Don’t cut this class on survival knife usages
Other than water and shelter, the single most important item to have in the wilderness may be a knife. This versatile tool, which can save your life in a variety of ways, has a single, fixed blade, unlike a folding knife.
If your survival knife features a strong blade made of durable steel, it can perform a wide range of essential tasks for you. Here are 7 of them:
To cut wood – A sturdy knife can cut branches and split wood into kindling. For thicker wood, hit the back of the blade with a branch as you hold the knife against the surface.
To protect yourself – We never know what type of people or animals we’re going to meet in the woods, or how they will feel about our presence there. Your knife can serve to protect yourself from both.
To build a shelter – Start by cutting evergreen boughs on the ground for padding, then cut bigger branches off a tree to build your lean-to. Other leafy branches you can cut will help protect you from the elements.
To dig – A shovel is your first choice for digging, but if you don’t have one, use a knife to dig a small hole for sanitary purposes, as well as to find grubs for eating or worms for fishing bait.
To start a fire – Your knife will be the perfect tool for collecting fire-starting materials by stripping bark off a tree or branch, or shaving dry branches.
To construct tools – There are a number of tools you can make with a knife, including a spear, fishhooks and traps. Use a sturdy stick with the width of a broom handle and sharpen the end with your knife to make a spear to catch fish and small game.
To fashion first-aid items – A knife can be used to cut material into strips for bandages or tourniquets, or to cut branches into splints.
What kind of survival knife do you take into the woods? What are some of the tasks that you use it for? Has having a survival knife ever saved your life?
If you can do it learn to cut sparks from the back of your blade with cipped quarz, chert, or flint.
Stainless tends to throw fewer and weaker sparks. All steel sparks are weaker than ferro rods so need better tinder or ligher fluid.
I personally carry at least two in the woods a machete for large wood and defense a shorter fixed blade for finer work. The machete also will serve better as a shovel.
I have not figured out what the best stainless steel grade is best so I stick to carbon steel blades. I find them easier to sharpen and they seem to hold an edge longer than stainless. Knife prices reflect this as most carbon steel blades are more expensive.
I would think, in a survival situation all your knives will be kept clean due to your usage. so don’t worry about the rust on them. As you sharpen them you will clean off anything left on them.
I’ve done a lot of outdoor stuff, hiking, hunting, camping. I have a lot of knives in my possession to choose from, those that know me seem to always think a new knife would be a good gift (they’re right). But my go to knife for when I think times could get tough is a Cold Steel SRK I bought in the early 90’s. This is a very near indestructible tool, holds a working edge better than most and the kraton material grip has held up through the years. I have even used it as an improvised step to climb a tree. No ill-effect on the blade and I’m 190 lbs. Mid level price, money well spent,
7 purify water. If you don’t have a pot for boiling, you can carve a wooden bowl. put rocks in the fire to heat up and then put them in the bowl to boil the water.
Regarding what is the “Best” knife to get. Instead, focus on getting the best knife you can afford – now. There are a lot of great knives out there that are so expensive; I don’t own any of them. But, the affordable knife I have with me is worth a lot more than the perfect knife still in the store. You can always upgrade later. Don’t let great prevent you from getting something good now. It should be a “full tang”. The blade should not be bendable with your hand. If it feels like it would snap if you put leverage on it, pass it up.
I personally like the big rambo knives. they multi-function as a small machette, hatchet, pry bar, and entrenching tool. They can take a lot of abuse. But I never never just have one knife, ever.
I agree with Jeff. They just don’t make things like they used to. Given that, what survival knives do you recommend?
I have my late father in laws ww2 Army issue k-bar from 1941. It is the best all around fixed blade knife I have ever had. They knew what they were doing in those days. My next favorite is my uncle’s viet nam air force survival knife. In my opinion, they just dont make them this good anymore.
Both of those are excellent choices, though I’d like to have a machete along also, or at least small hand ax. While you can do most anything with a basic, tough survival knife, building shelter or dealing with larger branches for firewood, etc., goes a lot faster with a machete or ax, and saves your strength for more important things.
Both of those knives used to go really cheap on eBay, but though the prices have gone up a bit, you can still pick up used ones that can be properly sharpened and cleaned up to be very useful tools — and for a lot less than paying retail for a good Case or other brand-name survival knife.
One point with those AF survival knives and the trusty old K-Bar — the older ones, especially, tend to rust quicker than many of the modern stainless knives, which is not an issue IF you keep that in mind and check it occasionally, if the knife gets stored rather than used regularly. That is especially true if you store it in a car or an outdoor shed.
A light coat of oil or wax will usually keep it in good shape if the storage is less than ideal.
I know this is off subject, but I would like to know what leaves and such can be used to wipe your *** after sanitary practices. Wouldn’t want to use the wrong ones! (Some are obvious, some ain’t so much). Maybe a subject for a future post? Thanks!
My flower garden includes Lamb’s Ear for those just-in-case times. ha!
We sometimes used leaves of the Mullein {commonly called mules ear} plant when we were herding cattle on the range when I was a kid, about 60 or so years ago. It is aptly named because of the size and shape of the leaves, and they are very soft. DON’T USE sage brush or scrub oak leaves. They irritate like hell!
Dear Frank,
As always, you are right on!!!
We devoted a whole chapter to diiscuss in detail the best variety of small to large cutting tools that can make desperation living while in survival mode easier and safer whatever the scenario, in our book; SURVIVAL 101 – HOW TO BUG OUT AND SURVIVE THE FIRST 72 HOURS, available here through Power4Patriiots … or from us directly (for an autographed copy).
For our family, having a quality hunting knife in all our BOB’s is our “Survival Tool Number One!”
That does not mean a macho jumbo sized chopper like a Machete, Rambo or Bowie knife. They are “cool” but, they are very unwieldy for most of the thousands of daily cutting chores required, during survival.
We prefer a well balanced hunter with a blade never more than 8″ long, single edged with a strong hilt for safety and sturdy belt scabbard.
Of course, we hate going anywhere 24/7/365 without our trusty “McGyver Tool” (a quality multi-tool) close at hand!!!
God Bless America and our Troops,
Orrin