What is a survival knife?

[Kyp Degal]

Chris,

In my opinion, you should use what you're comfortable with. I happen to be comfortable with a Ranger RD7, coupled with my EDC pocket knives, though if I had a hatchet that might change. There is an awful lot you can do with a 4-5" fixed blade though, chopping isn't always necessary. In fact, chopping is almost never necessary. It may make things easier, or quicker, but it's usually not mandatory. I chop, baton, whittle, the usual things. In a pinch, the RD7 can actually do finer work fairly well, if choked up on. Obviously not as well as, say, a Schrade 34OT or an Opinel, but it can perform functionally.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Chris,

In my opinion, you should use what you're comfortable with. I happen to be comfortable with a Ranger RD7, coupled with my EDC pocket knives, though if I had a hatchet that might change. There is an awful lot you can do with a 4-5" fixed blade though, chopping isn't always necessary. In fact, chopping is almost never necessary. It may make things easier, or quicker, but it's usually not mandatory. I chop, baton, whittle, the usual things. In a pinch, the RD7 can actually do finer work fairly well, if choked up on. Obviously not as well as, say, a Schrade 34OT or an Opinel, but it can perform functionally.

Kyp, the AUCK?

If you aren't using it FOR "ULTIMATE SURVIVAL" send it to me! :thumbup:

 

[Kyp Degal]

Skunk, I haven't had a chance to take the AUCK camping yet, which is kind of the ultimate test of a knives true 'usability' for me, which is the only reason I didn't mention it. I have done more with it though, and I must say, it falls in pretty darn close. Cut down a medium-sized pine sapling the other day to make a wooden spoon, I think I mentioned it in another thread here. After I take my dad camping later this spring, I'll let you know. For now, though, it's with me pretty much every time I go out into the yard. I spent a lot of time outside this week, hauling brush, cleaning up our yard and stuff, and the AUCK came in every time I needed something cut. :thumbup:

 

[GibsonFan]

this is easy, survival knife is the one you have on you or with you nearly 99% of the time, as a survival
situation is sheit hits the fan knife for a situation that unexpectedly hit you.

In fact, chopping is almost never necessary. It may make things easier, or quicker, but it's
usually not mandatory.

Very true. I could build a shelter or fire with my EDC (Buck 501 lockback, 2-3/4" hollow-ground 420HC blade), it would just take longer. A LOT longer! If
I'm surviving in the boonies, that "taking longer" translates to more calories burned up, more time in the cold and wet, and more
general crabbiness. This is why I agree with what Cobalt said about a big stout knife being more versatile overall. I don't count my
Buck in this convo because it goes in my pants pocket every single day no matter where I am. Is that cheating?

You do (grind a barb into your Necker) and I will hunt you down myself, have you seen the prices
these things are going for, if it keeps going I might put mine on the BAY. Chris

bahahah! I filed thumb grooves into the spine, its collector value now is about $0. I bought it to be a user, and it's a keeper. Just
glad I got one when I did, you're right they've doubled or tripled in price in the last couple months! Thanks to SkunkWerx and you
for "talking me into" buying one. It pains me to see all these great Camillus and Becker knives fallling off the market

 

[upnorth]

Thats why you'd need a smaller knife with it, I've heard many say and I'm sure you have A small knife cannot do a big knifes job, but a big one can " sorta' "
Do a small ones, but its better just to have a smaller knife on you.

I agree with this thinking. My big knife, a SAK and a firesteel are pretty much a unit in my eyes these days........I originaly got a big fixed blade in case of black bear attack in the remote northern location that I was in. I can and have used a big FB for something small like game birds, but it is awkward. However, I could just as easily replace the big FB with my tomahawk. Actually, I found shelter building in the winter, easier with the hawk. Bottom line though is that I would feel safer with a big hip knife, as opposed to a small one, if alone and lost in the bush. Maybe its psychological, you know, the SUV syndrome..big, powerfull = feel safe. Im also quite sure that some of the more experienced and knowledgable members would be perfectly fine with a 3.5 inch Mora alone, not me though.

 

[GibsonFan]

upnorth, I'm with you, Fonly and others. Like SkunkWerx said, a lot of people who swear by small knives only, also carry a hatchet, I think that's a bit misleading. I count a big knife and a hawk/hatchet as almost interchangeable. And pretty dang handy.

Again... I choose BOTH.

 

[Gossman Knives]

Cobalt, I handled one of those Hudson Bay knives and they are nice. I made a version of a Hudson Bay knife a few months ago with O1 steel. They make a great camp knife.
Scott

 

[upnorth]

upnorth, I'm with you, Fonly and others. Like SkunkWerx said, a lot of people who swear by small knives only, also carry a hatchet, I think that's a bit misleading. I count a big knife and a hawk/hatchet as almost interchangeable. And pretty dang handy.

Again... I choose BOTH.

You bet.:thumbup:

 

[Cobalt]

The big knife versus Hawk versus Khkuri is always an issue. The big knife always is more versatile because it can take the place of the small knife, where most hawks cannot. There are some great hawks out there though, but I would prefer a large knife most of the time.

and if you are prepared you can take almost whatever you like. But think of it this way. What is it that you have in your car as you are driving out of town? This may just be your only survival tool. So that being the case what do you stock in your car at all times. I have a hatchet, medium inexpensive fixed blade knife or small machete and a leatherman in every car plus my carry folding knife. Not very expensive but it will get me through anything if I happen to forget my main BOB with my CHarge Ti and SHBM in it.

Of course the real survival knife if you ask anyone on the street is the Rambo knife.

