Survival Knife Suggestions

[Wolf_1989]

My take on a survivial/camp knife for my needs....In the summer the family and I take hikes in northern Pa...Its a mountainous wooded region and we only hike on designated mapped trails...Heres how it goes..I carry the backpack with everything we need for the day which is usually lunch,snacks and plenty of water...The wife, daughter and dog explore and I want them to have as much fun as possible thats why I carry everything (only around 15-20 lbs so its not really bad at all)...This year we did a couple 5-7 milers and next year we plan on doing more...


My worst case senerio ...Something happens and we have to spend the night out on the trail somewhere..I'm always carrying a firearm so my knife will be for shelter and fire..If any 4 legged or 2 legged critters mess around mister Glock 29 10 milimeter or Glock 27 40 cal is always there..I want a fixed blade strong enough to hack trees and prepare firewood..

I'm also asking forum members for input on my survivial knife..
CD

Himalayan Imports khukri

 

[THE PUNISHER]

esee 5,you skin coons?

 

[jimnolimit]

I am looking for a good survival knife

like the Ka Bar Becker Companion and the Gerber LMF II,but im not sure if they are good for my "style".

Im looking for a knife that is good at chopping; able to chop down good sized branches for building shelter. Needs to be a fixed balde with a full tang. Also it needs to be able to hold an edge well.

Another thing Im looking for is the sharpness and blade style to be able to skin animals if needed, ranging from a squirrel to maybe, a raccoon.

Price range is about $100-$200.

I have a Ka-Bar full size tanto, and love it, but i dont feel like I would use it in a survival situation. Its a little big and might have trouble skinning smaller animals like squirrels.

instead of trying to find one tool to do both types of tasks (skinning and wood chopping), why not carrying both a fixed blade and a folding saw?

for a fixed blade, take a look at the esee 4.

as for a folding saw, if you want lightweight, take a look at the gerber sportsman's wood saw. if you don't mind carrying a larger folding saw, take a look at the bahco laplander.

 

[Guyon]

Im looking for a knife that is good at chopping; able to chop down good sized branches for building shelter. Needs to be a fixed balde with a full tang. Also it needs to be able to hold an edge well. Another thing Im looking for is the sharpness and blade style to be able to skin animals if needed, ranging from a squirrel to maybe, a raccoon.

Two different knives. Pair you a Becker BK-9 with a Becker Eskabar or Becker Necker and you're all set.
Of course, Becker isn't the only row to hoe here, but that kind of combo offers great bang for the buck.
You'll easily come in well under $200.

 

[ohen cepel]

Buck Hoodlum would be on my list to check out.

 

[Maniacal Pete]

I'm a fan of the Ontario RD 7. Also have an RD 9 and an RTAK which are both nice but increasingly heavy to carry.
The R7 is just big enough to chop with and small enough to do some fairly fine work.
It is as tough as nails, and the subjective "cool factor," very high, IMO.
As far as survival goes, I've never found myself in a survival situation in the woods, and I always have plenty of junk with me whenever I go.
Survival at home means Ramen noodles, and I can get them open with a SAK.

 

[Gosdent]

GERBER BEAR GRYLLS! haha (just kidding)

when i think of survival, i think military. for me, either a kabar, or, if yer willing to spend the money, benchmade nimravus or nim cub 2.

best,
Trev

 

[kimberfan]

swamp rat RMD + a folder like a kershaw blur in CPM-154

 

[22-rimfire]

A friend has hiked the AT, and I asked how many "choppers" (aka large knives) he saw being carried and used. He indicated that some of the women hikers carried a larger knife, but men seldom carried them due to their weight. I think you're better off with a smaller (4-5" blade) such as the ESEE-4 if you like that one. I prefer the Fallniven F1. Becker, sure. He carried a multi-tool. But carry a folding saw in your pack along with the knife. The saw is much more efficient cutting firewood and so forth, than chopping it with a big knife.

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Perfect sized blade for cleaning squirrels (and rabbits, etc.) is something the one you'd find on a Vic Classic. I've cleaned many a critter with one of those - works perfectly. As to chopping, the BK9 is better but the BK2 Campanion does a MUCH better job than a five inch blade ought to be able to do.

Took out this storm killed tree earlier this year while scouting deer...

My BK9 would have done the job more quickly but my BK2 was on my hip and it worked very well.


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Beckerhead #42

 

[shiangti]

Have to throw another vote toward the BK-2. I have an ESEE-5 and its great, but the becker will do the same job and is much less expensive. Youcan skin squirrels with just about any folding knife, and would probably have one on you anyway.

 

[Indiana Joe]

...you can't really know what will work out for you, or what won't, till you try it yourself on different survival-type tasks.

I finally figured that out earlier this Spring and put all my blades through the same tasks, in one afternoon. All knives did just fine except one of my 4 inch, shaving sharp fixed blades that just didn't "cut the mustard." I had a really difficult time using it just to make firesticks. Point is, it definitely helps to practice. I was surprised at its lackluster performance & I'm glad I found out during practice because it happened to be the one that I would take on day hikes because it "looked cool."