Survival knives?

[Bmcox86]

I use a benchmade saddle mountain skinner as my primary and a havalon as my back up. I will be trading havalons for their multi tool when it comes out though. I think the benchmade is strong enough for use as a survival knife

 

[Cgeb]

At the risk of getting rocks thrown at me, I carry a pair of Moras. A Companion for basic chores, and the Bushcraft Forest for butchering. I know there are better blades out there but the Forest took apart two elk this year without sharpening. I did that on purpose just to see how it would do. Plenty good enough for me. And it was about $50 for both together.

I own a lot of nice $$ knives, I know it sounds stupid, but generally throw a couple moras in my pack. When I gut/butcher I always reach for the moras. Does everything I need them to do, cheap, sharp and if I need to break a pelvis open I have no problem pounding on them with a rock. Never had one fail me yet.

 

[robtattoo]

I always have my Enzo Camper in my pack, just in case. It's a spectacularly good all-around knife.

This is on top of the blade I carry for butchering & dressing chores.

 

[robtattoo]

The middle one of these 3....

 

[Ray]

For a survival type of knife the Enzo necker with a scandi blade would be my choice. Wrap the skeleton handle with a bright colored poly cord and then soak in G3 epoxy to seal it. I need to get some kydex to make my own sheath.

 

[kodiakfly]

Thanks guys. I guess my main question isn't so much suggestions for knives, as I have tons of those. But rather, "do you dedicate weight in your pack to a knife that you'd use for building a shelter/prying/digging/breaking branches and life/death survival?" I know guys that only carry a Havalon and that's it, and then there's guys that carry three or four blades. I'm trying to narrow down what I want to carry. But I actually think I'm set on what I want to carry now. But still interested if anyone carries their hunting/skinning knives and then have a survival blade in their pack as well.

 

[Trial153]

I carry one knife with me for everything, a Dozier Pro Guide.

Can't go wrong with an Ingram, May or Dozier.

 

[IChaseCoues]

I'm sort of a knife nut also. My current setup is a skeletonized scalpel handle, 6-8 autopsy blades, skeletonized 4" D2 fixed blade knife, and a light Kershaw pocket knife. Total weight is about 6 oz so they're still fairly light but still cover my wants for a sharp capping knife, a tough fixed blade and a quick access multi use blade.

The next leap for me is to do away with either the fixed blade or pocket knife but man that's a hard decision!

 

[kbaerg]

I have a few knives but my main is my Mora.

 

[Mike7]

I have a couple of Moras in the garage for chores. They are a great value, and the blade variety I have sharpen easily, but they also dull and rust too quickly for my liking in the field.

I am going to be carrying the Gerber Myth E-Z Open this year for my backup/emergency survival knife (2.6 oz), and more importantly for use in making skinning cuts as this is the only thing that the Havalon (3 oz) with the thicker blades doesn't seem to do well. Hopefully, the Gerber will work as intented along with the Havalon.

This in not a survival knife per say, but I also carry a Leatherman Style PS I think it is (1.5 oz) in my medical it which takes care of the typical everyday needs of changing Havalon blades when it is cold and wet, pulling slivers, cutting mole skin, etc.

 

[kodiakfly]

My prayers were answered and Benchmade came out with a new hunting knife and I've already got it. It'll fit both roles (hunting and life/death survival), weigh less and pack small.

Anybody want to buy an unused Benchmade 158?

 

[Lawnboi]

I don't carry a 'survival' knife. But I do carry a camp chore knife, and depending on what I'll be doing, that will dictate the size. Having broken down a few deer with a havalon I do prefer a fixed blade, so the knife I'm carrying usually will also take that role when and if something is going to die.

Otherwise I like to have a smaller fixed blade available, either on my neck or in a pocket for everyday tasks, fire starting and stuff like that.
If I do carry a big knife (4+ inch blade). It is only because I plan on processing lots of wood for a fire.

Again I don't carry a knife for a what if situation, because between the 2 knives I normally carry on any given trip, I feel I could adequately survive.

I usually have a <3 in blade knife for everyday use and a 3-5 inch for camp chores or breaking down game.
I have a lot of knives...

Dont look at bark river knives if you don't want to spend too much
Also don't go custom cause it's hard to go back
And carbon steel all the way!!

 

[deadwolf]

For everything but sheep hunting I always have the Andrew Jordan knife on the left. The Benchmade is new to me and plan to carry it this year for sheep, and everything else. The Strider on the right I rarely leave home without : ) And the Havalon will always come along. They're just so nice to work with.

 

[wncbrewer]

I carry my grandfather's Randall on my belt, havalon in my chest rig and a leatherman wave somewhere in my kit. I figure between those three, I can cover just about any situation.