Looking for a Texas Survival knife.

J

Jlamont2020

Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
15
Silent member here for a while, long time lurker before that. I recently moved to Texas and unfortunately have to revise my normal survival knife. I have several different "survival" knives but none that are under the 5.5" blade length that Texas allows. I want to add back a wilderness "survival" knife to my backpack (I work at a college) that is TX legal.

I've unfortunately had some real trouble finding a knife that meets most of my criteria for a survival knife. Just FYI chances are my criteria doesn't match up with what's recommended for a "survival" knife, but I know what has served me well while camping the last decade.

In no particular order:

1. </= 5.5" blade length (from tip to handle) I specify as there are some companies that like to measure it differently
2. straight back, clip, or drop point (and some spear points)
3. 0.15"+ Thickness (preferably 0.20"+)
4. Large usable finger choil
5. ~40%:60% spine to grind ratio
6. a blade fuller (gives a better control when holding by the spine)
7. flat pummel
8. jimping on the spine
9. full tang (non-skeletonized)
10. lanyard hole/slot
11. front quillion

There have been a few knifes I've found that are close to what I like. But was wanting to see if anybody had any suggestions.
I'm leaning hard towards the Kizlyar, but want to see if there a clear choice I've missed.

svmIbaY.jpg

Kizlyar Supreme Maximus
I like this knife, but I'd have to drill out the handle rivets and put on some removable scales. Custom scales would also allow me to grind the pummel flat. Technically it's 5 5/8" blade so custom scales are a must to lengthen "handle" 0.25"

3VgdXcB.jpg

White River Knives - GTI 4.5
Also very nice, though I prefer the pummel to be perpendicular to the spine. No fuller, but no biggie. Jimping isn't too hard to add. Under 5" unfortunately.

ixu03Lz.jpg

Freeman Outdoors Gear - 5.5" Model 451 L.B. Field Knife
Pretty much ideal, but unavailable for an unknown amount of time.
 
Might have thought of this one already but, Swamp Rat Ratmandu.



No fuller but I get a great grip choking up
 
A Fallkniven S1 nearly fits the list you have but it doesn't have the fuller, choil or gimping. It is a very good outdoors knife.
 
All three of those look like they would do the job. I have handled the Freeman and thought it was a really nice knife. Of the three, it would be my choice.
 
Welcome. I say the White River/GTI.

1) Its the most reasonably designed blades. No silly vertical ridges or fullers. They are merely design elements that nothing to the "survival" (whatever that means) functionality of the knife.

2) The White River/GTI has got Justin Gingrich's name on it. Real deal Army Ranger and really nice guy who designs tough knives for functionality. No bells and whistles. Cant go wrong. Stands behind his products. (Not that the folks at Freeman dont...I just happen to have some personal experience with Justin Gingrich.)
 
White river make top notch knives, I am a proud owner of a caper model and it surpassed my expctations. Even the packaging is quality with a real personal touch.
 
Survive! Knives GSO 5.1 meets most of your criteria. Hard to find. You didn't mention price range, but they can be had for the $220 - $240 range.
 
Jlamont2020 said:
Silent member here for a while, long time lurker before that. I recently moved to Texas and unfortunately have to revise my normal survival knife. I have several different "survival" knives but none that are under the 5.5" blade length that Texas allows.
Click to expand...
I had to look that up. Texas' weapon laws never fail to astound me. For such a state of independent people, they have some nanny state laws.
Anywho, I would look at Survive! knives. They make some of the best production knives around, but they don't have a forgiving production cycle.
 
Depending on what part of Texas you're in, the LEO may be a little more lenient on the regulations. Of course, I'm not sure how you'd find that out! :)
 
The ratmandu is nice, I'm actually glad you posted a picture of it. Part the reason I passed on ut before is most of the pictures dont show that the primary grind starts off of the spine. I'm not a fan of knives where the grind starts at the spine (Blackbird SK-5). Rather difficult to tell if most pictures of it that it is not of that design. I wish the pummel was perpendicular, but it check off most of my list.

