A survival knife is an imperative part of any survival plan; but, they also make useful tools for everyday life. That’s why they are a good investment. It is important to consider the right characteristics for your survival knife and it can be overwhelming to try to narrow down exactly what you should be looking for. We’ve had years of experience and have done extensive research to be able to help you feel less overwhelmed when making this type of important decision.
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What to Look For in a Survival Knife
Though these aren’t the only characteristics to pay attention to when choosing a survival knife, they are important to keep in mind. We focus on a lot of things when reviewing a knife but these are a few specifics that it’s good to keep in mind when making this type of investment.
Size
A survival knife is essentially a multi-tool, serving a myriad of functions based on your survival needs. The first important characteristic to consider when investing in a survival knife is size. You want a knife that is large enough to do a decent amount of cutting, but not so large that it is cumbersome and can’t be stored stealthily.
Tip
Your survival knife should have a sharp pointed tip, which may seem like common sense to some but not everyone understands why a sharp point is important. The primary focus here is to be able to defend yourself from an attack whether by an animal or another human. Additionally, even a smaller knife can be attached to a longer stick or other object and turned into a hunting spear. The sharp tip is also important for prying, dressing game, use as a makeshift screwdriver or drill, and getting out splinters.
Pommel
We mentioned before that a survival knife is supposed to be a multi-tool. That is: it is a tool that is supposed to have as many uses as possible, depending on your needs and your imagination. To the layman’s eye, your survival knife may just look like a regular knife, and it is if you’re unimaginative. The multi-tool function for any survival knife is as much about how you can use your tool to problem solve as it is about the knife’s specific features. The traits listed above as well as others we will cover in these reviews are important to consider for your survival knife because they allow you to optimize the tools’ functionality and put it to as many different uses as possible.
Your survival knife handle is a vital consideration when making this type of investment because it can have many important uses in times of survival. Ergonomics are important, of course, because you’re going to theoretically do hard work with this knife; but, the handle should also be sturdy enough to act as a makeshift hammer. Setting up camp or making holes in an ice covered lake to fish.
Survival Knife Reviews
Kershaw Link Pocket Knife
Gerber Freeman Guide Folding Knife
SOG Fixed Blade Knife with Sheath
Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife
Morakniv Companion Outdoor Knife
Best Survival Knife
We know knives. We know survival. We’ve had years to test different knives against the elements and time and we have narrowed down a list of the best survival knives you can find. The Kershaw Link pocket knife offers stealthy storage without sacrificing your quick-draw capabilities. The action on this tool is beautiful. Kershaw has also considered right and left-handed knife-users, providing a pocket clip that can switch sides based on the user’s needs. The ergonomics and durability of this product coupled with its surprisingly good price makes this our top pick for a survival knife.
The Gerber Freedom Guide Folding Knife is our second pick survival knife. This tool offers ergonomics different to the Kershaw, but just as valuable. At the end of the day it comes down to what you’re looking for in a knife grip; this is a tool you’ll theoretically use repeatedly over an extended period of time. Only you can know what would be most comfortable for you. Perhaps it’s the partial rubber detail on this product, which offers a subjectively sturdier grip compared to the Kershaw. This tool has a solid pommel, lasting sharpness and an action that almost matches that of the Kershaw. It would be an excellent survival knife choice.
Finally, for those who want to survive but have a tighter budget for doing so: The SOG Fixed Blade is a solid survival knife option at a very affordable price. Some survivalists swear that fixed-blade knives are the only option in disaster situations and this is one of the best. It has a full tang making it sturdy and durable. Being a fixed blade option, we find stealth in the included sheath, which is also equipped with a precision cord-cutting slot. The ultimate characteristic to look for in your survival knife is always how many different ways it can be used. In a survival situation you need to be able to do the most with the bare minimum so you should be on the lookout for a single tool that is capable of doing dozens, if not hundreds of functions.
Choosing the right survival knife ultimately comes down to three things: knowing what you like best in a knife, knowing what you expect from a “good” survival knife, and what price you’re willing to pay. Any knife on the list above would serve you well in a survival situation. We’ve offered our reviews, based on experience and research, in the hopes that we can help you find the best survival knife, and ultimately, the best chance to survive.
