Survival Knives

If you have been watching Man vs Wild on Discovery, you will realize that a knife is probably the most useful single tool that you can have in a wilderness survival situation. It can be used to skin animals, make shelters, lighting a fire with the flint and steel method, cut notches in wood, etc.

There are different types of knives that would be useful in a wilderness survival situation. For a primary knife, you want a strong fixed blade knife that is sharpened only on one side and broad edge on the other side. Some knives will have a saw edge on the broad side but is usually limited in actual sawing capability. The knife should have a securely fitted handle; it shouldn't move about the tang which is the handle part of the blade.

For a backup or secondary knife, you can choose a multi-tool/multi-blade knife such as a Swiss Army Knife. Beware of knives that do not have a locking system and can cause injuries with improper use.

Small machetes are also useful for cutting wood and foliage. Most machetes are over 18 inches in length. I find ones that are around 13 inches easier to carry and just as useful as the bigger ones.

Whatever kind of knife you choose, you will want to carry it in protective scabbard or carrier. You will also want to carry a sharpening whetstone and leather strop to keep your knife clean and sharp. To sharpen your blade, keep it at a 30 degree angle from the flat of the stone, which should be dampened with water or oil, and stroke the blade across about six times in an outward direction before sharpening the other side of the blade with six strokes running toward you. Be careful when sharpening towards you that you don't go to far and injure yourself. After sharpening the blade, strop the blade backwards and forwards on the leather strop to strengthen the edge.

If you look after your knives well and never stick or throw them into tree trunks or the ground, your knife will look after you in a survival situation.