True Survival Knife HELP???

[A Justice]

Ahh. So busse still holds top. So many choices. It was alot easier building my kit. Different knifes for different jobs. Its going to take some time for this piece.
Im leaning more towards carbon now though, as I originally figured it best for this knife, with the rust being the only thing holding it back. Now that thats out of the way I can continue my search. Thanks a bunch for your time dave.

Thonders, if it helps confuse you any more, I prefer stainless much more than Carbon, or at least a stain resistant HC steel like D2 or CTS-XHP. A2 is a nice tough steel for survival knives as well, and S35VN has been a favorite of mine for a couple years now (it's about as stainless as it gets). I have several knives made from 1095, 1084, 52100 and others, and even though they cut well I don't think a patina inhibits rust as some would mention (it just makes surface rust harder to see), and upkeep is both time consuming and a hassle when you have the option of stainless steel that eliminates that requirement. In fact, I think a high mirror polish inhibits rust more than anything you can do to a high carbon blade apart from oiling or waxing it regularly, keeping it dry and clean.

The reason you see HC steels used in a lot of survival knives still is cost, toughness and manufacturer preference. Also, a knife is one of the few tools you can get real use out of in a survival situation. You can search for appropriate sized wood for all your needs, but it's easier to find an approximately sized piece and cut to fit. In almost all implementations it's very nice to have the ability to have precise fit for bushcrafting (building a shelter or bow and spindle setup for firestarting, or making a trap or notching a piece of wood for a trap. The easiest and most efficient trap I know of is a figure 4 deadfall trap for small game, and precise notching makes or breaks this trap).

 

[Chris Pierce]

These threads concern me, simply because of the convolution of the scenario. It's impossible to answer because another "but" or "what if" will always be interjected. It's unrealistic at best and rings of Hollywood/graphic novel/mall ninjitsu (no offense intended OP). But seriously, a lifetime in the bush, no store bought maintenance equipment, only 1 tool?

Reality is you would more than likely die from malnutrition, infection, exposure, or injury long before you wore out a stone or the knife. The exception to this is being in an area where you are expertly trained in the terrain, weather, plant, and animal life. My answer is, any quality made fixed blade knife will do the trick, your skill, experience, creativity, and knowledge of that tools limitation is far more important than the brand. Like I said, no offense or disrespect was intended. These threads are just weird, always.

This.

 

[sideways]

RevDevil has it pegged... The premise of surviving for any length of time in the woods with nothing but a knife is delusional bordering on suicidal. Any well made knife will get the job done. The decisions of the person holding the knife will be what determines survival.

Getting the best knife money can buy and then sharpening it on a rock is also kind of foolish. If you really want to have the possibility to sharpen in the field attach a sharpening stone to your knife sheath. You might find this thread interesting if you do decide to pimp your sheath.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1003350-Knife-sheath-survival-kit

Finally I find it odd how so many people opt for the big survival knives. For the weight (and cost) of some of the big knives on the market you could have a nice sturdy 4 inch knife and a pretty extensive backup kit to put in your fannypack or cargo pocket. I know which I'd rather be stuck with in a survival situation.

 

[marcinek]

TO ALL PLEASE READ THIS EDIT!!

We all read your original post fully the first time.

What you are proposing is going out into the wilderness for an extended to indefinite period of time with only one knife. No one, in reality, would do that.

So, this whole thread is an "academic" discussion of a fantasy scenario, and one that we've had countless times before. And nothing is wrong with that discussion, we will have it countless times in the future. It is what it is, and there is no point in pretending it isn't.

And people pointing that fact out is the "flaming" you are getting.

Everybody has a "fantasy" do-it-all desert island, last man on earth, survival knife, or has thought about it, or even obsessed about it. But the concept is pure fantasy/entertainment. Not reality. Fun.

 

[marcinek]

Its was not magically teleported, but more so leaving civilization and living in the woods. The potential to lose you equipment is very real. .... In a survival situation the odds of losing all my gear is low.

Wait...wut?

