The "Survival Knife"

[David Craik]

How about a discussion of what makes a good knife for survival purposes? While the public view of "survival knives" tend toward hollow-handled, saw-toothed, Rambo-looking things, my idea of a good knife is different. A knife is the absolute bedrock of survival. Given the right skills and terrain, everything else is a convenience. You can make and do all you need to survive in most places on earth with just a knife.

I have collected knives since I was around 12, and used many different kinds for various "survival" tasks. Here is my opinion:

1. You don't need a saw on the back of your knife. Despite their existence on big knives, they are of very limited utility. It is far easier and faster to chop down a sapling or branch than saw it. A saw in a pocketknife or multi-tool is a different story; it can be quite useful.

Case in point, this thing is stupid:

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2. Hollow handles containing survival items; also dumb. Having a hollow handle makes a very weak knife. Carry your survival items separately.

3. Pommels touted as being designed for hammering. My first "survival knife" was a "USAF survival knife", also carried for many years by Marine aviators:

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It was circa 1983. If you have ever attempted to hammer in a stake with a pommel, you have had a lot of skinned knuckles, frustration, and bruised wrist-bones trying to hammer in a stake with an object that weighs less than a pound and measures about an inch and a half across. Unlike an actual hammer, trying to pommel-strike a small diameter object just isnt natural or effective. Hammering stuff is what rocks are made for. In addition, the saw on this thing is absolutely useless.

3. Lashing holes and other contrivances for making a "spear". An aboriginal may be able to bring down an animal with a spear. I cannot. Nor can most people. Primitive peoples used spears largely en masse to hunt mastodon and whatnot. If you can stalk a deer and bring it down with a knife lashed to a stick then my hat's off to you.

4. Assorted other gee-gaws. There used to be a knife called a Buckmaster, actually made by Buck and widely copied, that featured threaded holes in the guard in which you could screw in included spikes to make a grappling hook. That's right, a freaking grappling hook.

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Even if it worked, just when would you use this? In addition, look at the wire rope saw that will break when you attempt to unfold it. There are good wire rope saws, modelled on the SAS model, but they are never found in knives. There are some knives whose handles are wrapped in an entire 4 feet of thin cord, under the idea you could unwrap it and and use the cord. Now you can make a whole two snares! There are also those with inaccurate liquid-filled compasses in the pommel. Sometimes even magnetic compasses in a steel pommel, that throws off the needle.

So what to do? In my opinion there is no such thing as a "survival knife", really. A sturdy knife of good blade steel is a good knife. I like a fixed blade, full tang knife solidly constructed for hard use. Ideally one should have two: a machete or kukri and a smaller knife capable of finer work like skinning game and filleting fish.

If limited to one knife, here's mine from around 1993 when they still came with a leather sheath:



Not very exciting looking, I know. But it's one piece of steel, very sharp and holds an edge for damn near ever, capable of fine work, defense, and chopping with equal aplomb. There is nothing to come loose or break.

I can carry fish hooks, saws, band-aids, and a compass separately if I want. A knife is the most important tool you have, it shouldn't be an edged matchbox.

[Ramirez]

That's a Cold Steel Bushmaster Dave? I was seriously looking at those as my main survival knife, might still buy one. As far as knives it seems everyone has a different opinion but basically for me a fixed blade knife with full tang is what I usually looked for.

Recently the Mora's have gotten my attention, they are dirt cheap but perform like a knife costing 5 times as much, I prefer the carbon steel ones, they all have a scandi grind meaning a large bevel right into the cutting edge.

[David Craik]

Yup Mark, that's the Bushmaster. I could really do without the silly inscription on the blade, and their marketing that the hollow handle can be fitted to a pole to make a spear. But it is indeed a rock-solid knife. At the time it could be bought for a whopping $12.98. I do wish they had knurled the handle though.

I am very fond of Mora knives, but I wonder how well that piece will chop (unless you plan to carry something else as well).

[Ramirez]

Yup Mark, that's the Bushmaster. I could really do without the silly inscription on the blade, and their marketing that the hollow handle can be fitted to a pole to make a spear. But it is indeed a rock-solid knife. I am very fond of Mora knives, but I wonder how well that piece will chop (unless you plan to carry something else as well).

I don't think the Mora will stand up too batoning too well although I've seen it done, for chopping I would carry a Fiskars hatchet.

[David Craik]

If we are talking two edged tools I would carry my Kukri and my Buck Ergohunter Avid.

[jjaje]

There is always a compromise in gear for survival. Specifically mobility versus gear. If you are not concerned with extra size or weight - say in your trunk, then I feel the best "survival knife" is the small shovel.


I take one camping all the time. It digs better and chops better than most knives. It also offers excellent leverage. You can't use it for duties like filleting a fish or skinning an animal, depends on survival needs, but you can cook on it once you do skin an animal.

[David Craik]

I remember Sgathak putting up a thread on how he cooked some eggs on one of these. What sort of finish does it have on the blade, and what is the possibility that this finish will release poisonous fumes or particulates into your food? I only ask because I've never owned one of these.

Something like this would certainly be a great addition to the old truck. I may just have to throw one in there, still have plenty of space. A shovel of some sort is indeed a damn handy thing to have.

[jjaje]

Yeah, the coating does scratch, seems to be some kind of paint or something. I probably wouldn't want to use all the time, but in an emergency...

[David Craik]

True enough. Then again if one is camping surely one has utensils on which to cook. If you are in a stranded vehicle long enough to have to hunt or trap wild game and cook them on a shovel in order to survive I question your travel habits.

Just kidding. This is an excellent tool to have, and a great suggestion.

[Erik]

Anyone use a kuhkri? What do you think of it for camping/survival purposes?

[TonyU]

Anyone use a kuhkri? What do you think of it for camping/survival purposes?

I think that would fall into a combat knife category. While I'm not a survivalist by any means and with only a rudimentary knowledge on the subject.
I would think as a survival knife would be more utilitarian. In other word be versatile for killing (game) as well for building shelter and fire.
If I had to I would grab my Ka-Bar in a pinch.

If you guys remember a while I ago I got the following;

The second is a Ka-Bar Becker TacTool.
I got it because I thought it would be a good addition to my SWAT gear. Well, after one call out where I had to set a sniper hide in a wood-line the tool paid for itself in spades. It allowed me to cut vegetation with ease to assist me in concealment and to have a clear and unobstructed view.
I've since painted it and is now attached to my sniper pack.

[lfos847]

I have been involved in Survival Preparedness since 1980 and a knife collector since 1967. I have been thru most of the knives mentioned here. I agree with most of what has been said. The USAF saw back was intended for the sheet metal of a helicopter or the skin of a plane not wood. The Becker is an excellent tool but I have trouble getting new students to spend that much. The oldest saying I can remember is a survival knife is the one you have with you when you have to survive. No one knife can do all the jobs that come up in a survival situation. I usually recommend a quality muli-tool for everyday carry and add to it if you know you are going into the field. A small extremely sharp tool should be in your first aid kit (Practice on a pork roast not your friends). I live in Florida so I do carry a modern Kukri not the one from India/Pakistan. When not in my jungle mode, I carry a copy of Chris Reeves Warthog. It is a good knife/axe/shovel compromise. I also carry a small folding saw. My experience is that a saw uses less energy that hacking. For a well thought out knife look up Tom Brown's Tracker. I had the pleasure of using one for a weekend, wonderfull tool but out of my price range. You usually can't predict when you will need to use such a tool so think about your EDC (Every Day Carry items). I am new to blogging but maybe we can start a thread about EDC if there is any interest.