Choosing the Right Survival Knife
If you were limited to just one tool you could carry, what would you pick?
I bet most of you would say a knife. Now, I don’t need to tell you how important it is to have a reliable survival knife in your bug-out bag.
Next to food and water, it could very well be the most important item you could have if you’re forced into the wilderness in a survival situation.
And the nice thing about owning a sturdy and dependable knife is that you’ll probably have a number of usages for it even before you’re forced to bug out.
For example, you may need it to protect yourself and your family in the case of a home invasion. Or you may need it while you’re camping, hiking or hunting for cleaning fish, skinning game or hacking up kindling.
So, owning a good survival knife is a no-brainer. The question then becomes, which one?
Key Survival Knife Features
Let’s look at some of the features every good survival knife should have.
- Full tang, stainless steel construction. That means no weak points, screws, hinges, or other moving parts that are subject to falling apart under rugged conditions. A full tang that goes all the way to the base of the handle, is considered the best for a quality survival knife. The full tang gives the entire knife strength.
- Made from a single piece of stainless steel and razor sharp. Survival Knives generally come in two types of steel: Stainless or Carbon. Although an argument can be made for either survival knife, stainless steal is virtually indestructible, can take a beating and last a long time without rusting.
- Classic straight-back design. A straight blade knife is much easier to sharpen whereas a serrated edge almost always takes a special sharpener. It’s also easier for basic survival needs such as chopping wood.
- Teflon-coated blade and handle. This aspect makes it easier not only to clean the blade, but also allows for a strong grip with no rust.
- Ability to perform basic survival needs with ease. In any survival situation, you’ll want a universal tool for basic tasks. Including cutting wood, building a shelter, digging in dirt, constructing tools and fashioning first-aid items.
So How Do You Choose the Right Survival Knife for You?
If you search for “survival knife” or “tactical knife” online, you’ll see hundreds of options. While what you choose should come down to personal taste, you should also consider features and construction.
My suggestion?
The all-purpose Liberty Blade Tactical Knife.
This knife’s classic, straight-back design means it’s perfect for skinning game, cleaning fish or any other everyday task.
It’s solid enough to take (and keep) a fine edge, but not so hard that it’s going to break in half if you put it through the ringer.
The Teflon-coated blade and handle means it cleans up easily and offers even more protection for the stainless-steel core. No dull or rusty blades here.
And the Liberty Blade handle is wrapped in seven feet of paracord. If you’re ever in a pinch and you need some cordage for anything from survival trapping to creating an emergency tourniquet, the Liberty Blade is your best choice.
It also has an eye just below the tang and two at the base of the handle so you can securely attach your knife to just about anything, turning it into a spear or an axe.
