Survival Knife - A Skill Every Survivalist Needs to Know for Survival an...

How To Pick A Bushcraft Knife For Your Outdoors Needs

 Original Article

by Bob Rodgers

A good-quality knife is one of the most vital instruments to have, according to most bushcraft instructors. Therefore, it is important to learn how you should select a bushcraft knife based on various principles because your knife will become your best wingman in the wild.

While there are numerous ways to make a cutting tool (such as knapping a piece of flint or finding a piece of broken glass in a roadside ditch), taking the time now to shop for and pick a knife that meets your demands and your budget will save you a lot of grief and stress later.

A bushcraft knife is similar to a multi-tool, and it must accomplish multiple tasks with a single design. A bushcraft knife, like a multi-tool, may be used to do things its makers never imagined.

5 Steps To Know And Do To Start Making Knives

 Original Article

by Bob Rodgers

Over the almost 10 years I have been making knives, I have gone from a newbie to beginner to finding my way to becoming comfortable in what I do as a knifemaker.

During the majority of that time, I have been overwhelmed by the amount of people seeking input during their journey into the knifemaking community.

This article is an effort to summarize advice I share with anyone wanting to explore what it takes to become a knifemaker.

5 Steps needed for making knives

How to Sharpen a Knife ...With a Sharpening Stone

Knives We Carry

What’s the Difference Between Camping and Survival Knives?

 Original Article

by Tim Makay

Probably the most commonly used tool that any prepper, anywhere, will utilize when in the field is their trusty knife. Whether out on the hiking trail, camping or in the middle of a serious, no-joke SHTF situation the knife is one of mankind’s best, not to mention oldest, tools.

But what kind of knife is best for the average prepper? Should you invest in a camping or a survival knife? Does it make any difference?

Knife Informer

 

Hello my Awesome Readers!

I just wanted to give a shout out to a website I was recently introduced to.

Knife Informer brings together a group of true Knife enthusiasts who are committed to providing you with in-depth and unbiased opinions on all things Knife related.

I highly recommend you check out their site.

All You Need to Know About Tactical Knives

 Original Article:
https://theprepperjournal.com/2021/05/15/tactical-knives/

Even though they have a lot of uses, tactical knives are mainly used for self-defense and military purposes.

It is important to know the uses of a tactical knife before thinking of purchasing one. A tactical knife is made to be readily available and is capable of being used for a range of activities. Tactical knives are also known as “combat knives” for they can be used for self-defense and as a military utility.

A combat knife is purely designed to use as a military utility and has a rugged and rough look to it. They usually have a fixed blade or a folded blade, depending on the way it will be used.

Civilians tend to carry a folded knife, as it is easy to hide for the sake of government laws and regulations. Whereas, military personnel usually carry fixed-blade combat knives.

The few things you need to consider before actually buying a tactical knife are: if you want the blade to be fixed or folded, the length of the blade, and the blade design. However, there are other factors you need to consider as well such as the design of the handle and the type of steel used to make the knife.

Knife care and Maintenance

Original Article

from SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA by FerFAL

Knives that sit on a drawer or box all shiny and unused will require little care other than being stored in a dry location. Its pretty different when a knife is used often, maybe daily, in contact with humidity and going through the normal wear and tear any tool experiences.

There’s two facts about knives.

1)Knives have to be sharpened on regular basis

2)Knives rust when not protected with a thin layer of oil.

Even if you maintain your knife well, in many cases a bit of rust is unavoidable. Its not a big problem really. A bit of mineral oil and some used sandpaper is all you need to clean it up. I show how its done in this video.

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1)Keep your knife razor sharp. A sharp knife is safer to use.

2)WD40 and other tool oils are good for knives but don’t use them on knives that will be used to prepare food. These are toxic and will taint the food you use it on leaving a bad taste. 

3)For knives that will be used to prepare food, you can apply a thin layer of mineral oil or petroleum jelly for protection. Even though you don’t want to eat this directly, they are non toxic and wont leave an aftertaste in the knife. Wipe it dry with a tissue paper after applying it to the blade.

4)While not ideal, vegetable oil can be used. For a knife used for eating meat or used for barbeques, knife expert Abel Domenech says the knife can simply be wiped clean with a paper napkin after use, leaving a thin layer of meat fatty. While this isn’t ideal because it can eventually leave stains on the steel, it does provide some protection from rust.  

