First "survival" knife

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
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I have an idea of what a survival knife should be but that isn't what I started out with. At 16 I was in a SAR and they stressed that survival, although important, wasn't really necessary because you would be picked up in 24-48 hours. So we got a quick once over by a guy who got certified in the Air Force survival school in his 20's and again in his 60's. Tough sucker. But, the knife idea was not only frowned upon, but disallowed to a point where a knife meant...pocket knife. So my dad got me a SAK that didn't even have a saw and that was it and I didn't know any better. So, I was wondering what some of you guys started out with that you now know is inadequate, but carried with confidence in the day. Humility left at the door.;)
 
I carried an old Precise Deer Slayer (think my dad got it at sears), but quickly moved up to a Ka-Bar, and hijacked my dad's old Navy survival knife (essentially a Woodsman's pal). I don't think I could have done much better at 11 years old. I think those choices would still hold up well today, despite all I've learned about knives, and the wilderness, in the interim.
 
Some Rambo knife knockoff, complete with a hopeless "survival" kit in the handle.

Honestly any SAK would have been much better, including the little keychain ones.
 
It was a tried and true Swiss Army Knife.
It wasn't exactly "inadequate" per se, just not as diverse as a bigger fixed blade knife, for instance.
Still served me well through many a hike.
 
When I was 11, I had a cheap "survival knife", Ka-Bar USMC knockoff. Black blade, green plastic handle, fake leather sheath with camouflage pattern, saw teeth on the back (and a bottle opener!). I still have it. If I look at it now (24 years later) it looks like the cheap piece of sh*t it is, but when I was 11, to me it was the best knife in the world. (and I was very proud that my parents trusted me with a real knife!)
 
I have loved knives for as long as I can remember. Well before I was 10 years old I was reading any article I could find on knives. The first knife I bought was, IIRC a Sabre when I was 10 or 11. I helped skin quite a few dear with it. When I turned 12 I bought a Western 2 blade folder that was about the size of a buck 110, though it did not lock. My hunting partner Bob, who was a year older than I was, and I skinned all the deer shot for several years on the ranch. The Western worked great though truth be told I yearned for a Randall. It was tough for a 12 year old kid to save up that much money. I can't remember what a Randall would have sold for in 1965, and I can't remember which model I wanted so badly, maybe model 11 or a model 20. Maybe someone knows the selling price back then. Anyway my first survival knife was a Randall Solingen model 14 that cost me about $75.00 and I later sold for $175.00.
 
Yup, stainless, sawback, hollow handle POS. Sawback wasn't bad actually, but after a bit of use the blade started to wobble in the handle:rolleyes: Not really sure if it can be considered my first survival knife, seeing as it wasn't any real use for survival, and could barely be considered a knife.

After that though, my next survival knife was a mora- two, in fact:) So yay.
 
A 6", reasonble quality bowie from the local sports shop. Had a stainless blade, soft enough to sharpen easily, and a leather washer handle. I got it when I was about 10, and it never left my side in the woods. I didn't consider it a 'survival' knife, just a knife. I was into building dens in the woods (what kid isn't at 10) and it say regular use for many years.

I lost it in those woods when I was around 15; missed it for the last 24 years! I can still almost feel the fit in my hand.

Rick.
 
Shotgun said:
I have an idea of what a survival knife should be but that isn't what I started out with. At 16 I was in a SAR and they stressed that survival, although important, wasn't really necessary because you would be picked up in 24-48 hours. So we got a quick once over by a guy who got certified in the Air Force survival school in his 20's and again in his 60's. Tough sucker. But, the knife idea was not only frowned upon, but disallowed to a point where a knife meant...pocket knife. So my dad got me a SAK that didn't even have a saw and that was it and I didn't know any better. So, I was wondering what some of you guys started out with that you now know is inadequate, but carried with confidence in the day. Humility left at the door.;)
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In our area, most SAR guys are county mounties (sheriff), but there is also military SAR and from what I've seen, neither military, nor law enforcement want to have to face an armed individual in the wild, because they aren't only rescue. They are also search and apprehend. Also, the world out there has changed a lot in the last few years and the odds of getting rescued during a wide spread emergency, are non existent. In fact, you might find yourself having to defend against those that would take your life, in order to get your gear and provisions. Verified by watching the Katrina fiasco on television. Cops knocking down old ladies to disarm them. Placing people in holding centers and leaving them up to those that would pray on them, etc. It just don't get any worse and I would highly recommend to you that you be able to fend for yourself and that means have the appropriate gear for all occassions.
 
