Best Survival Knives: Everything You Need To Know

Nieka Ranises

Everyone loves nature, whether it’s an evening walk through the jungle or a morning hike through the ravine. However, it’s not every time that nature is all sunshine and rainbows. 

Sometimes, it can be harsh. You never know what you might face in the middle of nowhere.

Therefore, it’s essential to be prepared for every situation. Keeping specific tools for survival can help you evade most of the problems while strolling through the wild. 

Among these tools, a survival knife is one of the most preferred options among survivalists. Knives are one of the most versatile and are easy to carry without requiring much space, hence becoming the favorite.

However, the challenge arises with the choices; with so many options available in the market, how does one choose the best one? 

Worry not because in this article, we’ll be discussing the best survival knives so that you can choose the one that complements your needs.

1. Lord & Field Frontiersman Survival Knife, 1095 Carbon Steel

The Lord & Field Frontiersman Survival Knife is among the most extraordinary and valuable knives known to mankind today. As with any outdoor survival scenario, this is not only a knife but a complete multi-tool tackling almost every survival situation. 

With features like a fishhook and spike or cotton tinder located in the handle of the knife, it becomes apparent why the design is considered to be quite inventive. This knife also has a Ferrocerium rod and striker, so you have all you need when it comes to fire, hunting or anything else in the wild with you.

However, what makes the Lord & Field Frontiersman stand out are many concealed survival features. Within the handle, there is a bow drill divot, two fishhooks, and a cotton tinder. Equipped with such advanced features, the knife is a chopping tool and a necessity for your survival box.

Key Features

Blade Length: 4.5 inches 

Handle Length: 4.75 inches

Overall Length: 9.25 inches

Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel

Handle: Green Canvas Micarta

Multi-tool features: Traps, fishhooks, arrowheads, and cotton tinder

Ferrocerium Rod; Striker

NT Premium Leather Holster Carry Sheath for Scout pistol, a right-handed draw

Perfect for fire lighting, game scouting, and all-around outdoor pursuits

2. ESEE 5P Survival Knife

Curated by survival specialists for survival situations, the ESEE 5P is a tough fighter that has it all for every wilderness task. This knife comes with a 5.25-inch carbon steel blade that has a thickness on the spine – making it suitable for use in chopping or batoning. 

Made of Micarta, the handle is not only very hard but offers immaculate grips even when wet or slippery. It has become a preference of survivalists because of its resilience, its ease of sharpening, and, most significantly, because of the material it is made from.

Key Features

Blade Length: 5.25 inches

Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel

Handle: Micarta

Perfect for bushcraft, producing fire and chopping purposes

3. Gerber StrongArm

The Gerber StrongArm is a strong all-round survival knife. It comes with a 4.8-inch full tang, a stainless steel blade with a ceramic coating for enhanced corrosion performance, and easy-to-clean sharp edges. 

This knife needs no introduction when it comes to its sheath; it comes with a multi-mount sheath system to allow for vertical or horizontal carry. It features a textured rubber handle, which enables a firm grip even in wet and dry conditions.

Key Features

Blade Length: 4.8 inches

Blade Material: 420HC stainless steel

Handle: Textured rubber

It is perfectly applicable for things such as personal protection, setting fire, and cutting food.

Best Uses for a Survival Knife

Now that you’ve learned about the significant features, you should know how to utilize a survival knife in real-world scenarios. 

1. Building Shelter

Building a shelter might be essential to protecting yourself from the elements during a survival crisis. Cutting branches, preparing supplies, and even creating joints to hold your shelter together all need the use of a robust and sharp survival knife.   

2. Preparing Food

Whether you’re cleaning fish, skinning, or chopping vegetables, a survival knife might come in handy when cooking outdoors. These tasks are best performed with a full-tang, fixed-blade knife with a sharp edge.

3. Lighting a Fire

Some survival knives are designed to strike a ferrocerium rod with the spine of the blade in order to produce sparks that can start a fire. The ideal spine edge for this is a sharp, 90-degree angle.

How to Maintain Your Survival Knife

Your knife will last longer if you take good care of it and make sure it still works well in survival scenarios. 

Clean After Every Usage: To avoid rust, wipe the blade clean with a moist cloth and let it air dry right away. 

Sharpen Regularly: A dull knife is not only inefficient but also hazardous. Purchase a high-quality sharpener to maintain the blade’s sharpness. 

Oil the Blade: If the blade is made of high-carbon steel, specifically, lightly oil it to avoid corrosion.

Store Properly: Keep your knife out of the water and always keep it in its sheath.

Bottomline

Selecting the appropriate survival knife might be crucial when out in the wilderness. 

For any outdoor trip, having a trustworthy knife in your bag is essential, whether you’re fishing, carving, chopping, or lighting a fire. 

A good survival knife isn’t simply a tool—it’s your lifeline when nature confronts you the hardest.

So why hold off? 

Get one of these best survival knives right away to be ready for your upcoming trip.

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