Selecting best length for survival fixed blade.

What blade length of survivalist fixed blade knife would you select?

  • Less than 3”

    Votes: 4 2.8%

  • 3”-3.5”

    Votes: 1 0.7%

  • 3.5”-4”

    Votes: 3 2.1%

  • 4”-4.5”

    Votes: 9 6.3%

  • 4.5”-5”

    Votes: 14 9.8%

  • 5”-6”

    Votes: 38 26.6%

  • 6”-8”

    Votes: 30 21.0%

  • Greater than 8”

    Votes: 44 30.8%
  • Total voters
    143
  • Poll closed .
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King of the Cheese

King of the Cheese

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What length of blade would you MOST prefer for use in a survival scenario? You’re about to pack up and embark on a journey to the wilderness where you will need to live for an extended time (several weeks or more). You are able to choose ONE knife to take with you, which is a fixed blade. No axe, no hatchet, no other edged tool or weapon. Just your knife.
 
If it's a true "one knife only, no hatchet/axes", then I am going with something >8". I want some chopping power.

Big knives can do little-knife stuff (albeit not as efficiently), but small knives cannot do big-knife stuff as readily.
 
shane45-1911 said:
If it's a true "one knife only, no hatchet/axes", then I am going with something >8". I want some chopping power.

Big knives can do little-knife stuff (albeit not as efficiently), but small knives cannot do big-knife stuff as readily.
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Chopping is useful, however there’s a trade off to a very long blade, as it will slap around when you move and not do fine work well.
 
I'd still choose a 4"-4.5" blade, possibly up to 6". I need the fine cutting ability more than heavy chopping. In true wilderness there's generally deadfall, I'm not going to need to chop much of anything down. Heavy deadfall can be broken by prying it between tree trunks or whatever. I would need to use a knife for a lot more than just wood processing.

No way I'd willingly take off without a Kukri or Hatchet anyway, but a person can always adapt with some creativity.
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Chopping is useful, however there’s a trade off to a very long blade, as it will slap around when you move and not do fine work well.
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There are MANY carry/sling options for a large blade.....

And I am not planning on whittling tiny wooden figurines in a survival situation. I have skinned and filleted fish with a machete, and dressed and quartered deer with a Bowie. I want a large knife, thank you. :)
 
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shane45-1911 said:
There are MANY carry/sling options for a large blade.....

And I am not planning on whittling tiny wooden figurines in a survival situation. A have skinned fish with a machete, and quartered deer with a Bowie. I want a large knife, thank you.
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No one is saying you need to “whittle tiny figurines” lol. I was merely pointing out the cons to a large blade.
 
3 to 4.5 ~ 5 inch is plenty long. I don't baton. I know how to cut round a branch to drop it, stress a sapling so one or two cuts (not chops) will fell it.
I also have a hatchet or axe with me, and either a 11 inch folding saw, or 24 inch bow saw, or 34" bar chainsaw chain with handles on each end with me. If I need to split wood, the axe or hatchet work great. If I need to baton, I know how to carve/whittle a wedge, and how to beat the wedge with a stick.
 
somewhere in the 4.5" to 9" range. depends on the particular knife, where id be, for how long and what id be doing with it. I couldnt multi vote to cover this. so I didnt. so instead of voting i just posted it here......
 
shane45-1911 said:
No need to point out any cons. Everything is a compromise if you are limiting this poll to ONE knife.
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Xactly. This is set up so that you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t no matter what your choice is. Don’t you just love the back and forth it causes though :rolleyes:


Ill take the CPK medium chopper though and just hack my way to the local Subway when I finally get hungry.
 
4.5” about right, an a little blade, nobody telling me what I can, can’t carry to survive, so FK 2 an a pocket carver, 1.75”, thin blade, something suitable for opening chocolates, or Twinkies……..rule #32 of survival……..”enjoy the little things”
 
Cvrobinson said:
4.5” about right, an a little blade, nobody telling me what I can, can’t carry to survive, so FK 2 an a pocket carver, 1.75”, thin blade, something suitable for opening chocolates, or Twinkies……..rule #32 of survival……..”enjoy the little things”
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Shoot, if the rules are out the window, bring a $200,000 RV with a full fridge and a Polaris 4 wheeler in tow.
 
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