The 6 best survival knives 2024 - Survival in the wilderness and city

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👉 The key facts from this guide

If you are on the road in the wilderness for several days, weeks or even months, you should always carry the right tool with you - one of the most important tools is your knife.

No matter if you are on a hike or in a real survival scenario, a good knife can help you survive in numerous situations.

A survival knife must be able to do much more than a simple Swiss Army Knife (Find my buying guide + the best list for Swiss Army Knives here).

Perhaps you will have to cut through dense undergrowth, build yourself a shelter, or prepare food.

In short: your survival knife must be able to reliably perform a whole range of tasks!

But which is the best survival knife for you? Don't worry, I have selected and compared the top 6 for you.

So, you can decide which knife is best for your situation.

Subsequently, you will find basic information to know what to look for when buying a survival knife and where certain differences lie.

Which knife is best for you?

The quality of a survival knife is determined by many factors, such as:

• What can it do?
• How reliably does it work?
• How durable is it?
• Is it affordable?
• What additional features does it have?

The fact is, however, that which knife is actually best for you largely depends on what you want to use it for at the end of the day.

It makes a difference whether you need the good piece for relaxed camping trips or tough survival adventures. Another role is played by your environment, so where you start your adventure.

To not confuse you, but to give you a clear direction, let's start with my favorite:

Randall's Adventure Unisex - Adult ESEE Outdoor Knife

As a sturdy all-rounder with a high-quality carbon blade, you can cut through dense undergrowth or pry open doors with it.

Despite its total length of just under 30 cm, it fits perfectly in the hand and allows for a stable grip, even during rough work. The blade can be sharpened excellently on almost any stone. However, the classic carbon blade requires regular care to protect it from rust.

Here are some more facts:

• Blade length: 14.6 cm
• Powder-coated 1095HC steel blade
• Black Micarta handle
• Full tang | Lanyard hole
• Weighs 453.59 grams

If you are looking for a survival knife that will accompany you through all climate zones and remain almost indefinitely usable with good care, then you are in good hands with the Randall's Adventure Unisex - Adult ESEE Outdoor Knife.

My 6 purchase recommendations for you at a glance

Do you have little time? No problem, take a look at my best survival knives in the quick overview here.

You can find them on a clear table, so you can quickly decide. Compare the blade length and price to find the best survival knife for your needs.

Model	Blade Length	Weight	Price
Gerber Survival Knife, LMF II Infantry	12.3 cm	330 g	$$$
Fallkniven A1XB Expedition Knife	16,0 cm	400 g	$$$
Ka-Bar Becker Companion	12.7 cm	453 g	$$$
STATGEAR Surviv-All Rescue Knife	10.8 cm	200 g	$
ESEE – Randall’s Adventure Unisex	14.6 cm	453 g	$$$
Gerber Knife Survival Knife	12.2 cm	309 g	$$

The 6 Best Survival Knives in Detail

What should you consider when buying survival knives?

First, I would like to clear up a misconception that has been circulating on some websites for some time now - namely, regarding survival knives.

Some websites recommend folding knives when it comes to survival, bushcraft or similar outdoor activities.

In plain language: You should stay away from folding knives!

If you have the opportunity to choose a survival knife, it should have a full-tang construction (continuous steel).

Otherwise, especially with rough work, you risk the knife breaking over time, the folding mechanism no longer working, or the entire structure becoming increasingly unstable until you can no longer use it.

So stick with Full-Tang knives when it comes to survival and other outdoor activities!

But now let's discuss the important factors that you should consider when making your purchase decision!

What do you need the knife for?

First, you should consider whether and for what purpose you need a survival knife - or whether you might prefer a bushcraft knife (here is my buying guide) or an EDC knife (every day carry).

You should know that survival knives are usually heavy and large. If you want to carve a small figure out of a piece of wood, your survival knife won't be much help. However, if you need to quickly chop down a small tree, your survival knife will be of great service.

