Pocket Fixed Blades......Real Survival Knives ?

Sorry, I still can't stand the term. In this hypothetical survival situation where our "survival knife" gets put into play are we now wearing our "survival shoes" and looking through our "survival bifocals"?
 
My EDC pack has an Izula in it. I guess if it got bad, that's what I'd be using.
 
Years ago I put a Busse Game Warden into my coat pocket. Comfortable 4” handle, sturdy 3” blade, 7” overall. The longer I carry it, the more I like it.

I keep a Vic Farmer in my pants pocket. But that Game Warden in my coat is with me most of the time, (which must make it a "survival knife"). And it is inherently tougher than any folder.
 
sutured said:
Sorry, I still can't stand the term. In this hypothetical survival situation where our "survival knife" gets put into play are we now wearing our "survival shoes" and looking through our "survival bifocals"?
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The same thing has been done with the word "tactical "
 
Im glad this survival forum came up about small survival knives. I was just sitting here in my survival recliner surfing the net thinking about how awesome life has been since I got my survival Izula. :) I am not sure I would have survived without it!

I do feel like a full size handle would be nice though. I'd probably survive much longer.
 
Here's a question for y'all??

So while we are talking about Survival Knives.

So to me, a true survival knife, one that you are going to have in case you get stranded or something would be different than what I would carry normally. You???

For instance, if I am camping or hiking I like a thin bladed knife with a fine edge because I like cutting ability, usually in carbon steel.

But I find that even if I get a carbon blade hair popping sharp oxidation can dull the edge over time even if I cut nothing.

However stuff like D2 and stainless doesn't seem to lose the edge.

Also a thin edge knife is prone to damage so should a true survival knife sacrifice cutting ability for edge durability since in a survival situation you would not have a stone??

Then also since a survival knife might be needed to pry or split wood should the blade sacrifice slicing abiltiy for prying and be thicker??

I think about the Fallkniven F1. Thick blade, stainless, relatively thick convex edge, rubber handle exposed tang for hammering and I think survival knife.
 
sutured said:
Sorry, I still can't stand the term. In this hypothetical survival situation where our "survival knife" gets put into play are we now wearing our "survival shoes" and looking through our "survival bifocals"?
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Alot of annoyance to be felt over a simple term.
I don't wear glasses, so I don't need a survival pair.;) However, I know people who DO keep a spare pair in their car just in case.

If one puts an item in an emergency/survival kit, then it counts as an emergency/survival item.
Or just in case.
Or "Hujadeeflippidyfloop" if those terminologies are still too annoying for some. We haven't had too many "What's the best Hujadeeflippidyfloop knife I should buy" threads.
 
hollowdweller said:
Here's a question for y'all??

So while we are talking about Survival Knives.

So to me, a true survival knife, one that you are going to have in case you get stranded or something would be different than what I would carry normally. You???

For instance, if I am camping or hiking I like a thin bladed knife with a fine edge because I like cutting ability, usually in carbon steel.

But I find that even if I get a carbon blade hair popping sharp oxidation can dull the edge over time even if I cut nothing.

However stuff like D2 and stainless doesn't seem to lose the edge.

Also a thin edge knife is prone to damage so should a true survival knife sacrifice cutting ability for edge durability since in a survival situation you would not have a stone??

Then also since a survival knife might be needed to pry or split wood should the blade sacrifice slicing abiltiy for prying and be thicker??

I think about the Fallkniven F1. Thick blade, stainless, relatively thick convex edge, rubber handle exposed tang for hammering and I think survival knife.
Click to expand...

If you're stashing a knife somewhere for emergencies and not using it otherwise, I think a stainless blade is a good idea. That said, how does it make even a little sense to cary a knife for "survival" that isn't handy or practical for daily use?

That's not to say that the F1 isn't a practical blade, because it is. But if it's not the blade you choose to use on a daily basis when things are going well, why would it be any better for you when things are going poorly?

By what logic would you have a knife but not have a stone in a "survival situation"?

Just what the hell are these "survival situations", anyway? I really don't think many of us are going to get shot down over enemy lines and parachute into the boreal forest with nothing but the contents of our flight suit pockets.

I've never seen Mors Kochanski using anything but a stick tang Mora knife which weights less than the firesteels some people attach to their sheaths, and that man does more knife work in a day than most of us do in a month. To each his own, of course. But to the best of my knowledge he doesn't have another "survival knife" for real "survival situations"...you know, something other than the daily grind of sleeping outside without a sleeping bag or tent when it's thirty-below.

I think it's interesting that if you ask someone what the best "survival knife" is and what the best "bushcraft knife" is, you'll get two different answers. Somehow the knife that is a favorite for bushcraft chores (like making a fire, shelter, trap, etc.) is no longer sufficient if it's a "survival situation".

I guess I'm flogging a dead horse here, but as soon as people use the term "survival" they seem to quit thinking in a practical and logical way...like somehow the normal cause and effect of life no longer apply, 'cause its a "survival situation". It's almost like the word itself makes people's brains shut down.
 
Good point Stabman. Also it's interesting that what one wears might have a greater effect on their survival than their blade, yet we talk little about clothes here.
 
sutured said:
Just what the hell are these "survival situations", anyway?
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Mostly it's simply a matter of when hikers and hunters get lost.
Then, once lost, getting far more lost because they KNOW the road/trail is just over there.
A knife, some water, a little food and an ignition source can help alot. Sometimes the psychological calming effect is more important than the actual usage of the item itself.
If you feel more calm and in control of the situation, that helps with survival.:)
 
hollowdweller said:
Good point Stabman. Also it's interesting that what one wears might have a greater effect on their survival than their blade, yet we talk little about clothes here.
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There's probably some sort of outdoor wear forum where such things are the hot topic, and knives are a secondary topic of conversation.:D
 
sutured said:
If you're stashing a knife somewhere for emergencies and not using it otherwise, I think a stainless blade is a good idea. That said, how does it make even a little sense to cary a knife for "survival" that isn't handy or practical for daily use?That's not to say that the F1 isn't a practical blade, because it is. But if it's not the blade you choose to use on a daily basis when things are going well, why would it be any better for you when things are going poorly?By what logic would you have a knife but not have a stone in a "survival situation"?

