Back to the topic of survivalism, which is what this account was meant for prior to getting into the deep end of improving Steemit.

Swiss Army Knives

Most people were brought up with this notion that a Swiss Army knife is the ultimate survival tool. The more gadgets it has the better. Those tiny nail clippers and a USB are a must in the wilderness.

^ From OddityMall.

You can't plug a USB into a tree stump and if you keep your keys on it, you won't be using the rest of the knife to gut a fish. The combination is nonsensical.

There's another reason that Swiss Army knives are impractical. The same reason Gerbers are never used for everything they're intended for: you can't afford to cut your finger while taking the tiny implements out.

Cut in the bush ⟶ Infection ⟶ You're screwed (with a tiny screwdriver)

Gerbers/Multitools

^ Gerber site

There's lots of different types of these, from various brands, and they're standard issue with your military kit.

Know what people do with these? Flip them open and closed. Over and over. For no purpose.

Don't get me wrong, these are useful tools. The multi-tool makes an excellent pair of pliers and wire cutters. The knives can be useful in an emergency but that's what they're for, for when your primary knife is unaccessible. These knives are the knives of last resort.

^ Gerber site

And while we're on the topic of Gerbers, you don't need a Tactical Pen for 72$ + tax. What's the easiest way to break glass? Pop it with a screwdriver.

Fixed Blade

^ A good fixed blade knife, Randall

A great fixed blade knife is irreplaceable as long as the quality is there. If you bought it for a fiver at the flea market then the chances of it being a piece of shit are quite high. The blade should be a nice stainless/carbon steel and the handle can be anything from wood to a composite plastic. It must run through the entire length of the handle. This is called a full-length tang. The tip of the blade should be tapered to a point. This can be in various shapes but the idea is that the knife can pierce.

The shape of the handle is up to you and you should pick whatever you feel the most comfortable holding. If the knife is the wrong size you won't be able to use it. The knife should fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. You shouldn't have to struggle to close your hand nor should it get lost. It shouldn't slip and there shouldn't be so much of a handle sticking out that you can hold it with two hands. It's not a sword. What this means is that your knife is unique to you.

Don't fall for "tactical-looking" knives that have a certain look. No one cares if you look like a badass when its life or death.
Good quality knives will run you $100-$300 on average. This doesn't mean that cheaper knives are shit, but chances are that they are. I do have a great Iisakki Jarvenpaa knife which I've had for 20 years now and used for everything.

For the love of whatever you care about, do not buy a hollow handle knife! Hollow handle knives are branded as survival knives and the handle is filled with all sorts of shit, like the butt of some rifles. Don't do it.

Can Opener

You can use fixed blade knives to open cans if needed (do not try this with a folding knife). Simply position it over the can with the tip down where you want the initial cut to be, close to the rim, and hammer down with a rock or similar. Then lower the blade 45 degrees and move it up and down, pressing on the metal lid. Don't saw it or you'll end up with metal shavings in the food. For some reason this obvious use is not widely-known so we're sharing it.

Folding Knives

These are good for carrying in an urban environment day to day. They're smaller and clip to your belt or pocket. They're not meant to replace a good fixed blade knife but can be handy when one cannot be carried or is inaccessible. There isn't too much to say about them but when picking one, we strongly suggest opening it and checking if you are able to close it with one hand. At the same time, you should not be able to accidentally close it.

All blade/handle recommendations are the same as with the fixed knives.

Stubby folding knives and knives with all sorts of fucked up blade shapes are not survival knives, despite what some sites say. They're about as useful as the Swiss Army knives, which is not quite.

More Resources

Wilderness Today offers a great article for knife selection. It includes links to additional material such as examples of knife points. We don't vouch for the knife recommendations in the article.

Be very careful using any ratings site for picking your knife as they offer ratings based on the knife's sales potential, not it's quality.

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Also in this series:

• Survivalist Guide to Military Rations
• Survivalist First Aid Comprehensive Guide

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