Best sub 4inch survival knife?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

So what would you say was best sub four inch bladed survival knife???

Not a bushcraft knife, I'm talking over built, tough knives like Falkniven F1 to take a he'll of a lot of abuse?

I've got to say I reckon the new TOPS Overlander 2 has a lot going for it in this category

[AimlessWanderer]

Below FIVE inch:
Anton De Plessis Warthog by Scorpion Knives 

Force me to take a blade less than 4" for allround dealing with everything, and I'll prob choose my Snail Brand Roofers Tool (like the American crate openers - hatchet/hammer/prybar combo) 

I don't have much expecience with heavy duty fixed blades below 4", but I do like the looks of the HEST knife

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well I was thinking about the whole "the best survival knife is the one on you" thing and I got to thinking that anything much bigger than a F1 and it risks being left at home.

I've got a Tops BOB and a F1 and if I'm heading to the woods for a walk I'll grab one of these two normally and this being the UK I tend to go for the F1 as it's easier to conceal from prying eyes

That Scorpion is very still worthy though!

[AimlessWanderer]

I think for general "out and about" in the countryside, rather than particularly hostile territory, a SAK with saw is probably the winner. OK it's not superly overbuilt, but it'll still help you do the job, and a saw will make life easier for a lot of tasks than just a fixed blade knife.

[shark_za]

My 111mm Trailmaster aka Trekker.

[dks]

Mora..... Someone had to say it.

Cody likes it too

  I would also suggest buying a Victorinox Farmer. After using one for a while you may change your opinion on what is a survival knife. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Your talking to the original farmer fan here

I do prefer to use a knife over a sak in the woods, as I I just find the whole thing more enjoyable

[dks]

I never realised you had any interest in Farmers...   

seriously, you may also want to look for old army bayonets (short, knife versions) some are pretty solid, designed to take a beating and surprisingly cheap.

They are, for me, the real original modern survival knife.

[Steinar]

Sub 4 inches? I am very fond of my Haakonsen Compact: http://xxxknives.blogspot.no/2010/11/compact.html

A8-mod steel, professional hardening. Focused on extreme toughness over edge retention. (Which is pretty good on them anyway.) They cost an arm and a leg, but you probably won't be able to ruin the knife only using direct muscle force. Fredrik is very fond of overengineered knives built like tanks. Me like.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I did have a Glock Bayonet That I have my dad. That thing was unkillable



Edited as stupid new tablet keeps auto correcting every, bloody thing!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Sub 4 inches? I am very fond of my Haakonsen Compact: http://xxxknives.blogspot.no/2010/11/compact.html

A8-mod steel, professional hardening. Focused on extreme toughness over edge retention. (Which is pretty good on them anyway.) They cost an arm and a leg, but you probably won't be able to ruin the knife only using direct muscle force. Fredrik is very fond of overengineered knives built like tanks. Me like.

Ooh I like that a lot!

[comis]

I might be a little late in this, but if you are ok with something just a tiny bit over 3", I do own and love the Enzo Trapper.  I felt genuinely Enzo products are pretty solid performer and prices are not overhyped.


As a SAK fan, I always love to recommend Vic 111mm OHO Trekker/93mm Farmer(you probably know this better than I do), they are just overall easy to use/maintain workhorse.


For strictly under 3", a quick search yields the following, they are different in style and some might be costly but rep are genuinely ok:


LT Wright:
Frontier Valley (Scandi Grind) Fixed Blade
Maverick Colt (Flat Grind) Fixed Blade Camping Knife w/ Black Canvas Micarta Handle
T1 Fixed Blade Tactical Knife w/ Green Canvas Micarta Handle - Matte Finish

Fallkniven:
SK3 Juni, Fixed Blade Knife w/ Curly Birch Handle
WM1, Fixed Blade Knife w/ Thermorun Handle & Zytel Sheath

Enzo:
Necker


The following two vids also pop out during the search, youtube reviewer Wealljuggleknives has a crazy amount of knives and some may be of interest:

[Noa Isumi]

Personally for under 4in I would and do pair a Dewalt Side Strike Chisel with almost any sak/mt.
The Side Strike will do just about any heavy task you ask of it, but it is thick and doesn't have a fine edge for skinning and such so you have to either use the tip or carry another smaller blade. Rember it is designed for construction demo. Mine rides with my 1st aid bag, there's a SAK in the kit, a pair of fence pliers and also one of those pre packed mini survival kit pouches in addition to the medical supplies. Since I now live in an urban environment extraction and medical are foremost rather than the bushcraft I learned growing up.



