in the snow after a kayak trip just the other day. MISSION MPU tucked away in vest chest pocket
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Kayaking rocks! Especially in these subzero temperatures - makes you feel, that you are alive (if you make it back!:p)
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scout1sg said:
you may find it a challenge to locate a stainless/rust resistant blade with those sort of characteristics (ie. for pounding/chopping/battoning, etc)
Click to expand...
Actually the BETA titanium knives are perfect for a hard use knife for pounding/chopping/battoning, etc

MISSION MPS, MPK etc.
Glorymuffin said:
- Full-tang Check
- ~ 6"-7" blade length.Check
- 90-degree flat-back on most of the blade so it can be used for batoning.Check
- Impact-resistant steel - will be used for striking and prying.Check. Practically indestructable.
- Striking surface on the butt to be used for hammering / pounding.Check
- A good finger guard and handle grip.Check
- Rust-resistance - will be used near the ocean.Check. 100% impervious to salt and/or fresh water.
- Ideally a flat grind w/secondary edge or compound-grind... this knife doesn't need to be the sharpest thing ever but it will cut a lot of wood and needs to be sturdy and keep its edge well.Check
- Easy to sharpen in the field - no serrated blades.Check. Diamond sharpenening rod or other compact diamond sharpener.
Click to expand...
 
That's a lot you posted there BladeScout, but since Mission knives obviously do not come close to the OP's $200 stipulation, why did you bother?

You should have just posted your own review and not hijacked this thread.
 
I would say a Becker bk7 I have one and it's bullet proof, I also love my original kabar Usmc my dad gave to me,.our a tops knife like the alaskan harpoon that's my favorite
 
I second the vote for swamprat blades. I have the ratmandu and could not be happier with the abuse that it is able to take and still retain a good working edge. Also it is not very difficult to sharpen.
 
CWL said:
That's a lot you posted there BladeScout, but since Mission knives obviously do not come close to the OP's $200 stipulation, why did you bother?

You should have just posted your own review and not hijacked this thread.
Click to expand...

Thats a bit harsh. You obviously only looked at the pics and didnt read the text. BTW since when did anybody object to relevant pics on a knife forum.
Though I realize from the unprovoked and odd tone of your post, that it will be futile and only spur further verbal abuse, I will explain: I posted pics of knives and explained/demonstrated how a Mission knife ticks each box of what the OP asked for.
Except for the price, which I also touched upon in my post.
So all in all fairly selfexplanatory for most people, I would venture to say.

Personally, I am grateful if someone answers a question, that I have - preferably with pics of knives if a knife question.
A good argument for a knife could easily entice me to buy a more expensive knife, than I asked for originally.
It has happended.
In fact, that was how I bought my first Mission knife.


How ever, if I am barking up the wrong tree and should the other forum members or a MOD feel my post superflous or redundant, Ill gladly delete it or have a MOD do it.


Its really not that important.

*sigh*...some people.....
 
Thanks for posting bladescout ive never seen those blades before and I enjoyed the pictures.


@OP I would probably buy a becker and use the extra money for handle material and have a kydex sheath made.
 
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