A survival knife can come in pretty handy in emergencies. It is always advisable to choose one of the best survival knives in advance. Once you do so, you can use it in an emergency. The problem is that when still searching for the best survival knife, there are so many options that it can be challenging to choose one. I prefer to always go for the sturdy one that can stand the test of time.
Over the years, I have tried many survival knives and therefore can suggest you some best ones today. I will share a list of the top 10 best survival knives which you can use. I will also follow that up with the buying guide to make it easy for you to choose the right one among these ten options. Let me first start with the top 10 list.
1. Gerber StrongArm 420 Full Tang Knife
The survival knife on my list comes in 2 different color options for the force is applications. Consist of a full Tang 420 HC blade. The blade is made from steel. The fixed blade design provides you the opportunity to use the knife with brute force. With the help of sheath, storing it is quite easy.
You can easily use it in a horizontal belt to carry it with yourself wherever you go. The size of the blade is 4.8 inches. The overall size is 9.8 inches. With the help of glass-filled nylon handle, the handle is sturdy. It consists of a rubber mold on top which provides you excellent grip.
The detachable belt makes it easy to carry it. The weight is 7.9 ounces so that you can take it with you wherever you go. Another advantage is that not only you can carry it with the belt hoops but in leg-drop pattern as well. Hence; it is highly versatile, and the black ceramic coating on the blade makes it much more durable than the other survival knives on this list. These features make it one of the best survival knives.
2. Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife
The main USP of the bushcraft knife is the carbon steel blade of 1/8 inches. It has a black coating which makes it noncorrosive. Due to this very reason, it is easy to use. The length of the blade is 4.3 inches. The total length of the knife is 9.1 inches. With a weight of 5.4 ounces, you can carry it quite easily.
Additionally, it comes along with black plastic sheath, which means that you can carry it with you wherever you go. The sheath also consists of diamond sharpener and firestarter. That is why; it is so versatile.
The ergonomic handle on offer provides you with a high friction grip. Due to the high friction grip, you can use it with full force. Also, since it consists of a fixed blade, you can use it with brute strength easily. You can use it for igniting fires as well since the fire starter comes with it. It is not just a survival knife, but you can use it for a variety of application according to your requirements. That is what makes it such a great option. The weight is just 154 gms so; you cannot go wrong with this one. The carbon steel blade, with the anti-corrosive coating, makes it a good option.
3. SOG Survival Knife with Sheath
One of the main reasons why this knife is so versatile and heavy-duty is because of the 4.75 inches stainless steel blade. Stainless steel blade can handle any weather. The full tang knife is an outdoor knife, survival knife and even a hunting knife. The weight of the knife is just 5.4 ounces, which is a definite advantage.
It comes with the sheath and glass-reinforced nylon grip, which means that it can handle the wear and tear. Moreover, the glass-reinforced nylon handle provides you with an excellent grip, which is another advantage. With the help of black titanium nitride coating on the blade, it can last for a long time without any issues. It will not require any replacement or maintenance.
With the help of the sheath, you can wear it on your belt as well. Also, the lightweight design allows you to use it with full force. With the help of a serrated blade, you can get precise cuts as well. The excellent grip along with the stainless steel blade means that this versatile knife is one of the best survival knives which you can go with.
4. Gerber LMF II Survival Knife
With two color options, you can choose the survival knife as per your requirement. The blade is such that you can even cut through the fuselage of the aircraft. The insulation protected construction means that you can use it for heavy-duty operations as well.
When you look at the material of the handle, it consists of glass-filled nylon. It consists of a TPV overmold which can provide you with excellent grip. The sheath uses ballistic nylon, which is fire retardant as well. As a result, you can carry it in a completely safe manner.
The length of the blade is 4.84 inches, and the overall length is 10.52 inches. With the weight of just 11.67 ounces, you can carry it easily. Also, it is suitable for not just survival situations but also for a variety of other applications, which means that you will not have to worry about buying a different knife to protect yourself. The heavy-duty blade construction certainly makes it a good option.
