Survival Knife
Filed under
Outdoors Quote of the Day, Survival Knives
There is no tool more useful in the backcountry than a knife
Raymond Mears, The Survival Handbook
The Back country traveler needs to be able to rely on their knife. Choosing the right knife is extremely important, a good Knife will never let you down and must be able to perform all the tasks you ask of it.
Some of these knives, are only posted here because I like knives, I have received a couple emails from people annoyed with me for putting up pictures of the Rambo knife…… Yes, I realize that the Rambo style knife in not an ideal survival tool, but it sure does look cool. If your looking for a really good survival knife click on the first picture for our review of the SOG Seal Pup Elite.
Crossbreeding serious survival tools with movies- esp. RAMBO-
is not the way to start serious discussion.YMMV
Sorry, I like Knives and I like to have a little fun sometimes….
On a serious note the Rambo knife is not an ideal survival knife, but i like the way it looks so I put it up. Even when taking about survival a little bit of humor and entertainment can be a good thing. It’s good to take time to be a little goofy……
While I am a big fan of several different knife manufacturers or craftsmen; ML Knives, TOPS, Walter Brend,FallKniven,Ontario,Bill Moran, Becker-Both Orig and Ka-Bar versions, Bark River, and many others I couldn’t resist adding the most recent Rambo knife to my collection. Amazing..It only took 4 movies to create a knife that could actually be used in the jungle setting it is shown in. I carried three knives in the service and continue to do so every time I am in the field. Only rarely would I consider an axe an essential tool, though VERY useful. Otherwise a Parang or machete would due every where else a big knife is required.
The only knife you actually have labeled is the seal pup elite. You should label the other ones. I like the Kukri a lot so far (if you can get the real ones the Gurkha used made from leaf springs collected from recycled truck suspensions) and Randall Adventure Training has some knives that hold up pretty well to abuse. I prefer knives with a plain edge that I can sharpen without hassle.
I would recommend reviewing more knives and also links to places that teach good sharpening techniques. Hopefully more people post reviews.
I like Gerber knifes like the LMF 1 or the Gerber MK II another tool everyone should get is Gerber MP 600 multi purpose tool its like a leather man on steroids.
But I have to say if I wanted any good survival tool I would get the Becker’s TAC TOOL.
the fifth and sixth knife shown would probably offer the best range of options and one problem i have with the sog is that it is in reality too small to be used in batonning or any real chopping and good luck sharpening serrations in the field without a dedicated sharpening rod
“The more dangerous a knife looks, the more likely you should leave it on the counter.”
I don’t collect knives, I _use_ knives, and honestly if wasn’t for the reviews, I’d never look twice at the SOG knife. It’s painted/coated, it has serrations, it has a plastic handle, and it just screams ‘Ninja Turtle cheap bad knife’.
Still didn’t buy it and can’t recommend it. I live in a iron hot red desert, where anything black or dark colored burns, blisters or melts; rivets can get hot enough to burn your hand; blaze orange is almost cammo; and everything sun rots bad. I need UV resistant stuff in tan, sand, oyster white, turquoise, or hot pink.
Love the picture of Les Stroud and his knife turned spear. Survivorman has a lot to teach you if you pay attention to what he says and does. He uses his knife a lot, so that says something about the importance of a good knife. I know he has used the Buck 119 special, and that seems to be a good knife. Another knife to consider is the Buck Nighthawk, or maybe the Buck Short Nighthawk. Either way, I know Buck and Gerber make excellent knives that are worth investing money in.
As far as Machetes go, my favorite is the Ka-Bar Kukri Machete Knife. One well designed tool and in most cases can replace the need for an axe!
I just got a SOG knife and i think i am going to like it ALOT!!!!
I have been using and carrying knives for nearly 50 years from a kid on the farm to a surveyor and a marine. I own carried and used a couple of really good knives in my time. I of course had a KBar, but I used a Camilus Navy knife for many years, I have a real Bali song which can shave a peach or cut through copper pipe, and an SRK, Cold steel knife in powder coat black. All excellent effective blades. In the bush I had a Gurka Kukri which would split skulls and firewood very well. I don’ think I have ever left my home since I was 12 years old that I did not have at least one good blade and usually more than one. I do not believe you can over blade you might be redundant but My Camilus got me out of more than one jam that my gun got me into. I believe in full tang, carbon steel, very sharp thick blades for everything but removing splinters and I have small blades for that. A knife is my best friend and is like my shadow with me always. It is not the knife but the willingness to use it.
Semper Fi
Jack Fallin