What are the Attributes of an Ultimate Survival Knife? First you need to ask your self what you would do if you found yourself in an unexpected survival situation? You would definitely want a knife you can depend on to get you through the worst of situations.
If you are looking at this, you are probably the type of person who likes to plan ahead, and doesn’t like unpleasant surprises. Naturally, you want to be prepared for any contingency, and not settle for just any knife you can find. When you want the best, there are several options to choose from. Everybody has their own personal preferences on the best type of knife to use for camping or hiking. But when you are faced with a dangerous or extreme situation, you want the very best you can get, and we can help you make the right decision.
The following are some hints and tips to help you determine what the best choice of survival knife is for you.
Things to consider when buying a survival knife.
- Overall length (this is the combined length of both the blade and the handle length).
- Weight in Ounces; if the knife is too heavy, it will be hard to handle in a situation. On the other hand, if it is too light, then you have a greater chance of it not being able to do the job you bought it for, or worse yet it breaks under pressure.
- Blade Material: This is usually the metal that is used to construct the blade. The best knives are usually carbon steel or 440 steel which are good sturdy knives that will last though just about any situation. They also will keep a pretty sharp edge with a minimum of sharpening, depending on what you use the knife for. It you are cutting tree branches with it, you may find yourself sharpening it more often than if you are using it to cut softer items.
- Price; depending on the materials and workmanship of the knife, your prices can range from under $30 to as high as $300 or more. It all depends how much you want to spend and how much you will be using your survival knife. Again it all depends on where you are looking to buy a survival knife. There are many hunting outlets that offer excellent discounts on quality survival knives. If you go to specialty stores that deal with other types of survival gear you may very well pay more as you are paying for the name of the store.
What to buy?
There are two basic kinds of knives that are used for survival. Either a fixed blade or a folding blade. The advantage to a folding blade is that it can be carried or put away easily when not in use, however that is about the limit to the usefulness of a folding knife. When it comes to the advantages of a knife with a fixed blade they are a far better choice in knives. Mainly, the fixed blade is sturdier and you don’t have to worry about the blade separating from the handle at the most inopportune moment. It can be used for a wide assortment of activities with little to no problems. Things like, digging, breaking up ice, cutting tree branches, a hammer, constructing a shelter and much more.
Most people like to carry at least two knives with them. A regular fixed blade and also a serious blade for cutting all manner of things, (like sharpening arrows, cleaning game or fish, cutting cord or twine, etc. Your other blade can be a backup for the first one, but a fixed blade is always going to be the priority, no matter what.
The next thing that you need to look at for a survival knife is the type of tang it has. There are 3 types of tang, full tang, partial tang and rat tail tang.
A full tang is the strongest, as it runs the full length of the handle. This type is definitely going to be stronger and more reliable than a partial tang. This type of knife is better able to handle extreme usage or high pressure without the chance of breaking. A full tang knife blade can be used in a pinch even if the handle breaks, you still have something to hold on to when using the knife.
A partial tang is just what is says, only as long as part of the handle and generally not as strong as a full tang. A rat tail tang is only a small thin extension of the blade, into the handle and usually not recommended, as it can break easily, and you have no knife to use.
More importantly is the blade of your survival knife. There are a lot of different types of blades available, but the following are two of the best examples.
One popular type is the Clip Point blade. It has a nice sharp tip which can lead to sinking or hollow. In addition, the blade can be turned into a hunting rifle.
The next type is called a Spear Point blade. This tip is designed like the sides of an arrow. It is very solid and sturdy yet makes an excellent cutting tool. The only disadvantage is that it’s difficult to use in some more delicate tasks, but is a good blade, nevertheless.
When it comes to the edge of your blade, You want something that has either a double bevel or saber as they are easiest to sharpen and hold a good edge for long periods of time. This especially good if you are out in the middle of nowhere and don’t have a lot of special sharpening equipment.
Overall, you can’t go wrong when buying a good quality survival knife. You want to follow a basic design and stick with either carbon steel or 440 steel. It is a good idea to think ahead, especially if you are planning a trip that takeaway from civilization to the middle of nowhere. You never know when a good survival knife will save your life.
