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Survival Knives
Fixed and Folding, Clip and Sheath, Assisted Opening
Fixed and Folding, Clip and Sheath, Assisted Opening
Photo by Somadjinn
Fixed Blade Survival Knives
Narrow my choices of gear to only one item and no matter where I'd be going I'd take a good knife. With a good knife and some ingenuity you can make everything else. The survival value of a knife is in that fundamental versatility, not its self defense potential.
In most cases, I want a knife that's dependable but not prybar heavy, big enough to do some camp work, refined enough to do more delicate things, and always ready. In the woods I want something I don't have to open up. Fast one-handed deployment without any chance of the blade folding up on me if something jams the lock isn't too much to ask.
You get all those things in the oldest style of survival knife, the fixed blade sheath knife that you wear on your belt. You don't even have to spend very much. Sometimes you can get a real bargain for ten to twenty dollars. More reliably you can expect a good knife closer to forty or fifty dollars, if you're willing to accept synthetic handle materials that aesthetically aren't much but are extremely practical.
Going up in price from there you'll encounter fine old companies, innovative new ones, and stubborn individualists producing high quality beautiful knives that are so good you'd hate to bang one up. Although the traditional materials are hypnotic, workhorse knives can be built from less, and cheaper.
Knife quality today is not what it was fifty or a hundred years ago. Most knives are no longer forged, a process that increased the strength of the steel by hammering the crystals out into long strands. Today's mass produced forged knives get about three whacks from a hammer mill, hardly enough to affect the steel strength. Older knives were carefully spot tempered, with a different hardness at tip, cutting edge, blade back and tang. Today the usual procedure tempers the entire knife evenly, and everything's a compromise.
Narrow my choices of gear to only one item and no matter where I'd be going I'd take a good knife. With a good knife and some ingenuity you can make everything else. The survival value of a knife is in that fundamental versatility, not its self defense potential.
In most cases, I want a knife that's dependable but not prybar heavy, big enough to do some camp work, refined enough to do more delicate things, and always ready. In the woods I want something I don't have to open up. Fast one-handed deployment without any chance of the blade folding up on me if something jams the lock isn't too much to ask.
You get all those things in the oldest style of survival knife, the fixed blade sheath knife that you wear on your belt. You don't even have to spend very much. Sometimes you can get a real bargain for ten to twenty dollars. More reliably you can expect a good knife closer to forty or fifty dollars, if you're willing to accept synthetic handle materials that aesthetically aren't much but are extremely practical.
Going up in price from there you'll encounter fine old companies, innovative new ones, and stubborn individualists producing high quality beautiful knives that are so good you'd hate to bang one up. Although the traditional materials are hypnotic, workhorse knives can be built from less, and cheaper.
Knife quality today is not what it was fifty or a hundred years ago. Most knives are no longer forged, a process that increased the strength of the steel by hammering the crystals out into long strands. Today's mass produced forged knives get about three whacks from a hammer mill, hardly enough to affect the steel strength. Older knives were carefully spot tempered, with a different hardness at tip, cutting edge, blade back and tang. Today the usual procedure tempers the entire knife evenly, and everything's a compromise.
Standard knives today will hold a good edge but may break if thrown or used as a lever. Many with solid American brand
names are manufactured overseas, often in Taiwan. Oversight is said to be as thorough as ever but many customers
suspect an overall decrease in quality. Knives from Taiwan are still backed up with excellent warranties if you buy from
established manufacturers.
From the carousel at top right there's no knife I wouldn't want to own. For most purposes the Buck Vanguard is the one I'd choose. It's compact, built to last, and the hollow ground edge can do refined work. If your knife applications include digging holes and cutting open steel drums, either of the K-Bar knives would fit your agenda better. Should you be heading to Alaska or some other real wilderness, a heavy Bowie like the Smith and Wesson Texas Ranger could make better sense. A large Bowie is like a small camp ax combined with a short sword and will be a comfort on those lonely bear filled nights.
The wild card in the bunch is the Delta Surefire with the hex wrench and wire cutters built into the handle. That's certainly a plus in urban situations, but how useful the ingenious built-in tools would be is uncertain. It might be better at slicing off fingers than loosening nuts.
From the carousel at top right there's no knife I wouldn't want to own. For most purposes the Buck Vanguard is the one I'd choose. It's compact, built to last, and the hollow ground edge can do refined work. If your knife applications include digging holes and cutting open steel drums, either of the K-Bar knives would fit your agenda better. Should you be heading to Alaska or some other real wilderness, a heavy Bowie like the Smith and Wesson Texas Ranger could make better sense. A large Bowie is like a small camp ax combined with a short sword and will be a comfort on those lonely bear filled nights.
