Survival knife any good?

[Smith357]

My survival knife is a Cold Steel trade knife with the Carbon V steel. I got 10 of them a few years ago for 4 dollars each. I keep one in each car, one in the tool box, tackle box under the seat of the motorcycle, in my backpack and in the junk drawer in the kitchen. The Hudson Bay style blades that have been used for hundreds of years by mountain men and Indians as basic all around chore knives, cheap, easy to keep sharp, and sturdy enough for most cutting jobs, it may not have the panosh of a Randall, but then it's not ment to.

 

[LAK]

Smith357

My survival knife is a Cold Steel trade knife with the Carbon V steel .. [etc]

Despite having, and having owned, some pricey high end cutlery - I like this approach.

It depends on the application, but I insist on at least a single guard for any knife that is going to serve as an all-rounder. A good example being the Frost's Swiss army "survival" knife.

But for some blades a good - preferably old - carbon steel hardware store kitchen knife can be just the ticket. Many of the older ones often have excellent steel. Some have a reasonable guard of sorts intergral in the shape of the handle, and a drop at the rear like many machete handles. Although far from ideal, if the blade is wide enough so that there is a good size "step" from the handle this is better than nothing. Some have a unsharpened thickened portion of the blade at this line too. With a gloved hand this is probably more than enough.

And the bottom line here is excellent value for money; the world is awash with them and they can be had for very little money.

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http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[GW]

Chris Reeve makes the best hollow-handle knives
Everything else is second best
No soldering, no weak point

You get what you pay for especially with knives. If you're really counting on a knife for survival, do your research and spend as much as you can painfully afford.
A cheap knife is a false economy

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One thing I've never understood is people who select things for "survival" that they would never choose for ordinary use. During the Viet Nam war, Gerber sold a knockoff of the commando knife as a "survival knife' -- I can't imagine a knife more poorly suited for things like skinning game, whittling traps, clearing brush, cleaning fish, etc.

Spend a week or two in the wilderness each year (perhaps hiking the Appalachian Trail) and see how your gear works -- you'll be amazed at the stuff that looked good in the catalog that you never use.

 

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

KA-BAR, The Legend
On December 9, 1942, after the start of World War II, KA-BAR submitted a fighting knife to the United States Marine Corps in hopes that it would become general issue to that branch of the military. Working in conjunction with the Marine Quartermaster Department a design was devised and soon production was under way on a new and improved fighting / utility knife for the Marines. As the war escalated, the demand for these knives was so great that the KA-BAR factory alone could not keep up. The government assigned several knife companies to create similar knives as supplemental pieces for those serving the War. KA-BAR’s wartime production totaled more than 1 million. The KA-BAR knives became so well recognized for their quality and so abundant in number that “Kabar” became the name by which many referred to this knife pattern, regardless of whether the knife was manufactured at the KA-BAR facility.

These knives were depended upon to perform daily tasks such as pounding tent stakes, driving nails, opening ration cans and digging foxholes, not to mention defending lives.

Growing so in popularity and earning only the greatest respect, the KA-BAR was adopted by not only the Marines, but also the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Underwater Demolition Teams. Years after World War II, many KA-BARS were unofficially reactivated in the Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom conflicts.

I copy all this from the the Ka-Bar site https://www.kabar.com/index.jsp

A knife is a tool don't buy the most expensive one just to destroy it from day to day useage
Check on the net for discounted Ka-Bars I have bought 2 of ebay for less than 50$ each. They make many varation to choose from

 

[pete f]

two streams of thought here, cheap and plentiful, or high buck and one and only.

there is a middle ground. There are quite a few really good knives out there that can be had for the 50 to 80 dollar range. really good steel, just not the fancyness of some of the boutique knives.

Kabar retails for under $50. I found a Jr. Kabar for 32 dollars at the sportsmans warehouse. This is my daughters camp knife, she had her pick and that was what she chose.


I really prefer a smaller knife for camp work, something like the Bark river knives. Great steel, very little adornment, modest price for what it is.
My main field knife for deer or small game is a Bark River minicanadian, and before that if was a Ez Out Jr in the limited run Gerber made in ATS 34. Much easier to maneuver about inside the animal.

Look for good steel. AUS-8 would be the bottom I would accept. Just me tho. I have had a couple of decent knives in the older high carbon steels and they would work but why have to worry in todays world.

ATS34 and 154CM and S30V are really amazing in their toughness and ability to retain an edge, D2 and A2 and H1 are pretty darn amazing. I have seen a H1 plane blade that stayed sharp for almost a month of use on a boat, teak, painted white oak and plywood as well as epoxy sheathing. I think it is almost tougher than carbide.

The swede laminated steels are really pretty good for the money but just to rough for me in most of the incarnations.

 

[CCWMAN]

I have a number of them......

Actually I'm a knife collector. But anything with AUS8, 440C, ATS-34, 154CM, CPMS30V, D2, or some of the Cobalt Stainless knives is good. You don't have to spend $200 though. The best Companies are SOG, PUMA, Cold Steel, Boker, Katz, A.G. Russell, Kershaw, Aitor, and Camilus. Aitor and Camilus are at the bottom end of that list though. I also prefer survival knives with a partial serrated edge for versatility! Cold steel's serrated edges are lousy compared to others(Hard to sharpen and too fine).

