Which Knife Should I Buy First?

I Highly recommend Mora Knives! They make a great fixed blade knife not a flashy knife but great quality called the Clipper Compainion. Great Quality, Great Price.

Ian

I Highly recommend Mora Knives! They make a great fixed blade knife not a flashy knife but great quality called the Clipper Compainion. Great Quality, Great Price.

Ian

Love the Mora.

Unless you have hand to hand combat training, forget about self defense with a knife unless it’s a last option. As I have always been told, without training, that knife will end up being used against you. Get your self a knife that you feel good about using, go utility, not flashy. Next buy a good quality knife, if its a bowie style under $25 it most likely be crap. A full tang knife with a base thickness of 3/16-1/4 and a minimum length of 6", you can get some that are rust resistant but don’t get strictly Stainless steel for it will never hold an edge. If you have the opportunity go to a yard sale and find a few clasp knives, if they’re slightly rusted they can be cleaned and sharpened, if its old and no rust, it probably S. Steel. If nothing else, a good butchers knife and a pairing knife will do nicely.
If you haven't got what you need, use what you have,

Simple answer; the biggest most menacing looking knife you can find! Optics can be everything. I say this with the greatest of resects to our members with a military background who really know what they are talking about. I a SHTF situation you are most likely up against some "zombie" with no training and no self-defense skills. Of course if you are not it could well be "good night". Still with no training I would play the odds. Better than even chance it could save your life.

""GET TRAINING"" It will be far more beneficial to you than having a weapon you don't know how to handle.

The best defense against a knife wielder is distance, a walking stick with sufficient length can keep an attacker at bay, put a point on it and you have a weapon. I prefer to learn how to use a bo stick than a knife. Learn how to defend against a knife attack. Or pull out your hand gun and tell tell the "A" hole to "F" off.

Really good points and I completely agree about getting training AND not expecting to use a knife as a defensive weapon as I might get overpowered. I can imagine a situation, even with an untrained "zombie," where because of a difference in strength and size I could be overpowered if I was alone to defend myself.

I think for now I'll stick with a simple, utilitarian belt knife for the hikes and maybe get one of the ESEE knives for the house, and it could be used for a number of things.
Thanks guys.

My personal choice is a Fury Tactical boot knife. Solid and simple fixed blade, full tang, double-edged dagger. Small enough to be a good utility knife but sharp enough for self-defense in a pinch (too short to be a combat knife proper), while the handle is also big enough for my huge hands and fairly ergonomic. I've had one for a few weeks and so far have used it to open cans of food (because of the blade construction it actually curves the edges of the lid inwards, thus making the lid safer), carve wood, cut food and I've even used it as a fork. Overall an excellent all purpose knife. One funny thing about self defense with that knife - the sheath it comes with is heavy leather and easy to draw from. So a little trick I've come up with (fortunately haven't had to try it out so far in a real fight) is to unbutton the sheath and then just chuck it at the other guy as he approaches. This leaves your opponent at least surprised and at best running from you, with you holding a bare knife in your hand and ready to fight. I typically carry the whole thing in my backpack (laws for carrying any form of weapon on one's person here in Canada are a bit tight and I mostly use it as a utility knife anyway) but should things get to that, deploying it for a fight is not complicated with the simple and sturdy backpack I have.

Another really good all purpose knife is the Fury Tactical Firefighter's knife. Really good folding knife with a cord cutter, serrated base of the blade and glass smashing bit on the grip, as well as a protruding bit at the base of the blade that provides more stability when you press your finger against it and prevents the blade from snapping on your hand. That last part is very important - I got myself a dagger after a Smith&Wesson Oasis (an otherwise excellent blade) snapped on my finger while I was carving wood.
The lady at the military surplus where I shop told me she keeps one firefighter's knife with her always and even managed to extricate herself and her daughter from a crashed car recently thanks to that thing - cut the belts with the rope cutter and then smash the windows with the bit on the pommel and they were out.

For heavier utility jobs and improved self-defense I have a spetznaz shovel (simple and sturdy sapper's shovel with a sharpened edge that makes it an effective axe) from Cold Steel and an American Tomahawk Company tomahawk with a hammer on the reverse end.

