your favorite survival knife

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kunchi97

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Sep 17, 2011
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we all have our favorite survival knife. the one we won't step I'm the woods without. well now you can tell us what it is

what's your favorite survival knife ( fixed or folding)?

and what is the mos awesome, outrageous, or destructive thing you've dome with it?
 
mine is the Becker bk2, smashed up a whole bunch of cinder blocks with it and it's still going strong
 
Different ideal survival knives for different conditions/uses. I like the Mora 840MG alot, the HRLM, the HEST, my Dylan Fletcher Hatchula II, and of course the venerable ESEE-5 and BK-7 (Just picked up a BK10 and it gets the nod over the 7).

On the wish list is a Martin Bushcraft Tactical, a Swamp Rat Rodent 5 and/or 7, an Ontario RAT-5 and a Ranger RD4. Just about all of my designated 'survival' knives that see survival use have been purchased or modified with scandinavian grinds or 'scandivex' light convex grinds.

I guess my favorite abuse story, which I've told a few times now, is about my ESEE 5. I was working on a cabin up in the mountains in the dead of winter, in a spot known for its average 17 feet of snowfall. The cabin didn't have a roof, windows or doors yet, and warmth was provided by burning jobsite junk (all the timberframe from the demolition of the previous cabin, 2x4 and new timberframe trimmings). I was battoning a very large joist-maybe 4 inches by 10 inches-and was having a particularly hard time getting through a section. There wasn't a knot as far as I could see and I was already working an existing split, so I couldn't figure out what was wrong. After I punched through, I realized to my horror that I had just battoned straight through a 16 penny nail. I slightly rolled the edge, but some time with an Arkansas stone put the edge right back in shape. At this point the only way you can tell anything happened is by a gouge running the height of the blade where the nail scraped off some of the finish.
 
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I really consider any knife I'm carrying to be my survival knife so it depends on the situation. In the normal sense of the term my favorite wilderness survival knife is an Ontario Marine Raider Bowie. I've had this knife for the better part of 15 years. I haven't abused it but it's seen a fair amount of choping, hacking, and general beating on stuff. It's made of 1095 so it sharpens very easily. Now for something survival oriented for the city or suburban environment I'm really liking the Ontario ASEK. It's easy to carry and has many features for dealing with man made materials. I have two at the moment but will be getting another. For cool factor my favorite is the original Buckmaster but I have never used my particular specimen and it remains new in the box. I just pick it up and play with it then gently set it down!
 
I've never tried the ASEK side by side with the issue PSK-I'd be interested to see how it weighs in for durability, utility and ergonomics.
 
I've never tried the ASEK side by side with the issue PSK-I'd be interested to see how it weighs in for durability, utility and ergonomics.
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I can't report on any performance yet as I just picked up the two that I own. I can tell you the ASEK just feels right. You can tell immediately this is a serious tool. My guess is the blade itself is about the same as the original PSK save for the addition of mild serrations, but it's in the handle and pommel that makes the difference. The rubber armor makes for very confident handling of the knife and also provides protection against electrical shock in the event you make contact with a live wire. The pommel now has a built in glass breaker. If someone said design the perfect knife for escaping from a wrecked vehicle or demolished structure to then be used as a general purpose survival knife this would be it for me.
 
For me, I have an old Cold Steel Master Hunter in Carbon V with a nice distal taper, a custom jute/epoxy handle and a hand made leather sheath. It's about perfect for me. Could be a little shorter though. I also have a stock Cold Steel master Hunter in carbon V with the rubber handle and nylon sheath, the blade is thicker on this version and I suppose it might be tougher.
 
Well I'm yet to field test them properly, but it will be a toss up between my Becker BK-2, or my Fallkniven S1 or F1. Can't go wrong with any of those really I think.
 
Whichever Vic SAK I have on me (Classic, Super Tinker, or Farmer depending on the situation).

If my survival hinged upon being able to smash up a whole bunch of cinder blocks, I agree that the BK2 would be an excellent option. So would something from the Ontario Ranger RD Series.
 
ESEE Izula 2 is what I normally have on me in the bush and this Farmer below in my pack. Not the typical "survival" knives being one is small and thick and one is long and thin but they work. I guess I just like being opposite of everyone else. :D The Izzy is used to split out kindling and the Farmer is used for food and fuzz sticks. Heck, you can't but NOT make fuzzies with this knife. These are tied for my favorite knives of all time.

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Hmm, I can't really imagine having to smash cinderblocks with a knife in a survival situation. For me, I guess it would be my Mora 546g. I haven't abused it. I won't need "more knife" either. If I need more, then I need an Axe or a hammer or a saw.
 
Probably the Koster, closely followed by the RMD, I really like all of them though, hardest I've been on them? Battoning I guess, I don't really use them on anything harder than wood.
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Shotgun said:
ESEE Izula 2 is what I normally have on me in the bush and this Farmer below in my pack. Not the typical "survival" knives being one is small and thick and one is long and thin but they work. I guess I just like being opposite of everyone else. :D The Izzy is used to split out kindling and the Farmer is used for food and fuzz sticks. Heck, you can't but NOT make fuzzies with this knife. These are tied for my favorite knives of all time.

IMG_1174.jpg
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That's such a great looking knife...
 
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