 

[EZ Bake]

These threads concern me, simply because of the convolution of the scenario. It's impossible to answer because another "but" or "what if" will always be interjected. It's unrealistic at best and rings of Hollywood/graphic novel/mall ninjitsu (no offense intended OP). But seriously, a lifetime in the bush, no store bought maintenance equipment, only 1 tool?

Reality is you would more than likely die from malnutrition, infection, exposure, or injury long before you wore out a stone or the knife. The exception to this is being in an area where you are expertly trained in the terrain, weather, plant, and animal life. My answer is, any quality made fixed blade knife will do the trick, your skill, experience, creativity, and knowledge of that tools limitation is far more important than the brand. Like I said, no offense or disrespect was intended. These threads are just weird, always.

I agree.

This is what happens when we learn things from TV, movies and Video games. Sadly, lawmakers in the US are doing the same thing only instead of annoying posts, they are writing up legislation.

The number of repeated threads in almost every section (and some cross-posted numerous times) about this sort of stuff leads me to believe that at the very least, these TV/Movie/Video Games are extending the knife and possibly the outdoors community to new people.

Same thing happened in the gun community when hoards of new gun people started buying what TV/Movies/Video Games told them they needed.

 

[sideways]

Wait...wut?

Anyone who uses the words " leaving civilization and living in the woods. " should be forced to sit through the full 2 hours 24 minutes of this documentary. For re-education.

[video=youtube;FPbz5TDy6fs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPbz5TDy6fs[/video]

 

[marcinek]

Anyone who uses the words " leaving civilization and living in the woods. " should be forced to sit through the full 2 hours 24 minutes of this documentary. For re-education.

Funny. I was thinking of this guy just today!

[video=youtube_share;iYJKd0rkKss]http://youtu.be/iYJKd0rkKss[/video]

If you watch closely his survival knife is a 3/8 inch thick paracord wrapped hollow handled sawback. Not sure which supersteel it was though. All he brought with him!

 

[Shotgun]

You should use the money to invest in an abo or primitive skills class where you learn how to do WITHOUT a knife because the knife you're looking for is a myth. You'll get a bunch of hyped up claims from people that love brand x or brand y but it's all a bunch of hot air. There is no mythical knife and there is no mythical steel that makes brand x better than brand y. Sure there are differences but not to the degree that you, and most who are inexperienced using knives, claim. For what it's worth I'd trust your hatchet over a knife for this type of "end of the known world" scenario. There are a lot of well used axes still in use 50-75 years later.

 

[cricketdave]

Meh, he asked a question so some of us gave answers and suggestions. If thats what attracts him to knives so what its his business. Why not just offer suggestions instead of arguing about the scenario. We all like different knives for different reasons and purposes.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

To "sum up" my view of this thread:

The best "survival knife" is a satelite phone, a flint and steel, or a water filter
You don't need a knife of any type to "survive"
If you know enough about bushcraft/survival/camping/whatever you want to call it to actually survive with just a knife, you'll be smart enough not to get into that situation.

 

[marcinek]

You should use the money to invest in an abo or primitive skills class where you learn how to do WITHOUT a knife because the knife you're looking for is a myth.

That's an excellent point. One thing that gets me with these "survival" knife threads is that people very, very often are looking for a good knife to use on their "survival practice" outings.

Seems like one should be practicing their survival skills with a bad knife. Or no knife. Or a Vic Classic.

 

[marcinek]

The best "survival knife" is a satelite phone

We have a winner! :thumbup:

 

[sideways]

Funny. I was thinking of this guy just today!

*snip*

If you watch closely his survival knife is a 3/8 inch thick paracord wrapped hollow handled sawback. Not sure which supersteel it was though. All he brought with him!

Interesting video. Thanks. Some thoughts.

I notice there is very little knife work going on there... but then you don't build a cabin with a pocketknife. I see a man building a cabin using proper carpentry tools. Crosscut saws, full size axes, drills, gouge etc. The fairly extensive tools, the boat, presumably the food supplies, and some of the building materials (anything metal) came from civilization. Even the logs were harvested during an earlier outing... So it is not like he wandered off into the woods with a backpack.

