Survival Knives

[Gareth]

I got this from Neil after the last meet-up.



TBH I've never had an issue with the lack of any kind of finger guard on this style of knife and I've got to say the grip in very comfortable.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I got this from Neil after the last meet-up.

(Image removed from quote.)

TBH I've never had an issue with the lack of any kind of finger guard on this style of knife and I've got to say the grip in very comfortable.

Nice knife, Gareth!  I'd say it's *pretty* 

Thanks for the info.  Nothing personal against the style, I've just always felt more secure when there's a guard or place for my fingers.

And the wait for my Golok is killing me!!!   

[Gareth]

'Pretty' is probably not all that unfair.   It's a J.Marttiini (a Finnish knife brand) and has "Joulumaa, Santa Claus Land" stamped on the sheath.  A nice knife anyway and seems to have taken a good edge.  Not actually done much of anything with it yet, other than sharpen it, so I can't say how good it is but I can't see any issues ATM.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

'Pretty' is probably not all that unfair.   It's a J.Marttiini (a Finnish knife brand) and has "Joulumaa, Santa Claus Land" stamped on the sheath.(Image removed from quote.)  A nice knife anyway and seems to have taken a good edge.  Not actually done much of anything with it yet, other than sharpen it, so I can't say how good it is but I can't see any issues ATM.

Either way, it's a beauty, for sure.    Have fun!

Tell you what, you post more pics of your new Martini, and I'll post some pics of my Golok when it comes... if it ever does...   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thread necro!

This was a fun thread and I thought I'd bring it back up to see if anyone has anything to add.  If not, it's a good read at least!

Def

[Nix]

I enjoy these sorts of threads because of the diversity of discussion they generate.

I also don't think there is any 'one' ideal survival knife. The reality is--as others already stated in this thread--the best survival knife is the one you have with you when the Smurf's hit the Mosh Pit. And different circumstances will suggest different survival 'knives'. A good machete will be the tool of choice in tropical environments, a good axe in more boreal climates.

As a basic survival tool, I think it's hard to beat a Vic Farmer or Leatherman Wave. The "Survivorman" series highlights how different tools can all serve a survival role.

I've been run through a few military survival courses and have come to the conclusion that one's mentality is more significant than one's tool set. Still, it's always nice to be equipped with a handy tools set.

I usually deployed with a Vic Farmer and a multitool, Wave or Charge. In addition, I carried a fixed blade. Initially I carried a Camilus USAF Pilot's knife, but then I got Scott Gossman to make me the knife pictured below. I asked him to make me a 5.5" knife I could use to cut my way out of a downed helicopter. Here's what he came up with:



Off the leash:



I absolutely love this knife, simple as it is. And yet, I almost never carry it now. When I go off on an adventure or road trip, this isn't the knife I carry.

Why?

Because this knife is now special to me and I don't want to risk it being damaged or lost. How is that for backward, smurfed thinking?

But, also, I'm not sure that any old knife won't also serve as a 'survival knife' in a crisis. How often will you really need anything more than a Vic Farmer in a tight spot?

[Top-Gear-24]

I enjoy these sorts of threads because of the diversity of discussion they generate.

I also don't think there is any 'one' ideal survival knife. The reality is--as others already stated in this thread--the best survival knife is the one you have with you when the Smurf's hit the Mosh Pit. And different circumstances will suggest different survival 'knives'. A good machete will be the tool of choice in tropical environments, a good axe in more boreal climates.

As a basic survival tool, I think it's hard to beat a Vic Farmer or Leatherman Wave. The "Survivorman" series highlights how different tools can all serve a survival role.

I've been run through a few military survival courses and have come to the conclusion that one's mentality is more significant than one's tool set. Still, it's always nice to be equipped with a handy tools set.

I usually deployed with a Vic Farmer and a multitool, Wave or Charge. In addition, I carried a fixed blade. Initially I carried a Camilus USAF Pilot's knife, but then I got Scott Gossman to make me the knife pictured below. I asked him to make me a 5.5" knife I could use to cut my way out of a downed helicopter. Here's what he came up with:

(Image removed from quote.)

Off the leash:

(Image removed from quote.)

I absolutely love this knife, simple as it is. And yet, I almost never carry it now. When I go off on an adventure or road trip, this isn't the knife I carry.

Why?

Because this knife is now special to me and I don't want to risk it being damaged or lost. How is that for backward, smurfed thinking?