5)Don’t leave a knife stored long term in a leather sheath, especially if wet or in locations of high humidity. Plastic sheaths are preferable, but make sure they are dry too before leaving a knife in it long term.

FerFAL

The Easy Way to Sharpen a Knife Without Spending a Lot of Money

Original Article

from Backdoor Survival by The Survival Woman

Everyone needs a knife sharpener because no matter how careful you are, when you use your knife in the field, it is going to get dull.  I don’t care how expensive, or how high tech your knife is, using a knife will eventually dull the blade.
What does this mean for the prepper?  You have some choices.  You can carry a ceramic stone and sharpen your blade . . .  or you can carry a basic little sharpener that will make the job simple, quick and easy.  I guess you know what I choose.  I choose the easy way to sharpen a knife without spending a lot of money!
I purchased Smith’s Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener a few months ago and have used it quite a bit.  Not that my blades were super dull, mind you, but I wanted to learn how to use it properly and run it through its paces before I had to use it out in the field, while hiking, or in an emergency situation.
The Technical Stuff
This lightweight little knife sharpener weighs only an ounce and features a fold out, tapered round diamond-coated rod for sharpening serrated and standard edges quickly and easily. It measures 3-1/2 inches long and is 1 inch wide – plus, and it only weighs just 1 ounce. The Survival Husband Impressions
I recruited my resident knife expert, Survival Husband, to give me his impressions.  (Remember him?  He is the one that swiped my Kershaw OSO Sweet from me . . . ).  Here is what he said:

This sharpener is great.  It is compact and the construction is very durable.  The real plus, however, is that it is small enough and light weight enough to simply drop it in your pack or packet and not worry about it taking up space or being bulky.
The “pocket pal knife sharpener” is easy to use.  In addition to the fixed sharpening blade, it has a small steel which enables you to sharpen a serrated blade no muss no fuss.
In my view this is great for sharpening blades in the field or emergency situation.  I would recommend that you purchase a few to stash in you pack, your pocket and around the house so that you always have a sharp blade – whenever and wherever.

How to Use the Pocket Pal
   
Sharpening Slots

1. Insert knife blade into the V-shaped slots at a 90-degree angle to the sharpening blades or stones.
2. Pull the knife blade straight back towards you while applying light pressure.
3. Repeat this action until blade is sharp.

Tapered Diamond Rod: Flat Edges

1. Always hold the unit with the rod facing down. Place heel of the blade on the diamond rod closest to the unit.
2. Hold blade at a 23-degree angle to the rod.
3. While applying light pressure, push the knife away from you towards the end of the rod. Draw knife down so that the tip of the blade comes off the end of the rod. Repeat this action until blade is sharp.
4. For the other side of the blade, you will need to switch hands holding the sharpener and the knife and repeat steps 1 through 3.

Tapered Diamond Rod: Serrated Edges

1. Only sharpen the side of your knife edge with the serrations.
2. Hold rod at 23-degree angle to the blade and move it back and forth through each serration until sharp.

The Final Word
Although I own a fancy, smancy Chef’s Choice knife sharpener knife sharpener, it is clumsy, heavy and dare I say expensive?
Sure, there are better sharpeners out there but for $9 or less? Well, this is great choice to keep in your survival kit.  Plus it proves that survival gear does not need to cost a lot to be useful and effective.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

Check this out . . .

• Survival Gear Checklist - 15 Items to Get You Started
• Chosing a Survival Knife
• Selecting and Shopping for a Newbie Handgun
• The Useful and Affordable Pocket Survival Kit

Gear Review – Cold Steel Bushmaster Knife

Original Article

from SHTF blog by Jarhead Survivor

Cold Steel has a reputation for making good knives.  Expensive ones, so when I saw the Bushmaster Knife on Amazon for $23 I had to give it a try, so  I ordered one online and it showed up a couple of days later.
 Here are a few thoughts on the Bushmaster after using it for a few days.

Cold Steel Bushman

This is a fairly good sized knife with a 7” blade, which is big for a survival blade in my opinion.  It’s got a hollow handle, but it’s made from a single piece of steel thus there is no joint between the blade and the handle.  When you first open it there’s a note on the knife saying that it will rust, so be sure to keep it clean and lightly lubed and not to store it in the sheath for any length of time.

It came with a good sharp edge on it out of the box and I left it as it was.

Performance-wise there are a couple of things I don’t like about it out of the box, but with a little ingenuity these issues can be taken care of.

