HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SURVIVAL KNIFE

When you're camping, hiking or in a survival situation, the right survival knife is one of the most valuable things to own. It can mean the difference between life and death, housing, and exposure, food, and hunger.

A good survival knife can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Build a shelter
• Dressing game/fish cleaning
• Other food preparation
• Opening cans
• Firewood cut
• Create a fire tool
• To be attached to a pole and used as a spear
• Construction collars
• Hammering (using the end of the handle knob)
• First aid (splints and bandages)

So, how can you choose the best survival knife? There is no perfect knife for every person and every situation, but here are the main factors to consider when choosing a knife for yourself:

fixed blade

While a folding knife is easier to transport on a daily basis, a fixed blade knife will serve you better in a survival situation as a versatile and reliable tool. As a folding blade is necessarily composed of two attachments by a hinge, the chances of breaking it are much higher than if you have a piece of solid metal.

A fixed blade knife is harder to carry with you because it requires a sheath, so you may want to have a folding knife as a safeguard that you keep on you at all times. However, a fixed blade knife is a better tool to have around if possible.

Size

It is important to choose a knife of the right size for you and your situation. Take one that is too big and heavy, and it will be bulky to carry, clutter and slow down. In addition, a knife that is too big is difficult to use for more specific tasks such as barking small game or carving small snares and tools.

Full Tang

The "tang" describes how far the blade extends into the handle of your knife. A partial silk blade can span only half, quarter or even less of your handle. A partial silk blade is intrinsically weaker than full silk because the handle can loosen and deform or even come off the blade.

A full tenon allows you to exert a greater force on the cut material through the handle of your knife. It can also make the knife more balanced since the weight of the metal extends through the handle of the knife.

A full tang survival knife will be stronger and more reliable than a partial tail because it is a piece of solid metal. This is especially important if you are going to fight with your knife or do anything else that puts pressure on your knife.

4. Right edge

There are different opinions on this, but I prefer a straight blade survival knife over a serrated edge, and here's why:

A straight edge is better for batoning and carving

A straight edge can be more easily sharpened (this is especially important in a survival situation)

A straight edge is overall more versatile

A sharp blade is ideal for cutting through a rope or a thin metal (for example, to escape a destroyed plane), but I would say that a straight-edged blade will serve you better for the most part. Of course, some Custom Damascus Folding knives are partially serrated, but in my experience, a half serrated knife does not have enough serration to be useful, and it simply reduces the amount of straight blade that is offered to you.

For example, when using a knife to carve a piece of wood, it is common to use your thumb as a lever against the back edge of the blade. The sharp edge of the blade closest to the handle carves. This is difficult to do with a serrated blade because the part of the blade closest to the handle is serrated and is not good for carving.

Sheath

A good sheath will tighten your knife closely, holding it firmly so that you do not lose it. It should protect both you and the knife. A good multipurpose sheath will allow you to place it on your belt, your bag, your leg, your vest or wherever you find it most comfortable and convenient.

6. Acute point

The best point for your blade is going to be a sharp and pointed point (a drop point blade is my personal favorite). Avoid very curvy tips as they hinder the knife's ability to stay. This is an important feature to consider when it is necessary to use this knife to defend against an animal, as a hunting weapon or in a combat situation.

Blade material

Custom Damascus Folding knives are usually made of carbon steel or stainless steel.

Carbon steel is generally stronger, making it more suitable for chopping and cutting wood. In addition, it is easier to sharpen and can be made extremely sharp. However, it rusts quite easily, so it must be wiped with mineral oil to prevent rust.

On the other hand, stainless steel is much more resistant to rust, but it is also harder to sharpen and generally less resistant than carbon steel. Because of the rust resistance of stainless steel, if you are in a constantly humid environment (for example, marine saltwater environment, swamps, swamps), then you will probably want a stainless steel blade.

All things considered, I prefer a carbon steel survival knife to a stainless steel survival knife for the strength and ease of sharpening in nature.

Ground floor spine

The spine is the back edge of your blade - the non-pointed edge. A flat spine (90 degrees) will serve you better than a round or beveled column, since a flat spine is easier to use for flapping, and it is also better to light a fire with a Ferro-rod.

Of course, having a flat spine means that a double-edged blade is not a good choice for a survival knife