5. KA-BAR BK-10 BECKER CREWMAN FIXED BLADE SURVIVAL KNIFE
The fixed blade knife uses Cro-Van Steel blade. It is sturdy and can stand wear and tear quite easily. With the help of heavy-duty polyester sheath, carrying it around is not a problem.
The blade is 5.5 inches in length. The lightweight design means that carrying it around is not a problem. The knife is pretty sharp, and you can use it for a wide variety of applications. You can use it for survival applications and also for hunting.
The fixed blade design means that you can use it with full force easily. When looking for a precise knife which is made from the heavy-duty blade, you simply cannot ignore this option.
6. SOG Fixed Blade Knives with Sheath
The knife which I am discussing now consists of a 4.9-inch blade. The folding knife ensures that you can use it with high force. You can use it as a boot knife, hunting knife, survival knife, and even a combat knife. With the help of a stainless steel blade, you can be sure that it is highly durable. It comes in 2 variants. The handle consists of glass-reinforced nylon. The advantage of glass-reinforced nylon handle is that the grip is much better.
Due to the sheath, you can take it with you wherever you go. When you look at the blade, it consists of black titanium nitride coating. The advantage of this coating is that it can handle wear and tear. Moreover, the blade is heat-treated as well. Due to heat-treated design, it can stand the test of time.
The sheath comes with a nylon grip and consists of a sharpener and ferrochromium firestarter. As a result, you can only use it in survival situations but also for camping as well. With the help of line cutter and sheath, you can be sure that the knife is multipurpose. Due to this very reason, it is one of the most versatile knives that you have on offer. These features make it a great option when looking for survival knives.
7. Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife
The advantage of this survival knife is that the blade is serrated. As a result, you can induce the kind of cut you want. The serrations are present in half of the blade. As a result, you can use the blade for a variety of purposes. The blade is made from carbon stainless steel. With the help of a drop point blade, it is equally sharp and highly versatile.
The ergonomic rubber grip means that you can use it consistently without any hand fatigue. It reduces the slippage, which means that you can use it with brute force. At the base of the handle, there is a stainless steel pommel on offer. It is so strong that you can even use it for hammering.
When you look at the sheath, it comes with a ferrocerium rod. The nylon sheath is heavy-duty in structure and mildew resistant. It is equally lightweight, which means that you can carry around the knife comfortably. The blade in itself is 4.75 inches. The knife comes with a loud emergency whistle. As a result, you can attract attention to yourself. There is a diamond blade sharpener which comes with it. Due to these accessories and the heavy-duty blade, you cannot ignore this option.
8. CELTIBEROCOCO – Outdoor / Survival Knife
The survival knife which I am highlighting now is available in 2 color options. It consists of a stainless steel blade which means that it is highly durable. It is a handmade knife which ensures that the quality is on the higher side.
The length of the blade in itself is 145 MM or 5.7 inches. The overall length is 10.82 inches. The thickness of the blade is 4.75 inches. All of these specifications mean that it is comfortable to hold.
It comes with the leather sheath and sharpener stone and fire steel. With the help of a wooden handle, it is heavy-duty. The entire construction of the knife is such that you can use it in emergencies. That is why; it is such an excellent option to go with. The handmade design not only makes it look classy but one of the most durable survival knives which you can buy.
9. Custom Handmade Damascus Steel Survival Knife
With the help of a steel blade, the knife which we are speaking about now is quite sturdy. The engine retention means that you will not have to worry about the sharpening the knife again and again. The overall length is 10 inches, and the length of the blade is 4.8 inches. The weight of the knife is 8.2 ounces, which means that using it is quite easy.
The wooden handle of the knife consists of walnut wood. It is highly durable and aesthetically-pleasing as well. It provides an excellent grip, which is an added advantage. The non-slip grip means that you can use it with brute force. Since it comes with the leather sheath, you can carry it with you wherever you go. With the help of a loop, you can attach it to your belt as well.
