If you’re looking for the best survival knife, then you’re certainly in the right place. We’re going to give you the rundown on the top-rated survival knives that will save your life in case of an emergency, or just make a trip into the wilderness go that much more smoothly. Keep on reading for the best outdoors knives to consider.
Top-Rated Survival Knives
Let’s get into the best outdoor knives to consider adding to your arsenal.
#1: Kershaw Fixed Blade Camp Knife
- 10” blade made of 65Mn carbon tool steel is finished with a black powdercoat for added toughness...
- Designed for hard use applications such as clearing brush, stripping bark, removing tough vines and...
- Full tang handle wrapped in a non-slip rubber overmold features secure contoured grip, built-in hand...
- Molded sheath protects during storage; features nylon straps and lashing points for versatile...
- An excellent companion for hunters, trail maintenance crew, landscapers, survivalists and anyone in...
If you’re looking for a large, high-performance blade that’ll get the job done in case of emergency, then you’ll want to consider this one from Kershaw. It features a large, 10 inch fixed blade made from high-quality steel. But, you can also get bigger options (14/18 inch) knives in the same model if you’re looking for an even bigger outdoor or camp knife. Keep on reading to find out why we’ve rated this as our best survival knife.
Key Features
- Fixed blade
- 10 inches long (also 14 and 18 inch options)
- 65 Mn carbon steel
- Black
- Full tang
- Dual lanyard holds
- Comes with a case
- 1 pound, 3 oz total weight
- Ideal for clearing brush, stripping bark, removing vines, etc.
- Built in hand guard
User Reviews
“Excellent value and it has a ton of great things going for it, including the blade and handle design. It’s easy to grip, super sharp and safe to use as well. My only real complaint is that the coating on the blade could be a bit more durable but for the price of this thing? I’m not going to complain too much!”
“This thing is a beast when it comes to camp knives and it’s perfect for all sorts of tasks. I didn’t even know I needed a knife with a big blade like this until I had one and now it’s indispensable. Well done Kershaw!”
I’m an urban prepper who wanted to have a large knife in my emergency supplies so did a bunch of research and ran across this one. It’s a nice combination of quality with price and honestly, I couldn’t be happier with it.”
Shop Now for Outdoor Knives
Do you want to pick up this top-rated outdoor knife? You can easily find it on Amazon and don’t forget to check and see if this product is eligible for fast, free shipping with a Prime membership:
#2: Fallkniven A1 Fine Edged Fixed Blade Knife
- Blade material: lam. Vg10
- Blade length: 160 mm
- Total length: 280 mm
- Zytel sheath included
The Fallkniven A1 certainly belongs on any list of the best survival knives. It’s a serious knife designed for tough situations and should last you a lifetime of serious use. It’s ideal for any sort of wood chopping or cutting and just about anything else you might want to do outdoors. Read on to find out all the details you need to know about this high-quality option.
Features
- 6 3/8 inch blade
- Sheath included
- Durable stainless steel
- Very sharp and can also be sharpened easily
- Full tang sticks out at the end slightly and can be used to break glass if necessary
- Well balanced
- 14.4 ounces
- Ideal for both hot and cold climates
Customer Reviews
“Perfectly balanced, great finish and the convex blade is super strong and durable. I took it camping recently and it exceeded my expectations for every single thing that I used it for.”
“High quality survival knife that has a nice heft to it. This thing isn’t going to break on you when you need it the most and I also like how sharp it came. I’ve been using it for a few outdoor trips now and it’s still super sharp.”
“Low maintenance and the perfect tool for carving or chopping wood. There are some complaints about the sheath but I personally like it and find that it packs smaller than some other knives or similar length and weight.”
Get this Survival Knife Today
The Fallkniven A1 is certainly one of the best survival knives to consider. It’s not cheap but you get what you pay for and in this case, you’re getting a serious knife that’ll last you a lifetime. Head over to Amazon to find out more about it here:
#3: Gerber Freeman Guide Fixed Blade Knife
- 5Cr15MoV SS blade, glass bead finish
- Full fine edge blade
- Large finger grooves, tachide on lay, full tang and lanyard slot
- Formed nylon sheath included
- Blade length 4-Inch, overall length 8.38-Inch
As far as small, fixed blade survival knives go, this one from Gerber is a top choice that you’ll want to consider. It has a full tang, super sharp stainless steel and a well-designed handle with finger grooves to make any task that you’ll do with it easier. Keep on reading to find out why we like it so much.
Important Features
- Glass bead finish
- Fine edge blade
- Large finger grooves
- Full Tang
- Lanyard
- Nylon sheath included
- 4 inches long
- 3.52 ounces
- Fits into your pocket
- Reasonably priced
Camp Knife Reviews
“Super sharp and I love the finger grooves that make it easy to use. Full tang and also reasonably priced. I liked it so much that I bought each of my kids one to use when we go camping or whatever too!”
“I was looking for a small, fixed blade knife that had a full tang but didn’t cost a ton. When I ran across this one from Gerber, I was immediately sold. And since I’ve gotten it? I honestly couldn’t be happier and it’s far exceeded my expectations. It’s small but it packs a serious punch.”
“Really high quality knife and I have no complaints about it all. However, the sheath is kind of crappy and it was obviously designed by someone who doesn’t wear a knife on their belt.”
Buy it Now
Pick up this small survival knife on Amazon today by clicking the button below. And, don’t forget to see if it’s eligible for fast, free shipping with a Prime membership:
#4: Ka-Bar US Marine Fighting Knife
- Edge Angles - 20 Degrees
- Overall length 11.875 inches
- The most famous fixed blade knife design in the world
- 1095 Cro-van steel
- Leather Handle, USMC Fightning Knife
No list of the best survival knifes would be complete without the Ka-Bar. It’s the most successful military knife of all time and a standard tool of the trade for the marines. The company who calls it says that it’s the most famous fixed blade knife in the world and they are probably right about that. Find out more about the Ka Bar knife and why you might want to consider it for a survival knife in your kit.