A survival knife is the right choice if you plan to do the following:

• Cutting materials such as ropes, fabrics, or papers
• Removing barricades or obstacles
• Opening doors or windows
• Starting a fire
• Hunting small animals or fishing
• Working with wood, chopping, splitting
• Preparing food
• Defense in emergencies
• Cutting through thickets

However, survival knives are not only suitable for exceptional situations where survival is at stake. Ideally, investing in one is also worthwhile in other areas, such as the following:

✅ For Bushcrafting

First, I recommend a knife with a shorter blade for Bushcrafting (What is bushcraft?). This is because you usually carve more than you chop when Bushcrafting. However, the Fallkniven F1z Outdoor F1 is also good for Bushcrafting.

You can use it, for example, to build or refine your shelter (cutting ropes or cutting patches for damaged tents). Furthermore, it is wonderful for preparing firewood or even preparing and cutting the occasional meal.

✅ On the hunt

On a hunt, a survival knife combines all the skills it has: clearing the path, slaughtering the prey, and gutting the animal. Additionally, you can use it to advance your trap building.

✅ Urban Survival

A survival knife can be useful in urban survival by using it as a tool to open a door, cut a rope, or remove a barricade. It can also be used as a weapon to defend oneself in emergencies.

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Survival knives are not really suitable for:

❌ Hiking

Hikes usually last for a day, and a large and heavy survival knife would not only be a hindrance while moving, but also draw the attention of other hikers to you. You would rather not endure those disapproving looks, do you?

Furthermore, it is not necessary to cut a 2 cm sausage with a 13 cm blade. A pocket knife like the Victorinox Huntsman Pocket Knife is completely sufficient (read my review here).

❌ Trekking

Bringing a survival knife on a trekking trip is impractical because it is too heavy. For trekking, it is better to use a smaller and lighter knife that can assist you in preparing meals and cut ropes well.

❌ Going Camping

No question: With a good survival knife, you can perform almost all (more or less) everyday tasks that arise when camping. Nevertheless, I recommend a smaller and lighter outdoor or bushcraft knife here.

❌ For Fishing

When fishing, you don't need a 500 gram knife or a 14 cm blade. Any outdoor or bushcraft knife is better suited for this, as you perform finer work when fishing than in survival situations.

After you have decided for yourself what purpose your survival knife should serve, you can focus on the next factors.

The length of the blade and the legal aspect

The blade length plays a significant, if not the most important, role in your purchasing decision. It almost solely determines whether and where you are allowed to carry the knife - yes, that's right, allowed!

In Germany, it is not allowed to carry fixed knives with a blade longer than 12 cm. However, there are a few exceptions:

• When using the knife for sports, cultural preservation, or profession
• Photo or film shoots, theater
• When the knife is carried in a closed container

Always pay attention to the blade length of your knife to avoid getting into uncomfortable situations and having to explain yourself to the police.

Depending on the length of the blade, a knife is more suitable for one task or another:

• Short blade: Tasks that require more finesse and attention to detail. With a short blade, you can carve, engrave, or even build traps for small animals. The shorter the blade, the easier it is to transport the knife (less weight, less space required). More prone to breaking than long blades.
• Long blade: A longer blade means more space required and more weight. Best suited for rough work such as chopping and cutting sturdy objects. Not suitable for fine work.

Another tip that you may have already read in other articles from me: If you need a knife-like tool that you can always carry with you and whose overall size should exceed 15 centimeters, then I recommend using an axe.

With an axe, you can accomplish almost everything that you can do with such a heavy knife - besides, axes do not fall under the weapons law, so you can carry and use them as ordinary tools!

Strength and Width of the Blade

The width and thus the strength of the blade largely determines which objects you can split with your blade. Keep in mind that survival knives are relatively large for a reason, to generate enough force to be able to split even harder materials if necessary.

Ideally, the width of your blade should be between 3 and 6 mm. The wider the blade, the more powerful the strike and the greater the splitting force behind it. However, more blade also means more weight, so always consider that in your purchasing decision.

