Choosing a "survival" knife

[thesumoftwo]

So i've been doing various bits of survival training for about the past 2 - 3 years, and have even been assistant staff on a couple of recent intro courses, and rather impressively i feel, i have managed these past few years with only a victorinox (sp?) swiss army knife, whilst it was fine at first, once i started needing to use some more advanced bushcraft techniques (building more substantial pegs, shaping sticks for friction firelighting etc.) it reli began to struggle and i would have to borrow others knives. I now have 4 expeditions in 5 months coming up, with the average length of about 10 days. So as you have probably guessed from this ridiculously long post, i need a new knife. I need a folding lock knife, ideally 3.5" but no longer, similarly, no shorter than 3". It needs to be good at all round use, from wood carving to skinning and gutting small animals.

First post by the way, so if i've made some glaring error please do tell me

thanks,
Rich

EDIT: btw, my budget is pretty low, being a student and all, i have an absolute maximum of £40, however, if i could get a good knife for cheaper, it'd be great.

AND: I have been looking around, and the price and look of practicality of the Buck knives, most notably the protege and the bantam series looks very good, whilst i have also noticed the EKA swede 92 is a very nice looking knife, however the price is not so appealing.

 

[Prophecy]

So you're looking for a locking folder?

Would you not prefer a fixed blade for the sort of tasks you mentioned?

 

[Adrian]

If it's absolutely GOT to be a folder, then the Buck range is a reliable choice - just see what you like and how it feels in your hand.

If a folding option isn't compulsory, then - like many others on this board, I'd strongly recommend the Frosts Mora training knife. Costs £10 (and you may get it cheaper shopping around); sharp out of the box and easy to maintain; easily stronger in normal use than almost any folder.

Remember that in Law, if in a public place (which includes the inside of a vehicle) a lock-bladed knife is viewed in the same legal light as a fixed- bladed knife.

 

[thesumoftwo]

i thought about a fixed blade, but on the expeditions i tend to spend a lot of time scrambling up the side of mountains, up snowdon etc. aswell as some mountains i'm meant to be heading up at some point in slovakia so i think the compactness of a locking folder will be better for me. And i'm not the most "balanced" person when walking and would probably end up impaling myself on it if i fell over.

EDIT: Adrian^ the only time i ever carry a knife on me is on expeditions, so the legal side of things as far as public places go isn't so much of a problem for me

 

[C_Claycomb]

I wouldn't go for Buck.

I would, without any hesitation, go for a Spyderco Tenacious. http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/closeup.php?product=294 Go over to www.britishblades.com and have a look. There is a review here:
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50313&highlight=tenacious

I don't know where you would get one in this country at this time, this is me being lazy, I reckon that is something you can search for if you want, BUT, I would also go without hesitation to see Charity Chimni, also on BB and buy from her. I bought a nice Kershaw folder from her and the service was first rate in every respect.
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49761&highlight=tenacious

While some are sniffy about Chinese made knives, the ones that Spyderco are having made are very good, and I don't just mean good for the money! I have had a couple of their Byrd knives and they are solid, sharp, and hold an edge. I would say they are better made than some US knives I own which came in at double the price.

If isn't often that I feel that there is just one best option, but given your description of what you want, I can't think of a better one. Sure, this won't be the most comfortable thing for extended bushcraft carving, but then few folders are. I have several ranging up to a Sebenza and they all trade some handle comfort for packability. If you don't have a good folder (single blade, single handed, locking), then I would get one of those ahead of a fixed blade since while a fixed blade can do more hard work, the folder is more likely to be with you. A fixed knife in a pack might not be as handy as a folder clipped to your pocket.

 

[Dougster]

I wouldn't go for Buck.

I would, without any hesitation, go for a Spyderco Tenacious. http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/closeup.php?product=294 Go over to www.britishblades.com and have a look. There is a review here:
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50313&highlight=tenacious

I am awestruck by this knife.

I have an endura which is twice the price but this leaves them for dead.

PM charity on BB and get it from her (in the states) for about £25. If I could legally take this to work and into town it would never leave me. It is without doubt my favourite allrounder. I'm still not entirely happy with it when really having to carve wood, but that is about the only thing it's not perfect for.

Utterly, utterly brilliant for the money - sorry to sit on the fence.

