Author Topic: survival knife? (Read 13865 times)

superjay01 · « **on:** April 02, 2006, 01:28:40 PM »

Whenever I go camping/backpacking I always feel about half naked because I don't carry a survival knife on me. I do have a small ax and a multi-tool with a small knife in it. I was wondering if anyone had a good quality survival knife that they would recommend.

kd5hrm · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2006, 05:57:52 PM »

There are about a train-load of choices out there.

I have become a knife snob over the past few years. Knives really are one of those things where you get what you pay for.

If you have lots of money to spend Chris Reeve makes some REALLY nice knives. If you're on a budget, one of the Ka-Bar USMC knives isn't a bad choice and, taken care of, will last a lifetime.

My stomp-around-in-the-woods knife is a custom from a guy named Sean O'Hare. Here's a link.

The one in the big pic is a little different than the one at the bottom. I think the one at the bottom is the actual knife I bought.

gino · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2006, 03:09:42 AM »

In my BOB I have a 12" machete, a Frost's Mora SWAK and a Vic Rucksack SAK. Covers all the bases for cutting that I'm likely to need and costs <$50. If I had to choose one knife to take the place of the machete & SWAK it would be a CS Bushman (~$15-$20). As you can probably tell I'm not much of a "knife snob".

gino

ironglow · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2006, 05:12:11 PM »

i have been in the cutlery business for some time..besides being a blacksmith..

The best general selection I can recommend is Ontario Knife... www.ontarioknife.com/ Ontario supplies all the branches of our military with most of their blades...and supplies the USMC ..100% of their blades.

Yes..even the vaunted 'K-Bar' is an Ontario

I know the Pres of Ontario ..Bob Breton, personally and attend our local church with him and his family....real nice folks !

Ontario knife employees are more like one big family..rather than just "employees".

When my grandson got ready to deploy to Iraq last year (Marine Spec Ops in Al Anbar province) Bob gave him an ASEK knife. that little ASEK was terrific..

....My grandson made much use of that little beauty. Very often after clearing a "safe house" of it's terrorists..he used that ASEK to pop open the locked cabinets while securing the premesis.

That ASEK is on the smaller side, but very handy ...Another one to look at is the Air Force survival knife ( Bob's son Joe is in the Air Force) with kraton handle..very tough, very nice..

BTW: Ontario also owns Queen Cutlery.. www.queencutlery.com/

rio grande · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2007, 08:50:45 AM »

With a small ax and multi-tool what do you need another knife for? A good small or medium ax kile a Granfors Bruks and a swiss army knife will do it for me.

burntmuch · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2007, 11:32:05 AM »

I like the swiss army knife with locking blade & saw

hatchetjack · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2007, 07:00:21 PM »

Mora knives work great for any outdoor needs,

ironglow · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2007, 02:05:31 PM »

Yes; if your likes are in that direction..Nordic knives are excellent..

For best selection and prices that I know about try www.ragweedforge.com/

Turtle · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2007, 12:52:17 PM »

I still prefer my fixed blade buck. Nothing fancy about it but it fits my hand good and has served me well. Not sure what you're wanting to spend but I opted for the wooden handle and it was around $80 if I remember right.

-turtle-

corbanzo · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2007, 04:05:45 PM »

I never go anywhere without a good multi-tool that has a knife of about two inches or more on it and a small saw. I think a multi-tool is the best thing, even over a good survival knife.

tbull55 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2008, 08:03:45 AM »

I have a RAT-3 from Ontario and love it!

Tbull

Swampman · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2008, 08:10:39 AM »

A 6" to 8" Old Hickory Butcher knife is pretty hard to beat. They cost less than $10.00.

ironglow · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2008, 10:41:32 AM »

That RAT series are beautiful knives. Both the RATs and the old Hickory have one point that many of the "survival experts" demand;
That's a full tang.

mjh · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2008, 06:20:00 AM »

Onterio, Cold Steel, TOPS, knives of Alaska how much do yea want to spend?, too many options to list...I have many Mora's a couple of TOPS, a couple of Knives of Alaska, an old Gerber and several in between. Usually take along a Mora, SAK, another fixblade, TOPS (big enough to chop with), mulittool of some brand....

