See what a survival expert picks for a search and rescue knife in the backcountry

If you love cutlery and are interested in wilderness survival, the best survival knife debate is a fascinating topic. And like most enthusiasts, discussing the topic of "What is the best survival knife?" is as much fun as shopping for a new blade. Land navigation expert Blake Miller recently

attended a Search and Rescue conference and talked to some experts about what knives to carry in the wilderness. 
This is the first in a series.

by Blake Miller

This Busse Combat Knife is the choice of one survival expert.

I was fascinated listening to John C’s backcountry survival presentation at the 2012 Washington Search and Rescue (SAR) conference. John is a 19-year veteran of wilderness SAR. He is also a county Emergency Management Coordinator in Washington.
With his backcountry experience and knowledge, he is the absolute right person to discuss wilderness survival.
Key to his discussion of SAR tools, fire starting and building an emergency shelter was his selection of knives. He carried a full tang, fixed blade knife in his SAR pack.
After his presentation I sat down with John to discuss why his primary choice was a fixed blade rather than a folding knife. He told me that the hinge point of a folder was its weakest point and not something he would compromise on.
His choice for a survival knife is a stout knife made by the Busse Combat Knife Company. His knife’s blade body is thick, just under a quarter inch; the tang itself is impressive. The knife had an approximately eight- inch blade. Sturdiness and versatility came to mind when looking at this tool. It’s not a fine bladed scalpel but rather a strong knife that will do the job shaping boughs or batoning firewood. It is a utilitarian, multipurpose part of his kit.

John’s is a quality knife and not a trendy looking bowie knife with engraving and inscription. The only designs etched onto the blade were the wear patterns from years of hard and demanding work.
His selection of manufactures included the Busse Combat Knife Company, Swamp Rat and Scrap Yard; all names new to me.
He did caution that using a large knife takes experience and extra caution.
John’s choice may not be for everyone but is based on years in the wilderness and experience.
Blake Miller has made a career out of staying found and knowing where he is at all times. His formal navigation training began when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1973. He served as an officer aboard several Navy ships over his

Blake Miller

twenty-year career; many of those tours included the duty of Navigator. Blake began working with satellite navigation systems at sea in 1976, culminating with the then-new satellite positioning systems aboard the Battleship WISCONSIN in early 1990.
In 1998, Blake started Outdoor Quest, a business dedicated to backcountry navigation and wilderness survival. Blake has taught classes to wild land firefighters, state agency staffs, Search and Rescue team members, hunters, hikers, skiers, fishermen and equestrians. He regularly teaches classes through the Community Education programs at Central Oregon (Bend) and Chemeketa (Salem, OR) Community Colleges.
As a volunteer, Blake teaches navigation and survival classes to students in the local school districts, and conservation groups. He is a member of a Search and Rescue team.
If you have any questions about land navigation or wilderness survival, you can contact Blake through SurvivalCommonSense.com@gmail.com, or you can go to his website.
Contact Information:
Website: www.outdoorquest.biz
Blog: outdoorquest.blogspot.com
Phone: 541-280-0573
Email: outdrquest@aol.com
To hear the Blake Miller interview about choosing a magnetic compass and GPS on SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio, click here.

For more navigation information, click here

My Five Favorite Swiss Army Knives

There is a lot to like about Swiss Army knives, and for decades I have carried some variation. Here are my favorites.

 by Leon Pantenburg While I wouldn't recommend a Swiss Army knife as the only choice for a survival knife, there are sound reasons for including one in your short list of survival tools.  
Convenience: If a survival tool is convenient and easy to carry, it will get taken along. The best survival tool in the world is useless unless it's available when needed.  

The Classic

It's Handy: My tiny Classic model is so small as to be completely unobtrusive. But it has a small knife blade, and several tools such as a tweezers, scissors and nail file I wouldn't want to be without. There are also all sorts of options, such as LED lights, flash drives and ink pens to make your knife choice perfect for what you need.  
Low Price: You can spend a lot on a Swiss Army knife, but IMO, you'll end up with a bunch of unnecessary options. Decide what your knife needs are, and you can find the correct combination.  
Quality: For a reasonably-priced knife, the Swiss Army has good stainless steel blades, and well-made hinges. Chances are you'll never wear one out. If you do, the knife has a lifetime guarantee, and you'll get a no-questions-asked replacement.

 Classic: This is the smallest model, and it fits on a keychain very nicely. I was given my first Classic as a performance award at the company I worked for, and initially wondered what good it would be. Later, I wondered how I ever got along without it. (To read my review of the Classic, click here.)
The Classic has the one-and-one-half inch blade that is adequate for most everyday tasks, such as cutting string or opening mail. This lets you save your other, bigger blades for more important work. The tweezers are excellent, and the nail file will be used more than you can imagine. I usually grind the tip of the nail file to fit my glasses hinge screw, which gives you another incredibly useful tool. All my survival kits include a Classic.  
Tinker: A Tinker and a Classic are part of my wardrobe. Unless I'm going to a courtroom or some other restricted area, I have this duo with me. My current Tinker was given to me by the late Jim Grenfell, who carried my particular knife for years. The slim, two-layer width makes it comfortable to carry in a pocket. My son also carries a Tinker every day. The basic Tinker generally retails for under $20, and is an incredibly useful combination, with everything you'll typically need and nothing you don't. (Here is a great deal on a Tinker/Classic combo.)  

The Hunter

Deluxe Tinker: I bought this knife years ago as a backpacking knife, thinking I would use the scissors and pliers frequently. This knife went along on a nine-day Boundary Waters canoe trip, and it did everything I needed a knife to do.
 In several instances, the pliers were used to remove hooks from sharp toothed fish. The scissors is also useful for such things as cutting moleskin or duct tape, and this model is a good choice for a backpacker. What I don't like about the Deluxe Tinker the four-layer width, which makes it somewhat bulky. It is not comfortable to carry in a pocket (for me), so mine generally rides in a belt pouch. This is a great all-around knife for most outdoor activities.
 Hunter: My wife bought the first Hunter model in the family prior to a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters. Except for the corkscrew, I like the knife very much. It has a large, 3-1/4- inch locking drop point blade, which makes it a viable tool for field dressing big game animals. It also has a superb saw, which is quite capable of cutting through a whitetail deer pelvis or femur.
Several years ago, I flew to Mississippi for a deer/small game hunt. Since baggage space was limited, I took my Cold Steel SRK for deer, and the Swiss Army Huntsman for small game. Both did their jobs very well. My only change would be to replace the corkscrew with a Phillips head screwdriver. My wife, on the other hand, has a somewhat different philosophy about outdoor camping and cuisine and would never give up her corkscrew!  

Workchamp: I have never owned one of these, and questioned the need for owning something with all those do-dads. But that was before I interviewed a member of the Idaho National Guard after his deployment to Desert Storm in 1990. The soldier's brother handed him a Workchamp as he was boarding the plane for Kuwait.
The soldier attached the knife to a lanyard on his belt, and his whole squad used it constantly for a multitude of tasks. The pliers were in great demand, according to the guardsman, for removing cans of boiling water from their tiny backpacking stove.
The Workchamp showed some wear, but the lanyard and belt pouch kept it from getting lost or disappearing. Most, if not all, of the tools were used regularly, the soldier told me, because they were moving constantly, and didn't have the room or space to carry much else beside food, weapons and water. Today, that knife is undoubtedly a cherished family heirloom.
That is what most people find out about their Swiss Army knives. It is quite possible to bond with your Swiss Army knife, especially after a history of faithful service.
That's what I find with my Tinker. Jim Grenfell used it for years, it was passed on to me, and unless I lose it, that knife will be passed on again. Until then, I'm sure Jim's Tinker will continue to serve me well!

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Randy Yow: An Expert Chooses the Best Hunting Knives for the Backcountry

Randy Yow's commute home from work.

Randy Yow, of La Pine, OR spends his time doing what most big game hunters can only dream about. As host of the popular ” on the pursuit channel, Randy is in the field about 60 days a year, pursuing different species of big game in several western states. In any given year, Yow’s group  may harvest bighorn sheep, bears, deer, elk and antelope.

So what is the best backcountry knife if you’re going to be hunting big game in remote, hard to access areas? If weight is an issue, what is the best choice in this critical survival/hunting tool? Here is what an expert chooses!

To read the complete story, click Randy Yow backcountry knives.

Make Sure your Knife Sheath is Safe, Effective

(Illustration by C. T. Fischer)

So you’ve decided what fixed-blade knife to include in an emergency survival kit or Bug Out Bag.

But how will you safely carry it? Where is the best place to wear that knife on your belt? And what things should you look for in a sheath to make sure the knife isn’t lost?

Unfortunately, some fine knifes come with mediocre to poor sheaths. In some cases, these sheaths can be dangerous to the user!

Outdoorsman and knifemaker  C.T. Fischer explains the best ways to carry your fixed-blade knife, and things to look for in a sheath. 

Click on survival knife sheath to read the story!

Review: The C.T. Fischer Nessmuk Knife

This Nessmuk-style knife is a winner!

Sometimes a knife just looks right, and that's what drew my eye to an ad for a "Nessmuk" knife.  It looked like a quality workhorse.

For a little background here, George Washington Sears, 1821-1890, is better known by his pen name of "Nessmuk". He wrote one of the first wilderness survival books,  "Woodcraft," in 1884 and was a regular contributor to "Forest and Stream Magazine."
Sears had strong opinions about survival gear, and designed several pieces, including the "Nessmuk" knife.

So when I saw a Nessmuk-style knife  advertised by C.T. Fischer Knives, based in Elk City, Idaho, I just had to try one out . I got one from Fischer, and put the knife  through its paces. 

Here's my thoughts on the Nessmuk after testing it: click here to read the review!

Guest Knife Review: The Bear Grylls Survival Knife

This is the new, wildly-popular  Bear Grylls knife. How good is it?

Editor's Note: I have been meaning to review the new Gerber Bear Grylls survival knife, because questions have been coming in about it from readers.
I'll say this right up front: I don't like what Bear Grylls does on his TV shows. In my opinion, Bear is a charlatan and a fraud and a foolhardy thrillseeker who is a BAD example (in the wilderness) for people honestly seeking survival knowledge.
But there is no denying Bear's popularity, and that fact that his signature knives made by Gerber, are selling very well. My first impression, without actually handling one, is that the knife appears to have a good design. But I couldn't quite bring myself to buy one.
I was saved from testing this knife by Jarhead Survivor from the excellent SHTF (Sewage Hits The Fan) blog. Jarhead did a comprehensive, and I believe, fair review of the Bear Grylls survival knife.
Here's Jarhead:
A couple of weeks ago I bought a Gerber Bear Grylls survival knife to try out.  To be honest, I’d never seen the guy’s show, so I watched part of an episode on Youtube to see what it was about.  If he really did half the crazy stuff in a real emergency survival situation that he does on his show he’d be dead inside a week.  Not that he doesn’t know his stuff, but the things these shows do for high ratings would get most people killed.
 To read the rest of the story, click here!

Peter Kummerfeldt: What is the Best Survival Knife?

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This Mora-style knife is a good choice for an overall survival knife.  

I am sure the debate over “which is the best knife” has raged ever since early man first knapped a sharp edge on a piece of obsidian! The recommendations that follow are just that – recommendations. But they are suggestions based on fifty years of recreating and working in the outdoors.

Click Peter Kummerfeldt survival knife choice to read the entire story.

Peter Kummerfeldt: Choose the Best Saw For Your Survival Kit

From left, a folder, a Fiskar sliding blade, and a double-edged Pac-Saw Wyo.

Cutting tools, in all of their variations, have been an integral part  of my life. In my world the term “cutting tool” encompasses knives,  saws and shears.
It does not include axes and here’s why. Nobody knows how to use them safely anymore!
I have never found myself handicapped because I chose to carry a saw rather than an axe. There are many saws available some of which are very useful and others  not so much. Let’s take a look at a variety of them starting with the  least useful.

Do You Need a Machete in Your Survival kit?

This machete cost $3 at a gunshow, and is a valuable survival tool!

I’m not a fan of large survival knives, simply because they are generally too big and bulky for many of the tasks associated with wilderness survival. But I carry a machete in my car survival kit, and there are some tasks that a machete is ideally suited for. If you think one of those big South American knives is only good in the jungle or rain forests, think again!
Click on Do you need a machete? to learn more.

Axe or Saw? Which is the Best Survival Tool?

Axe or saw? Which one will be the best choice for your survival kit?

We'll assume you already have the survival knife and  basic Ten Essentials, and are assembling the rest of the tools needed for a portable survival kit. 
Do you need to add a hatchet, axe or a saw?

It depends. 

Some might call this collection a "Bug Out Bag," or something along those lines. Or you may be a backpacker, hunter or fisherman who needs a light, easy-to-carry wood cutting device. 

A hunter may be looking for a tool that can cut wood and that will also be useful in  quartering and field dressing a big game animal. Choice of  tools is important, because there isn't much space, and you need to keep the weight down.

Click on hatchet, axe or saw to help you decide which tool will best suit your needs!

Make a Quick, Safe Survival Knife Sheath

I made this cardboard sheath 44 years ago, and it still works just fine!

Some of the most useful camping, survival and meat-cutting knives don’t come with sheaths. Here’s how to make a quick, safe edge guard/sheath out of  a cardboard roll and duct tape.
My knives are working tools, and the ones used in the kitchen frequently get double duty on camping trips or for meat processing. Some of these knives started out  in a commercial cutlery catalog, were sold at a butcher supply store or were good deals at a gunshow.
So suppose you get a good deal on a one-piece  knife and want to take it to hunting camp. For safety sake, that blade needs to be securely covered. Make a cardboard knife sheath  that will last  until you come up with a permanent replacement.

What to Put in Your Hollow-Handle Survival Knife

A hollow handle on a survival knife might not be the best use of space!

A while back, a question was asked about what to carry in the hollow handle of a survival knife. Specifically, what survival items are so important that they should be included as part of the knife?

This leads to another question: What useful items can you actually put in that handle space? Is having that tiny bit of extra space worth weakening the entire knife? After all, the logical place for the knife to fail is where the blade meets the handle, and some hollow handle knives will break under the stress of hard use.
Then, suppose you do pack the handle with assorted items. Will you be able to get them out under the duress of a survival situation, or will the stuff have shifted and settled into a blob of useless junk? A knife handle is hardly the place to store something fragile! Read the discussion!

Choose the Best Wilderness Survival/Hunting Knife

A good boning knife, top and a Cold Steel SRK are good choices!

At some point, you may need to reduce a steer, hog, sheep, goat or large game animal into neatly-wrapped packages of  meat for the freezer. Or, you might get a great deal on a half or quarter of beef or pork, and want to save the meat cutting and wrapping fees.
At home, you may have all the tools and accessories needed to make this job do-able. But what knives should you carry when hunting the backcountry? What if you’re on your own, with no outfitter to haul in meatcutting tools and take the meat out on a pack horse?
Even if  the big game carcass will be taken to a commercial meat cutter later for processing, you’ll still have to  gut, skin and possibly quarter the animal. Here are some backcountry knife suggestions!

Survival Knife Review: The Swiss Army Knife Classic?

You'll go from: "Why do I need it?" to: "How did I get along without it?"

Calling a Classic a survival knife is quite a stretch, and I’d never carry that knife as my only survival tool. But it doesn’t matter where I am, or what I’m doing, if it is legal, I have a Classic with me.
The tiny knife has a variety of tools you will need, but that the expensive survival knives won't have. In and of itself, the Classic is an inadequate survival knife. But combined with a larger knife, the Classic will prove to be worth its weight in gold. Here is why you should have a Classic in every survival kit!

Survival Knife Review: Is The Cold Steel SRK The Best Survival Knife?

My old, worn Cold Steel SRK knife has served me well for two decades of hard hunting.

You Can't Compromise on survival gear quality, so  20 years ago, I invested in a Cold Steel SRK.

 For what I need, specifically, a survival tool that can double as a backcountry big game hunting knife, the SRK is perfect. My SRK  has field dressed well over 50 deer and been used on several elk. In one instance, the knife field dressed and quartered three deer without it needing sharpening. The handle never gets too slick to hold safely, no matter how messy the field dressing job gets.

 If I could only have one survival knife, which would also be used as a  field dressing tool for big game and a meat cutting implement,  it would be a Cold Steel SRK. Here's why!

How Does the Master Hunter Perform in the field?

The Master Hunter served me well through three elk.

Some survival equipment tests need to be done at home, but the bottom line is how an item performs under field use conditions. (To read the Master Hunter review, click here.)
For a hunting knife, that means using the tool while hunting.
But at the end of October, during an Oregon elk hunt, my group harvested three elk: a 5×6 bull, a spike bull and a cow. I got in on the field dressing whenever I could get to the kill site on time.
Over two days and three elk, the Master Hunter was used to remove several lower legs and quarter a carcass; quarter an apple; drill holes in the plastic sled we dragged meat out with; divide my ham-and-cheese sandwich in half and cut several pieces of quarter-inch nylon and sisal rope.  Read the rest of the Master Hunter field test update

Survival Knife Review: Cold Steel Master Hunter

The Cold Steel SRK (top) and Master Hunter are both good choices!

I’m a long-time user of Cold Steel knives. Since I bought my first, a SRK, back in 1991, I’ve used the product line extensively. That SRK (the initials stand for Search and Rescue Knife) is still my first choice for a survival/hunting knife. (To read my analysis, click on SRK review.)
And I like the Cold Steel Canadian belt knife for cleaning small game, chopping potatoes and onions  and trimming fat and gristle off meat. It’s also a good skinner on many parts of a big game carcass. (But, I’d like the Canadian belt knife better if the handle was made of Kraton and bigger in diameter!)

But the Master Hunter’s name says it all. If you could only have one knife for big game hunting, the Master Hunter just might be the best bet. Read the Master Hunter review!

Survival Knife Review: The Mora

Currently, the rage among some survival schools is the Mora, a small, inexpensive Scandinavian-style sheath knife with a four-inch blade and a large, easy-to-hold handle. Personally, I think they're great, and I generally have a Mora close at hand.
It's all because newspaper guys, like me, research stuff. Sometimes we gather information, statistics and data for no apparent reason, and with a vague idea of what the info might be someday be used for.
That was the case several years ago when I bought my first Mora knife.
 While I will never give up my folders, I was looking for a small, inexpensive sheath knife that could be recommended to Boy Scouts.
The knife had to be an all-around, do-everything tool. It would be used for a variety of tasks, which could include whittling, cleaning fish and small game, meat-cutting and peeling potatoes. It needed to be lightweight and small enough to be carried conveniently.
If that is what you're also looking for in an all-around knife, check out my :Mora knife review

Choose the Best Survival Knife For Your Needs

The Cold Steel SRK: A fine choice!

Bring up a subject around the campfire, like the best caliber for a deer rifle, most reliable four-wheel drive pickup or the best all-around survival knife and you will get opinions!

But as in anything, you must know what you need. Your survival knife must be lightweight, convenient and easy to carry, do the job for which it is intended and be adaptable to the situation. Probably most importantly, it needs to be tough, durable and easy to sharpen.
Here is a post to help you make the best choice for your individual needs! Find the best survival knife for you!