Anyone who spends significant time outside, camping, fishing, hiking, or engaging in other rugged sports, will need to carry a survival knife. Like many items, the design and quality of these knives has changed over the years. Survival knives used by those in the military or by outdoorsmen were originally 'any old knife' that was handy. These were often butcher knives because of the large blade these knives have. These first knives generally did not have any kind of guard and the attachment of the tang could be anything from excellent to incompetent.
The first true ‘survival knives’ really were seen during the Second World War, when knives were distributed to those who might find themselves behind enemy lines. The quality and configuration of the knife varied from service to service, but this is where the concept of this kind of knife actually began. Serrations were not added to survival knives until the Vietnam War. Both medical personnel and trapped soldiers needed a knife that would be able to saw through the fuselage of a downed aircraft, and producing a survival knife with a serrated edge proved to be the answer to the problem.
The uncertain condition of the present world also means that there may come a time when you will have to ‘Bug Out’, and during a time like this, a survival knife will probably prove to be your most important piece of equipment.
Survival Knives Are Not All Created Equal
While the survival knife that you choose will depend upon many factors – cost, appearance, features – always keep in mind the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” Do some research before deciding upon which knife you want, and do not let your judgement be swayed simply by how the knife looks – durability and reliability are more important qualities.
- The blade of any survival knife is the most important component, and you will usually have a choice between stainless steel or carbon steel. Keep in mind that while a carbon steel blade will stay sharp longer, it will rust. The thickness of the blade should also be taken into consideration, and the thicker the better – it will be sturdier and more likely to tolerate stress than a thinner blade. Most blades will be in the range of 5 to 8 inches – too much longer and you’ll start to feel like you are carrying a short sword.
- The serrations on a survival blade are usually on the back of the blade (some have serrations towards the back of the cutting edge). A serrated blade can be very useful for sawing through wood if you need a fire or a shelter, but the serrations also make it more likely that the blade will snap at some point.
- Most people will, understandably, focus on the blade of a survival knife, but the handle of your knife can also make or break it. A wide range of materials are used to make the handles, everything from plastic to bone or metal. Some handles are hollow to allow you to carry such emergency supplies as matches or a small compass. A solid handle is best, and the tang of the knife should extend far down the handle as well, preferably all the way to the end. Handles with compartments are much more likely to break than solid ones.
- The sheath is generally the weak sister as regards survival knives. Even if the manufacturer has gone all out to produce a superior knife, you will generally find that the sheath is shoddy. If you buy a premium survival knife and it comes with a flimsy plastic sheath, you should consider purchasing a quality sheath that will keep your knife safe when not in use.
How Your Survival Knife Can Be Used
Although it is highly unlikely that you will have to be cutting your way out of a downed aircraft, there are still many ways that a survival knife will be useful. Camping or hiking or bugging out can mean that you may need to be able to live without outside support. A survival knife will allow you to either saw or split wood (depending upon whether it is serrated or not, and where the serrations are located), skin and cut up game, or even for hunting or defense from two- or four-legged attackers. If you need a shelter to get through a difficult outdoor situation, a survival knife is ideal for cutting small branches or even saplings to construct a hut, and also for cutting vegetation that will be used to cover the hut and insulate the floor.
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Survival Goods
My name is David Michaud, am a Mining Engineer and I am a proud owner and operator of Survival-Goods. I have a strong passion for health and safety, particularly for emergency preparedness. I urge and encourage everyone to have emergency supplies on hand for everyone in the family, office, school and vehicle(s). We live in a world of uncertainty and it's my goal to help provide all of North America with emergency survival kits and disaster supplies in an easy, fast and affordable manner using our reliable and secure Survival Goods store.
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