Looking to buy my first real survival knife, could use some input

No matter what you buy, always have a Victorinox Farmer in your pocket. You'll thank me someday.
 
sodak said:
No matter what you buy, always have a Victorinox Farmer in your pocket. You'll thank me someday.
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+1 to that! :) Heck that little Farmer can almost cause a person to start reconsidering carrying the belt/pack knives! They are very handy :)
 
get two.

get any decent 4-6 or even 7 inch fixed blade knife with a decent grind and handle, ESEE, custom, whatever. I'd suggest you get something more like 1/8 or 3/16 that a really thick blade, for a reason I'll explain later.

get any decently handled (comfortable to use) 1.75 to 3 inch necker or small EDC fixed blade. Again, custom, izula, whatever- even a mora would work. (here I'd suggest looking more at customs, the smaller ones can be inexpensive enough for you to get both blades, and there's some really nice designs out there.) ESPECIALLY with this one, go for a thinnish blade.

now, you have to use them. the smaller one needs to be worn everywhere and do everything (within reason, legality, yadda yadda) including kitchen and eating work. The larger one needs to be the only other knife you use int he kitchen for a few weeks.

Within a month, you'll have two good knives, an infinitely broader understanding of them (and the relative utility of various sizes) and you'll be comfortable with them.

If you want an SAK, please also consider the Victorinox Compact. I won't argue with the farmer for what it is, but the Compact has a slight decrease in blade strength (I don't whale on pocket knives, so it matters not to me) and a massive increase in utility. with a Compact, you can handle most life chores.
 
sodak said:
No matter what you buy, always have a Victorinox Farmer in your pocket. You'll thank me someday.
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I think any Victorinox with a folding saw is mandatory equipment. It's incredible how often I've used that folding saw over the years.

Re: Fixed Blade Knives

For fixed blade a Mora Triflex carbon is a great knife for the money.

Next up the price point I'd look at a Fallkniven F1. That knife has done nothing but impress me with its capability and durability in a small light package.
 
I say do some research and watch some vids and then decide what you think you might like from there. I started my love for knives when i was 7 and have had a million dif knives. your just not going to know what you like until you try a few.

I bought a mora tri flex to see what all the fuss was about and I didnt care for it. I agree for the price they are ok knives but to me it was just like a comfortable steak knife. And for me at least i have to like the way the knife looks and how it functions. Probably why it has been so hard for me to find the perfect knife.

I really wanted to like the rc-4 but i hated the way it felt in my hand. The 5 and 6 felt great but they were longer and heavier then i wanted.

ill agree with everyone else on the SAK carry. Get one ,they are handy to have .i have always carried one. I have used those more then any knife i have carried.

As i said before though. You just wont know till you try some. Your likes and dislikes arent going to be the same as everyone else.

Here are a few i have liked.
Fallkniven f1
BRKT bravo-1
BK-2
BK-7
 
Like Moose said.... can't go wrong with the Becker products. AWESOME value for the price. some of the strongest blades on the market !

Beckerhead #32
 
stoop14 said:
I always had knifes but never spent much like sub 20$ on them, anyways have some xmas money and want to get a nice survival knife in a oh crap moment stuck in the mountains. I've been looking at the Esee 6 and 5, but was wondering if there is something you guys might recommend more. Also straight blade or a straight/serrated? Thanks in advance guys cheers.
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I love ESEE's. I love Becker's, too. And Fallkniven's.

In the 5 to 6 inch range, there are the ESEE-5 and 6 as you already know. There is also the Fallkniven A1. I think it is more expensive than all the rest, but you are paying for the steel, and just the steel. Rubber (well, Kraton, I think) handle completely enclosing essentially a full tang. Mixed bag there. Great for very cold weather, but the rubber won't last forever. For the money, you're probably as well off with the ESEE-6.

I would, and did, take a BK-2 over the ESEE-5, for money and design. I do not regret it. Highly recommend this knife.

If you're able to relax your requirements to 7 inches, you can go with the BK-7, which may be even better bang for the buck than the BK-2, but I personally prefer the BK-2.

In order of bang for buck, IMO:
BK-2
BK-7
ESEE-6
Fallkniven A1
ESEE-5

Any of those will serve you quite well, I believe.

Then there is the Junglas, or a good cheap machete....
 
I own a fairly expensive tool (Bark River Bravo 1) which I really like as a hard use knife, but I most often carry the $10 Mora 510 (now discontinued). Current Mora offerings are just as good. It's a great place to start, and you may decide you won't need to look further. I also choose to carry a hand axe/hatchet. I'm willing to spend a bit more here. Add an inexpensive folding saw and there isn't much you can't do for most woods tasks. (If you live in really cold country, you'll probably want to add a larger axe to the mix).

PC
 
+1 Fallkniven A1, S1, or F1.

I have the A1 and F1 both are extremely useable, especially the F1. That also complement each other quite well.

I also have a bit of a fetish for Bark River, check out the Bravo1.
 
You are going to buy a knife. Research, do what you are doing here, get advice, play with some ideas, then go buy a knife. ANY knife. It does not matter. You have been here too long and now you are just as infected as the rest of us. Because after you get your knife, you will get another and another. Just a little bit different, a little longer blade, a different shaped handle. It is OK, though. You are welcome here.
 
If I were you, Id get a nice fixed blade with around a 5.5" blade, a SAK of your choice and a decent hatchet, such as an estwing. This should set you up for survival pretty good.

My primary tool loadout is a estwing sportsmans axe, 5.5" fixed blade (randall 18, CRK shadow IV, green beret, etc) and a SAK champ. With this setup about the only thing you can't do is build a log cabin.
 
Condor Rodan, 5 inch blade, 3/16" thick, 1095 carbon steel, $22.
It's the poor man's BK2.
Screenshot-VID00021.MP4-1.jpg
 
Just don't think of a survival knife as an indestructable prybar, treat it like a knife. It's not a screwdriver, not to be thrown, or hit with other metal objects, these actions are abuse.
Plenty of knives are great tools, you'll just need to figure out which one(s) are for you, hand size/handle size matters. Will you be able to sharpen the knife? Consider that issue as well, maybe that will determine the edge geometry.
 
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