 
 

[pfrsantos]

Mora..... Someone had to say it.

Cody likes it too

  I would also suggest buying a Victorinox Farmer. After using one for a while you may change your opinion on what is a survival knife.

 

Don't complicate what's simple. Mora is very robust and versatile. The Farmer, while with a different concept, will take care of most anything you need in the field.

 

[Gerhard Gerber]

the best survival knife is the one on you

Based on that and the size limit, I would say Mora as well.

[skidoosh]

Check out some of the knives Seved offers.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Just to clarify I'm not in the market for one as I'm far to poor at the moment

I was having a play with my Fallkniven F1 yesterday and you forget just how good a knife it is

I wonder how much better the slightly a thicker H1 would be?

[raistlin65]

I've got to say I reckon the new TOPS Overlander 2 has a lot going for it in this category

I've been lusting after the Overlander 2 

What about the ESEE 3 or ESEE 4 (I know, slightly over 4").

[NKlamerus]

I've got to say I reckon the new TOPS Overlander 2 has a lot going for it in this category

I've been lusting after the Overlander 2 

What about the ESEE 3 or ESEE 4 (I know, slightly over 4").

Totally agree.

You can't go wrong with an ESEE. Made and overbuilt in the U.S.

And probably one of the best knife warranties. (Pretty sure it's free life time replacnent)

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Esee are very cool, but pricey over here

[raistlin65]

Esee are very cool, but pricey over here

Check The Knife Connection. They do international shipping (and have good pricing).

How about a European brand? Lionsteel M2: https://www.lionsteel.it/n/en/product/1664/m2_g10

[ironraven]

Sub 4".... I don't think I can say THE best.

First up, of course, the Mora. Low cost, very good steel for price. Great rep. Handle still concerns me.

Buck Packlite 143, it's a Wallyworld exclusive, $20. A few feet of cord or some plastidip to improve the handle, and a few minutes with a pair of pliers to reduce the excess plastic in the sheath's liner, and you're good. Think of it as a pocket knife- the sheath is meh. Or make your own. It's basically the 140 with a larger blade.

Becker Necker and RAT-3 are both in here

And just to let people have something to think about, go old school. Wood slab handles. 1095 carbon steel. You'll have to make your own sheath- start small with duct tape and a milk jug, work up to leather and bead work. Old Hickory paring knives. They have a clip point that is about 3.25" and another that is in some ways a 4" butcher.

[styx]

I have a TOPS Overlander and it's a good little knife but rusts when you just look at it. My vote would go to the F1

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

My Bob rusts way too easily too

The more I think about it the more I'm sure that the F1s only rival is the slightly more beefy H1 in that size.

I did have a play with a RAT, but it was a bit thinner than I would of liked in a survival knife. Although it was a nice to use for casual bushcrafting tasks.

How did you find the Overlander mate ?

[styx]

I won it in a giveaway on the now defunct Knifetests forum. It's been a solid performer and only thing I'd really change is the sheath. That swivel clip drives me nuts.

Actually if you think about it the F1 might have some competition in the for of GSO 3.5. It's a tad shorter and I'm not sure how reports are of actual use there are but it fits the bill of a small, capable knife

[buck]

Gossman Little Deer Creek
The steel is thick and wide.

I have a Deer Creek and love it.  They don't come cheap, but you did say best.

http://shop.gossmanknives.com/Little-Deer-Creek-LDCA2greenlin.htm

[styx]

good choice Buck

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I won it in a giveaway on the now defunct Knifetests forum. It's been a solid performer and only thing I'd really change is the sheath. That swivel clip drives me nuts.

Actually if you think about it the F1 might have some competition in the for of GSO 3.5. It's a tad shorter and I'm not sure how reports are of actual use there are but it fits the bill of a small, capable knife

That GSO is bloody nice! And a lot of knife for the money

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

good choice Buck

Plus 1

[styx]

I won it in a giveaway on the now defunct Knifetests forum. It's been a solid performer and only thing I'd really change is the sheath. That swivel clip drives me nuts.

Actually if you think about it the F1 might have some competition in the for of GSO 3.5. It's a tad shorter and I'm not sure how reports are of actual use there are but it fits the bill of a small, capable knife

That GSO is bloody nice! And a lot of knife for the money

Outside of neckers there isn't all that much on the market that is affordable and of good quality for the money in that range. Maybe ESEE 3 but similar to TOPS it is rust prone and pricey for what it is. Perhaps a BK11