Features
- Leather sheath
- 7 inches long
- Straight edge blade
- 1095 Cro-Van steel
- Leather handle
- Made in the USA
- Both durable and sharp
- Carbon steel blade with epoxy coating
User Reviews for Survival Knifes
“I bought this for a bit utility knife when camping and liked it so much that I find so many excuses to use it more and more! It’s super sharp, has a nice handle that’s easy to grip and a great leather sheath. I’ll be buying each of my kids one once they get old enough to handle it.”
“This is a serious survival/combat knife that’s built tough. It’s super durable and can handle a serious beating, which is exactly what you want in a wilderness survival knife.”
“Top-quality fixed blade survival knife that’s great for hunting, camping, fishing or any time you leave your house!”
Shop Now
Among survival knives, the Ka-Bar is among the most famous. Click the button below to find out more details about this popular option on Amazon:
#5: Morakniv Companion Spark Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife
- Versatile fixed-blade outdoor knife and fire starter, with a 3.9-inch hardened Sandvik 12C27...
- Includes fire starter that twist-locks into the high-friction, anti-slip rubber handle; spine of the...
- Integrated fire starter is made from a magnesium alloy that produces a 3,000 degree C (5,400 F)...
- Blade length: 3.9 inches (104 mm), blade thickness: 0.09 inches (2.5 mm), total length: 9.4 inches...
Key Features
- 3.9 inch blade
- Knife and fire starter combo
- Comes in blue or yellow
- Stainless steel blade
- Anti-slip rubber handle
- Includes plastic sheath
- Reflective lanyard
Outdoor Knife Reviews
“Really awesome knife if you want something to help you light fires. The blade is bare bones, but sharp enough to make kindling or whatever. The fire starting part of it works well and I love the lanyard so you won’t lose it.”
“I personally prefer a small knife that I can just slip into my backpack or whatever in case of emergency and this one fits the bill exactly. It’s light enough that it doesn’t add much weight to your pack and of course, it’s always a good idea to have a way to start fire when out in the wilderness.”
“My go-to fishing and camping knife that’s sharp right out of the box. Stainless steel so it won’t rust and I like the idea of starting a fire with this thing too to cook up my fish after I catch it!”
Get it Today
This is one of the best outdoor knives to consider if you want one that’ll help you light a fire in case of emergency. Plus, it’s small enough to take along with your anywhere you might go. Find out more details about this top choice on Amazon:
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Survival Knife
There are a number of things to think about when buying a survival, camping or outdoor knife. Here are the most important factors to consider.
Size
You can find small survival knives with blades that are 3-4 inches long or much bigger ones that are 10, 12 or even 14 inches. What you need really depends on your situation.
For example, if you’re buying a knife to put in your emergency supply kit at home, then consider a bigger knife that can basically do it all. However, if you’re looking for a knife to take backpacking with you, then you’ll probably want to consider a smaller, lighter option.
Tang
A full tang knife means that the blade extends all the way into the handle. This makes it super strong and durable and means that the blade won’t snap off when put under pressure.
Cheaper knives don’t have this feature which makes them far less durable which is why we don’t recommend them.
Handle
Some knives have hollow handles for storing things inside them. This means that the knife doesn’t have a full tang (see above) and it’s for this reason that we don’t recommend this option.
Instead, get a knife with a solid handle. As far as material goes—rubber, polymer, or some other material, it doesn’t really matter. You may consider getting a knife with finger grips which can make certain tasks like whittling easier on the hands.
The Tip
Some knives have rounded or curved tips, but we strongly prefer pointed tips for a survival knife. First of all, they’re much easier to defend yourself with against humans or animals. Plus, they’re far better at things like gear repairs, removing splinters, breaking nuts, etc.
Folding vs Fixed Blade
A knife with a folding blade can be handy because it takes up less space in the pack and can easily fit into a pocket. However, they are not that reliable and should be avoided in survival situations. The joint is a form of weakness and if your life depends on it? That’s not ideal!
Sheath
Even some top-quality knives tend to cheap out on the sheath. This is often not a big problem if you plan to carry it around in your pack or leave it with your other emergency supplies. However, if you plan to carry the knife around on your belt, then consider this carefully and read the reviews for the certain product you’re considering.
Carbon vs Stainless Steel Blades
In terms of the blades or survival knives, the two options are carbon or stainless steel. However, there is no clear winner as to which one is best and it’s mostly a matter of personal preference.
Stainless steel doesn’t rust but it does lose its’ edge relatively quickly. Carbon does rust but it can hold a nice edge for much longer.
Customer Reviews
Before dropping some cold hard cash on a wilderness survival knife, be sure to check out the 3-4 star reviews on Amazon for the product that you’ve considering. This will give you a nice indication of a product’s true strengths and weaknesses.
Price
As with anything that you might want to buy, price is of course a consideration. In this case, you can spend at little at $20 on a survival knife or more than 10x that amount.
In general, with survival knives we recommend spending as much as you can afford. You’ll get steel that is far higher in quality and easy to sharpen, a better design, nice sheath and something that’ll basically last you a lifetime. The cheaper knives are far less durable and this isn’t exactly what you want in a survival situation, right?
Have your Say about Outdoor Knives
What’s your top pick for a survival knife? Is it one of the options from this list or do you have your eye on another one? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.
Also be sure to give this article a share on Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook. It’ll help other people, like yourself who are concerned with surviving a natural disaster or other sort of crisis in style.
Last update on 2021-09-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API