 

[MikeE]

I have an Eka Masur Birch handled folder that is the dog's doodahs! Extremely sharp, easy to sharpen and very sure lock-up. Plus a Fjallkniven U2 as back up.

 

[bushwacker bob]

opinel no8. cheap as chips,light weight and sharp enough to shave with.Good for wood and food.

 

[Dan1982]

what about an opinel?? great value for money and really easy to sharpen!

 

[Dan1982]

aha!!! beaten to it i see!! still a good choice though!

 

[WilS]

One more vote for opinels from me. As you're a student on a budget, you'll appreciate spending a fiver rather than forty quid. I've got plenty of knives, some quite expensive, still wouldn't give up opinels. Happy shopping.

 

[edispilff]

spyderco and opinel are both excellent considerations with your budget in mind. Good rules of thumb for outdoor "extreme use" folders:
- liner locks and frame locks are the strongest with the least amount of unnecessary mechanical movement
- one handed opening is a must when you've got as slippery fish in one hand!
- composite fiber/plastic handle materials will last up to adverse conditions much longer than wood or natural materials
- because of the many hidden crevices and recesses that moisture can hide, stainless might be preferable over high carbon in precipitous locations

Overall, find a knife that you feel most comfortable with. Go to a local shop and try EVERYTHING out!... Just because it looks ugly doesn't mean it performs ugly; just because it looks pretty doesn't mean it functions the way you expect.

 

[robin wood]

Lots of good advice there and you are probably getting to the point of having too many to choose from but I'll throw another in anyway. I don't have one of these but I do fancy one

Victorionox rucksack. The big brother to the knife you know and love, has decent sized locking blades and a big saw and although its not legal edc because it looks like a swiss army it is not going to scare people. At £22 its well within your budget.

 

[thesumoftwo]

hiya guys,

thank you for all the ideas, they all seem really good, and robin wood, you're not far off about having too much to chose from . Whilst surfing around the various websites you pointed me towards, i have as usual got sidetraked, and discovered these:

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Benchmade/Benchmade-Pika/p-92-111-617/

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Buck/Buck-Mayo-Cutback/p-92-125-2490/

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/EKA/EKA-Masure-Lockback/p-92-134-917/ (not sure about the blade length on this though)

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Gerber/Gerber-E-Z-OUT™-Knives/p-92-144-1036/ (number one)

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Gerber/Gerber-Gator-2/p-92-144-1039/ (obviously fine blade, not sure if it's a locking blade though)

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Gerber/Gerber-Obsidian/p-92-144-2853/ (seems like a bit of a novelty to me, but it looks a good price)

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Kershaw/Kershaw-Vapor/p-92-158-1267/

Any opinions on these would be great!

 

[edispilff]

One of the first Ken Onion Knives purchased was a Vapor II (it's just a little bit larger than the regular Vapor).
Some notes about it that may help you:

- After 5 years of consistent heavy use, the blade had ZERO slack in the blade to handle motions
- The knife is fairly heavy as it has a solid 420 stainless handle
- The blade is made of AUS 6 which sharpens nice and easy, but may not hold an edge like a straight carbon. edge holding is still good though (AUS6 is like a 440b)
- The handle has a frame lock and is extremely strong.. virtually unfoldable.. and it gets tighter the harder you grip it when tasking
- The entire get-up is thin... it rides in your pocket without the slightest bulge. clip is not reversable.. tip up carry only
- One handed opening mechanism is as smooth as butter on a warm day.. but only for right handed people (one stud on the blades left side).. i guess you could get used to using your ring finger to open it lefty.
- Solid construction. it's not out of place to use this knife for light hammering, busting windows in burning homes, etc etc
- Made in China
- Vertical handle height is somewht on the slim side

Other than that, You can put an edge on this knife in half the time of a 57hrc 1095 carbon, and 1/4 the time you can with d2.
Incidentally bought a second one after losing the first while 4-wheeling around the ranch. Found it next spring on top of a snow pile with no rust and opening perfectly!

All in all, a very reliable knife

Another outstanding kershaw model which is slightly smaller and has the spring assist option is the Leek. It's so small, slender and quick it just makes any other city carry blade look like machete. definately worth looking into!

 

[fishy1]

The only folder I'd use would be a opinel. Excellent and cheap. Rusts quick though, so you have to get oil or whatever on it occasionally. The locking method is secure and great. Leathermans locking in particular is appaling, I am astonished something so dreadful was allowed out. But then, maybe I was just unlucky with the 4 I have handled.

