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Survival Knife
- Thread starter JN7556
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STAINLESS90
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You get to bring one knife with you to purgatory.[emoji1]Where is this mythical "middle of nowhere? Mountains in the middle of winter? High desert in mid summer? An African savannah? Deserted island in the Pacific? A sodden Florida swamp? And why does it have to be a "survival knife"? Won't some other type of knife do just as well? Can I just stab the person who is attempting to abduct me and drop me off there? Or cut the bonds I am tied with? What do you imagine survival entailing? Building a permanent shelter? Hunting and butchering game? Fishing and roasting them over a fire? Defending against wild animals? Hostile people?
Well my bike broke down and did drop me in the middle of nowhere (a sort of deserted rural industrial wasteland, with night falling) while temperatures dropped incredibly steeply, and this is all I had with me:
See? It does happen...
Here the spear shape of the tip allowed me to dig my way into a shelter... A typical straight or concave clip tip would have been much less able to use the swedge as a lever support to dig/pry wood outward, and more likely to snap the tip, so even the tip shape can be a big consideration (not that I gave any going in!)... And I still do carry clipped tips anyway, as logic is only secondary to anything I do...
Gaston
See? It does happen...
Here the spear shape of the tip allowed me to dig my way into a shelter... A typical straight or concave clip tip would have been much less able to use the swedge as a lever support to dig/pry wood outward, and more likely to snap the tip, so even the tip shape can be a big consideration (not that I gave any going in!)... And I still do carry clipped tips anyway, as logic is only secondary to anything I do...
Gaston
Where is this mythical "middle of nowhere? Mountains in the middle of winter? High desert in mid summer? An African savannah? Deserted island in the Pacific? A sodden Florida swamp? And why does it have to be a "survival knife"? Won't some other type of knife do just as well? Can I just stab the person who is attempting to abduct me and drop me off there? Or cut the bonds I am tied with? What do you imagine survival entailing? Building a permanent shelter? Hunting and butchering game? Fishing and roasting them over a fire? Defending against wild animals? Hostile people?
I kept this pretty general because I was hoping for people to base answers off of the scenario that they would most likely find themselves in. I did this because I know not everyone is going to be in "generic forest #1".
Codger_64
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I see. Well you would be right since we have members all around the world. In every habitat and climate. What strikes me whenever these scenarios are presented (and that is more frequently than you might imagine) is that most real life survival situations involve a few days of inconvenience and a knife, a particular knife especially, isn't high on the list of items one needs to survive. Water being the main item with shelter being second.
I agree, However right or wrong at least for me a good knife is comforting. Also it can help get the things you really need like shelter.
If you have the knowledge, skill, maybe luck.
If I was in such a situation I would like a larger knife but realisticly I don't carry my larger blades much. So a good smaller knife is most likely what I would have.
If you have the knowledge, skill, maybe luck.
If I was in such a situation I would like a larger knife but realisticly I don't carry my larger blades much. So a good smaller knife is most likely what I would have.
Brian Jones
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Your knife won't save you - YOU have to save you.
Skills are everything. A knife is just an inanimate object, that can be used to assist in skills. Without the skills, a knife is just extra weight that burns your valuable calories.
If all I had was an old fashioned razor blade edge, I'd make sure to learn how to make that work.
In the knife arena, try practicing with something you feel is possibly totally inadequate to use, and figure out how to make it work based on its build, geometry, and strengths.
That said, my preference is a thin, light blade that cuts like a demon, but is just stout enough to handle some unorthodox tasks if they happen to come up.
Skills are everything. A knife is just an inanimate object, that can be used to assist in skills. Without the skills, a knife is just extra weight that burns your valuable calories.
If all I had was an old fashioned razor blade edge, I'd make sure to learn how to make that work.
In the knife arena, try practicing with something you feel is possibly totally inadequate to use, and figure out how to make it work based on its build, geometry, and strengths.
That said, my preference is a thin, light blade that cuts like a demon, but is just stout enough to handle some unorthodox tasks if they happen to come up.
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you could do worse than the little Izula. This one is 440C stainless. It does most tasks very well, and it's all the knife most people would really need.
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The Izula would certainly be plenty of blade for most situations. Sometimes you just need to cut something and you don't need a 9" fixed blade for that. And gee, you can baton with it too. I sometimes carry my little Dozier Personal wharncliffe hiking and at 3", it is not what most people would consider a survival blade. It's small, light, strong, and sharp and capabilities would be similar to the Izula. The knife choice varies, usually based on my mood and what I am likely to be cutting. But, I always have the SAK too and arguably it is all I need anyway. The knife is just another tool in the tool box/kit that I might take with me hiking or afield.
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Your knife won't save you - YOU have to save you.
Skills are everything. A knife is just an inanimate object, that can be used to assist in skills. Without the skills, a knife is just extra weight that burns your valuable calories.
