which survival knife should I get??

Fiction4128 · Feb 11, 2011

rickdarris2004 · Feb 11, 2011

Don't rule out ESEE either. Check out the ESEE-5 or ESEE-6. Great knives, I actually own the 5 myself. built like a tank.

RevDevil · Feb 11, 2011

ESEE 5 if you can find one that is.

Fiction4128 · Feb 11, 2011

I'd prefer to keep the blade under 6 inches

freq18hz · Feb 11, 2011

Fiction4128 said:
OK so i am just looking for a general camping/backpacking/survival knife but i dont know which one to get. I was hoping for someone who has owned any of these knifes to help me out. These are all fixed blades

Gerber Gator
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-46904-...ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1297392996&sr=1-5
SOG Field Pup
http://www.amazon.com/SOG-Specialty..._1?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1297393036&sr=8-1
Gerber Big Rock Camp
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-015...4G30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297393080&sr=8-1
Becker BK2 CAMPanion
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1297393141&sr=1-1
Gerber LMF II
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-016...QUB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297393215&sr=8-1
Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-31-000...LSMO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297393257&sr=8-1
Gerber Prodigy
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-411...5H6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297393335&sr=8-1
Ka-Bar FIN
http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Janda-F...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1297393418&sr=1-1

Thanks

None of them. Get a Fallkniven F1. Nothing else is better for backpacking or survival. It is the perfect size, has a perfect sheath (Zytel), is the perfect weight, won't cause blisters or slip if your hand is wet, won't rust. It's the highest quality survival knife you can buy, period. You can spend hours asking why, or going back and forth reading or debating about other knives. Don't bother. When the poop hits the fan, you will understand why the F1 is king. Save yourself the hassle, just buy the F1, and move on to something else like getting your first aid, water, and fire making kit up to par. The only way you are going to do better than the F1, is to carry more weight. In that case, I would recommend a good medium sized Axe, and the F1. ESEE's don't push through wood near as well, and they rust, they have a great warranty. Bark River's are prettier, hold an edge slightly longer (almost unnoticeable) cause blisters easier, and also rust. I have knives from all three brands. Get the F1. Trust me. At this point, IMHO, it isn't even up for debate. It is the perfect survival knife.

CWL · Feb 11, 2011

So why would you want a "tactical" knife for outdoors use?

What is your opinion of serrated edge knives? What benefit do you see SEs have over plain edge knives for outdoors use?

Where do you plan on spending most of your outdoor time and what level of outdoors skills/training do you have?

Buying some specialized knife, or one with doo-dads on it doesn't impart skill to the owner.

Just don't get anything that says "Bear Grylls" on it.

jimh0220 · Feb 11, 2011

Becker BK2 or the Gerber Prodigy or Gerber LMF II are all great knives. A simple Mora (less $ than all of the list, and excellent knives) would do the job well. BTW, having owned the LMF II, it is a but cumbersome for some tasks, but it is built like a tank.

KJlost · Feb 11, 2011

I assume you want to keep the price at below $50 mark?

Out of the choices you provided, the Becker is the one I'd get. It's a quality product from a quality maker, and it's solid work at a low price point.

It is a big heavy chunk of metal though, and since the blade is 1095, it can rust on you without some minimum care. Not sure what kind of experience you have with knives, or what kind of conditions you'll be subjecting the knives to, so difficult to make a solid recommendation.

Providing more information always helps.

udtjim · Feb 11, 2011

All the knives listed here should be very good for what you need.

If I was only carrying one knife I would prefer a 4-1/2 to 6 inch blade. The SOG Northwest Ranger is a perfect example of one of my favorites.

Fiction4128 · Feb 11, 2011

I have a few folders but i dont use them very much. I am looking for an outdoor knife that is gonna get a lot more use. I'm not gonna go beating it against concrete like the guy at knifetests.com, but it'll get a good amount of use. And yes i was hoping to keep the price under around $65.

I dont think i would want serrations on any knife under 6in

I know the Ka-Bar FIN is advertised as a tactical knife but i've seen it used quite effectively as a survival knife. I also like the glass breaker and it looks like it has the holes to lash it to a stick and make a spear like the LMF

R.H.Clark · Feb 11, 2011

Of the ones you listed ,the Becker or the SOG.I agree though,you should get the Fallkniven F1

American Puukko · Feb 11, 2011

Under $50 nothing is going to touch a Mora for value and utility whether carbon or stainless, just get one known to have a decent amount of tang hidden in the handle.

I think before you purchase something, you should probably ask yourself what a "survival knife" is to you.

Les Stroud for example went to some of the toughest environments on earth for a week at a time with nothing tougher than a multi-tool or a Buck 119.

Other guys out there think anything less than an unbreakable super-machete is unworthy of the role. Some guys carry piggyback set-ups with something bigger being the chopper and something smaller for detail work. Other guys carry a smallish blade and an axe.

Under the "wrong" circumstances your carry folder might become your "survival knife." I know some guys who'd be fine with only a three layer Swiss Army knife and one guy who can make something usable for cutting out of rocks.

Buffalohump · Feb 11, 2011

Multi-tool or SAK and a hatchet. Badda-bing badda-boom.

engle's-wilder · Feb 11, 2011

Don't overthink this!
Don't get OCD!
You don't need a 1/4 inch piece of steel... no matter what anyone tells you!

Just buy something cheap that you'll be more likely to have on your person if you really needed it.