Blade Grinding and Design

Blades of outdoor knives come in different grinds, all of which have different advantages and disadvantages.

You must know these grinds to be able to recognize what your favorite knife is suitable for and whether you should choose a different model for certain purposes.

Since knife edges are a great topic, I have also written my comprehensive guide "What common knife edges are available for outdoor knives?". This gives you all the information to choose the knife edge suitable for you.

Here is an overview:

Let's now go into detail.

Flat Grind

The most common type of grind is the so-called flat grind, also known as the Flat Grind. As the name suggests, the blade has a generally flat grind and a flat edge. The flat grind is achieved by balancing the Sabre Grind and Scandi Grind.

The flat grind is best suited for very fine cutting work, less so for coarser chopping work.

So, you can use it excellently to:

• cut your food
• dissect prey
• cut rather delicate raw materials

However, always proceed with caution when cutting if you want to keep the flat grind for a long time.

The problem is the relatively thin edge: if you are too rough, it can happen that the edge breaks or shows other damage, and that even relatively quickly. So, only use this blade shape to a limited extent and use it according to its purpose.

Scandi Edge / Scandi Grind

The Scandi Grind, on the other hand, is already very suitable for harder materials such as wood.

However, you should not start performing constant chopping work with this blade shape, as it is still too delicate for that. If you want to carve wood or perform fine work on slightly harder materials, you can use the Scandi Grind for that.

Ideally, you can use the Scandi Grind whenever there is something to be made from wood. This includes things like traps or the basics of your camp. You can also work on firewood excellently with the Scandi Grind - similar to a small, double-sided chisel.

The Scandi Grind is relatively easy to sharpen. So, even if you don't have much experience, repairing a small notch shouldn't be too difficult for you. Here you can find my method for sharpening.

Sabre Grind

The Sabre Grind can best be described as a combination of Flat Grind and Scandi Grind.

With this type of blade, you can already start splitting wood. The Sabre Grind is even more stable than the Scandi Grind, so you can get even more creative with this blade shape.

The saber grind can handle much more and can be used when you want to split wood or fell small trees and branches, but you don't have a saw or axe available.

As you will be performing rough work much more frequently with this blade shape, regularly check it for defects.

Although it should be resilient enough to withstand hard work in the long term, you definitely want to avoid it giving up the ghost just when you need it.

Convex Grind

The Convex Grind is not called the "Axe Grind" for no reason. The Convex Grind is very stable and strong, with sharpness hardly being affected during work. In general, cutting with the Convex Grind is as good as with the Scandi Grind - but be careful: it is still not quite as durable as the Sabre Grind.

If you want to cut relatively finely or harvest or remove very controlled small amounts of resources, then the Convex Grind is ideal.

With this edge, there is a healthy mix of resilience and finesse, rough work and control. Unfortunately, this versatility also makes it very difficult to sharpen - there are no flat edges.

Hollow Grind

The true fillet knives are probably equipped with the Hollow Grind. The sole purpose of this blade design is sharpness, sharpness, and more sharpness. How thin the blade becomes is completely irrelevant. With such a sharp blade, you naturally cut through numerous raw materials excellently, but you lose a lot of stability.

Therefore, keep in mind that you should only use this blade shape for filleting, gutting, skinning, and quickly slaughtering small animals or the like. The hollow grind breaks incredibly quickly if you use it, for example, for work on harder materials such as wood.

The Steel you use

Choosing the type of steel for your blade can have a big impact on how you handle the knife later on.

Depending on which type of steel you choose, the maintenance effort for the blade can be greater or smaller. Basically, the blades are preferably made from two types of steel:

• Carbon steel and
• 440 steel / stainless steel

Carbon Steel

The name of carbon steel comes from the high amount of carbon that is present in addition to its core component, iron.

Carbon steel is known for its tremendous resistance and hardness. Furthermore, it can usually be sharpened effortlessly and can be used for a long period of time with good care.