If all I had was an old fashioned razor blade edge, I'd make sure to learn how to make that work.
In the knife arena, try practicing with something you feel is possibly totally inadequate to use, and figure out how to make it work based on its build, geometry, and strengths.
That said, my preference is a thin, light blade that cuts like a demon, but is just stout enough to handle some unorthodox tasks if they happen to come up.
I agree here somewhat but given that the OP does not specify anything like duration, climate, the "survivors" skill level etc. I would say take the largest, most well built knife you could. The BK9 and ESEE Junglas comes to mind. I've used my Junglas extensively in the woods in real world conditions. Small knives perform small tasks. Large knives perform small and large tasks. I'd rather use the Junglas for shelter building, batoning, and even defense (against wilderness animals) than the Izula. You won't build much of a fire or shelter with the Izula without expending large amounts of energy and even then, the Izula (or similar small blades) won't be up to the task of long term survival like a larger blade.
The most important tool you can have in any survival situation is the mind. A mind with knowledge of survival skills and equally important, skills that have been PRACTICED.
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Depends on the situation. If you're running through forests and tumbling down hills as Soviet terr'ists chase you and Grizzlies swipe away at you, then you want a huge Bowie/fighting knife cross with a stick of dynamite as the handle. Self-replenishing preferably.
If you have to travel through dense brush or jungle growth then you might want a machete.
If you have to hold out in North American or European forests (barring some of the Southern States) then you will want something to carve wooden implements, trap triggers, needles, and notches. A puukko-type blade is by far the best for this while still being large enough to split wood if necessary (keep in mind that you only really need to start a split with your knife). Something less than 4 inches in length, or even close to carving length if you don't have to split very much (generally you don't, the splitwood fire is mostly for show). All other knives have severe limitations in this area of carving. The large knives do a poor job and take a lot more energy, so they're a poor choice unless you're in a situation where you have to cut your way out (airplane pilots for example).
Thickness should also be considered. Most knives today are now froes with the handle in the wrong place. They cut very poorly compared to a woodworking knife. 3/32" is about as thick as you should go.
In most situations you'd be fine with an SAK, and in winter or severe rain there is knowledge and skills that can make up for the shortcomings of a folding knife.
Really, you should choose a knife based upon your other gear, not on the assumption that you will lose all your other gear. The only real situations where you would potentially lose gear is when you're canoeing, climbing, or if you get attacked by an animal (or rogue time-travelling Soviet terr'ists, not discounting the possibility, BE PREPARED!). The likelihood of these events is small so you should choose a knife that compliments your other tools for the area you are in. It seems that the Southern States tend more towards big knives, and I suspect this is due to some of the jungle-like brush they have as well as hardwood forests where dry branches are not plentiful compared to softwood areas. Other than for people in those areas a big knife is a very poor choice, and a lot of the recent developments in knives are largely a marketing gimmick for the unreality teevee age.
Choosing a do-everything knife means it is average at a bunch of things and excels at nothing. That means it is no longer even a knife as it ceases to cut things well, and every time you go out with it and don't fall into a survival situation you are being less efficient and probably even holding your skill level back. You should choose a knife based upon its excellent functioning in your preferred activities, as a compliment to your other tools and clothing, and with the assumption that the knife only has to act as a bridge between your knowledge and a replacement tool in the unlikely event of a survival situation. In other words, you just need to learn how to use the knife as a replacement for the ideal tool in a small number of tasks which may never even arise.
Take an axe and a small knife, or a big knife and a small knife depending on where you live. Or take one of those tools and learn how to work through its shortcomings.
In all honesty, we'd be better off asking, 'If you were lost in the forest what is the one piece of clothing you'd want to have with you?' But for some reason we don't see a lot of youtubers filming themselves walking back and forth in a sleeping bag that looks like an Oscar Mayer costume. Funny that.
If you have to travel through dense brush or jungle growth then you might want a machete.
If you have to hold out in North American or European forests (barring some of the Southern States) then you will want something to carve wooden implements, trap triggers, needles, and notches. A puukko-type blade is by far the best for this while still being large enough to split wood if necessary (keep in mind that you only really need to start a split with your knife). Something less than 4 inches in length, or even close to carving length if you don't have to split very much (generally you don't, the splitwood fire is mostly for show). All other knives have severe limitations in this area of carving. The large knives do a poor job and take a lot more energy, so they're a poor choice unless you're in a situation where you have to cut your way out (airplane pilots for example).
Thickness should also be considered. Most knives today are now froes with the handle in the wrong place. They cut very poorly compared to a woodworking knife. 3/32" is about as thick as you should go.
In most situations you'd be fine with an SAK, and in winter or severe rain there is knowledge and skills that can make up for the shortcomings of a folding knife.
