unlikely survival knives

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bryant R

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May 29, 2011
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knives that you think would work well as a survival knife but would not normally think of as a survival knife
 
Kabar USMC... it's more of a fighter, but I used my friend's to chop wood and it did surprisingly well.
 
Have you seen "The Edge" movie with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin? So here is a good example of "survival knife".
I really do not like this term - survival knife. I think it is extremely stupid. It is like somebody decides: "Well, I think I will need to survive for the next couple of weeks in wilderness, should not forget to take my survival knife with me this time. And lets put on my survival boots, my survival pants, my survival coat and hat - just to be on the safe side..."
 
Makes one wonder how on earth our ancestors got by with a sharpened flint knife for tens of thousands of years.

Carl.
 
The Logical One said:
Kabar USMC... it's more of a fighter, but I used my friend's to chop wood and it did surprisingly well.
Click to expand...

That classic Combat /Utility was copied from a Marbles camp knife. It was expected to be used in the field more than in actual fighting.
 
Poez said:
Have you seen "The Edge" movie with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin? So here is a good example of "survival knife".
I really do not like this term - survival knife. I think it is extremely stupid. It is like somebody decides: "Well, I think I will need to survive for the next couple of weeks in wilderness, should not forget to take my survival knife with me this time. And lets put on my survival boots, my survival pants, my survival coat and hat - just to be on the safe side..."
Click to expand...

I've never seen the movie so I have no idea what you're talking about.

But it is perfectly plausible to be out hiking or camping or hunting and find conditions changing and life-threatening circumstances arising. If you do plan to be away from immediate medical assistance, it's not a bad idea to wear durable clothing suited for the harshest weather in the area. You should also have other gear, including a decent knife, that will help you survive: build a shelter, start a fire, prepare food.

Many ordinarily fun activities can turn threatening. Prepare.
 
Whatever knife is in my pocket when it's needed. My Kershaw leek wouldn't be my first choice in a survival situation but if I got stranded somewhere and that's what I'm carrying that day then I guess that's my new survival knife.
 
Maybe a good machete as an all around tool. It can cut, clear, prepare food and serve well as a weapon. There are many inexpensive machetes to choose from. Lots of options online.

Ross

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Custom machete's
http://www.akiblades.com
 
Concidering many got by and very well with all kinds of butcher knives back before the Bowie knife days there are a lot of knives that could fit that use.

The 1st Bowie was just a beefed up butcher knife.

Any knife is better than NOTHING really.

Then look back to the Bronze Age and before..
 
Whatever knife you have available becomes a "survival" knife if the necessity arrives. And if you don't have one with you, then you'll find a way to survive without one. Or else.

"Survival" isn't about buying truckloads of gear, it's learning how to make do without.

--------------------

Most backpackers "survive" and are perfectly comfortable in the outdoors for days or weeks or months at a time with only a Swiss Army Knife or other small pocketknife.

My desert survival instructor carried an Opinel. ;)
 
I'm no outdoorsman, first responder, or survivalist, but I do try to be prepared for accidents along my commute or in my travels. I agree with those who say that the best survival knife is the one you have with you when the time comes. Your Cold Steel or TOPS or Randall may be great, but if it's at home and the need arises where you are, that (insert favorite EDC here) IS your best survival knife.
 
Victorinox Classic keyring knife.

It's one of those that I forget is on my keyring most days, but gets used a lot more than I ever thought. I'm fairly certain that if I ever end up in a true 'survival' situation, that one will be with me for sure. I might have a slightly larger folder with me, but several times I've been at different events where weather turned pretty bad, or some other issue arose, and the little Classic was all I had. It's enough to cut or splice a hose, cut bandages or rope, I've used the main blade (short as it is) to shave through a 1-1/4" dry branch & make chips to start a fire (just to see if I could). A friend used a small SAK on time to cut through twine that was wrapped around a tire rim & axle, at a remote picnic & fishing site. No other knife was available.

Besides, it was what I had in my pocket when my son was born, so it's a nice connection to family and civilization, too. :) I figure that little morale boost is pretty important.

~Chris
 
A survey by the Army after WWII revealed that the most common task for an issue knife was opening canned food from the Combat Ration. It was also used much more for preparing positions, including digging, than as a weapon.

Not understanding the purposes of the fuller on the Marbles Ideal that was its inspiration, the designers of the MK II put the fuller in a somewhat different position -- above the start of the primary bevel.

Many MK II's are seen with the top arm of the double guard bent forward -- sometimes all the way to parallel with the top edge of the blade, to allow a more normal positioning of the thumb when using the knife for utility chores.
 
Poez said:
Have you seen "The Edge" movie with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin? So here is a good example of "survival knife".
I really do not like this term - survival knife. I think it is extremely stupid. It is like somebody decides: "Well, I think I will need to survive for the next couple of weeks in wilderness, should not forget to take my survival knife with me this time. And lets put on my survival boots, my survival pants, my survival coat and hat - just to be on the safe side..."
Click to expand...

Love that movie. Good point too. It's not like they wanted to be stranded in the wild. He had a knife, it worked. It's a survival knife. Lesson: Have a knife in your pocket, always.
 
I think the Ontario Old Hickory's butcher knives are excellent woods knife and would defiantly work as a survival knife, high carbon steel and full tang.

ontariooldhickory.jpg


Also the cold steel true flight thrower 3/16 thick high carbon steel

csknives81811005.jpg






Kind of unusual one being a kitchen knife and the other a throwing knife, but i use both for bushcraft and they work really well:)
 
Actually, it is a loaded question. It can mean many things to many people. The "ideal unlikely survival knife" would have a full width, full tang, be easy to field sharpen & have the blade thick enough for hard use (batoning). Any knife is no good if it fails. I'd say kitchen knives like the Ontario Old Hickory would do in a pinch.
 
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