But, also, I'm not sure that any old knife won't also serve as a 'survival knife' in a crisis. How often will you really need anything more than a Vic Farmer in a tight spot?

That's one beautiful knife you have there mate  .

I wouldn't use it either, but then again, I only really use stuff that I own doubles from (or triples  ).

[Nix]

Thanks, 24.

I feel badly about not using this knife more, but, then, how often do you need to cut your way out of a helicopter?  Scott makes a great knife, and if this one had a more conventional sheath, I'd probably carry it more regularly.

 

[styx]

reminds me a bit of a smaller Tusker that Gossman makes

[Grant Lamontagne]

That is a beautiful knife.   

If you want a good knife that can cut you out of a helicopter (and clean fish, strip bark or pretty well anything else you want to do) plus has a normal looking traditional leather sheath, check out Grohmann knives.  Specifically the #1 which was issued to the Canadian Paratrooper Corps (the Red Arrows) in the late 60's or my latest go to knife, the #4 if you want something bigger.  They are both a lot more knife than folks give  them credit for. 

I recently picked up a book in a discount store called The Ultimate Survival Manual- Canadian Edition.  It features 333 Survival Skills, and I'm not sure how I managed to live on this planet for 43 years (so far) without the knowledge contained within.  It has interesting articles like "How to survive a lion attack" which doesn't strike me as an overly common issue in Canada that I need to prepare for, you know, as we don't have lions in Canada.

Yes, some of you will point out that we have mountain lions, but the article is about African Lions, which are very differently behaved than our mountain lions, rendering the article useless..

There's another section on how to deal with a broken bone.  At one point it says don't try to reset the bone if it is protruding the skin, just splint it as is.  Then nothing.  So, I guess once you splint it, it'll be ok, and you can just leave it that way?   

It does say in the beginning though, that survival is more of a mindset than any gear, which I think is something we all can agree on.

Def

[ThePeacent]

I absolutely love this knife, simple as it is. And yet, I almost never carry it now. When I go off on an adventure or road trip, this isn't the knife I carry.

Why?

Because this knife is now special to me and I don't want to risk it being damaged or lost. How is that for backward, smurfed thinking?

But, also, I'm not sure that any old knife won't also serve as a 'survival knife' in a crisis. How often will you really need anything more than a Vic Farmer in a tight spot?

that's a lovely knife down to basics. No complicated blade shape, complex grind, fancy scales material, no weird screws or unnecessary add-ons...truly a utilitarian and straightforward working blade.
I like that it screams simplicity, but also versatility and usefulness..

a nice piece as usual   

[Nix]

I've got a Grohmann #1 belt knife which I picked up in Nova Scotia at the factory. Mine has a flat grind, and makes a great slicer. I was so pleased with it that I got a couple more to give to family as gifts.

I think the #3 is the famous Army 'Jump knife'. The #4 looks like a beast of a survival knife and would be a solid choice for anyone. I'm surprised more makers haven't copied the ergonomic design Grohmann pioneered.

[SteveC]

Thanks, 24.

I feel badly about not using this knife more, but, then, how often do you need to cut your way out of a helicopter?  Scott makes a great knife, and if this one had a more conventional sheath, I'd probably carry it more regularly.

 

It's a good thing you know someone who does nice leather work 

[Nix]

 

[Greg Jones]

I enjoy these sorts of threads because of the diversity of discussion they generate.

I also don't think there is any 'one' ideal survival knife. The reality is--as others already stated in this thread--the best survival knife is the one you have with you when the Smurf's hit the Mosh Pit. And different circumstances will suggest different survival 'knives'. A good machete will be the tool of choice in tropical environments, a good axe in more boreal climates.

As a basic survival tool, I think it's hard to beat a Vic Farmer or Leatherman Wave. The "Survivorman" series highlights how different tools can all serve a survival role.

I've been run through a few military survival courses and have come to the conclusion that one's mentality is more significant than one's tool set. Still, it's always nice to be equipped with a handy tools set.

I usually deployed with a Vic Farmer and a multitool, Wave or Charge. In addition, I carried a fixed blade. Initially I carried a Camilus USAF Pilot's knife, but then I got Scott Gossman to make me the knife pictured below. I asked him to make me a 5.5" knife I could use to cut my way out of a downed helicopter. Here's what he came up with:

(Image removed from quote.)

Off the leash:

(Image removed from quote.)