First, the round handle and light weight of the knife causes it to twist in your hand when chopping.  Even batoning wood was a little tricky because of this, so I looked online and found a lot of people had the same issue.

My idea was to put some hockey tape on the grip, so it wouldn’t turn and this was one idea of many put out there by readers and viewers on Youtube.  Other ideas included wrapping paracord around the handle (I tried it and it just came loose, but there were other ways to weave it as shown on Youtube), and putting tape around it.  I’ll probably opt for the tape option although I haven’t done it yet.

The cordura sheath confused me at first because I wasn’t pushing down on it hard enough to get it all the way in.  The pommel should be at the same level as the loop on the sheath and it requires a good bit of force to get it down in there.  Not necessarily bad, but it does take getting used to and it doesn’t strap in, so make sure it’s good and tight.  It has a small pocket on the sheath for fishing line and hooks, or a firesteel, or whatever you want to store in there.  I put a Gobspark firesteel in mine.

One of the more interesting features is the hollow handle.  It can be used to store small items of survival gear or – get this – you can put it on a long stick thus making a spear.  I highly doubt I’d ever need to do that, but it’s a pretty fun idea.  Supposedly the knife can take the abuse although I haven’t subjected it to that kind of treatment yet.  Check out this video of Lynn Thomspon – the owner of Cold Steel – abusing one of his Bushmaster knives.
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You can throw them, put them on a stick to make a spear, or just use them as a regular old knife and at the $23 price tag ($22.79) if you break or damage the knife it’s not a bank buster.
The bottom line:  a great blade for the price.  Yeah, it’s a little big, but if you’re looking for a backup knife or one to store in your extra BOB, or whatever then I would recommend this knife.  Chances are good you’ll never have a good reason to make a spear, and throwing your knife in a true survival situation is never a good idea (at least for me), but if you want to play around with it you can.
I like this knife for its versatility and its utility.
3.8 out of 5 stars.
-Jarhead Survivor
No related posts.

10 Knives Every Prepper Needs to Own

knives serious (Photo credit: u m a m i)

Original Article

from Code Name Insight by Code Name Insight

 

I like knives.  I like tools. And for me, a knife isn't so much a "weapon" but a very useful tool.  It makes sense to own an assortment of knives so that you will have the proper tool for whatever situation arises.  Here are the knives I find most useful:

1. A pocketknife.  I carry my basic pocketknife with me everywhere I go and it comes in handy about once a week for everything from opening boxes to cutting up an apple.
2. A folding buck knife.  I carry this in the dash compartment of my vehicle.  It is more substantial than a pocketknife, with a locking blade for tougher cutting jobs (or in a pinch, personal defense).
3. A fixed-blade knife.  Excellent for hunting.  Ditto for personal defense.
4. A heavy, very sharp, meat cleaver.  Here we are moving into kitchen tools.  I use this knife a lot in the kitchen, especially when chopping a slab of meat down to size.
5. A paring knife.  Another extremely useful kitchen tool for small cutting jobs.
6. An all around kitchen knife.  This is the third of three knives I keep in my kitchen arsenal.  While the spouse seems to like a dozen or more knives for kitchen use, with the three listed above, I am all set for any kind of kitchen duty.
7. A machete or "bolo" knife.  While I have never used this giant-sized knife for defense, plenty of people have.  I use my machete for cleaning up brush outside on occasion.
8. A utility knife.  This type of knife, which uses disposable razor blades for its cutting edge, is super useful for all shop-related cutting purposes.  I keep one on my work bench, one in my tool bag, and one in the kitchen junk drawer.
9. A multi-tool.  This item has a half dozen knife-like implements as well as a bunch of other tools attached to it.  I don't carry this with me as my pocketknife works perfectly well for me but I do keep my Leatherman in by BOB.
10. A very long, very thin Japanese sword.  I keep this, found in my travels abroad, for decoration.  Obviously I could use it for defense if necessary but having exactly no skill at sword fighting, the outcome would be iffy at best.  It does make a nice conversation piece, however.

And three knife rules: keep it cleaned, keep it sharpened, and you get what you pay for in most cases (so don't even think of picking up a knife at the Dollar Store!).