RERE, I agree with Tazweiss. Nothing can replace knowledge and first hand training. A kinfe is a tool. Like tools you can pay too much or not enough. If you pay too much and lose it in the dark then there goes 250-300 bills at the same time if you don't spend enough, you don't want the thing failing on you in an Egress or Tac situation.

amf,

I will sound in on this if you like.

First, Taz is correct get some training, quickly followed by some field use.

Cut cord and rope. Cut down some small birch trees or alder. Practice making a basic lean-to while you are getting some knife practice. Gut a fish. Skin a squirrel or a rabbit. Chop up a chicken. Dice an onion. Make a meal at your lean-to camp, over a fire. Suspend a brick or concrete block on a length of rope, actually one on a wet rope and one on a dry rope. Try each of your knives to cut the rope. A good knife will cut the rope under tension will one cut, whether dry or wet. Experiment.

Daggers, IMHO, are only good for stabbing someone in the back when they are not looking or when a sentry is sleeping at his post. Basically - unless. A dagger is only good at one aspect - stabbing. Most cheap daggers the tang is too skinny to support any type of prying and then the handle snaps off.

There are three actions a knife will be called upon to perform - slashing, stabbing and chopping. Many knife designs can perform two of the three, very few can do all three. Since knives are basically affordable buy an excellent slashing/skinning knife, a stabbing knife and a chopping blade.

Like guns and trucks, everyone will have an opinion on what is the best. Of course, in knives the best knife is the one that feels best in your hand. Well balanced and you are confident with, because you know how to use it.

I like Mora, they are cheap but use great steel. A great utility knife!! They are sharp - I have a scar or two to prove it. This one I like.
or visit http://www.safezonellc.com and have a look around. Get a Mora for the kids BOB, they come in small sizes, too for smaller hands. $10 - $12.

For something with more blade and heavier look at Cold Steel - a tanto design blade is a good starting point. Or Gerber fixed or folding blade. I have a few Gerber Para-frame folders, they work well. I also have an Old Timer lock blade. Speaking of locking blades, IF you get a folder GET one that has a locking blade, so the blade does not fold and cut-off a finger at the wrong time or wrong place. For survival situation you will want a blade that is 6" or longer, heavy blade, full tang and a heavy duty sheath that can be put on a belt or strapped to the outside of your pack.

If you plan to chop a lot of branches or brush/bush get a machette. Gerber has one that looks very intimidating, LOL. Avoid machettes that use light blades, they will deflect off heavy branches and could cut you instead!! Again, get some education or leasons and then plenty of practice. Operating a machette, blazing a trail all day WILL blister your hand until it is raw, unless you practice often to keep your hands toughen up.

For a good all round belt knife look for a Russell, built by Grohmann Knives in Pictou, Nova Scotia or visit Cold Steel and get their knock off. I was at the Grohmann Factory this summer and they do awesome work.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you selected. Post pics. 😉

Cheers,

Mountainman.

Ranger2012 is correct... a good sized bowie knife... reliable, been used for survival by more folks than we can mention. Don't fall for the fancy knives with all the gadgets etc. in the handles.. they are complete crap. A damscus blade is probably the best you can get but unless you know how to spot a fake don't buy one, there are just too many fakes on the market these days. If you are paying 80.00 plus for a good bowie knife you are getting your monies worth and then some. Hell even Rambo himself went back to basics in his last movie... hand made, nothing fancy just big, strong and really sharp.

I work in the trades and use a knife daily. For myself, I carry a Kershaw pocket knife and NEVER leave without it. As a rule, the Kershaw knives use high quality steel, some have the "open assist" spring load, and have a decent warranty. I have a larger version in my camping gear by Zero Tolerance however I think they may be the same company as it has the same designer (Ken Onion). I have no advise for any blade that one would want as a weapon or for skinning game.

Antsy

You have been given a lot of information. I will suggest you look at a ka bar. They are strong can be used to pry they have great steal stay sharp and will last forever. I do recommend you get some training, even look into videos on line for basics. The ka bar is very affordable and an all round great knife.

The Becker by K Bar is a great combat/utility knife. Strong, simple utilitarian. Multiple configurations to fit your needs.