Survival knives

[lonediver]

Over   

[WhichDawg]

reminds me of my black "Rambo" bowie I got as a kid. hollow handle, compass on the end that had all the goodies inside.
broke first time I tried to use it! $%$#%$& they say a simple Mora does most jobs and is way light and inexpensive for a good survival knife,
course I have many "do all jobs" tank blades that I like too!

[WhichDawg]

my Mora's;

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

In my opinion, most survival knives are just cheap pieces of crap with the survival tag on them to make people buy them

There are a few knives out there worthy of the name , the swedish army survival knife, otherwise known as the Falkniven F1, is an excellent example of the breed

To my mind a true survival knife, should be totally devoid of frills, and just be a good tough workman like blade, made out of good steel, and off full  tang construction, that will not break easily

If I was to find myself in a survival situation, then I'd want either my CS gurka kukri, or my CS trailmaster, anything less and I'd feel under equipped

[WhichDawg]

my F1 and S6;

[Sea Monster]

I have a "Mora" (The "" are for Mora Shape, ChinaMake)

So far it has seen Zero use, the tang is maybe 1/3 length of the handle and set into molded plastic, the blade, if nothing else, is shiny. The Brand is that of a once reputable European company which (after being bought by an American company  ) has started lending its name to shoddy products.

Even if the knife is rubbish, it's the first of this style I've had, and just handling it (shorter blade, nice shaped handle) makes it seem better than the "Tactical", rambo style knives I've encountered in the past.

The only good Bowie is David.

[WhichDawg]

I so agree on the bowie's!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

As long as the clips not too severe, I love bowies

[WhichDawg]

clip points are great for fighting, stabbing soft bodies but not for survival uses! they break.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

clip points are great for fighting, stabbing soft bodies but not for survival uses! they break.

Normally I would agree with you, but I've drilled, pry'd and generally abused the clip on my trailmaster, and it still comes back for more, but then it's a quality steel, properly heat treated and is actually quite thick at the tip, but not to the degree that it's no longer capable of pretty precise work

[Grant Lamontagne]

In my opinion, most survival knives are just cheap pieces of crap with the survival tag on them to make people buy them Angry

There are a few knives out there worthy of the name , the swedish army survival knife, otherwise known as the Falkniven F1, is an excellent example of the breed Smiley

To my mind a true survival knife, should be totally devoid of frills, and just be a good tough workman like blade, made out of good steel, and off full  tang construction, that will not break easily Smiley

If I was to find myself in a survival situation, then I'd want either my CS gurka kukri, or my CS trailmaster, anything less and I'd feel under equipped Grin

Here's a couple of good quality survival knives for you:



Chris Reeve Aviator (although it would be more of a shelf queen nowadays)



Cold Steel Bushman

The Bushman is a super cheap, high quality knife that's tough as hell.  It's a single piece of steel with the handle rolled around so it functions as a  hollow handle, or can be mounted on a shaft to be used as a spear or two handed machete.  I've had a few of them, but people keep "borrowing" them and they never find their way back!

Of course, they are cheap enough that I can keep replacing them!

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Never had a bushman, but I did have (then sold ) an aviator, beautiful little knife, but the tip would have been far to fragile for bushcraft/survival

[WhichDawg]

sweet! I had the bushman delivered all the way to my front door but it was with a knife I already had (accidental sending)
and I had to send the package back with the ups guy, unopened to save on shipping and get my credit so I never kept it!

that CR one piece is one I've drooled over many times. Probably the only hollow handled baby I'd ever get, lucky man Def!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I wish I was that lucky- I don't have, nor ever did have an Aviator.  They just cost too much money for something that will just sit in a drawer.  I have no doubt that they are really nice, but I'd probably never use it.

I was just trying to show that while the majority of hollow handled survival knives on the market are cheap crap, there is a whole spectrum of good stuff available.  The same could be said for just about anything.  I'll bet there are more cheap multitools, SAK knockoffs and Pakistani versions of the Buck 110 sold every day than any real versions.

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Very true def

Chris Reeve one piece hollow handled knives are one of those knives that everyone should handle at least once, they really are a bit special, unfortunately thats reflected in the price

[Grant Lamontagne]

It strikes me as one of those things where it would be hard to top, but that rep causes the price to rise so much that no one would ever use it in the woods in the first place, which of course means to me that as nice as it is, it's useless.

If that makes any sense...

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

It strikes me as one of those things where it would be hard to top, but that rep causes the price to rise so much that no one would ever use it in the woods in the first place, which of course means to me that as nice as it is, it's useless.

If that makes any sense...

Def

Perfect sense, that's why in part I sold it , It is very expensive for a big lump of A2, no matter how well heat treated

[WhichDawg]

yes perfect sense, I know people who have many, many collector pieces that they never.... oops!
Saks count in that!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not against collectors or shelf queens at all- I just don't have the money to afford them!

Def

[WhichDawg]

if you ever win the big one boss, I just want to be your photographer!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Are you kidding?  With the things I'd get into if I won the big one, I wouldn't want a photographer within a hundred miles!

Def

[WhichDawg]

I'll be discreet, I promise! I can just imagine all the ladies, harums!
someone's gonna have to escort them home!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Now that I may need help with.  You see, I plan to tell them all my name is Mike Smithson and I really don't need any photographic evidence to the contrary....

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Now that I may need help with.  You see, I plan to tell them all my name is Mike Smithson and I really don't need any photographic evidence to the contrary....

Def

Just coz were both ugly git's, Grant, doesn't mean you can pull that stunt and have it work

[Grant Lamontagne]

Def

[WhichDawg]

thank gawd most/many women don't go for looks but security!

[WhichDawg]

"Security!"

[Grant Lamontagne]

You called?

Def

[WhichDawg]

LOL I forget! 
hair long, hair short

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Ok guys so what in you opinion, are the essential characteristics and features of a survival knife?, something which is your only tool and you have to rely utterly