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2009, 09:11:50 AM »

I like the bushman knife, The way the handle is made you can use it as a spear if needed, very simple and rugged don't cost much niether.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:54:17 PM »

i just picked up the bushman from cold steel

went to the hardware store and got a 5 foot handle for it

i have no idea why but it does look intimidating

ironglow · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2009, 01:40:36 PM »

Bushman by Cold Steel.a good knife for a good price..Moras are like that also..

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2009, 06:00:04 PM »

I have a Case sheath knife in my day pack, and a Schrade Old Timer trapper folding knife in my pocket. Both have been used to gut, skin & bone out deer. A Ezelap diamond sharpener is also in my pack for when needed. The pocket knife gets a lick or two on the crock sticks every evening when I'm touching up the kitchen knives prior to putting them away. I keep thinking of getting a folding saw for the pack, still haven't done so. Oh, both knives were bought in the '70s and are still going strong!

-WH-

bossrice19 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:57:36 PM »

Survival knives are knives intended for survival purposes when lost in a wilderness environment. Military units issue some type of survival knife to pilots in the event they may be shot down. Hunters, hikers, and outdoor sport enthusiasts use survival knives. Some survival knives are heavy-bladed and thick; others are lightweight or fold in order to save weight and bulk as part of a larger survival kit. Their functions often include serving as a hunting knife.

Survival Knife

outdoorlover · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:33:39 PM »

The best outdoor survival knives are actually quite unassuming. Inexperienced outdoorsmen and survivalists will often pass them over to select blades that will mark them as survival neophytes to those who are in the know.

ironglow · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2009, 12:39:39 AM »

Much of course, depends upon how we visualize the scenario our particular "survival" challenge. Some see it as pure wilderness such as a crashed bush pilot. others see it as urban survival, while perhaps others see it as a need to "get back home" in case of a communications/infrastructure breakdown.
Obviously, one size does not fit all..

Swampman · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2009, 12:52:06 AM »

Two of my favorites.

ironglow · « **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:18:54 AM »

Those Old Hickorys sure are a lot of value for the money. That design (e.g. Green River etc) was probably the most widely used type knife by the mountain men. They more or less typified "survivalists" in my view.

pastorp · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:42:40 PM »

Swampman, whats the one on the left?

Swampman · « **Reply #24 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:47:43 PM »

It's made by Ecko in Japan. The steel seems very good.

1stcavmp77 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:26:03 AM »

if you're wanting a good knife for a wilderness survival or self reliance situation then you need a good fixed blade with a full tang. there are a lot of good brand knives out there that have these two features. also the type of steel should be a consideration. most of the ones i've seen come in two choices stainless and high carbon. stainless won't rust but can be harder to sharpen and typically does not hold an edge as wells as high carbon. high carbon is generally known to be easier to sharpen and usually holds an edge longer than stainless. you don't need to spend a lot of money for a good knife. mora's have one of the best reputations on the market and can generally be found for less than twenty bucks.

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #26 on:** September 18, 2010, 05:20:23 PM »

Swampy,

Which Old Hickory is that? Blade length? I want to get one....

Thanks!
-Winter Hawk-

ironglow · « **Reply #27 on:** September 19, 2010, 02:02:39 AM »

Winterhawk;
That looks like their plain Jane 6" butcher knife. They are very traditional in every respect and very reasonably priced. I like to get these and reshape them on my grinders and belt sander. I've made Dadleys, skinners, drop points and other shapes. Usually I sand the corners off the handles (makes them comfortable and gives a 'worn' look) and often file/sand finger grooves in the wood..then oil the wood up with boiled linseed. That way you get a very much "one-off custom" that still looks 'antiquey', since that carbon steel soon takes on an aged appearing patina. You can add brass headed tacks for an 'Indian' look if you like..lots of potential..

http://www.ontarioknife.com/catalog/item/123

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** September 19, 2010, 03:33:52 AM »

That is a a 6" Old Hickory.......I have about $50.00 in all of these knives.....Junk shops rule!

Another favorite by Queen Cutlery

Another Old Hickory

ironglow · « **Reply #29 on:** September 19, 2010, 05:54:46 PM »

That Old Hickory folding knife (made by Queen) is worth nearly the $50. Queen is owned by the same group who own Ontario.
I was conducting services with the Pres of Queen (vice pres of Ontario) in church, this morning and and I just had to ask him what the handles of Old hickory knives are made of (it's NOT hickory)..he said it's usually walnut.