Hi guys, feel free to discuss any and all survival tools here for all types of survival scenarios. I'm looking for a new knife for general wilderness survival. Something not too big so I can do fine work but big enough for some batoning, Building, security etc.

Thank you for posting this magicfish. You already know quite a bit about knives as is evident by what you own and the skills you have mentioned. But for those who don't know as much I'd like like to break down the anatomy of a survival knife.

1. Different knives are meant for different things and there are as many survival knives as there are car styles. So lets start by talking about the type of knife you want. You would want to go with a fixed blade full tang knife. Simplistically speaking fixed blade knife is the kind you would find in a sheath that dosen't need to be opened. Full tang would be a blade made from one piece of steel that went from the point of the blade to the end of the handle. So why this kind of knife? Magicfish wants an all around survival knife that can be used for batoning (a way to use a knife for splitting wood when you don't have an axe) so the strength of the knife has to be throughout the entire knife. If you going to be hitting your knife with a small "baton" you can't have it fold back or break at the tang. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m7YFiePmRY Now I must stress that no one knife will do everything well. But some knives are like multitools and will do many things OK.

2. The second attribute magicfish wants is to be able to build with his knife. So this will dictate much about the length and thickness of his knife. He will want knife he can chop, cut whittle, carve and other tasks both big and small. This is hard to find in just any knife. Smaller blades work well for fine tasks while the bigger blades could be used for building a house if need be. I will give a very good chose in just a bot but I have to take magicefish's last criteria into account before I do.

3. He spoke of self defense. Typically fighting knives are much different than survival knives. The military usually tries to strike a balance between survival and fighting like with the Ka Bar. But in general fighting knives have a very specific use TO KILL. It takes a minimum of approximately 11cm or 4in to reach the vital organs of a human. Animals like bears are much greater 7 to 9 inches depending on the animal.

So one of the more recent blade designs being used for survival is the "Tracker" knife. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PECO1j3d7oc Now before anybody jumps down my throat I WOULD NEVER TRUST MY LIFE TO A CHINESE KNIFE. Steel quality, manufacturing standards, and lack of caring just puts me off. However the stile is interesting. The weight of the blade is forward to the knife making it a great chopper. The secondary part of the blade closest to the handle is great for fine work. However the exaggerated drop point would be terrible for stabbing. That's why I like this redesigned blade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7qAO4pjFGc of the "huntsman". This "Tanto" type point is much better for stabbing and penetration than the point on the Tracker.

OK so both these knives look a bit wild and a traditionalist won't like them at all. So lets move on to some more traditional styled knives that could very well be used for survival and fit magicfish's criteria. Condor Tool & Knife c. makes a whole range of survival knives. They use 1075 high carbon steel in most of their knives which is very easy to sharpen. Carbon steel however is very susceptible to the elements and will rust without proper care and oiling. The price rang is $40 to about $120 and are great for the money. I have and like this knife but not in the length shown here https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Tool-Knife......es+rodan Instad I opted for it's big brother https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Tool-Knife-Kumunga-Polypropylene/dp/B003D9RBKC. One of the bad things but is not a problem for me is the handles thickness. I have oversized hands so it's not an issue. It's can also get slippery when wet so I roughed it up with some sand paper.

Understand that I own probably close to 1000 knives. You read that right almost 1000 knives. So trying to limit this post to just one knife is hard. But the Kumunga would satisfy all of magifish's needs he just may not like the style. It's a very simple design. So if you want something else repost magicfish with more details and I'll do my best to help.

Thanks for the thoughts.
I like the size and strength of the Ka-bar. I take it hunting with me and carry it while walking across dark farmers fields before first light. It gives me a feeling of security should I encounter hostility. However combat is not my first concern in searching for a knife.
I want a quality, fixed blade, full tang survival knife that has a good point for deep penetration or fine point work, strength for batoning for fire and temp shelter, good steel, sharp, comfort, flat bottom handle for tapping or driving home stakes.
And good shape and maneuverability for skinning and butchering game.
Maybe the Ka-bar is as good as it gets?

That is what a U.S. Marine will tell you. I have no idea if they are right but I've known a lot of Marines!

On the KA-BAR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_knife so military knives are NOT necessarily the best choice for survival but they will do. Heck a kitchen knife will work in a pinch. My post was to illustrate the technology and evolution of the survival knife a bit. Use what works for you. No knife will do it all but the KA-BAR is a good choice as a multiuse knife. I respect the knife and have only 3 in my collection.

Thanks for that link. A lot of excellent knives discussed there.

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcWY0rjePU

-JoeJoe

This one has instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juPCP9glrEU

And the knife found on Otzi the Iceman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-UX_U0F7I



-JoeJoe

I like the looks of this one:
https://youtu.be/iFW8GE1F8I4

And of course, for pure Bushcraft, it is hard to beat the Ray Mears SWC knife but it is also about a thousand dollars.