Polishing Your Blade

from Stealth Survival by noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker)

Keeping your knife cleaned and polished is an important part of properly caring for your blade. Like any good tool you should always find some time to perform the proper maintenance. Here’s an old trick for keeping that special blade cleaned and polished.
There are a lot of good products on the market that can help you do this but they can be expensive. If you are on a tight budget, one of the best ways to clean and polish your blade is to use wood ashes. Just place some wood ashes on a soft cloth or rag and polish away. Wood ashes will remove stains without scratching the blade. You can even use wood ashes on your blade instead of oils or waxes to keep the blade nice and shiny while you have it stored. Simply wrap it in a soft cloth after cleaning it with wood ashes and it’s ready to store. There’ll be no scratches on your blade and your knife can be simply wiped off when you need to use it.
Got a use for wood ashes?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker

Image via Wikipedia

Self Defense Against Knives, by Keith W.

from SurvivalBlog.com by James Wesley, Rawles

With all the preparations people make for TEOTWAWKI, one skill that I've noticed that a lot of people lack is personal self defense in close quarters combat (CQC). I'm not talking about their collection of weapons only here, but rather their overall sense of what self defense really means and what it really requires. People have a in inherent duality to their nature. In normal times, nearly all humans have an aversion to killing each other. However, in a survival situation (even just a perceived survival situation) people can be exceedingly vicious if they think they have to be. This isn't news to readers of this blog, however I would like to address some of the often times overlooked realities of self defense against knives.
Knives are tools first and foremost and weapons second. Because of this, knives are abundant. For the purposes of this article, almost anything that can cut or impale you could fall into the knife category. Many people including experience martial artists, are unprepared for the realities of knife encounters. You often hear certain types of people say how they hate knives or are scared of knives. Indeed, the use of a knife brings combat to a much more personal level than do firearms. However, being scared of something will not save you from it but rather makes it your weakness.
If we find ourselves in a TEOTWAWKI situation, then you can expect to encounter rough people with ill intentions and a lot of these people are going to carry a knife of some sort. Again, knives are abundant, relatively inexpensive and easy to find, quiet and can be just as lethal as a handgun if the user is determined. You have to prepare for these types of people with these types of weapons if you really want to be prepared for a world turned on it's head with a lot of desperate people living in it. Even in TEOTWAWKI it will be hard to avoid all people no matter where you are. Remember there are over 300 million people in the US alone.
Many knife attacks occur suddenly and unexpectedly and the receiver rarely even knows a knife is involved until he feels it. That goes double for criminals that are used to using knives offensively. The knife may be huge or it may be a box cutter (the kerambit type blade also comes to mind) that you can barely see, even without attempts to conceal it. It may be a machete, or a butcher knife, a folding pocket knife or a bayonet. You have to be prepared for all of them because they all could be encountered, and truthfully, you should react in a similar manner to them all. A mantra for most professionals is "watch the hands, they can hurt you." Not bad advice, but even if the hands appear empty, don't assume anything.
The key is to learn to watch the persons movement overall. Notice the hands (and feet, and knees, etc.) of course, but you have to watch the person as a whole to be able to react soon enough. Remember, the person is attacking you, he just happens to have a knife in this case. If you learn to deal with the whole person, you will learn to take care of the problem (the person attacking) and not just the symptom (whatever he is attacking with and how they are attacking.)
The following are some strategies against edged weapons (including large knives and machetes).
The specifics are dependent upon what the attacker is armed with of course so this is a general outline. I'm not recommending a certain martial art or style as that would be a can of worms at least as big as the "what gun should I carry?" question.
You unarmed versus the knife wielding attacker:
First, this is a bad situation yes, but certainly not a hopeless one. Learning to control your inherent fear is your best defense. You must maintain enough awareness to maintain your breathing and therefore your movement. Don't just wait there in a fixed stance and make it easy for the attacker. Also, do not stare at the knife if it is displayed. You must keep an awareness of the attacker as a whole (what if he has two knives?) as well as your surroundings (what if he has friends with knives or other weapons?), what if the light is dim and you can't make out all details? Remember, you may never see the knife to begin with but you will likely be able to see the attackers silhouette. If the knife is a large one, then consider the attacker has a range advantage, but don't let that rattle you. The same goes for wicked looking or tactical type blades - don't let their appearance change your mindset, or intimidate you - the goal is the same - survival.