Its disadvantage is the comparatively high maintenance effort that you have to put in to maintain its good condition.

Carbon steel reacts quickly with other substances and rusts relatively easily. Therefore, regularly inspect your blade and care for it appropriately if you choose a knife with a carbon steel blade.

Carbon steel variants include: 1095, 1085, 52100, 5190, D2, CPM D2, A2, O1.

Stainless Steel / 440 Steel

440 steel is what is meant by "stainless". This type of steel is the current standard in knife production and is very commonly used in industry.

The high percentage of chromium provides excellent protection against rust, which reduces maintenance effort, especially compared to carbon steel.

However, with 440 steel, you probably won't achieve the sharpness and edge retention of carbon steel.

You can also find stainless-steel variants in the following versions: CPM 3v, CPM 154, CPM-30V, CPM S35V, 440c, VG10.

A suitable reading tip here:

What is the hardness level of the steel in your knife?

The hardness level of your knife steel also plays a role, as it determines the deformation resistance of your blade. You can recognize the hardness level of the steel by the abbreviation "HRC" (Rockwell hardness test), which also represents the corresponding unit of measurement.

The average currently lies between 58 and 60 HRC, with hardened knife steel typically having a hardness of between 55 and 62 HRC.

• Hard steel, e.g., 62 HRC is resistant and dulls very slowly. However, it is also difficult to sharpen.
• Soft steel, e.g., 55 HRC dulls faster than hard steel. However, it is much easier to sharpen.

Focus on the following factors:

• How well can your knife be sharpened? Prioritize what you can live with: hard steel - more resistant but difficult to sharpen - or soft steel - faster to dull but easy to sharpen. Your personal preferences will decide.
• How well does your knife cut? In plain language: if your knife doesn't cut exactly as it should, you might as well throw it away. You wouldn't keep an oven that doesn't bake, would you?
• How long do the edges of the knife stay sharp? You should know how long you can use your knife in the great outdoors without having to sharpen it again. If your knife dulls quickly, and you don't have the means to sharpen it, it's not good.

The Handle Material

The handle of a survival knife can make a difference. Especially with very heavy knives, poorly crafted handles that do not fit well in the hand can be a problem.

The heavier your knife, the better the handle should support you in safe handling. The most common handles for survival knives are:

• Wood
• Micarta
• Rubber
• Plastic (hard)

Of course, the different handles also vary greatly in their appearance. If you value a more traditional, classic look, then you will probably prefer the wooden handle. However, keep in mind that wood absorbs moisture relatively quickly.

For huge and heavy survival knives, a handle made of plastic or rubber can be very useful. This is because you usually have a secure, non-slip grip. This way, the knife won't slip out of your hand too quickly during rough work or fast movements.

Micarta - a composite of fibers and plastic - is extremely resistant and has a long lifespan. However, your choice ultimately depends on your individual preferences - but always pay attention to a firm grip, as it can quickly become dangerous otherwise.

The Knife Sheath

Survival knives usually come with a corresponding sheath (this is not always the case, so inquire beforehand!).

It is needed to protect the knife from unwanted external influences and thus from damage. Furthermore, it shields the knife from its wearer and thus contributes to accident prevention.

Knife sheaths are usually made of the following materials:

• Leather: If you are a fan of true classics with tradition, then you will probably prefer a leather sheath. However, leather shows signs of wear and discoloration relatively quickly. Furthermore, securing heavy survival knives in leather sheaths is relatively difficult.
• Plastic: Sheaths made of plastic focus more on functionality than aesthetics. They are usually resistant and dirt-resistant.
• Kydex: Knife sheaths made of this malleable thermoplastic are connected, for example, with rivets or eyelets.

How should I maintain my survival knife?

If you regularly use your survival knife, it will inevitably show signs of wear and tear over time, which is completely normal. Therefore, you should invest some time in maintaining your knife - at least if you want it to last.

Especially if your knife has a blade made of carbon steel, you must not neglect regular oiling - you have already learned that carbon steel rusts more easily than stainless steel.

