What is the best survival knife? Would it be better to have a survival kit instead?

[retzius]

The more I read through these threads the more obvious it is that many folks confuse "survival skills" and "primitive wilderness living skills".

The goal of a survival situation is to be rescued as soon as possible. Your priority is to be found, period.

Until you are found you need to stay hydrated, keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees, and do everything possible to make yourself easy to be found. Your priorities are not catching animals, making shelters, making cordage, setting traps, processing wood, carving spoons, etc., etc., etc. Those are primitive wilderness skills. Those are things you do when you are purposefully spending time in the woods and you do not want to be found.

There is way to much focus on survival knives because they are easy to market and easy to sell. In a survival situation, where I want to be found, I would much rather have a whistle, a orange tarp, lots of water, and a signal mirror than any survival knife. In a primitive living situation, where I do no want to be found, I would enjoy having a knife so I could have the satisfaction of making these things myself. Different situation, different priorities, different gear.

 

[cards94]

There is way to much focus on survival knives because they are easy to market and easy to sell.

tacticool?

 

[Shotgun]

I've talked with guys who have literally spent more time in the woods then at home. One was an author who held a class at rei of all the best places to hike. He held up a map of Oregon with all of the trails in the state on it. He said "I've marked the trails I've hiked on here in red" and the map was red. ALL red. He's spent time in the outdoors at all elevations and in all weather conditions. He carries a backpack with appropriate gear. His knife of choice, a SAK classic. And a dull one at that. And this is a trend with people that really get out there IME. It's not until you come on to a gun/survival/knife website that you see big bowie knives and kukris. Like I said, there's nothing wrong with knives. I love knives and see the benefits of having one. But you can't tell me they're an absolute necessity when so many experienced outdoorsman spend they're whole lives without ever carrying one.

 

[upnorth]

The more I read through these threads the more obvious it is that many folks confuse "survival skills" and "primitive wilderness living skills".

The goal of a survival situation is to be rescued as soon as possible. Your priority is to be found, period.

Until you are found you need to stay hydrated, keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees, and do everything possible to make yourself easy to be found. Your priorities are not catching animals, making shelters, making cordage, setting traps, processing wood, carving spoons, etc., etc., etc. Those are primitive wilderness skills. Those are things you do when you are purposefully spending time in the woods and you do not want to be found.

There is way to much focus on survival knives because they are easy to market and easy to sell. In a survival situation, where I want to be found, I would much rather have a whistle, a orange tarp, lots of water, and a signal mirror than any survival knife. In a primitive living situation, where I do no want to be found, I would enjoy having a knife so I could have the satisfaction of making these things myself. Different situation, different priorities, different gear.

Fair enough and points taken. But please realize that some folks tailor an over night bag etc. to their climate. I have a medium sized plastic tub of goodies that goes into my car trunk when she starts to dip below zero. The army wool blanket is already there, a shovel and an axe etc. With all due respect, I do not consider these tools specificly for primitive living skills. This is for pure survival in a -60 wind chill blizzard. Rural vehical break downs kill people pretty much every winter out here. The last was a couple winters ago were a Hutterite man tried to walk back to his colony and didn't make it. The ones that die or suffer digit loss out here are the un\less prepared. So what may seem excessive gear to some, is simply practical prep for their region to others. But yes, I get tired also of the mythical ''survival knife'', like it was the Grail or Excalibur of Camelot. Maybe the Elvish swords being sold these days hold such powers ?

 

[sideways]

Fair enough and points taken. But please realize that some folks tailor an over night bag etc. to their climate. I have a medium sized plastic tub of goodies that goes into my car trunk when she starts to dip below zero. The army wool blanket is already there, a shovel and an axe etc. With all due respect, I do not consider these tools specificly for primitive living skills. This is for pure survival in a -60 wind chill blizzard. Rural vehical break downs kill people pretty much every winter out here. The last was a couple winters ago were a Hutterite man tried to walk back to his colony and didn't make it. The ones that die or suffer digit loss out here are the un\less prepared. So what may seem excessive gear to some, is simply practical prep for their region to others. But yes, I get tired also of the mythical ''survival knife'', like it was the Grail or Excalibur of Camelot. Maybe the Elvish swords being sold these days hold such powers ?

