Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How to Choose the Perfect Survival Knife
artofmanliness ^ | Creek Stewart

Posted on 06/14/2013 3:36:08 PM PDT by virgil283

"A “survival knife” is just as it sounds–a knife that can help you survive. It is a tool with literally hundreds of survival-related functions.....Survival Knife Feature #1: Size: Does size matter? Yes, but when it comes to your survival knife, bigger is not always better. If your blade is too big, you sacrifice the ability to effectively use it for detailed tasks such as dressing small game or carving precision snare sets.... A fixed blade knife is more durable and reliable than a folding knife...Not only should your survival knife be a fixed blade, but it should also be FULL TANG........"

(Excerpt) Read more at artofmanliness.com ...


TOPICS: Outdoors
KEYWORDS: knife; survivalknife
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last
To: virgil283

I carry an Austrian Glock knife, it isn’t the best choice, because while it is great for chopping, digging, fighting, and chores (it is called a “crow bar that is a knife”) and is carbon steel and takes a shaving edge, the blade shape is not even close to the first choice for skinning game.

Disliking heavy leather, I do like that the knife has a polymer, locking scabbard suitable for parachuting and climbing, and with a six inch blade, it and the scabbard only weigh 8 ounces total.

I have preferred mine for 30 years and know that it is indestructible, being Austrian, the guard also opens beer bottles although our local forests don’t seem to have any of those, at least not wild, and the full tang handle has a small hollow for some storage.


41 posted on 06/14/2013 4:47:57 PM PDT by ansel12 (Social liberalism/libertarianism, empowers, creates and imports, and breeds, economic liberals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

That’s pretty much what I have on me most of the time. I haven’t been without a knife (except on an airplane) since I was about 6 years old. I’m a white collar worker in NY and get some looks whenever I pull out the appropriate tool when someone needs it. The one thing a don’t own is a specialty survival knife. Maybe I should get one of those???


42 posted on 06/14/2013 4:48:06 PM PDT by Woodman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: central_va

LOL

dork. In case you run into a herd of donuts?


43 posted on 06/14/2013 4:52:27 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: virgil283
"If your blade is too big, you sacrifice the ability to effectively use it for detailed tasks such as dressing small game or carving precision snare sets..."

The author needs more practice.






44 posted on 06/14/2013 4:53:52 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the planet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: virgil283
I am pretty happy with my Gerber LMF II.


45 posted on 06/14/2013 4:57:56 PM PDT by 101stAirborneVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yarddog
There's also this one--cheap (image too large for posting here).

;-)


46 posted on 06/14/2013 5:00:27 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the planet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: taxcontrol
....my fav....crude, simple, effective made by Herters years ago...
47 posted on 06/14/2013 5:02:51 PM PDT by virgil283 ( ... """" With God all things are possible."''''''' ....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
Kershaw is my current everyday carry knife. This guy, a Leek 1660:

Assisted-opening turns out to be incredibly handy. I have yet to understand why these are deadly enough to be banned in NYC. They sure aren't as deadly as a 32-oz soft drink.

48 posted on 06/14/2013 5:08:28 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Woodman

There are lots of good quality knives. I have also always carried a pocket knife since about age 6.

For many years I would not buy a Swiss Army knife. I just didn’t think they were a good idea. I finally bought one and realized they actually were very useful. The one I carry most often is a Super Tinker. I probably use the tooth pick and scissors more than any other tool except maybe the knife blade.

I guess I must have at least 30, nearly all of them Victorinox tho Wenger are OK. I probably also have 20 or more multi tools. I never carry one but I do have one in each of my vehicles along with a regular tool box. Probably the most useful one I have found is an older Schrade which actually is a vice-grip but with knife, etc just on one side. That needle nosed vice-grip is extremely useful.


49 posted on 06/14/2013 5:08:52 PM PDT by yarddog (There Are Three Things That Remain--Faith, Hope, and Love--and,the Greatest of These is Love..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: virgil283

don’t overlook a good machete as a survival knife. sometimes an advantage to have literally a short sword. if possible get one with a hand guard to protect you from dropping it from a hit to the hand.


50 posted on 06/14/2013 5:14:01 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: virgil283

I appreciate knives for being knives. When you start using them as multi-tools, you start to create problems.

Back in the old days of the American woodsman, the standard primary tool was a hatchet, and it has never stopped being the great survival tool it was. For example, today’s incarnation are tools like:

The Trucker’s friend

http://i.imgur.com/S76oFYB.jpg

The Yes tool (copper-beryllium alloy against sparks)

http://i.imgur.com/4k2NbeY.jpg

The crash axe

http://i.imgur.com/8s8YDh7.jpg


51 posted on 06/14/2013 5:16:24 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

I think the hand guard is a good idea for a machete tho I have never owned one which had that feature.

One thing I always do is to wrap the handle with athletic tape. I will say I have never had one slip out of my hand no matter how sweaty it got.


52 posted on 06/14/2013 5:19:32 PM PDT by yarddog (There Are Three Things That Remain--Faith, Hope, and Love--and,the Greatest of These is Love..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: fuente

Boo on youuuuu.

SPIDERCO.

Period.


53 posted on 06/14/2013 5:24:33 PM PDT by ConradofMontferrat (According to mudslymz, my handle is a HATE CRIME. And I HOPE they don't like it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: virgil283
The Buck Personal, designed by Townsend Whelen. I've changed the bevel with a two angle grind; first, thin behind the edge to about 14 degrees, and then a cutting edge of 19 degrees. Now it cuts deeper with less effort.

It doesn't have to do everything because one side of my pack carries a Bean's "Our Best" kindling ax. It doesn't quite balance the cut down fiberglass stocked Guide Gun on the other side, but it's handy. Hey, most fires use squaw wood (oops, did I say that?) so it just gets the heavy cutting work.

54 posted on 06/14/2013 5:27:09 PM PDT by kitchen (Make plans and prepare. You'll never have trouble if you're ready for it. - TR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yefragetuwrabrumuy
Nice


55 posted on 06/14/2013 5:28:05 PM PDT by JoeProBono (Mille vocibus imago valet;-{)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: fuente

Actually, my sarcasm post aside, I have K-Bars. By the bunch.

For an all around, do everything you want it to blade, you can’t ask for better.

It’s why we used to put them in the aircrew survival gear.

Meat and potatoes, you KNOW what you’re gonna get.


56 posted on 06/14/2013 5:28:50 PM PDT by ConradofMontferrat (According to mudslymz, my handle is a HATE CRIME. And I HOPE they don't like it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ConradofMontferrat

But, OTH, a Gurka kukri is one hell of a good tool too!


57 posted on 06/14/2013 5:31:03 PM PDT by ConradofMontferrat (According to mudslymz, my handle is a HATE CRIME. And I HOPE they don't like it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: virgil283

Oh Dude, did you open a Pandora’s box or what?


58 posted on 06/14/2013 5:31:51 PM PDT by ConradofMontferrat (According to mudslymz, my handle is a HATE CRIME. And I HOPE they don't like it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kitchen
Hey, most fires use squaw wood (oops, did I say that?) so it just gets the heavy cutting work.

If you wind up stuck in the hills over night, you better know what squaw wood is. {:0)

59 posted on 06/14/2013 5:47:45 PM PDT by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: virgil283

A 1968 vintage Boy Scout knife mad by Camillus has done everything I have ever asked of it - in a survival sense (being anything to do with outdoor living).

Keep your Rambo knives for boat anchors or slitting throats.


60 posted on 06/14/2013 5:51:38 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Hey NSA, here I am. Bring a large Hawaiian pizza when you come for me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-77 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson