1. KA-BAR USMC Utility Knife
The archetype of the American survival knife is the USMC’s KA-BAR, originally produced during WWII and yet to be significantly improved upon, which is why it’s so popular. It has a 7-inch blade with an overall length of 11 7/8 inches.
2. Tom Brown Tracker
With only a 4 ΒΌ-inch blade, it would be easy to dismiss this knife as too short for some tasks, but its unique blade design, by famed outdoorsman Tom Brown Jr., lends itself to a wider variety of survival tasks than more conventional knives. However, as a jack of all trades, master of none, many survivalists dismiss it as a novelty. It is pretty, though.
3. SOG SEAL Team Knife
What’s a knife review without a SEAL knife? Like the KA-BAR, the SOG has a 7-inch clip point blade but with a partial serration for sawing and shaving wood. Part of the testing process involves a two week salt water immersion, so you know rust is never going to be a problem.
4. Cold Steel SRK
This 6-inch bladed Cold Steel Survival Rescue Knife (SRK) was specifically designed to withstand extreme abuse. Made of stainless steel, it’s also coated with Tuff-Ex to protect the metal from the elements.
5. Bear Grylls Survival Knife
Bear Grylls’ name is synonymous with survival, and a few years ago he put it to a Gerber range of products, including this survival knife. It’s a good deal for the price, and the sheath incorporates a sharpener, fire starter, a survival guide and the lanyard attaches an emergency whistle.