Just what the hell are these "survival situations", anyway? I really don't think many of us are going to get shot down over enemy lines and parachute into the boreal forest with nothing but the contents of our flight suit pockets.

I've never seen Mors Kochanski using anything but a stick tang Mora knife which weights less than the firesteels some people attach to their sheaths, and that man does more knife work in a day than most of us do in a month. To each his own, of course. But to the best of my knowledge he doesn't have another "survival knife" for real "survival situations"...you know, something other than the daily grind of sleeping outside without a sleeping bag or tent when it's thirty-below.

I think it's interesting that if you ask someone what the best "survival knife" is and what the best "bushcraft knife" is, you'll get two different answers. Somehow the knife that is a favorite for bushcraft chores (like making a fire, shelter, trap, etc.) is no longer sufficient if it's a "survival situation".

I guess I'm flogging a dead horse here, but as soon as people use the term "survival" they seem to quit thinking in a practical and logical way...like somehow the normal cause and effect of life no longer apply, 'cause its a "survival situation". It's almost like the word itself makes people's brains shut down.
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I love this post.

As far as survival vs daily use. Well probably one of my more daily used blades is my multi tool. I think it would be fantastic for survival. However sometimes when I'm in the woods and I may have to carry a knife to cut limbs from my path I like something with a more comfortable handle and finer edge. Then when I'm working on electric fencing on my farm and might wind up cutting some polywire fencing I'd rather use a steep grind than a thin grind.

So a lot of times I vary my knives by what my daily use actually is, and how much damage I might inflict on the blade.

As far as knife with no stone, a lot of times when I dayhike I carry a knife but no stone. I don't carry a stone with me daily so if I was somehow stranded I'd have no stone. Also I have a knife in my car and I don't carry a stone in my car.

But I do know what you are saying totally. What is a survival situation??

I had a friend who got left behind in college on a field trip at Babcock State Park. We told our professor he wasn't there but he kept going.

When my friend came out of the bathroom it was near dusk, nobody around.

We were forestry students so he had a good pair of shoes on, and a nice down coat. It was fall but not freezing. He walked out to the main road but it was getting late so no cars.

So he went back in the woods, and scrounged up some wood. I can't remember if he had a knife but he had a lighter. He built a fire and slept as he could by it since it wasn't super cold.

In the morning he started back down the road and somebody picked him up and took him to the next town. He had money so he found a taxi to drive him back to school.

So in that situation good boots, a coat, a lighter and money were the most useful things!
 
Well, he designed it as a survival knife, not a steak knife or a carpet knife or a penknife. Though it would probably work those functions, his design is best suited for survival or emergency applications. If you want to call your fillet knife a survival knife go ahead, but it was designed to fillet fish. These knives are dedicated for different functions, though some can successfully overlap into other applications, I wouldn't call my bread knife my survival knife because it is not.
 
I mostly carry either a LM Wave or this Condor Mini Bush with me at all times. Short of me having to hunt game down, this is probably all I'll need to survive the 25 mile walk home if SHTF. In my back pack I carry the Condor Rodan and depending on where I'm going maybe even the Condor HD Kukri, Condor Scout Hatchet or Gransfor Bruks Hand Hatchet.

I live in los angeles and work about 25 miles away from home. There will be some combination of these knives in my pack and on my person at most times. Now, a survival knife in the city will serve a different purpose than one in the bush, which is why i carry a small fixed or my leatherman (sometimes both). If i worked out in the bush the Rodan would be my EDC knife.

The only reason I carry the bigger Kukri or a hatchet on me is because if I can't get back home, I may need to make a temporary shelter. The shortest route for me to get home would take me through some of the worst neighborhoods in L.A. (Compton, South Central, Watts) so the Kukri and hatchet could also be used for defense if necessary. Although, in those neighborhoods without a gun, I'd have to extra stealthy or even bluff my way out of a bad situation...

Many here have made good points about clothes, shoes and other items that may be more important than your knife in some cases. Lots of good reading on these forums. Glad to have joined the community!


https://plus.google.com/photos/1038...s/5803687492203131409?authkey=CO-Hz-f4q6Wt0QE
 
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I carry my neck knife everywhere which is a small fixed blade, along with a folder, and when I go into the city or out for the day I have a double edge which I can strap to my forearm but usually wear on my calf under my pants. That's more of a if I get attacked type survival knife though lol
 
If you survival kit isn’t with you all the time, you are trusting to Luck.

A lady rumored to be most unreliable.

I always carry a Victorinox Farmer. Acceptable blade, great saw.

It’s so much better than the trail knife I don’t have with me.

I keep a few other things in my pockets as well.

Just for Luck.
 
I'd agree that any blade is better than no blade and that 'bushcraft' knife is a more accurate descriptor of the type of knife that many would consider appropriate in a survival situation.

For example: a paring knife would be a more accurate descriptor for the type of blade used in food prep while standing over the kitchen counter. Whether some would or would not consider it THE survival tool for surviving the first visit from the in-laws and thereby winning their approval is a matter of interpretation :D
 
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