I really do love the fallkniven S1 however their 3/4 tang is a bit annoyin'. The used to sell the BS1 (knife blank of S1) which I would love to find, but is all but impossible.

@Bill the FOG 5.5" is my number 1 choice, but FOG couldn't give me an ETA. With the popularity of the new FOG collaboration knife that also is 1/4" D2 (MSK-1) I don't forsee a run of the FOG 5.5" comin' anytime soon.

The badger attack ergo is also very nice, I'll have to spend some time lookin' between this and the ratmandu.

Oh man, the Survive GSO-5.1 I like quite a bit!!! Their website is showin' it's only available for preorder though. I see videos with people who have 'em though. I'll have to look around to see if there is a dealer currently sellin' them.

Unfortunately most of the Hogue Fixed blades do an unsharpened swedge that I'm just against. It looks awesome, but I hate workin' a knife with a swedge. The Green Beret is also nice, but o just don't like it. I have no quantifiable reason for not likin' it, but I just don't.

And no TRfromMT I didn't list a price range. I'm lookin' for a sub $300 knife, but for the right knife I'd probably pay $500.

And as far as the TX laws go that was one thing that shocked the *heck* out of me. I moved to TX from IL yet cannot carry my 5.5"+ knives??? I don't understabd how the Democratic Republic of Illinois is more "bowie friendly" than the great state of Texas. Even more so, it's a serious Felony in TX.

If you go to a business with a concealed pistol that you're not allowed to carry into it's a class C misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $200. If you carry a knife with a 6" blade it's a 3rd degree felony and you can get 10yrs in prison and a $10,000 fine ?!?!?!?!

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
 
I've lived in Texas the majority of my life. What you're doing and where you're going is more important than what you're carrying. They don't want you carrying a 5.5+ knife in public. I've carried a 6.5+ in my truck for over 35 yrs. I've lost count of the times a police officer has seen it. If they ask about it I tell them it is a tool. Never call it a knife. Just don't go waving it around like an idiot. Backpacks same thing. (Going camping in couple days. Wink Wink. My fixed blade has a lot of patina, looks like tool and not a weapon. Right now I carry an ESEE 6 but I want an ESEE 5. The 5 is bad dude. Survival, emergency, whatever. And 5.25 blade. You can wear that on your belt.
 
Well as I understand it. Your vehicle is g2g. I have my CS SRK in the back of my Jeep. The problem bein' that I want to be able to keep my knife rig in/on my backpack, which is illegal when you're not out in the woods or in route to. I used to have my rig strapped to the side of my backpack when I lived in Illinois. If I got pulled over they'd ask why. So long as you didn't admit intent to commit a crime that was the end of it.
I much prefer to keep my rig strapped to the side of my backpack so I want it to be 100% legal. That's my primary concern. The officers on campus know me and probably wouldn't care (they've told me "concealed means concealed" when we talk about campus firearms carry (which isn't legal 'til August).

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
 
Yea, Sonny I spent a bit of time lookin' at them. Really like the 5.1. Would love one with 3V and bow divot G10 scales. Unfortunately the 5.1 has the same problem as the Freeman knife. No ETA. I've found a few online, but they've all been the 20V not the 3V. While so far it has been my favorite alternative to the Freeman, I'll still have to look elsewhere.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
 
Jlamont2020 said:
I really do love the fallkniven S1 however their 3/4 tang is a bit annoyin'. The used to sell the BS1 (knife blank of S1) which I would love to find, but is all but impossible.
Click to expand...

The Falkniven S1 is a "Full Tang" knife.
 
aleforme said:
The Falkniven S1 is a "Full Tang" knife.
Click to expand...

Fallkniven are kinda full tang. They are full length partial tangs. Hence why I said 3/4 tang though to be fair it's probably 80-85%.

Top blade is a Fallkniven A1, Bottom blade is a Fallkniven BA1.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top