The Survive! Knife Alternatives Thread. All suggestions WELCOME!

VorpelSword said:
Seems as thougfh we have done this thread before . . .

It is my conviction that the best survival knife to have is the knife you actyally have with you when you need to survive . . .whatever it is.

Running around town, my EDC is a leatherman Wave. If you are off on an Elk hunt in Montana yoiur EDC in the field would be something stouter. If you are living off the grid in Alaska, your choice might be similar, but weight and bulk might be critical.

Remember that guy who got his arm trapped in a crack while mountain climbing in a wilderness area? He finally self amputated his arm with a really flimsy pocket sized multitool.

en.wikipedia.org

Aron Ralston - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

And that was the best survival knife he had at the time.

Whatever it is, it will only save your lift if you actually have it with you when you need it. So Rambo knives are pretty much out. It has got to be in your pocket, in a belt pouch or sheath. If it is to big and heavy to EDC while doing whatever it is you are doing, then it is too big and heavy. If it is too costly and precious to bring along, you won't bring it.

Even an "Old Hickory" brand kitchen knife from the housewares department at Kroger could be your survival knife . . .if that is what you have at hand.
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You have misread the purpose of this thread. Please re-read my original post and then read your response. Your post is a non sequitar. But I did write "you do you" though I meant give us all your alternative knife suggestions in whatever way you want. Haha.

I carry the Leatherman Wave + in my bag, another in my center console, a Sebenza small 21, double stud, micarta inlay, on my person opposite my 9mm, and spend my time partially in Alaska where I'm originally from - .44 magnum strapped to my chest in bear country. None of that has anything to do with this post. Also, I have no intention of cutting off my arm. Did I mention I was friends with Vernon Tejas who rode his bike to work at Alaska Telecom all Winter long? Lol
 
A Mora Eldris can pretty much do anything asked of it.

Survival knives do not need to be a sharpened piece of leaf spring off a truck.

Sorry, it's the truth. The safe-queens do you no good.
 
Bohica2u said:
A Mora Eldris can pretty much do anything asked of it.

Survival knives do not need to be a sharpened piece of leaf spring off a truck.

Sorry, it's the truth. The safe-queens do you no good.
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I want to see you baton with the Eldris 😂. I kid, I kid!! I have that one and it’s a great knife
 
There are a lotta' great recommendations in this thread, many of which I actually own.

However, if you're on a budget, it's pretty hard to beat some of the Cold Steel stuff. (*namely the "SRK", in my very humble opinion) The top is an SK-5 variant, with the bottom being the more-recent 3V offering...



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For me, the SRK does a great job of representing the quintessential "Field Knife". (*robust, 5"-to-7" blade length, "Jack-of-all-Trades, etc.) You can pretty regularly score one in SK-5 for between $30 and $35, a San Mai version for about $80, and a 3V version for about $100 to $110.

In my humble opinion, they represent a tremendous value, and we'd be remiss to not include them. (*I'd challenge anyone to score a robust 6" 3V blade for about 100 bucks)


I'm an old man who hates change. So, I completely "get it" when guys bag on the fact that Cold Steel was acquired by GSM. However, on the flipside of that, MOST of my Cold Steel stuff is post-GSM, and has performed FLAWLESSLY.

Your mileage may vary.
 
Alone said:
There are a lotta' great recommendations in this thread, many of which I actually own.

However, if you're on a budget, it's pretty hard to beat some of the Cold Steel stuff. (*namely the "SRK", in my very humble opinion) The top is an SK-5 variant, with the bottom being the more-recent 3V offering...



View attachment 2207085



For me, the SRK does a great job of representing the quintessential "Field Knife". (*robust, 5"-to-7" blade length, "Jack-of-all-Trades, etc.) You can pretty regularly score one in SK-5 for between $30 and $35, a San Mai version for about $80, and a 3V version for about $100 to $110.

In my humble opinion, they represent a tremendous value, and we'd be remiss to not include them. (*I'd challenge anyone to score a robust 6" 3V blade for about 100 bucks)


I'm an old man who hates change. So, I completely "get it" when guys bag on the fact that Cold Steel was acquired by GSM. However, on the flipside of that, MOST of my Cold Steel stuff is post-GSM, and has performed FLAWLESSLY.

Your mileage may vary.
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I'm glad to hear your post GSM acquired cold steel knives have been great (as cold steel knives usually are). Once I move back from Hawaii, I am going to order a CPM 3V SRK to test alongside my FOBOS Alaris. My dream 3V knife is a CPK field knife, I hope to get one soon.
 
GeeBe said:
I'm glad to hear your post GSM acquired cold steel knives have been great (as cold steel knives usually are). Once I move back from Hawaii, I am going to order a CPM 3V SRK to test alongside my FOBOS Alaris. My dream 3V knife is a CPK field knife, I hope to get one soon.
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I've thrown my little "3V" SRK in the mix, quite regularly, lately. (*It's been "subbing" quite a bit for my favorite TOPS knife)

Admittedly, I did have to spend a little time on the edge to get it where I wanted it. However, once that was done, it was absolutely LOVELY.



*If you get a chance to get your hands on a Carothers' SDFK, I'd definitely have to recommend it. (*As you can tell from all the preceding posts, it's pretty widely accepted that Nathan and Jo Carothers build good sh!T)
 
SAK Camper. Let me elaborate - unless somebody decides today is the day to survive on purpose and will take just one knife instead extra food, water, and warm clothes, then a two or three blade slipjoint that is in the pocket anyway is much better than the quick deploymentent, one hand open, and clipped wonders. If my hyphotesizing is right, then everybody with surviving consideration will choice the Camper over the PM2 (ignoring the self-defence).
 
I’m going with the Esee CM6. It’s essentially an Esee 6 but with a sharpened swedge for penetration. So, in the end, you have a very rugged bushcraft knife that will chop, baton, feather stick and carve but can also be used as a very effective self-defense tool, with good piercing capabilities for opening cans, etc. Not sure what else you’d need in a survival knife frankly. Maybe a little something slicier for food but this one would probably do ok. Maybe pair it with a cheap Inox Opinel.

The other one I’ll throw in there is the TKell Mercenary. It’s similar in design to the Esee but better materials, coating, feels more nimble. A very high quality knife but 2x the cost of the Esee. Truly a do-all knife

https://imgur.com/a/PJ2yaFO
 
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I think for this post, a super steel blade with stainless properties is going to be a better competitor to Survive! Knives offerings. Granted, I own and love an Esee 6, Junglas 2, and a 4 in S35VN.

Carbon steels are great for being more easily sharpened with improvised materials, and you can even throw sparks off of carbon steel with a sharp peice of flint/chert and quartzsite. I think of some of the humid, coastal environments of Asia when I considering a tool for some of the worst survival conditions. In that environment I want something that won't rust easily, cut through bone and survive an accidental drop with minimal damage. Magnacut would do well in these situations, and we'll maintained (oil) CPM 3V would shine in the toughness category for sure.
 
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