Survivormans Knife

As with the Bear Grylls knife, I remain unconvinced. My personal favorite survival knife is still the Fallkniven F1. A very well made knife that is mid-priced (less than $100) and genuinely unbreakable. The Swedish armed forces generally know their knives.

The highly rated Fallkniven F1 knife is a good choice. This other Bear Gryll knife has to be the most expensive knife ever, as far as basic survival knives go. At least Survivor Mans knife is a relatively cheap blade that functions well.

I have to agree that the Bear Grylls knife is a bit overboard as far as survival knives go. I'm ordering a Tracker T2 hopefully next month. I'm waiting to see if my common sense kicks in and alerts me that I shouldn't spend the over $250 it's going to cost me. I've also been looking at the K-Bar D-2 Extreme knife.

While I like Les Strouds knife, the smooth plastic handle seems cheap. If your hands are wet (or bloody) gripping the knifes handle may be difficult.

Though the Buck 119 is a good knife I personally prefer the slighly smaller Buck 121 knife. Buck no longer makes the 121 but you can get them on places like eBay. I also prefer the older "flap over" leather sheath.

I have carried and used a k-bar knife for years,both in the military and modern day life. For under 50 dollars you have a tried and true survival blade you can count on - but beware of fake knives!!  Look for the stamp "Olean,NY".  But no matter what knife you choose, know your blade and what it can do.

For this type of knife, there are MANY good knives. I prefer the Cold Steel Master Hunter kife. It is of similar shape and size of Grylls' knife but at only about $75 to $80 US dollars. And it has kraton which is the best knife handle material.

Les Strouds knife is good you cant beat buck knives. I am going to make the Tom Brown Tracker knife out of a car spring.

I've taken survival courses and they have gotten a $14 Mora TriFlex knife they sell to students, which is an excellent survival knife.

I'm also fond of my Leatherman tools. The blades are VERY sharp. Unfortunately Leatherman's don't really have a functional grip.

Bear Grylls seems like a fine man and survivalist. Les Stroud is everyman, and a good teacher of survival skills. Know your knife and know how to use it and most will be fine. I like my Buck knife!

I am not a survival expert gut it looks like a good knife except the handle doesn't look like it could be handled well in mud and wet weather. The knife handle looks like leather gloves would slip in less than perfect temperatures and humidity.

All in all a good hunting knife, but I don't know about a survival knife.

Being a country boy I rely on my knife alot every where I go.  I'm carrying a knife of some sort, usually a great knife the Buck 119.

Bear Grylls is a fake. His show should have a disclaimer that his actions are for entertainment only.

As a Former Marine I love the ol Ka-Bar fighting knife but it's no survival knife. Of course, any knife in a survival situation is a good knife, even a $3.00 knife from the checkout counter at a gas station could make the difference between life and death.

The Ka-Bar and others like it are fighting knives used to stab.  Before I was old enough to enlist, at the age of about 12 or 13, I saved up $60 from lawn mowing jobs and bought a Ka-Bar. I thought I would learn to throw it like I had just seen in a Marine movie. I threw it at a wooden fence and when I picked it up, the knife was bent.. right where the handle meets the blade. I put it in the sheath and with my little 12 year old hands I broke the knife in two!

Later in life, when I went to the field with the Marines, while they did not issue actual Ka-Bar,I carried my own FULL TANG fixed blade by CRKT. Now I carry a Fallkniven F1 or Gerber LMF II.

I Really want this knife from what i read its pretty good, also I plan on getting the Fallkniven F1. I hear amazing things about that knife.

Bear Grylls knife is 700 dollars? I found it to be similar to a SOG under a hundred dollars.  Bear is no match for SURVIVORMAN

Buck makes a very good knife!

To be honest I can't see anyone as being sane to buy a 700 dollar knife because someone on tv used it. Sure it may be a good knife but think of all the great gear you can buy with the leftover 650 or so dollars if you buy a good buck knife.

Just beware because a lot of buck knives lately are being made in china now. Make sure you buy it in person and it says made in the USA. Another good knife that I have not yet seen on this site is a good kershaw.

While I was out at Wally World over the weekend (needed a new globe for a Coleman lantern), I picked up a very nice kershaw 'tanto blur' folding knife. It is spring loaded and opens with the flick of a thumb and is razor sharp, half serrated and half straight. Best of all its under 60 dollars and made in USA. This knife has a 3.4 inch blade and a very non slip grip handle.

Survivormans knife is a good knife, but the stainless steel blade does not hold an edge as some other types of metal.  But it is still a very good knife

The knife should have a lanyard hole

in a survival situation whatever blade if any becomes the best blade. many people dont carry a largefixed blade. a small three blade stockman will perform well. however a K-Bar is still hard to beat!

