How to Choose the Perfect Survival Knife

[RicInOR]

....here's the REAL survival pliers....
View attachment 400404

Fence Tool. I have one of those in my shed.

The Linesman and Dykes are on my workbench (pegboard)

 

[DeanMk]

Yeah, that's what my boss kept trying to tell me....

You should probably listen to him. Sounds like a smart guy.

 

[DeanMk]

Never heard those called dykes, I've always heard them called Lineman's or Kleins...

THESE are dykes....

View attachment 400384

Oh no, not again.

 

[bbbass]

Dikes.

 

[RicInOR]

If we are spelling: diagonal cutters
http://www.crescenttool.com/pliers/crescent-9336n-6-diagonal-cutting-general-purpose-pliers.html



http://www.crescenttool.com/pliers/...-cutting-solid-joint-pliers-cushion-grip.html

http://www.crescenttool.com/pliers/...leverage-solid-joint-pliers-cushion-grip.html

http://www.crescenttool.com/pliers/...nce-tool-solid-joint-pliers-cushion-grip.html

 

[41mag]

I've got a pair of 'fencing pliers' from my step=grandpa that he inherited from his dad in Kansas circa 1930. Work good as new.

A truly magnificent design for a surprising range of chores.

 

[ArtBrownSr]

....here's the REAL survival pliers....
View attachment 400404

I got a set of them in my hand right now but they are marked " UTICA 1932-10 1/4" ( on the upper half of the swing with the hammer head to the left) and "UTICA NY USA" (on the bottom of the swing same side) IF you flip it over on the right handle next to the "plier " is marked with a "3" standing out rather than indented into the metal.
I call it the ORIGINAL Multi-tool!

 

[Argonaut]

This is the original multi tool

 

[Andy54Hawken]

View attachment 400952 This is the original multi tool

I can see it now.... A sales flyer from 10,000 BC:
Honest Ogg's Slightly used flint and other rocks emporium
One Lightly used Spear point , only on Mammoth and only after Church on Sunday's by Ugh's Old lady...
Andy

 

[DeanMk]

Bah! You kids, with your fire and your wheel!...gimmee a good rock any day.

 

[CamoDeafie]

I can see it now.... A sales flyer from 10,000 BC:
Honest Ogg's Slightly used flint and other rocks emporium
One Lightly used Spear point , only on Mammoth and only after Church on Sunday's by Ugh's Old lady...
Andy

Flyer? What flyer? Ya meant the cave paintings?

 

[ATCclears]

View attachment 400952 This is the original multi tool

 

[DeanMk]

^^^gives a whole new meaning to, "build it and they will come" ^^^

 

[Boats]

So, for once I read the linked article.

I disagree with the author that your "survival knife" needs to be full tang. He in fact goes so far about this so as to be wrong when he wrote, "There are no advantages at all in having a hidden tang knife."

Bzzzt! There are in fact several.

1. Ergonomics. Most full tang knives, but not all, come with slab sided handles, usually made of canvas micarta, though some poseur tools come cord wrapped. Some, like many Fallkniven examples use a glued over synthetic rubberized grip handle no one seems to complain about falling off.

The grip these provide are mostly just various flavors of "off the rack." Most feature easy ways to develop hot spots where under hard use you may easily develop blisters.

2. While their generally flat sided grips are carry friendly, the grips of full tangs are not as user friendly as the more hand filling grip a typical hidden tang knife can provide especially when using gloves.

3. Nearly all full tang knives leave steel exposed around the perimeter of the grip. Not very forgiving of touching bare skin in extreme cold environs.

From kukris in Nepal, to barongs in the Philippines, to the trade knives of trappers, to the puukkos of the Finns, hidden or stick tang knives conquered the world before the full tang knife put its pants on.

You just have to use them more thoughtfully than the heavy 4-6" carries and steroidal machetes in fashion at the moment.

 

[Flymph]

I like Ka-Bars and leatherman or gerber multitools... no one knife does it all, unless it does it all badly.
You can use a KaBar as a wedge, but it would be better to carry an axe.

I agree, rocks can be useful in many ways. Don't forget your rocks.

 

[Vendor Hidden]

I like Ka-Bars and leatherman or gerber multitools... no one knife does it all, unless it does it all badly.
You can use a KaBar as a wedge, but it would be better to carry an axe.

I agree, rocks can be useful in many ways. Don't forget your rocks.

Someone should write a blog post "How to pick the best survival rock."

 

[Certaindeaf]

Someone should write a blog post "How to pick the best survival rock."

Don't make me go full tang on yo bubblegum.

lol

 

[ATCclears]

I don't own this knife but saw a review, the price seemed right, and figured I'd share it here.

Review:
Schrade SCHF38 Frontier Knife: Great value knife for $30 | The Modern Survivalist

Knife on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Schrade-SCHF...ie=UTF8&qid=1512577739&sr=8-1&keywords=schf38

 

[Argonaut]

I don't own this knife but saw a review, the price seemed right, and figured I'd share it here.

Review:
Schrade SCHF38 Frontier Knife: Great value knife for $30 | The Modern Survivalist

Knife on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Schrade-SCHF...ie=UTF8&qid=1512577739&sr=8-1&keywords=schf38

Looks like a reasonable choice.

 

[DeanMk]

Not super crazy about the plastic grips, but that's a minor annoyance easily remedied.
Otherwise, I agree with Argo. Looks like a reasonable choice!


Dean