The wild card in the bunch is the Delta Surefire with the hex wrench and wire cutters built into the handle. That's certainly a plus in urban situations, but how useful the ingenious built-in tools would be is uncertain. It might be better at slicing off fingers than loosening nuts.
Folding Lockbacks and Clip Knives
Some of my all time favorite knives are in this class, although I prefer the old style with the clasp sheath that hangs on a belt, like the Buck 110. Yep, got it right here. I end up taking this knife on hikes and camping trips and almost everywhere, but I do get some odd looks from security people here and there if I wander into some places with it hanging on my hip. For a wilderness trip I'd want something I didn't need to unfold but for civilized society this is about right.
All the knives here fit that general category, but the fancier ones do feature one handed opening, and you won't slice the side of your thumb off doing that if you keep them clean and lightly oiled. These modern styles have bolted on pocket clips that are sort of useful, mostly for keeping your knife from becoming an unsightly bulge under the change at the bottom of your pocket. They will keep the knife at hand, unless it slips out and you don't notice that it's gone. I imagine people sweep a few of these out of movie theaters from time to time.
Some of my all time favorite knives are in this class, although I prefer the old style with the clasp sheath that hangs on a belt, like the Buck 110. Yep, got it right here. I end up taking this knife on hikes and camping trips and almost everywhere, but I do get some odd looks from security people here and there if I wander into some places with it hanging on my hip. For a wilderness trip I'd want something I didn't need to unfold but for civilized society this is about right.
All the knives here fit that general category, but the fancier ones do feature one handed opening, and you won't slice the side of your thumb off doing that if you keep them clean and lightly oiled. These modern styles have bolted on pocket clips that are sort of useful, mostly for keeping your knife from becoming an unsightly bulge under the change at the bottom of your pocket. They will keep the knife at hand, unless it slips out and you don't notice that it's gone. I imagine people sweep a few of these out of movie theaters from time to time.
Folding clip knives like the Reminton Sportsman are very popular, and I admit being tempted by them until I pick them up.
Then they seem a little lightly built for me. Though they might snap conveniently on a pack strap and not conflict with the
waist belt of your backpack, it's uncertain how long they'd stay there -- especially if you're heading through heavy brush at any
point. In use, the clip will quickly wear out its welcome as it rips blisters into your fingers. But for those who are convinced
they don't really need a knife, a folding clip will fill out that entry on your packing list very nicely. You might even want a truss
style like the Gerber Powerframe so you save another ounce or two of weight.
The simple Swiss Army Sentinel knife is a little more than a pocket knife with a few handy tools tucked away here and there, not so complicated that it will be ever be clumsy. Though they are good ideas, the Swiss Army knives with too many options become awkward at everything they do. This one has enough balance to be a good but small knife as well as a toothpick holder. Ka-Bar's Dozier, practical and simple, comes in a variety of blade styles and is designed around utility, not beauty.
The simple Swiss Army Sentinel knife is a little more than a pocket knife with a few handy tools tucked away here and there, not so complicated that it will be ever be clumsy. Though they are good ideas, the Swiss Army knives with too many options become awkward at everything they do. This one has enough balance to be a good but small knife as well as a toothpick holder. Ka-Bar's Dozier, practical and simple, comes in a variety of blade styles and is designed around utility, not beauty.
Puma Knives -- Old World Quality
These are the knives I wish I could afford, made by a German company that supplies the world with fine swords and expedition quality hunting knives (as well as brutal military blades). Puma knives equal the best that individual knifemakers have to offer today, at a more reasonable price that sadly is still over my budget this month. This is art as well as function -- Puma takes ethnic designs (including the Bowie knife from America) and makes them better. Now applying their unique approach to the new world of modern tactical folders, Puma offers everything you'd want in a knife but with more class.
Of course, knives aren't complicated and don't have to be art. You can get one that will do everything you need it to do for far less money. It just won't be the knife that brings conversation to a halt when the campfire light hits it. These knives will, if only briefly.
These are the knives I wish I could afford, made by a German company that supplies the world with fine swords and expedition quality hunting knives (as well as brutal military blades). Puma knives equal the best that individual knifemakers have to offer today, at a more reasonable price that sadly is still over my budget this month. This is art as well as function -- Puma takes ethnic designs (including the Bowie knife from America) and makes them better. Now applying their unique approach to the new world of modern tactical folders, Puma offers everything you'd want in a knife but with more class.
Of course, knives aren't complicated and don't have to be art. You can get one that will do everything you need it to do for far less money. It just won't be the knife that brings conversation to a halt when the campfire light hits it. These knives will, if only briefly.
