Finding the best survival knife

Finding the best survival knife can be a challenge to say the least. There are many different models and makes available and the choices are enormous.

While I can't point you to one specific knife and tell you that is the definite best survival knife in the world, I can give you guidelines to follow in helping you figure out which is the best knife for you.

There are several rules to follow:

Stay away from the two piece, hollow handle knives, especially the ones that have the survival gear inside the handle. These are not good survival knifes due to the fact that if they break, which is likely to happen because of the stress you will undoubtedly put on them, then you are left with nothing. These knives are put together with just a roll pin or a nut or even just glued together. Another reason to avoid these is simply the fact if you do lose the knife you just lost all your survival gear you had stored in the handle. It is much safer to carry your survival supplies in a separate survival kit.

Avoid double edge knives. These knives are made for thrusting or killing. They are mainly used in the armed forces and can be dangerous for you in the survival situation. The tips are thinner and the second sharp edge can be dangerous.

Stay away from the "Rambo" knives. They are too large and heavy for what you need. Taking one of these will necessitate the use of a second knife that is smaller and more useful.

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Folding knifes are not recommended for survival tactics simply due to the fact that if they break you are without a knife. That is not to say that some of the new folding knives are not suitable for the job, just be sure before you buy.

What you should look for:

1. The best survival knife needs a full tang or a full length internal tang.
   Tang means the blade extends up through the handle. Full tang is when the blade material also makes the handle. These will usually have metal or wood slabs fastened to the sides to complete the handle. Full length internal tang means that the blade material is reduced when it enters the handle but still follows the whole length of the handle. The blade and the tang must be one piece of steel.
2. Blade length.
   Blade length has been a controversy for many years among survivalist. Some prefer longer blades that will chop through branches and wood among other things and others prefer smaller blades that are more versatile in doing survival chores. Many experts say the optimal size for the best wilderness survival knife is a blade length of 4-6 inches but not much longer than that. You simply do not need a blade longer than that to survive. Common sense will help you in the situations where the blade is to short. One exception to this rule would be if you are in the tropics where a machete or a large bolo knife would be more suitable. But still carry the smaller survival knife with you.
3. A contoured handle should also be a consideration when looking for a knife. You will want to look for a handle with a finger guard if possible, to prevent your hand from slipping down on the blade, and also a grooved handle. A smooth handle will get slippery when it gets wet. You will also want to make sure the handle fits well in your hand since an uncomfortable handle can result in blisters. The better the fit, the safer the hand.
4. A carbon steel blade should be considered, both for the ability to hold and edge and it makes an excellent addition for fire starting. Although carbon will rust more easily and require more maintenance than stainless steel, it will hold up much better for you in the long run. See how to start a fire
5. The best survival knife will include a sheath.
   This not only protects yourself and the blade, but can also be used to store other survival gear and/or sharpening equipment. Just make sure that you don't carry all your survival gear in the sheath because if you happen to lose the knife you lose your gear. Keep most of your survival gear in a separate container. You can learn what you should carry in our best wilderness survival kit article.

Knowing how to maintain your survival knife and keep it sharp is also very important. You don't want to be stuck with a dull knife. One thing to keep in mind is that a blade with a serrated edge can be difficult to sharpen and can leave you with only a partial usable blade when you may need the full blade to accomplish something

With the best survival knife and a good compass quite possibly being the most important tools in your arsenal when it comes to survival situations, it is important to choose the best survival knife for the job. The best survival knives can be hard to decipher and there are a lot to choose from, but rest assured that most manufacturers build a well built knife.

By all means do not purchase a knife that is not a recognized name. There are many copies on the internet and they are generally of far lesser quality and can actually hurt you, so stay away from those. If you can't afford the better knife, save up the money until you can. That is a much better option than cutting yourself when the cheap knife breaks on you or being stuck out in the wilds without a knife.

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