I absolutely love this knife, simple as it is. And yet, I almost never carry it now. When I go off on an adventure or road trip, this isn't the knife I carry.

Why?

Because this knife is now special to me and I don't want to risk it being damaged or lost. How is that for backward, smurfed thinking?

But, also, I'm not sure that any old knife won't also serve as a 'survival knife' in a crisis. How often will you really need anything more than a Vic Farmer in a tight spot?

Beautiful knife Nix.
I just saw this topic and read the last page, I'll take the time to read it from the start soon

[Nix]

Here's a pic of my Grohmann (Stamped #KI, but I'm fairly sure it's a FFG #1.)

[Alan K.]

I don't like survival knives.  I never even liked knives with larger than 4 inch blades.  I couldn't figure out why people wanted to carry a huge, heavy knife, that to me was hard to work with. I still prefer to carry a machete for chopping and a smaller knife for knife jobs.  Then it dawned on me that all the YouTube proponents of big heavy survival knives were from up north in the pine and deciduous forests.  They're all axe guys used to chopping hard and sappy trees and they really don't do well with machetes. They would never go camping without a hatchet or camp axe, so a big heavy knife is an easy transition.  Why? because a big knife is not a substitute for a machete but it is a substitute for a hatchet and if I was in an area of hardwoods where a hatchet might come in handy then I suppose I would find a big heavy knife more universally useful than a hatchet if that was all I had with me for some silly reason.  I don't think I've had only one knife on me in years so I don't think I have to worry about it.

[theonew]

This was my first fixed blade purchase after I developed a knife addiction about 10 - 11 years ago. The Chris Reeve Mountaineer II.



I bought it used on the bay of E for a pretty good price, I think around $150. I carried and used it on camping and hiking trips until another fixed blade arrived, and then another and another and so on   I really like the hollow handle design and carried a variety of useful items in it when it was actively used. Even now that I pull it out after 5 years of hiding there were matches and a striker inside. It is a pretty cool knife and I'm tempted to carry it again but now that these are discontinued and the prices asked are over the top, I may just keep this as one of the few collector pieces I own.

[microbe]

The whole survival thing is pretty unlikely for me personally (I don't go camping anymore, less it be in a hotel room), as per OP. Having water in my car on a hot summer day, and have my mobile charged helps me survive better then a carrying a survival knife.  Still, you never know what may happen. Earthquakes, Zombies, Alien invasions etc. So having something that may help out in such a situation is not a bad thing. Hence I have a few items that besides chopping up a supermarket bought chicken or some ice blocks, are very rarely used, and are sitting in the bottom drawer of my bed side table. (burglars, be warned)
My SOG Tech Bowie, and Fast Hawk.

Maybe not the best survival tools out there, but I cut some trees with both and they seem to work as advertised, and I like the way they look.

[ThePeacent]

The whole survival thing is pretty unlikely for me personally (I don't go camping anymore, less it be in a hotel room), as per OP. Having water in my car on a hot summer day, and have my mobile charged helps me survive better then a carrying a survival knife.  Still, you never know what may happen. Earthquakes, Zombies, Alien invasions etc. So having something that may help out in such a situation is not a bad thing. Hence I have a few items that besides chopping up a supermarket bought chicken or some ice blocks, are very rarely used, and are sitting in the bottom drawer of my bed side table. (burglars, be warned)
My SOG Tech Bowie, and Fast Hawk.
(Image removed from quote.)
Maybe not the best survival tools out there, but I cut some trees with both and they seem to work as advertised, and I like the way they look.

good tools  and true that here we don't have many "disaster scenarios" threatening to pop up where we live,
but in Spain you'd better not take those out of home...

even in the outdoors you're sure to meet the authorities sooner or later if you're seen with them   

[microbe]

The whole survival thing is pretty unlikely for me personally (I don't go camping anymore, less it be in a hotel room), as per OP. Having water in my car on a hot summer day, and have my mobile charged helps me survive better then a carrying a survival knife.  Still, you never know what may happen. Earthquakes, Zombies, Alien invasions etc. So having something that may help out in such a situation is not a bad thing. Hence I have a few items that besides chopping up a supermarket bought chicken or some ice blocks, are very rarely used, and are sitting in the bottom drawer of my bed side table. (burglars, be warned)
My SOG Tech Bowie, and Fast Hawk.
(Image removed from quote.)
Maybe not the best survival tools out there, but I cut some trees with both and they seem to work as advertised, and I like the way they look.

good tools  and true that here we don't have many "disaster scenarios" threatening to pop up where we live,
but in Spain you'd better not take those out of home...

even in the outdoors you're sure to meet the authorities sooner or later if you're seen with them   

Thanks! On my own property, it is perfectly fine to have, but out in the streets, anything with a blade over 11 cm is illegal in Spain.
I suppose when the SHTF, it's a different story.
BTW: My toy slingshot is illegal to.

