The Lowdown on Folding Knives for Survival

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YoYoMa

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Oct 30, 2002
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I've heard bits and pieces here and there, but I'm wondering if I could get the real beef: can a folding knife be used as a survival knife?

Take for example a Buck 110. In my opinion, I see no reason why a folder of this quality couln't be used in said situation. Am I right in this assumption? I wouldn't mind hearing some opinions from those more experienced than I.
 
Yo ... One problem I see with a folder is that you are limited in blade size. Hard to chop with a folder.
 
Yes! And no. Depends on what you mean by survival. What is boils down to is this: what can you do with your folder? A folding knife, say a stockman, will cut cordage, whittle hooks into wood ( to make hangers, trap triggers, etc.), you can make fuzz sticks, skin animals, etc. A stockman won't chop down a tree, and I wouldn't want to try to make a log cabin type shelter with one! What something like the 110 offers over a Stockman is toughness- less chance of breakage is great when your life relies on that knife.

You see, the trouble with the word 'survival' is you need a context to go with it. How about urban survival? mail needs to be opened, seat belts may need to be cut in a hurry, bad guys may need to be fought, an improvised belt may need to be fashioned so you can get your broken-down vehicle to a garage, a door jam may need to be pried open to free a damsel stuck in a bathroom (happenned to a forumite!), etc. Figure out what situations you may get yourself into, and then pick cutlery to match those situations.
Going for a walk in the woods? Your folder will be fine. Going for a week long expedition into the woods? Better pack a few other items!

I hope this helps.
 
the best survival knife is the one you have with you. so i guess that encompasses a lot of knives, most people arent in the habit of carrying a 10 inch bowie, or a 12 inch kukri on a daily basis. so if you have a buck 110 it will be made to do. if you have a swiss army knife then you will have to make that do. the idea is to not exceed the strength parameters of the knife. and also to learn what you can do with your knife. and what you cant do with your knife.

i like the tops 747, large folder built as tough as they come, but you wont find it in my pocket every day. you will find a SAK. so i guess i will have to make due with what i have. i do on occasion carry a large knife/axe/machete depending on where and what i am doing an what would be appropriate for the terrain.

i spent some time with the african bushman a few years ago, if you saw what they can do with a real POS (piece of s@#$#) knife and a bushman hand axe (very soft carbon steel/ sharp as a razor) you would be embarrased. they have gotten along for centuries without a "wonder blade" i imagine you can too.

alex
 
People confuse short term "Oh I am Lost" situations with long term survival. If your lost in the lower 48 and it's not winter, a folder will due just fine. If your in bad weather or talking about very remote wilderness, I would want a folder or small fixed blade with a large fix blade or hatchet.

Where I live in California, It would be hard to not to be able to walk to safety or a road within 30 miles.
 
Okay, let's say I'm in a long-term survival situation. I've got a Buck 110 and a hatchet. Will this work?

Would adding, say, a SAK to the mix make a big difference?
 
Depends on which SAK you get. The swisschamp would make a huge difference.

I think the saw, magnifying glass, scissors, little blade and the pliers bring the most value.
 
YoYoMa,

Mors kochanski, a well respected outdoor survival guy and author recommends a Mora knife, a small axe and a saw as a great outdoor kit. SAK and a hatchet would do you very well in the woods, just make sure you have a good one. Spend the money on a Gransfors Bruks wildlife hatchet. Or, buy the small forest axe- read Northern bushcraft by Mors Kochanski to see how cool a small aze is!
Ray Mears also praises Gransfors Bruks axes and likes the small forest axe.
 
Originally posted by YoYoMa
Okay, let's say I'm in a long-term survival situation. I've got a Buck 110 and a hatchet. Will this work?

Would adding, say, a SAK to the mix make a big difference?
Click to expand...

I hunted, fished, ran trot lines and trapped 'till I was out of high school with only a Buck 110 and an Estwing hatchet and never realized at the time that I was so deprived.

Of course X8 years later, I know better now.
grinbig.gif


A SAK is small enough and light enough, why not put one in your pocket too?

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pil sung - 'Crow
 
Maybe we should'nt be thinking "folder vs fixed-blade" at all.

Which would you want in a survival situation: a Spyderco Military or a 3" knife like they give you at the local steak house?

A folder is just fine for survival, and IMHO, a knife or multi-tool with a blade and a saw is even better.
You can always make a primitive stone ax if you need to chop down a tree.

I seriously doubt that anyone ever failed to survive because they had a folder instead of a fixed-blade knife.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
allen c is bit closer to the truth. One needs a
knife (tool) that is the most versatile in use.

That fact alone makes a single blade folder less
desirable. Even a stockman has to give ground to
the lowly camp knife (boy scout) or SAK in most
survival situations. Sure it's not the wicked
killer knife most envison for survival but with
it you can make a weapon AND feed yourself. ;)

I spent 18 months in S.E. Asia 30, yrs ago and my
military issue camp knife got way more use than
the trusy Ka-bar did.:D
 
military issue camp knife is like a boy scout knife with stainless steel slabs on the side

alex.
 
Originally posted by YoYoMa
Okay, let's say I'm in a long-term survival situation. I've got a Buck 110 and a hatchet. Will this work
Click to expand...

I am leaning heavily toward this same idea.

I used to be of the "one big knife" opinion, figuring that a single large tool can handle many tasks and was therefore more useful. But really (for me) the single big knife was just a single big symbol of survival more than an actual tool. If you add up the ounces dollars, and cubic inches, you can get more capability in the same package (often for less money) with smaller tools.

Consider this choice: You are heading out to [fill in the environment here] with only the clothes on you and one of two pouches on the counter: One is a really big knife in its sheath. the other contains a light hatchet, a multitool, an LED light, a lighter, a compass, some paper, a pencil, and a sharpener. Both pouches are the same size and weight.

Everyone has their preference, but I will leave the big knife behind every time.

Scott
 
I used to be into survival fixed blade knives,but carry folders now.What happens to the fixed blades?They get left at home and when I need a knife I won't have one.I don't live in the remote regions of Alaska,so a Busse Steelheart as much as they are cool would just sit in my house.I live in a suburban area and most places I would go "into the woods" at you could walk out in a few hours and hit a road or building etc.If I was going into the middle of nowhere I would consider a big knife.A hatchet works better for cutting wood anyhow.A pocket survival knife would really have more use and accessability.I can carry at work,in the car,everywhere I go I'm prepared with my "survival knife" A nice Spydie Chinook is a good one for survival.
 
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