PUMA, SOG, BOKER, Katz & Cold Steel are my choices in that order. I don't like Carbon V or any non-stainless knife with the possible exception of D2 which is almost stainless but I'd rather have stainless.

MY TOP CHOICES WHICH I ALSO CURRENTLY OWN:
1.My Puma Scout-see www.pumaknives.com

2.SOG Seal Pup Elite or Northwest Ranger-see www.sogknives.com

3.Leatherman XE6 Juice Pro(Beats the Swiss Army!)-see www.Leatherman.com

Also check out the Boker Trench Knife 2000 at www.agrussells.com (My latest purchase-FRIGGIN AWESOME!)

Those knives will pretty much take care of anything you'll rum into.

 

[Bill Henry]

The best that I have found - custom or factory

The best all around survival knife that I have found at any price is the ICC Model #5 - ICCKnives.com. The company offers a number of different models, but this one is by far the finest overall quality and durable knives in the world. I simply wish that they would stock the knife in S30V rather than having it as an option.

It is a complete benchmade. Ground up - custom.

Always carry at least one heavy folder and a multitool. If you lose your primary, these can be a life saver.

BH

 

[BrennanKG]

BH,

Thanks for the lead.
THose look promising.



B.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I have a couple of the Swedish Moras in my bug out kits. They are handy for cutting things and hold and edge well. They are also inexpensive enough to buy a few without breaking the bank. They are probably the best cutlery bang for your buck available.

For a bigger "survival knife," I like the Becker Combat-Utility 7. For me the haft is much more comfortable than a K-Bar and it's a better blade, IMO. The sheath is ambidextrous, secures the knife well, and has a pocket. The pocket will hold a multitool, or in my case, a fire making kit inside one of the Altoids gum tins.

 

[Boats]

Somebody say Bark River?

I paid about $125.00 each on the first production run. The maple one is a safe queen to give to my son. The olivewood one is my Jeep knife. I have a similar green fern fibermascus handled Gameskeeper and Mini-Canadian duo as my bush knives.

Totally convex ground A-2 steel. Full tang. Tough as a tank, sharper than anything else I have ever seen. Doesn't chop worth a damn, but that is why Gransfors Bruks and Roselli keep selling hatchets and carpenters axes to serious bush crafters world wide.

I have traveled with steroidal machetes before. They aren't as good as knives in the 4-6" range for most every cutting task and they are easily out-chopped by any axe or even hawk with decent manufacture and geometry. Hatchets and axes are way more comfortable in extended use too.

Of course saws are lighter than both glorified machetes and axes, and never bounce.

 

[usmccpl]

When i was ten I picked up some survival knife for 5 bucks new i thought it was cool cuz of all the crap that came with it. It was junk but is still in my collection. Later I got a united cutlery Rambo First Blood part 1 copy it was a little better but not much. Now when Im in the woods i have either my Kabar or Buck119.Either will do the big knife job. then I got a zippo a few feet of line,lures,my gerber folding saw. It all takes more room to store the stuff now but the jobs get done better now than then. The compass or the survival knifes butt end also sets too close to the blade to get a good reading.

 

[Fosbery]

Wilkinson Sword Woodlore - best survival knife ever made.



Unfortunately, they're not made anymore

 

[mrmeval]

One soldier used a Gerber Mark II and won a Medal of Honor. Pretty good knock off.

 

[mrmeval]

On carbon steel you want forged, whether hammer or hand doesn't matter. It sets the grain smaller and makes a tougher knife. I would say that the Old Hickory knives made from carbon steel are excellent blades and can be reshaped and rehandled for anything you want. That is if you get them cheap enough.

Some interesting knife blankes here from Solingen, Germany or the laminates from Norway. Really nice stuff
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/catList.aspx?catID=9

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One soldier used a Gerber Mark II and won a Medal of Honor. Pretty good knock off.

I have a friend whose unit was pinned down on the edge of a VC base camp. He noticed the VC would hold AK 47s above their heads and spray the area around their holes, with only their hands and weapons showing. He crawled forward, would wait by a hole, and grab the occupant's wrist when he raised his AK 47 and bash him with a rock. He won the Distinguised Service Cross.

But I personally don't recommend rocks as combat weapons.

 

[pendentive]

As stated above...survival knife styles are all over the map. Some are useful, while others are just plain-out ridiculous.

Personally, I like the idea behind a survival knife...as long as it's made well and meant to be used hard. Sure, there will be compromises...and it's not meant to be your "only knife"...but, like I said...it can be a fun idea to explore (as a knifemaker) to see how close you can get.

Well, this is what I came up with a little while back...http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=212916

A lot of work went into the design..and it's still being refined. Always appreciate any comments.


The real problem (which is across-the-board with all knives) is the overwhelming prevalence of cheaply made, Chinese knock-offs. :banghead:

There are many knifemakers who make survival knives...and some darn good ones too.

 

[armoredman]

Leatherman. Not really a knife, more like pocket tool kit, but it's what I have. Not a Wave, not a Gen 2, not a fancy dancy bells and whistles, just a bargain basement, everyday Leatherman.
Had a fancy Colt Survivor knife. Sold it.