I would face jail time if they would catch me with that.

[ThePeacent]

The whole survival thing is pretty unlikely for me personally (I don't go camping anymore, less it be in a hotel room), as per OP. Having water in my car on a hot summer day, and have my mobile charged helps me survive better then a carrying a survival knife.  Still, you never know what may happen. Earthquakes, Zombies, Alien invasions etc. So having something that may help out in such a situation is not a bad thing. Hence I have a few items that besides chopping up a supermarket bought chicken or some ice blocks, are very rarely used, and are sitting in the bottom drawer of my bed side table. (burglars, be warned)
My SOG Tech Bowie, and Fast Hawk.
(Image removed from quote.)
Maybe not the best survival tools out there, but I cut some trees with both and they seem to work as advertised, and I like the way they look.

good tools  and true that here we don't have many "disaster scenarios" threatening to pop up where we live,
but in Spain you'd better not take those out of home...

even in the outdoors you're sure to meet the authorities sooner or later if you're seen with them   

Thanks! On my own property, it is perfectly fine to have, but out in the streets, anything with a blade over 11 cm is illegal in Spain.
I suppose when the SHTF, it's a different story.
BTW: My toy slingshot is illegal to.
(Image removed from quote.)
I would face jail time if they would catch me with that.

kewl! 
I have one from The Slingshot Channel and two old metal bodied ones,
and yes we'd be in trouble with those in almost any context in this country   

[microbe]

The whole survival thing is pretty unlikely for me personally (I don't go camping anymore, less it be in a hotel room), as per OP. Having water in my car on a hot summer day, and have my mobile charged helps me survive better then a carrying a survival knife.  Still, you never know what may happen. Earthquakes, Zombies, Alien invasions etc. So having something that may help out in such a situation is not a bad thing. Hence I have a few items that besides chopping up a supermarket bought chicken or some ice blocks, are very rarely used, and are sitting in the bottom drawer of my bed side table. (burglars, be warned)
My SOG Tech Bowie, and Fast Hawk.
(Image removed from quote.)
Maybe not the best survival tools out there, but I cut some trees with both and they seem to work as advertised, and I like the way they look.

good tools  and true that here we don't have many "disaster scenarios" threatening to pop up where we live,
but in Spain you'd better not take those out of home...

even in the outdoors you're sure to meet the authorities sooner or later if you're seen with them   

Thanks! On my own property, it is perfectly fine to have, but out in the streets, anything with a blade over 11 cm is illegal in Spain.
I suppose when the SHTF, it's a different story.
BTW: My toy slingshot is illegal to.
(Image removed from quote.)
I would face jail time if they would catch me with that.

kewl! 
I have one from The Slingshot Channel and two old metal bodied ones,
and yes we'd be in trouble with those in almost any context in this country   

I need to change the illegal hollow tube rubber band with a flat band, that would legally make it a toy again.
The funny thing is that some flat bands are even more powerful then the hollow tube ones.
The law sometimes does not make any sense....

[pfrsantos]

I started making a sheath for an all-purpose-probably-even-survival knife. I think the sheath will be more survival-like than the knife...

 

[magentus]

I started making a sheath for an all-purpose-probably-even-survival knife. I think the sheath will be more survival-like than the knife...

 

[pfrsantos]

I started making a sheath for an all-purpose-probably-even-survival knife. I think the sheath will be more survival-like than the knife...

 

I'll get some pics of it. Still working on the carry method attachments.

 

[deputy tom]

I've really enjoyed reading this old thread. tom. 

[Greg Jones]

I hang out so much in the Swiss Army Knights, I forgot how many other great topics there are.
Here's my #4 Grohman, bought around 1980/81.
And like Nix said it's a beast, a real chopper that could replace a hatchet

[Poncho65]

That Grohman is awesome

[Mechanickal]

I think my latest is a survival knife too.
Ready to tackle just about anything.



A Mora Garberg.
As with some others here, it'll most likely be on stand-by for most of the time, but with the first valid excuse to take it on a hike, I will