Survival knives can be as much a matter of style and taste as anything.

I'm not certain anyone mentioned edge geometry. To "survive" in the wilderness is actually many skills as Fabuloso will tell you. It is not only building shelter. It is choosing where to shelter in the first place! Not only hunting, but cleaning and preparing food as well as fending off attacks should it be needed.

One knife suitable for all these tasks is rough to find. Edge geometry on a chopper will not necessarily help much in cleaning fish. A good fish cleaner may not be well suited for taking apart an animal of any size. The ability to hold an edge in horrible conditions is also a factor.

Though I spent a considerable amount of time in the wilderness, survival was never really in the table. It never came to that and my dad and uncle cheated. Different knives for different purposes and my uncle made them.

This is really an interesting thread. I'm not contraindicting anything anyone has said by the way. Fabuloso said it and I agree no one knife can do it all.

The guy in this video has many other videos worth watching. I especially like his improvised sling video.



This one is a bit ridiculous. If your going to learn how to use a hammer stone and anvil I suggest learning flint napping. Which is what is being demonstrated in this video but never mentioned.



The problem with all these videos is that they assume we are all cavemen and out in the bush. While bushcraft is great most of us live in somewhat urban environments. There are plenty of resources available that make some skills unnecessary. Besides a quarter really? Where did that come from? If you had the where with all to have a quarter why not have a knife? Makes no sense but Joey wants us all to live in caves and grunt for food. I would rather be comfortable.

Thy guy in the first video you liked is not "uncomfortable". He can make a tiled roof hut complete with fire place and chimney using absolutely nothing from any store. Nor did Native Americans live in caves grunting for food, they lived comfortable lives.

I'm simply doing what you advocake: "prepare for the worst". If being a caveman is the worst, then that is what I want to be prepared for. If a bomb drops on your house, you won't have a bug-out bag ... you'll end up at bass pro shop fighting looters for a knife, and if you survive that mess and make it up the mountain you'll find me about finishing my hut and ready to relax in style.

I can make a nice shelter, not quiet as nice as the guy in that video can but I'll be comfortable. I'd most likely make a "dakota fire pit" and let the smoke go out a hole in the ground, be easier than building a chimney like that. But his huts are badass - in a way I wish I had a place I could be making huts like that, practice.

-JoeJoe

This one is really awesome, this is what I'm talking about ... "problem solving skills":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wCjeGni9Wk

-JoeJoe

Impressive, yes, but can the kid do a push-off double lift, or only one of those lousy peel from the back of the deck ones? Now who's got the skills, eh?

Having a knife well made by an experienced artisan is not as expensive as you may suspect.

That's very true Danny and having somebody in the biz help too Is your Father's work still for sale?

Good Deal on a combo tac pen tac light set $7.00 https://www.amazon.com/Eligara-Tactical-......fe&psc=1 I'm not sure how you can wrong at this price?

Thankyou for that link. Unfortunately it doesn't ship to Canada, but I really like what you are sharing with us. Keep them coming Senor. Your advice is and commentary on survival is appreciated here.

In the Spirit of Rambo and for you magicfish I remembered a knife that was a big hit among my team. Now this is not it https://www.amazon.com/Schrade-SCHF2-Ext......le+knife What this is, is a copy of the ones some of the men had. The original is by Chris Reeve which he no longer makes. I believe the men had paid in the neighborhood of $500us back in the 80s. The Schrade however is made very much like the original out of one solid piece of 1070 high carbon steel and has a grey coating on it.

The good about the knife; besides what I already wrote Overall Length: 12.70" - Blade Length: 7.50" - Blade Style: Clip Point - Edge Type: Combo straight/Serrated - Handle Length: 5.20" Obviously the hollow handle. Lifetime Guarantee. Throw the screw driver set into another kit and fill it with survival items like a small tube of crazy glue, pair of tweezers, a vile of glycerine and a vile of potassium permanganate a triangular needle. (If you want to know what these things are used for I can tall you in pm) The sheath also has a pocket which can store more survival gear. Never keep a the sharpening stone in the pocket as you can sharpen your knife in so many ways in the field. If however you do want to carry a sharpener I suggest this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BY9G08W/ref......_w=q0IJI It's very good and has a bit of supplemental gear on it. More on the sheath it's not bad nylon and has a quick on quick off system. It can also be "molly" attached if your gear is set up that way?

The bad; Weight: 1 lb. 2.00 oz. HEAVY The handle pitting which is there for a better grip actually rips the bare hand SO USE GLOVES with this knife or wrap it in paracord. The serrations close to the bottom near the handle. I'm not fond of serrations on a knife.

As you can see the style is similar to the Ka Bar but with quite a few differences. I personally never carried this knife but many did, well the original anyway. So if you want to test your abilities with a knife and nothing else in theory you could use just this knife and the supplemental items I mentioned. That is if you have the skills to go with it? Knowledge is the real power but gear can and does help.