+1 on the Mora suggestion (I always have a #2/0 round my neck whilst outdoors, and it's so light and small that no one gets freaked and I hardly notice it's there either).

chiral.grolim · Feb 11, 2011

Fiction4128 said:
OK so i am just looking for a general camping/backpacking/survival knife but i dont know which one to get. I was hoping for someone who has owned any of these knifes to help me out. These are all fixed blades

Gerber Gator
SOG Field Pup
Gerber Big Rock Camp
Becker BK2 CAMPanion
Gerber LMF II
Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife
Gerber Prodigy
Ka-Bar FIN

What tasks did you have in mind for this knife?

Your best choice for a backpacking knife is a Swiss Army Knife (SAK - either Wenger or Victorinox, pick your model), a Mora (the "knifetests.com guy" demonstrates the impressive limits of the Clipper), or a Fallkniven F1 in VG10 (more expensive, with many comparable competitors).

The SOG listed is a great little hunting knife, perfect for a kid out hunting with his dad or camping with a scout-troop. Don't expect too much of it and it won't let you down. I would not consider it a "survival" knife.

The Gerber Gator is mediocre.
The Big Rock is more impressive - reasonably tough and inexpensive, handles well, stainless steel. Handle it and see how you like it. It's a decent camp knife at a good price... but inferior to the Prodigy, in my opinion.

The LMF II is a great military tool, specifically designed as such and exceptional in that role, esp. given the price. This is a soldier's knife. For general camping, however, it is a rather heavy/bulky knife with features not applicable on most domestic ventures...

The Prodigy is a reasonable LMFII alternative - lighter weight and lacking the special bells&whistles. I'd choose it over the BG knife (which I've never handled), but don't choose either if you prefer full plain-edge. If you don't mind the serrations, this is a great inexpensive "survival knife".

Avoid that KaBar Fin.

The BK2 is thick and tough, the toughest knife on your list - if you like the handle (it fits your hand and is comfortable in use), that's the knife on your list that you should get... but NOT for backpacking. Like the LMFII, the BK2 is heavy. It also isn't stainless like the Prodigy, it will rust fairly easily.

To sum up, there are better knives for your listed purposes than those on your list. Of those listed, I'd select the SOG for a kid or for hunting, the BK2 for general tasks if NOT backpacking (toughest by far, but heavy), and the Gerber Prodigy or Big Rock if backpacking (tough enough, lighter weight).

Thalestin · Feb 11, 2011

freq18hz said:
None of them. Get a Fallkniven F1. Nothing else is better for backpacking or survival. It is the perfect size, has a perfect sheath (Zytel), is the perfect weight, won't cause blisters or slip if your hand is wet, won't rust. It's the highest quality survival knife you can buy, period. You can spend hours asking why, or going back and forth reading or debating about other knives. Don't bother. When the poop hits the fan, you will understand why the F1 is king. Save yourself the hassle, just buy the F1, and move on to something else like getting your first aid, water, and fire making kit up to par. The only way you are going to do better than the F1, is to carry more weight. In that case, I would recommend a good medium sized Axe, and the F1. ESEE's don't push through wood near as well, and they rust, they have a great warranty. Bark River's are prettier, hold an edge slightly longer (almost unnoticeable) cause blisters easier, and also rust. I have knives from all three brands. Get the F1. Trust me. At this point, IMHO, it isn't even up for debate. It is the perfect survival knife.

There is no be all end all knife. I for one dont like vg10 in a fixed blade. It chips out easy. Two, i prefer a carbon blade. They are tougher, and I like the character they get. Sure they rust, but it is easily cleaned off if you actually take care of your knife at all. I agree that the F1 is a good knife, but it is not the best for everyone. FOr instance a lot of people prefer just a good ol SAK.

My recommendation would be the becker out of the listed blades. For a non listed blade id go with a bark river, or a custom such as a fiddleback or the rc 3 or 4 (if you can up your budget).

marcinek · Feb 11, 2011

Fiction4128 said:
..... I also like the glass breaker...

Why? Answering that question will really get you on the road to thinking about what you mean by a "survival" knife and "survival" in general.

I wonder if you have. Because I can't really see the need for a glass breaker on a camping knife.

It's a very common error. I think all the TV "survival" gurus have everybody all worked up.

I'll say this though...if you want to run around in the woods with a improvised spear impaling trees and stuff...that's perfectly cool. Let's just call it what it is, you know?

GRIM 62 · Feb 11, 2011

Out of the knives you mentioned,I like the BK2.The Ontario Ranger RD series bears looking into also.I just got the RD4 with orange handles,4 1/2" of 1/4" thick 5160,it's a beast.Last but not least,ESEEs are some great blades as well,I have more than a few.

marcinek · Feb 11, 2011

GRIM 62 said:
Out of the knives you mentioned,I like the BK2.The Ontario Ranger RD series bears looking into also.I just got the RD4 with orange handles,4 1/2" of 1/4" thick 5160,it's a beast.Last but not least,ESEEs are some great blades as well,I have more than a few.

Grim...please don't take this the wrong way...I love the Ranger RD series. They are great "urban SHTF survival" knives. They are great "bashing the bejeebus outta stuff in the woods within 100 yards of a gassed up car with a trunk full of cold beer" knives. Can't be beat.

But are they "general camping/backpacking/survival" knives?

GRIM 62 · Feb 11, 2011

About as much as the BK2, ESEE 5,or the Gerber LMF would be.Don't you think so?

which survival knife should I get??

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