What knife would you use in a survival scenario?

[master_nylo]

If you were in a 72 hr+ off grid survival scenario what one knife would you trust to fill the role of a survival knife? To make kindling, to prepare food, make a spear, make a shelter or to battle a zombie (just kidding with that last part). I personally would trust the TOPS silent hero. Looking forward to hearing your feedback!

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

 

[iacchus]

Only if you can name it without googling it

Fine.

Either a Junglas or ESEE 6 then.

Both far larger than needed for most tasks, but I can awkwardly use a large blade when a small blade is needed ... mostly. Never going to clear branches w/ a pen knife

 

[KenHash]

If you were in a 72 hr+ off grid survival scenario what one knife would you trust to fill the role of a survival knife? To make kindling, to prepare food, make a spear, make a shelter or to battle a zombie (just kidding with that last part). I personally would trust the TOPS silent hero. Looking forward to hearing your feedback!

Any knives actually issued or used as "survival knives" by militaries around the world would be the first choice.
But honestly, most decent fixed blades you cann buy will filll the requirement.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Fine.

Either a Junglas or ESEE 6 then.

Both far larger than needed for most tasks, but I can awkwardly use a large blade when a small blade is needed ... mostly. Never going to clear branches w/ a pen knife

The little knife is called a karda...and in full disclosure, a great many of them are pretty crappy and largely tossed in with the khukuri package as they are expected to be there

There are some decent ones out there, but I think your choices are probably more reasonable.

 

[iacchus]

The little knife is called a karda...and in full disclosure, a great many of them are pretty crappy and largely tossed in with the khukuri package as they are expected to be there

There are some decent ones out there, but I think your choices are probably more reasonable.

I had to Google it.

 

[Lesknife]

If you are good and smart, it won’t matter which knife you have. You will survive.

If you are very dumb, it won’t matter what knife you have. You will dull it, break it, or lose it. You will die !

 

[Danke42]

View attachment 1995333

Good choice. You could swap that for a nice suite at the Hilton for at least 72 hours.

 

[dirc]

if you need to use something for every possibility - toughness would rank as top steel attribute...

-> aeb-l for stainless (or 14c28n / 12c27 / magnacut etc)
-> 80crv2 or 1075 / 5160 / 8670 types for carbon steel

in my case it would be a 14c28n fixed blade around 4.4"... but I'd have no problem just grabbing a mora companion or a skrama if I really needed some hatchet functionality

 

[beeinak]

The little knife is called a karda...and in full disclosure, a great many of them are pretty crappy and largely tossed in with the khukuri package as they are expected to be there

There are some decent ones out there, but I think your choices are probably more reasonable.

Don’t forget the other one for sharpening.

 

[GmpaJim]

Survival is between your ears.
If you break your knife, you now have two.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Don’t forget the other one for sharpening.

Yep, the chakma. Moat aren't hard enough to really burnish the edge, but a good one can press out nicks in the edge and throw sparks if that's your thing. More useful than the karda, most of the time...if they are hard enough.

 

[master_nylo]

If you are good and smart, it won’t matter which knife you have. You will survive.

If you are very dumb, it won’t matter what knife you have. You will dull it, break it, or lose it. You will die !

True! It takes skill (and will) to survive. You can be somebody from New York or Toronto and have a great kit but no skill and not last a day, or you can be somebody with a $25 Mora and skill and survive.

 

[DustinK]

 

[Henry Beige]

Cold Steel Bushman. I’ve observed them take epic level abuse and survive. Easy to sharpen and it even comes equipped with a Fire steel

Ordinarily, my thoughts would run to Becker, SYKCO, Carothers, or this week the Peltonen Sissipuukko. But since the OP specified “make a spear”, the Bushman is the only answer.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Probably a bright green Mora Companion in 12C27.

 

[cbach8tw]

Buck 117 or 119, or a Vanguard. Or a Mora at a minimum.

 

[The Grendels]

I could probably put any one of over 20 fixed blades from my collection and feel confident in my choice for 72 hours, since a lot of time is going to be spent sleeping and resting to conserve energy. Make it a couple of weeks and my choices would change, especially with regards to sharpening options available. It would have to come down to whether it was a survive in place or survive on the move scenario.

If I'm moving around a lot, I'd want something like the Fallkniven F1, Joker Trampero, or Joker Montañero. For staying in place (assuming that I'm in a forest), I'd want either my Casstrom Swedish Forest Knife No. 10, Terava Jaakaripuukko 110, Benchmade Sibert Bushcrafter, ESEE-4HM, or a Lion Steel M5. I have some bigger choppers that would be great for camp use, but in a survival situation their weight could end up being problematic, consuming more energy to use and carry, unless food is plentiful.

 

[Rasmus80]

I don't think I'd survive 72 minutes with that thing....

I have butter knives that would give me a better chance of survival.

Skill you must aquire, young woodland-learner.

The skilled woodsman would be more than adequately covered with the BG-knife.

 

[shane45-1911]

The skilled woodsman would be more than adequately covered with the BG-knife.

Only until you need to cut something.

 

[unwisefool]

View attachment 1995333

It seems you are doing your surviving at the Ritz Carlton Spa. Smart.