Really, you should choose a knife based upon your other gear, not on the assumption that you will lose all your other gear. The only real situations where you would potentially lose gear is when you're canoeing, climbing, or if you get attacked by an animal (or rogue time-travelling Soviet terr'ists, not discounting the possibility, BE PREPARED!). The likelihood of these events is small so you should choose a knife that compliments your other tools for the area you are in. It seems that the Southern States tend more towards big knives, and I suspect this is due to some of the jungle-like brush they have as well as hardwood forests where dry branches are not plentiful compared to softwood areas. Other than for people in those areas a big knife is a very poor choice, and a lot of the recent developments in knives are largely a marketing gimmick for the unreality teevee age.
Choosing a do-everything knife means it is average at a bunch of things and excels at nothing. That means it is no longer even a knife as it ceases to cut things well, and every time you go out with it and don't fall into a survival situation you are being less efficient and probably even holding your skill level back. You should choose a knife based upon its excellent functioning in your preferred activities, as a compliment to your other tools and clothing, and with the assumption that the knife only has to act as a bridge between your knowledge and a replacement tool in the unlikely event of a survival situation. In other words, you just need to learn how to use the knife as a replacement for the ideal tool in a small number of tasks which may never even arise.
Take an axe and a small knife, or a big knife and a small knife depending on where you live. Or take one of those tools and learn how to work through its shortcomings.
In all honesty, we'd be better off asking, 'If you were lost in the forest what is the one piece of clothing you'd want to have with you?' But for some reason we don't see a lot of youtubers filming themselves walking back and forth in a sleeping bag that looks like an Oscar Mayer costume. Funny that.
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Woods fairies and nymphs are often a sign of impending doom. Be careful having fun with her near the water.
Whatever decent puukko with about 9cm carbon steel blade. (multi purpose, light, easy to sharpen even with stones found from nature)
I mostly carry one in my rucksack where ever I go. It's enough for making a camp fire, building a shelter (laavu), carving wooden tools, cleaning fish and small game.
I mostly carry one in my rucksack where ever I go. It's enough for making a camp fire, building a shelter (laavu), carving wooden tools, cleaning fish and small game.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2014
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Any of the four knives on the right would do. Simple, reliable, can sharpen them on a river stone, all have carbon steel and can take a mean edge. None of them are full tang, but it's not a big problem since I won't need to constantly baton with them, just need to be able to whittle a few wedges and can use those to split wood. The Scandinavians figured it out long ago, and my environment here isn't too different. [edit: Those knives are: (left to right) Mora Classic No. 1, Mora Bushcraft, Marttiini Timberjack, and Marttiini Lynx Lumberjack]
Ausseknifeknut
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Now , zombie survival is a different story . Need everything , food , water , Medical supplies shelter and weapons. Even if you don't believe Z day is coming urban survival is the same.
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All very good knife options in this thread.
I'd feel comfortable putting any one of them in my pack of stuff tailored to keeping me alive in the region I am exploring.
There are 3 levels of stuff. The stuff you keep on your person at all times (edc, battle belt, flight jacket). The stuff you keep in your pack (backpack, assault pack, grab bag). And the stuff that you keep at your camp (vehicle/home, camp, base).
Success is managing the stuff so you don't get caught with your pants down and you can accomplish whatever it is you are doing. It's more than just which knife.
For a specific knife... I have a soft spot for rubber/ plastic handled scandi knives. Not cold to the touch in extreme cold and they cut well on the local wood. Versatile blade shape. Enter the Mora clipper. Bonus points if it has a high visibility handle color.
I'd feel comfortable putting any one of them in my pack of stuff tailored to keeping me alive in the region I am exploring.
There are 3 levels of stuff. The stuff you keep on your person at all times (edc, battle belt, flight jacket). The stuff you keep in your pack (backpack, assault pack, grab bag). And the stuff that you keep at your camp (vehicle/home, camp, base).
Success is managing the stuff so you don't get caught with your pants down and you can accomplish whatever it is you are doing. It's more than just which knife.
For a specific knife... I have a soft spot for rubber/ plastic handled scandi knives. Not cold to the touch in extreme cold and they cut well on the local wood. Versatile blade shape. Enter the Mora clipper. Bonus points if it has a high visibility handle color.
Rupestris
Gold Member
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- Mar 1, 2006
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:thumbup: My bright orange stainless Mora Clipper is never further away from me than my car. I keep one in my fishing bag and that bag is always in the car. I live in a less-than-knife-friendly place and the orage Mora looks like a simple bait knife.
knoefz
Gold Member
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- Mar 20, 2009
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What I'd like to have with me out of my collection would be my Esee 5 or my RS6 raven.
In reality I'd probably be stuck with either a SAK or an Opinel as those are found in my pocket most days.
If I can dream big I'd love to be stuck with a Beck Tracker
In reality I'd probably be stuck with either a SAK or an Opinel as those are found in my pocket most days.
If I can dream big I'd love to be stuck with a Beck Tracker