 

[Cobalt]

Cobalt, I handled one of those Hudson Bay knives and they are nice. I made a version of a Hudson Bay knife a few months ago with O1 steel. They make a great camp knife.
Scott

I actually like that design. IT looks like a perfect working tool. Solid and effective. I would like to own one someday. A cpm3V version might be interesting

 

[Helle]

I may have to change my handle to Overkill.
This is my standard going canoeing outfit.



Dang, I forgot my fillet knife in this pic.


Helle

 

[upnorth]

Precisely, and an excellent point. I have always carried gear in the trunk, including a decent set of basic tools. Survival to me isnt worrying about being chased by a T-REX while dodging doomsday asteroid chunks. Its more like a mechanical failure in your vehicle on a very cold night in the boonies. I also try to assure that I always have a mag bar and a folding knife on me. Then its, any place, any time. Funny, but my wife is seeing the rationality of carrying a few basic also. We both now have those orange fox 40 whistles (frickin loud!) and folders on us. She wants a fire steel also, and Ill get her one.:thumbup:

 

[Cobalt]

Precisely, and an excellent point. I have always carried gear in the trunk, including a decent set of basic tools. Survival to me isnt worrying about being chased by a T-REX while dodging doomsday asteroid chunks. Its more like a mechanical failure in your vehicle on a very cold night in the boonies. I also try to assure that I always have a mag bar and a folding knife on me. Then its, any place, any time. Funny, but my wife is seeing the rationality of carrying a few basic also. We both now have those orange fox 40 whistles (frickin loud!) and folders on us. She wants a fire steel also, and Ill get her one.:thumbup:

that is why if you can it is a good idea to have tools in every vehicle. There always be a time when you left the house unprepared. My truck has a hatchet, 14 inch tramontina and leatherman supertool in it.

My work truck has several multitools and two machetes in it.

I always carry a leatherman on my belt and at least one folding knife in my pocket (Spy Military or BM AFCK). My bob has my big 10 inch blade with a supertool and a folding blade. I have several hatchets and hawks but usually do not take them anywhere unless I need to get some wood.

 

[GibsonFan]

What is it that you have in your car as you are driving out of town?

Good question/point! I keep an E-tool in the trunk, along with a stout knife, jumper cables, all the usual stuff. I live in central WI, I KNOW at some point I will need the shovel to dig myself or someone else out of a snowy or muddy ditch. Been there without a shovel, don't recommend it at all. I generally don't like serrated blades, but there's a Gerber liner lock with serrations in my console, specifically for cutting seat-belts. Hope I never need it. This is "survival", too.

That is not overkill for camping or canoeing, Helle. Considering you have a way to carry and keep all that gear, I say you are well-prepared with specific tools for specific tasks. Heck, you could build yourself a cabin with those. But that's much different than the one knife you would carry with you, no way would I want all that steel in my backpack or BOB.

BTW someone mentioned "the wife is seeing the value of having the basics" or something like that... I think it's kind of funny that we sometimes don't think of the "woman's point of view." Or people assume their woman will think they're nuts for preparedness planning, survival, whatever you choose to call it. My Grandma, Mom and girlfriend all insisted on having some groceries and whatnot stocked up, and they sure never bitched about Gramps, Dad or me stashing tools and gear around I guess I've been lucky to live my life around women who care more about being efficient and self-sufficient than impressing the Jones's.

 

[longbow50]

The perfect survival knife.

 

[Fonly]

ooh man, with a perfect sheath :thumbup:

 

[Cobalt]

I think we have all seen the nut that comes out with his 100 lb pack and has a machete, axe and knives (plural) hanging off it. While it is nice to have that much steel, several pounds of knife becomes a pain.

When I would go hunt fish (yes hunt) with my uncles in a very southern tributary of the Amazon river (El Tigre) I remember catching these large black fish that were about 8 feet long and looked like eels but had jaws like pirannahs. Anyway we ended up throwing one in the boat (it easily weighed 150 or more lbs). The damm thing was eating our boat and trying to eat us. My uncle always carried a couple of large blades cross draw on his back. He pulled one out and hacked off the head of the fish as it fought. My grandfather had hit the fish on the head with the boats spare paddle and the fish didn't even flinch. The knife my uncle had was a probably 15 inches long. It was big and heavy I remember that.

 

[sunnyd]

I have been an avid outdoorsman all my life and was raised in a very rural backwoods environment, southern appalachia, where knives were used everyday...

So enough about my background, we have posts regularly about 5 to 7" knives and even bigger as a "survival" knife, what do yall think is the perfect survival knife and what do you use your knives for.. Chris

Your Grandfathers had it right, that is three basic cutting tools total..

(1) Multibade or lock-blade slipjoint/pocketknife for all the most common chores. Like skinning, field dressing and capering as well as all around everyday use and what we call EDC'n today.

(2) Butcher type knife like a Green River style for larger game butchering and meat and chops preparation.

(3) Hatchet and or axe for the camp use chores and or quartering larger game.

You and yours were brought up in the absolutely correct manner and it is the modern man attempting to do all these chores with his one large knives who is the more ignorant one.

 

[Ede 2]

The best survivalknive is that knive you have with you in a survival situation.
So in most times it will be your EDC,
Bigger knives in ather situations ( camping=campknive, hunting=huntingknive)
Ede

 

[deovolens]

Ede 2 I agree 100% with you.Thinking and talking about mega knives is useless when they are at home. A good EDC is the best solution.I use a Klötzli:small;sharp and sturdy.