Actually by the looks of it there is very little surviving going on there. I see an outdoorsman setting up camp to live in a remote area. For those wanting to live a life away from society this is how one would do it. You leverage modern tools to set up a permanent homestead and then work from there. None of the homesteads I have seen have been thrown together without extensive help from civilization.

 

[spydercobenchmadekai]

We have a winner! :thumbup:

Thanks you. The best part is that it's true!

 

[tknife]

I like these discussions, they are always interesting, but in the end, a knife is a knife. Any type, style, name brand etc. will have its strengths, and will also have drawbacks. Pick one you like, use it a lot, and it will become your "survival" knife because you will always have it on you.

 

[sideways]

In addition to the satellite phone there is the personal locator beacon.

Earlier discussion here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1078093-Seeking-info-on-Personal-Locator-Beacons-%28PLB%29

Outdoor gear lab:
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Personal-Locator-Beacon-Reviews

Oh and the reason people do not just recommend a knife and say godspeed is stories like ChristopherMcCandless. It is not cool to let other people do silly things that will get them hurt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless

 

[marcinek]

Interesting video. Thanks. Some thoughts.
...
Actually by the looks of it there is very little surviving going on there. I see an outdoorsman setting up camp to live in a remote area. For those wanting to live a life away from society this is how one would do it. You leverage modern tools to set up a permanent homestead and then work from there. None of the homesteads I have seen have been thrown together without extensive help from civilization.

Excellent thoughts they are. I get the feeling that this is what many people are talking about when they talk about long-term "survival." Bt, as you say, its not really what it is at all.

 

[A Justice]

Anyone who uses the words " leaving civilization and living in the woods. " should be forced to sit through the full 2 hours 24 minutes of this documentary. For re-education.

[video=youtube;FPbz5TDy6fs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPbz5TDy6fs[/video]

No, most people that use the words "leaving civilization and living in the woods" need to sit through the last 40 minutes of this documentary at least 3 times; for an idea of how it's probably going to end for them because they ain't Dick Proenneke... they're not even Emile Hirsch

[video=youtube;WydJ1w31OEI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WydJ1w31OEI&list=TL78wjyy7yugM[/video]

 

[Thonders]

Thonders, if it helps confuse you any more, I prefer stainless much more than Carbon, or at least a stain resistant HC steel like D2 or CTS-XHP. A2 is a nice tough steel for survival knives as well, and S35VN has been a favorite of mine for a couple years now (it's about as stainless as it gets). I have several knives made from 1095, 1084, 52100 and others, and even though they cut well I don't think a patina inhibits rust as some would mention (it just makes surface rust harder to see), and upkeep is both time consuming and a hassle when you have the option of stainless steel that eliminates that requirement. In fact, I think a high mirror polish inhibits rust more than anything you can do to a high carbon blade apart from oiling or waxing it regularly, keeping it dry and clean.

The reason you see HC steels used in a lot of survival knives still is cost, toughness and manufacturer preference. Also, a knife is one of the few tools you can get real use out of in a survival situation. You can search for appropriate sized wood for all your needs, but it's easier to find an approximately sized piece and cut to fit. In almost all implementations it's very nice to have the ability to have precise fit for bushcrafting (building a shelter or bow and spindle setup for firestarting, or making a trap or notching a piece of wood for a trap. The easiest and most efficient trap I know of is a figure 4 deadfall trap for small game, and precise notching makes or breaks this trap).

Thanks for the information and your input. Ive looked into those a bit, and will do some more looking. I to am big on stainless, because Its less hassle. My only concern is sharpening. A simple 2x sided folding DMT stone in sheaths side pouch gets the job done for my current knives. But a DMT stone has a limited lifespan. I want a knife i can sharpen using natural methods found in ANY environment. Its funny how choosing a group of knives for survival kit is 100x easier then trying to find this single special knife. (I know no knife will ever meet the full requirements, there will always be a sacrifice). I cant wait until they make a true nano technology knife. Unbreakable steel with mini computer nanobots constantly reforming the edge and surface to keep it 100% new for ever. Retail $10 000 000, 3 inch blade......No sheath ; )