Furthermore, you should make sure not to unnecessarily burden your knife. So don't use it as a shovel to dig a hole, don't hit it on too hard surfaces, don't overstrain the tip, and sharpen the blade regularly.

Furthermore, spare your blade from high temperatures: That means you'd rather not poke around in the campfire with the tip of your knife.

Which manufacturers produce good outdoor knives?

Let's take a brief look at the masters behind these sharp treasures. There are numerous reputable manufacturers who specialize in providing us with top-notch bushcraft knives that will serve us faithfully during our outdoor activities.

For example:

• Mora of Sweden (Morakniv)
• ESEE Knives
• Fallkniven
• Benchmade
• Spyderco
• Böker
• Cold Steel
• Helle

But in this guide, we mainly focus on the knives themselves. Therefore, I would like to highly recommend my other guide, in which I extensively discuss the best manufacturers of outdoor knives.

There, I explore the different brands and their special features - as if I were uncovering the hidden treasures of a dense forest.

Take a look at my article on the best outdoor knife manufacturers to dive deeper into the subject and find the perfect manufacturer for your knife.

Survival Knife vs. Bushcraft Knife vs. Pocket Knife vs. Machete

What are the differences between survival knives, bushcraft knives, pocket knives, and machetes? Let's find out!

Survival Knife

Survival knives are relatively large, fixed-blade knives. As the name suggests, a survival knife should be able to do everything necessary for survival in the wilderness - so it's an all-rounder.

From preparing food, chopping wood and cutting bulky materials to felling small trees, everything is included.

Bushcraft Knife

The Bushcraft knife is very similar to the survival knife, just a little smaller.

These handy little helpers are particularly suitable for working with wood and fine work, for which a rough survival knife is not so well suited.

If you want to know what makes a good bushcraft knife, just take a look at my related article: The Best Bushcraft Knife - Your Buying Guide 2023 (survival-kompass.de)

Here is a table showing the differences between survival and bushcraft knives.

Survival Knife	Bushcraft Knife
Robust construction for use in emergencies	Can have a robust construction, but not necessarily required
Multiple functions (e.g., sawing, cutting, filing, chopping)	Versatile functions (e.g., woodworking, collecting firewood, cutting food)
Portable and easy to handle	It can be portable and easy to handle, but not necessarily required
Focus on emergencies	Focus on use in the wilderness

Pocket Knife

A folding pocket knife belongs more in the EDC category and therefore in its drawer.

It is less suitable for large outdoor activities such as a survival or bushcraft knife, but rather as a useful tool in everyday use.

Machete

In plain language, a machete is like a survival knife on steroids - bigger, more powerful and bulky, the machete is less suitable for fine work, but is intended to clear even the roughest obstacles in the wild.

The machete is the best tool for hacking and chopping among all the types listed, but it can also cut excellently.

If you are keen to learn more about machetes, their history, and their uses, then read the article "6 Types of Machetes and How to Use Them" on my blog.

FAQ: Questions and Answers on the Topic

Conclusion: Your needs decide

Which survival knife you choose depends on your personal preferences - there is no "THE BEST" survival knife for all situations.

This statement may surprise you - especially since I have chosen a favorite (the ESEE - Randall's Adventure Unisex) and recommended it to you.

However, this is only MY favorite, which I have chosen based on my preferences.

Maybe you want to use your survival knife for something entirely different than I do? Maybe you prefer a different material, design, or blade type than I do?

Anticipate in advance exactly where and for what purpose you want to use your survival knife, then decide. However, always pay attention to a firm and secure grip; otherwise you risk not only poor functionality and wasting money, but also your safety and health.

You can read more guides to knives here:

• Find the best Bushcraft knife
• Find an awesome Bushcraft knife with Firesteel

I hope that this buying guide has been helpful to you and that you can soon decide on your favorite - choose wisely!

Thank you for your attention, I would be happy if you take a look at a few more articles on my blog.