One of the main advantages of this knife is that you can use it as hunting, camping, and the military knife as well. That is why it is highly versatile. With the help of tang construction, the durability is also on the higher side. So, when looking for a versatile survival knife, you cannot miss this one.
10. Bushcraft Survival Hunting Knife
The main advantage of this survival knife is that it is available in 5 color options. The color of the handle matches the color of the sheath, which comes along with it. As a result, you can have an aesthetically pleasing combo. Moreover, with the help of a tactical knife, you can use it for survival purposes and even hunting purposes.
The handle is made from exotic wood. The length of the handle is 3.94 inches, and the thickness of the blade is 5 MM. With the help of stainless steel construction, the blade is highly durable. The laser-cut of the blade means that it is precise.
You can adjust the sheath at multiple positions. It comes along with firesteel, which is a definite advantage. The durability of the knife is on the higher side, which means that you will not have to worry about sharpening it anytime soon. The combination of these features makes it one of the best survival knives.
When looking for survival knives, these are the best ones which you can go with. Once you choose among the best survival knives, you need not worry about reliability or durability. I will share with you an easy to follow buying guide, which will help you pick the right one among these top 10 best survival knives.
Survival knife buying guide:
When you consider these parameters, it is easy for you to choose the right survival knife.
Things to consider while buying survival knives:
The parameters which you should keep in mind include:
• Length of the knife:
The length of the knife is the combination of the handle and the blade. You have to consider the length of the knife and then decide whether it is suitable for you or not. For only when it is convenient for you, you can carry it with yourself wherever you go.
• Blade quality:
The blade quality will ultimately determine the durability of the knife. Most of the survival knives require heavy-duty blades. You might use them less frequently, but they need to be highly durable. Only when that is the case, it is easy for you to buy that knife.
• Grip:
A survival knife requires a non-slip grip. So, you can use it with brute force. You have to look at the quality of the handle and the hold which it provides before making your decision.
• Accessories:
Many of the survival knives come with the sheath. Sometimes, there are other accessories on offer as well. Due to this reason, it is essential to look at the accessories that come with it. If it is a high-quality sheath, that is a definite advantage as well.
Once you look at the combination of these factors, it is easy for you to choose the right one. I will answer some FAQs about survival knives to help you out.
FAQ:
Why do survival knives have serrated edges?
Serrated edges give you a proper grip on any surface you are cutting. That is why inflicting precise cuts is undoubtedly possible. You do not know what kind of things you need to cut in an emergency. So, a survival knife that can allow you to cut precisely comes in handy in such situations. This is the reason why survival knives have serrated edges.
How long should a survival knife be?
The length of survival knives should be between 8 inches to pile inches. If the length is longer, it will be difficult to control the knife for precise applications. Anything short, and you won’t be able to use it for multiple applications.
Can you use a folding knife for survival?
Yes, you can use a folding knife for survival. However, rather than using any folding knife, choose a sturdy one with a serrated edge. Only then can you use it for numerous applications.
What is the best survival knife?
The Gerber StrongArm 420 Full Tang Knife is one of the best survival knives. The full tang design, along with steel blade makes it highly durable and handy.
What is a survival knife used for?
The survival knife has many applications like skinning, woodcutting, trapping, wood carving, and so on. You might use it for a variety of applications in the wilderness as well as in urban surroundings.
What makes a survival knife?
A survival knife should have a heavy-duty blade and should allow you to use it with full force. Only when that is the case, it can constitute a survival knife.
Do you need a survival knife?
Survival knives are required in emergencies. It is better to have one with yourself at all times. Irrespective of your occupation or geographic location, having a survival knife is always a plus.
Thus, if you’re searching for the best survival knife, these are the ten options to consider. Only once you go through my list above, it will be easy to choose the right one. Rather than comparing numerous options available, you can go through my list above to pick the right one easily.