I don't think anyone would knock you for having blizzard gear in the car. I certainly do. Having the gear to safely shelter in place for a few days without much effort on your part is squarely in the realm of survival gear. You need to be able to either get back to civilization under your own steam or to signal help and make it through until help gets there. Protect yourself from the elements with suitable clothing and stay hydrated. Any wounds need tending. I do not agree that you can ignore food in your preps, as others have stated in this thread. When the body stops getting enough calories coming in to replace those going out it starts to do funny things. The brain requires a lot of food to work properly, do not underestimate this, when you are hungry you make mistakes. Cold also sets in much faster on an empty stomach.

Building snares for trapping game, cutting cords of firewood, and building makeshift shelters is more in the realm of primitive living. Survival is about doing things efficiently and the primitive techniques are less efficient. Wool blankets and open fires can not compete with modern tents and sleeping bags. There is no excuse to bet your survival on a snare working when you could have picked up some pb&j at the supermarket before heading out. Likewise there is very little in the way of excuses for setting out from home without signaling gear like a fully charged cellphone.

 

[Eternal_Prepper]

There is way to much focus on survival knives because they are easy to market and easy to sell. In a survival situation, where I want to be found, I would much rather have a whistle, a orange tarp, lots of water, and a signal mirror than any survival knife. In a primitive living situation, where I do no want to be found, I would enjoy having a knife so I could have the satisfaction of making these things myself. Different situation, different priorities, different gear.

Having a good knife with you is just one of the many things you would want to have with you in any survival type of situation.

If I had to choose between an orange tarp and my knife I would choose my knife in a heartbeat!!

If I really had a choice I would bring both.. and a full BoB with all the ingredients. :thumbup:


Eternal_Prepper

 

[Keero]

I currently own a few knives from different brands. I will explain why I got each of them.

My very first knife was a USMC Kabar 1095 Carbon steel. It is a primarily a fighting knife and not so much a utility knife although, I could chop some wood with it pretty good. Then I got myself a new US Army Kabar just because. (Former Army).

I have a Condor Tool & Knife Kumunga and Condor Kukri (Elsalvador 1075 carbon steel). Very good blades, chop wood decently and a good warranty for a low price and good sheaths to go with them.

I have a Swamp rat Ratmandu SR 101 steel. very tough mid size knife for general purposes, chops wood like you wouldnt believe. I still have yet to get a sheath for it.

I have a Buck Bantam folding knife 420 HC stainless steel. And let me just say this here that I absolutely refuse to pay over 50 dollars on a folding knife. I do not care who made it and what steel they used. My Buck folder is 20$. I use it primarily for small task like cutting a string or a little cardboard box. I absolutely have no idea why would someone pay 300$ for a folding knife and not do more than I am with my 20$ one. Or even better a 1300$ for a folding knife. For that kind of money you can get a cool pistol (Glock, Sig, HK, or S&W, and a few good knives that are better than that 1300$ folder - coughstridercough.

I also just got myself an Esee Junglas. I pair it up with my RMD and Buck and I am golden. The Kabar and Condor knives a re cool but the other three are my pickers. I already beat some wood with my Junglas and I am happy. Comes with a great sheath and sharp as a razor. I really am not a collector because eventually I will get rid of a few and get one more, Kumunga and Kukri are good but I want a SRKW Rucki

 

[B.F.U]

I mean... I would say for sure a kit. Huge knife vs. small-medium knife with a few other essential items? I would think that would be an easy choice. I have never been in an extended survival situation though, so it's all conjecture for me.

I would want a drop pointish full flat medium thickness 4-5" long not too tall blade with a comfortable handle with synthetic scales and a good strong easy to sharpen steel (maybe 1095 or o1 or the like). Think an updated kephart. Sounds awesome for anything!