Les Stroud has a pretty darn good run.  His shows are better than that guy from england with the broken back.  Buck 119 Stainless in the canoe with it's own lifejacket and a throw bag for if the canoe ever went down.  In the city my SAK, Wave and LB7 get me through.  Out in the deep wilderness my Cold Steel Carbon 5 ATC and Master hunter.  When hunting bear or deer my Buck 110 and my Cold Steel San Mai Outdoorsman.  In my pocket survival kit I have an old Case tri blade knife from my Grandfather.  Had that knife for over 36 years. A knife, next to common sense is a real luxury tool.

Bear Grylls is a little cheat. It's really tough to survive what he does when you have the support team they use for the show. What a laugh.

All of my stainless steel knives are difficult to keep shap but the carbon steel knives sharpen easily and stay shaper longer.

I don't actually own the Buck 119 knife, nor have I ever used it, but it seems to me that the knife grip could be a little slippery in wet conditions. I'd like to see someone file notches into the grip, then wrap 550 paracord around it. OK, maybe it would look different, but it's a survival tool, not a museum piece.

Ive used one of these knives extensively in many different situations and climates, its never failed. Its the only fixed blade I own. Its a good tough knife.

The buck 119 special is an incredible knife for the price, I carried one for several years as a knife for camping and things like that. I've never used it in a survival situation, but i have no doubt this knife would preform well.

I am a novice when it comes to knives and i would'nt spend a fortune on one as well. I purchased the Gerber LMF 2 for around 96$CDN. I fell in love with this knife because of its design.  It has a built in hammer surface on the butt and holes in the handles for lynards and those same holes are designed to tie onto a pole to make a spear.There is even a depression in the handle for more stability for the pole. Also the sheath has a built in sharpener already to use and you cant get the angles wrong. Great knife for me for a great price.

I find that the Knives of Alaska, Alaskan Hunter Series knife is great for everyday use and survival (D2 steel, 110 mm x 26mm x 3mm, fixed blade).

The Fallkniven F1 is an extremely great knife and sharpens up razor sharp. The Cold steel master hunter is a great option for the price, too. I know the buck 119 is a good knife, but the tip looks very weak and the handle does look slippery, as someone else noted. Bark River knife and tool have great knives: check out the Aurora, North Star, and the Bravo 1. These are made in the USA and are guaranteed for life. They also come with optional piggy back sheaths that can hold a really cool micro series knife. Kellam Knives also make great knives, check out the Puuko knives and there piggy back sheath systems also. These are also extremely sharp and are more used for wood working rather than batoning and splitting wood with a knife.

Stay away from crazy expensive custom knives unless you have money to throw away. Busse are great knives, but too expensive. Swamp rat knives especially the "camp tramp" is worth looking at. Note that these knives are only available at certain times and the manufacturer makes limited amounts, and are also really expensive. Scrap yard knives are a lot more reasonable and very tough, too.

Don't buy something that you are only going to take out for that special trip. Buy something that you won't be afraid to abuse if necessary and become very familiar with it. Get the one that fits well in your hand and is comfortable. If you think buying a Busse battle mistress is really cool but when it comes down to using it you chicken out, leave that at home in your knife museum and grab something else.

Lastly, Moras are great knives, also extremely sharp and very reasonable. If you looking for a survival knife look no further, all there is left, for the most part, is custom knives with crazy different types of steel and so forth. I have missed some other knives ("Becker" great knives but cheap handles and they are also out of business) as well as others--the list can go on--but if you stick to these knives you will be in great shape. Hopefully this saves you from buying "survival knives" that are junk, as well as listening to people on forums who most of the time don?t know what there talking about.

All of these knives are used buy survival experts and armed forces all over the world. See for yourself. Do a search for survival schools and you will be surprised at what they use. Stay away from huge knives that take up too much space and are too heavy.

I would say get a folding saw with a Japanese style blade?leave the axe at home unless you really really know what you?re doing with it. Also grab a 12? Ontario machete (great tool) and a small Mora, Fallkniven, or Bark river knife and you are set. My Nessmuk Trio.

Get out there!

Busse Combat, Swamprat or Cold Steel makes the best survival knives period. Busse is the best of them all though.

I use the Gerber Asek which at just 4.5 inches long and is an excellent knife with a decent sheath. Gerber would do far better with it to make its sheath a bit less military; perhaps a leather version, or an adjustable Kydex. It retails through Smokey Mountain Knives for $90 but it is partially serrated which I prefer.

TOPS Knives, which makes both Military and Survival style knives makes the "Cochise" which is another 4.5 in drop point with a kydex sheath and is excellent for field use as regular or backup gear.

All of the Fallkniven knives are excellent, as are the Cold Steel, which can be a little pricey but worth it. I have used my Tom Brown Tracker and CS-Recon Scout also and have found both to be well designed and an excellent support knife.