But fixed blades, are about the same prices, it's fairly easy to not cut yourself when carrying it by sheathing it, and they reduce injuries when cutting, as they encourage strong, confident moves, unlike a folder where it may wiggle a little.

 

[C_Claycomb]

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Benchmade/Benchmade-Pika/p-92-111-617/
Don't go for serrations, except in cutting lots of abrasive stuff they aren't worth the trouble and don't work so well for other tasks.

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Buck/Buck-Mayo-Cutback/p-92-125-2490/
I found the handle too narrow, not really comfy, and 420 is not all that hot for a blade material. The blade grind also isn't the most advantageous.

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/EKA/EKA-Masure-Lockback/p-92-134-917/
Great blade steel, good shape, not one-handed, which is a big black mark in my book, and I would be concerned that the handle might change shape in the wet and so make it hard to operate. This is a complaint some have had with Opinel.

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Gerber/Gerber-E-Z-OUT™-Knives/p-92-144-1036/ (number one)
I have handled these in the US, they are okay for cheap knives, but for a little more money you can get something a LOT better. The folk I know use them in the work shop, scraping paint, opening packets, and boxes, just use, abuse and replace.

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Gerber/Gerber-Gator-2/p-92-144-1039/ (obviously fine blade, not sure if it's a locking blade though)
It does lock. The handle is quite broad, good for comfort, less good for packing. Again, the steel isn't great and the grind could be better for general use.

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Gerber/Gerber-Obsidian/p-92-144-2853/ (seems like a bit of a novelty to me, but it looks a good price)
Seems like a bit of a gimmick to me. If you need tools, you need a SAK or Leatherman, if you need a knife, 440 (probably 440a) isn't going to do a lot for you.

http://www.heinnie.com/Xenxpl389382/Knives/Kershaw/Kershaw-Vapor/p-92-158-1267/
Not one I have met. Sounds good from edispilff's post.


My own opinion is that the order in which someone should buy knives, ideally, is to start with something like a SAK or Leatherman, then get a good dedicated cutting folder, then if need be, buy a fixed blade. I have used folders for a lot of stuff since I was about six and have only cut myself badly with one once, and that wasn't the fault of the knife (it was a rubbish knife, the lock didn't work any more, but that wasn't why I got cut). I love folders and before all these silly new laws I carried a lock knife in addition to my SAK nearly everywhere. I still use folders a lot when out camping and find lots of tasks where they work just as well as a fixed blade. They are more convenient to carry, can be every bit as fast (sometimes faster) to access than a belt knife, are often easier to manipulate for fine work and are always less obtrusive when you are around people of nervous disposition

 

[thesumoftwo]

wow, thats a really good guide, as someone who appears to have very good experience with folders, are there any you would recommend specifically to me? as i said earlier, i'm quite new to the whole "proper" knives thing so don't know much about steel and grinds etc. However i am striving to learn as i always enjoy to know as much as possible about something of interest to me.

 

[Yorkshire Boy]

Lots of good advice there and you are probably getting to the point of having too many to choose from but I'll throw another in anyway. I don't have one of these but I do fancy one

Victorionox rucksack. The big brother to the knife you know and love, has decent sized locking blades and a big saw and although its not legal edc because it looks like a swiss army it is not going to scare people. At £22 its well within your budget.

I have one of these and bought it in a tobacconist in Leeds for about £17.

I think it's a really good knife, the larger handle really makes opening bottles of wine very easy!

The large locking blade feels secure and is a very good food cutter, plus, the saw actually works.
Tweezers come in handy only very occasionally but when you do need them you're happy they're on the knife.

It's not EDC, I bought a Leatherman Juice CS4 to do that job. (I might get another small SAK with a nail file for EDC as well)

But for out and about travelling, fishing etc.. it does what it says, lives in my rucksack.

 

[Zammo]

I have the Rucksack too. I used to take it to work with me until I found out it wasn't legal, so I busted the lock off with a screw driver and will grind the blade down to under 3" when I can get hold of something to do the job.

I mainly use it for odd jobs such as stripping wire and opening boxes and stuff, not really bushcraft related but i'm sure it would be just as useful in the field. The tweezers I've used a few times for pulling out splinters and ingrowing hairs, lol.