longbow50 said:
In our area, most SAR guys are county mounties (sheriff), but there is also military SAR and from what I've seen, neither military, nor law enforcement want to have to face an armed individual in the wild, because they aren't only rescue. They are also search and apprehend. Also, the world out there has changed a lot in the last few years and the odds of getting rescued during a wide spread emergency, are non existent. In fact, you might find yourself having to defend against those that would take your life, in order to get your gear and provisions. Verified by watching the Katrina fiasco on television. Cops knocking down old ladies to disarm them. Placing people in holding centers and leaving them up to those that would pray on them, etc. It just don't get any worse and I would highly recommend to you that you be able to fend for yourself and that means have the appropriate gear for all occassions.
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I agree. I even wrote letters to my reps and the president himself to not allow disarming of citizens during that time. Don't you worry I've since dropped the fluffy notion that a SAK will get you out of every situation. I have adopted the more practical leatherman, Swamp Rat, .357 magnum approach.;)
 
I've had knives all my life, but they were all folders, either manual or automatic ;), until I started diving at 15. I thought I was seriously badass with that chrome, double-edged stiletto on my calf!

My first real survival knife was a Gerber LMF. I had drooled over the LMF in store showcases for years but couldn't afford one. I "settled" for an LMF and carried it all over.

-- FLIX
 
I am pretty sure my first knives were a SAK and an Old Timer with 3 blades. I did have a couple of those crappy little single blade stainless knives, but those need to be blocked from memory. I never took care of either of them other than the occasional sharpening, so the OT was pretty rusted. I still have both around somewhere and they both still cut stuff. Maybe not as well as the knives I have now, but they functioned just fine for the 10 years I used them.
 
My first "survival knife" was a Parker/frost hollow handle job in woodland camo complete with a camo leather scabbard. Truth be told, the leather sheath was much better than the knife it protected. It took a long time to sharpen and a second to dull....but I thought I was THE MAN with it on my belt...
 
I cut my finger to the bone trying to shut my Buck 110 at the tender age of 6.

It is still a great survival knife- though I no longer stab stuffed animals or fashion spears with it. :)
 
Some Rambo knife knockoff, complete with a hopeless "survival" kit in the handle.

_________________________________
Yup, stainless, sawback, hollow handle POS. Sawback wasn't bad actually, but after a bit of use the blade started to wobble in the handle Not really sure if it can be considered my first survival knife, seeing as it wasn't any real use for survival, and could barely be considered a knife.
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Many of us had that piece of s....door stop with the compass on the butt, black and broke soon after we used it!
 
with a hopeless "survival" kit in the handle
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I thought that knife was the best until I got a Sykes-Fairburn knockoff which was even more useless. What does it tell you when you bend a blade that should've busted....lol

My LMF came soon after. Still have it, still use it. Great sheath, great handle and tough as nails - heavy SOB though....

On writing this it would appear that my taste leans toward tactical, when the opposite is true. That's funny.
 
I would Say My boy scout folder, Or my USAF Survival Knife (both by camillus). I would consider either a good choice today.

Actually I "Settled" for the USAF Knife instead of a Rambo type knife like one of my freinds had. Sometimes you find what you need when you cant get what you think you want.
 
I would say my Boy Scout pocket knife and hatchet. My first decent fixed blade was a Buck 119.
Scott
 
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