Tactical Combat Knives
Buyer beware. There's some good stuff here and a lot of crap. Even some of the crap is nice. If you are military or black ops you'll have a chance to get military issue gear, which is often pretty good. Even though the lowest bidder supplies it, it meets the standards set. You possibly can get a better knife outside of military issue, but there are lots of brilliant ideas around that won't be practical if slithered through a half mile of mud.
Military knives are usually simple. Military knives are built to regional cultural standards, some armies preferring heavy chopping blades like the gurkha khukri and others more comfortable with the knife/tool like the American K-Bar. Adding complexity to a tactical knife only slows things down. As a last resort weapon, a knife needs to be simple and reliable. Adding an additional step to the process, even if it's a click of a button, isn't smart. Adding fancy technology that has to be cleaned to work right and may result in the blade folding up on your fingers if there's grit in the locking mechanism, again isn't smart. Although there are many fine knives of this sort, putting tactical in the product description doesn't make it a good product for the field.
If you're a policeman, active duty military, search & rescue or emergency medical tech and you have need of an automatic knife, you're set. Legally you can buy anything you want. You can even carry a pearl handled switchblade -- although there are many knives that are more efficient than that classic concept. If you need a folding knife that opens reliably with one hand, for instance when you're on belay over the edge of a cliff and only have one hand free, there are many automatic knives which meet that need. One which goes a bit farther, offering one handed closure as well as assisted opening, is the Ken Onion Blur with Speed Safe. Gerber's Applegate Combat Folder is based on the dagger designed by one of WWII's foremost hand to hand combat experts -- although the folding aspect makes it a little less solid, it definitely falls into the good knife category.
The high tech combat knives may sell more often to civilian collectors than to anyone in "high risk" occupations. But go ahead, look and enjoy. Maybe the Dark Ops Stratofighter is something you'll like. This one certainly looks unusual and you might be tempted to ignore it because of it's odd futuristic exterior. The Stratofighter actually holds some well tested mechanical concepts proven by 50 years of field testing, and some brand new ideas just as solid. The blade has strength similar to the M1 Garand Bayonet -- a thick blade that's better at penetrating than slicing, but if you do get a razor edge on it, it'll hold. Two different types of lockbacks give this combat quality folder the strength of a genuine fixed blade. I'm only disappointed the poisonous green cloud isn't included. Actually, if their advertising were not so strange more people would recognize this as a good knife.
Buyer beware. There's some good stuff here and a lot of crap. Even some of the crap is nice. If you are military or black ops you'll have a chance to get military issue gear, which is often pretty good. Even though the lowest bidder supplies it, it meets the standards set. You possibly can get a better knife outside of military issue, but there are lots of brilliant ideas around that won't be practical if slithered through a half mile of mud.
Military knives are usually simple. Military knives are built to regional cultural standards, some armies preferring heavy chopping blades like the gurkha khukri and others more comfortable with the knife/tool like the American K-Bar. Adding complexity to a tactical knife only slows things down. As a last resort weapon, a knife needs to be simple and reliable. Adding an additional step to the process, even if it's a click of a button, isn't smart. Adding fancy technology that has to be cleaned to work right and may result in the blade folding up on your fingers if there's grit in the locking mechanism, again isn't smart. Although there are many fine knives of this sort, putting tactical in the product description doesn't make it a good product for the field.
If you're a policeman, active duty military, search & rescue or emergency medical tech and you have need of an automatic knife, you're set. Legally you can buy anything you want. You can even carry a pearl handled switchblade -- although there are many knives that are more efficient than that classic concept. If you need a folding knife that opens reliably with one hand, for instance when you're on belay over the edge of a cliff and only have one hand free, there are many automatic knives which meet that need. One which goes a bit farther, offering one handed closure as well as assisted opening, is the Ken Onion Blur with Speed Safe. Gerber's Applegate Combat Folder is based on the dagger designed by one of WWII's foremost hand to hand combat experts -- although the folding aspect makes it a little less solid, it definitely falls into the good knife category.
The high tech combat knives may sell more often to civilian collectors than to anyone in "high risk" occupations. But go ahead, look and enjoy. Maybe the Dark Ops Stratofighter is something you'll like. This one certainly looks unusual and you might be tempted to ignore it because of it's odd futuristic exterior. The Stratofighter actually holds some well tested mechanical concepts proven by 50 years of field testing, and some brand new ideas just as solid. The blade has strength similar to the M1 Garand Bayonet -- a thick blade that's better at penetrating than slicing, but if you do get a razor edge on it, it'll hold. Two different types of lockbacks give this combat quality folder the strength of a genuine fixed blade. I'm only disappointed the poisonous green cloud isn't included. Actually, if their advertising were not so strange more people would recognize this as a good knife.
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Copyright: All original material on this site is the sole property of the author and cannot legally be copied or used in any form without his permission. That would be me.
Data Collection of Non-Personally Identifying Information:
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.