I live in the Cascades and carry 3 knives on every trek and a Gransfors or Wetterlings by my side. Over Prepared is never a bad thing. I've never gone wanting with these knives!!

I have the 119 buck knife. I like that the spine of the blade is thick but it does not hold a blade.  I have never sharpened it to my liking (razon-sharp). I paid 45 dollars for the knife.  I tried many knivies.  The brand I like is "Winchester". they are dirt cheap knives here. I also have a 12 inch bowie surgical steel which  cost me 24 dollars, but as in all things it is how you feel about the knife; buck, winchester, or gerber it has to be right for you.

This site has been very helpful in my research for the best all-around "survival knife." Coupled with Cody Lundin's "98.6" I went with a 1095 Carbon Steel full-tang blade.

My choice boiled down to the Ka-Bar POW/MIA or the Ontario Spec Plus. Both are available for under $60. I went with the Ontario because it has a lanyard hole and a leather sheath.  The knife that really intrigues me is the Next Gen Ka-Bar. I'm also ticked that all those great Becker knives are no longer produced.

I bought the Buck 119 special about a year ago. You can buy it cheap at walmart for around $36. It's a very durable knife.

Has anybody ever seen or used knives made by Chris Reeves? PACIFIC AND GREEN BERET models? I have been considering those two knives but I haven't read anything about them. They look nice and perhaps are great survival knives.

I have and like the Buck 119 special. I like my Cold Steel SRK (about same size) and Master Hunter (a little smaller) better. The handle material on the 119 is a little slick whereas the CS knives are Kraton, a rubber-like material that is tacky but won't dry rot, get cold/hot, and just a good grip.

I purchased a Buck 120 (7 inch blade) back about 1977. I also have an old Case, large stockman, (1975), and my LM Wave. From the desert southwest to the East Tx piney woods, to the salty gulf coast, there isn't anything this trio didn't handle.

I believe that when in the wild you should be carrying more than one knife because differant knives have different purposes.

You have a great survival website and i'm learning a lot.  I notice a blood groove in the knife. Does it weaken the blade?

The best survival knives have a full broad tang. What the tang looks like under the handle is not shown.

the buck 119 is a great knife but it can be slippery, i have filed notches in mine it's not pretty but it works well.bark river knives are also great knives,the bravo-1 i ordered is a great little all around knife,a bit expensive but great quality.

I agree with randy about Busse being the best knife. Busse knives can take a large amount of abuse.

In my opinion the best survival knife is one that is hand made and not mass produced like the ones described, My neighbor told me that he was feild dressing a deer with his buck knife when a big chunk of it broke while splitting bone.  This says alot about quality since a busse knife was driven thrugh a steel pipe with only minor edge denting.

If I were to choose a survival knife I would have to select one made of a leaf spring that can keep an edge after repeated use for about three weeks. The reason I say leaf spring is due to reliable flexability for prying things like clams or some edible roots. The reason i say edge for atleast three weeks is that is an average time needed to find civilization according to les.

what i'd have to say if your going to carry a fixed blade you probly would'nt be in public so it would be common scence to bring a small sharpener with you. On a final not one of the best knives I can recomend is the smith and wesson serch and rescue it keeps an edge for months with use.

A knife about the size of the fallkniven F1 is fine. The Cold Steel SRK was amazing durable and solid. If you want to upgrade try a Chris reeve project 1 - I store a cut down firesteel in the handle and a couple tender quiks, you can't go wrong although I wrap my handle with paracord, or wear gloves.

To the commenter, your knife due to its age and useability is most likely hand forged. I'm glad someone knows true quality first hand when it comes to a knife. Many people like stainless blades because they dont rust.  From what i can imply yours is carbon? Does it rust at all? If so i can say this in defence of carbon blades, if you temper them by heating them to a gold color they will not rust.  The blade I have has been used for years. i live next to a large forest, often use this knife and only had to sharpen it twice.  I've even used it for two weeks in the Adirondacks with no edge loss.

I have gone through too many stainless knives to trust anything but carbon blades.  Modern knives are now made just for profit and not to make a namein the knife industry.

For example, the original samurai sword is impossible to reproduce the way it was intended. The best knife is one with a history like yours.  When relie upon a knife for life or death there cannot be any question whether or not it is durable.

I had a buck 119 like survivormans knife and it wouldn't hold an edge and the handle when wet or bloody was very slippery.

i just bought it, if you get it at walmart don't worry it is the same knife and is made in the usa. The reason why walmart can sell this particular knife cheap is because it does not come with a leather sheath but a nylon sheath with a plastic insert. It is a good looking knife and has a good grip. if you look closely you can see things that will make you wonder why the blade was started to be polished but then begins to look finely sanded. Razor sharp knife with blood groove not as deep as picture implies

Overall a long lasting knife but not for much more than cutting, this knife will not serve as a prying or chopping knife in a suvival situation or like a buck knife for hunting.