Don't let yourself get cornered if possible. Keep your distance and look for possible escape routes so you can run and survive or at least get time to equal or beat the odds. Indecision is your worst enemy here. However, keep in mind don't be a hero. You are a survivor, so make sure you survive - your family needs you, live to fight another day.
If the guy is on you and you must defend empty handed or if you are getting stuck, cut, caught unawares, or whatever, the response is always the same - move! Just moving can keep the blade from making too deep a cut or stab. Inches count. A serious wound is better than a perforated lung or kidney. Moving the moment the blade comes in contact, or if possible before it touches you can make all the difference even if you get a wound in the process. Naturally, if you can defend and disarm/disable the attacker without getting cut you do so and this is what you train for. Just remember that if you are cut in the process it isn't necessarily the end of the world. Freezing and not reacting however very well could be. Spontaneous movement is better than the frozen pose followed by a "what if" period of indecision. Training is your friend here, as always.
Armed with a stick or cane against a knife wielding attacker:
Of course, this depends on the stick's length. Broomstick length offers a distance advantage of course but you could defend yourself with a sturdy ink pen as well. Bats are good of course but resist the urge to go on the offensive with wild swinging attacks. If the attacker is circling or taunting you then use short jabs at his hands and face to keep him disrupted all the while maintaining your own unpredictable movement. Don't play with the guy too much though or he may yank the stick right out of your hands if he is quick or very strong. Let the guy make his move and react with your own movement. Get off the line first and attack his hands and any vulnerable areas as he commits and can't react quickly enough. Two important points here. One, you have to hit people a lot harder than you think to do real, immediately felt damage with a blunt object, even with blows to the head. Therefore, make your shots count or you may find yourself cut in spite of your having a stick weapon. Two, Remember that if you are swinging and the guy gets past that swing or you miss, then he is inside your offense and right on top of you with his knife. More training will help naturally.
Armed with your own knife against the knife wielding attacker:
This is a really dangerous situation to begin with. There are now at least two blades in play and your chances of getting cut have doubled. If you aren't trained to knife fight, then you may be better off trying to escape this situation all together. Even if you are trained, resist the urge to have a "duel" with the attacker. You can't possibly know his level of skill, speed, training, agility, tolerance of pain, etc. so don't find out the hard way. That said, you owe it to yourself to at least have some idea of how to use a knife for defense as there is hardly a household in America that doesn't have some sort of knife in it. A butcher knife can kill as easily as a high dollar fighter, so don't underestimate an attacker just because his knife isn't impressive.
If forced to knife fight, then the rules are the same, keep moving and don't be an easy target. Don't wave your knife around out in front or you may find yourself missing fingers and the knife they were holding on to. Keep your weapon out of the guys line of sight so you can use it unexpectedly if he lunges or slashes. Training is not just a good idea here but is pretty much mandatory unless you are ready to meet your maker or have a colostomy bag (possibly hard to come by in TEOTWAWKI scenarios).
Armed with a handgun versus a knife wielding attacker:
This is probably what a lot of forum readers expect to encounter I'm guessing.
First off, let me warn you off the convenient idea of simply "just shooting them," unless you catch the guy coming at you from a distance and the attack is quite obvious. If you sense trouble get your gun out ASAP and learn to do it in a smooth manner that does not attract attention. Why? Because you don't want the guy to change his attack and make the situation even more unpredictable for you. That way, you are dealing with only one problem at a time. In addition, you need to learn to draw on the move. You don't want to stand there doing only one thing at a time when trouble comes. Why? Because if the guy is younger/stronger/faster than you then you need all the advantages you can get and a moving target is hard to hit - so move. On that note, you need to learn to shoot on the move as well. The better training centers teach this and I highly suggest you learn the skill to some degree. A lot of people have an Indiana Jones type fantasy of simply shooting the knife wielding attacker nonchalantly and calling it a day. Well, it might happen that way....or you might not even get your finger on the trigger before you are impaled. As I've stated and will continue to state here, don't underestimate your attacker. A smooth, clean draw, while moving off the line of attack without making a lot of obvious movements will buy you a surprising amount of time. Standing there in a fixed weaver or isosceles stance and seeing if you can beat the clock while you draw is not going to be good enough if someone is lunging at you with a machete (or anything else for that matter). Also consider that you may score a perfect hit but the damage may not stop the attacker quickly enough to keep you from getting cut or worse. Again, don't delude yourself with any assumptions about the instant effects of a handgun. The effects are rarely as dramatic as what many people expect them to be.
If you don't train in knife defense, start training now. Buy or make yourself some good training knives and practice. If you are into martial arts, make a point to include knife defense in your training. The more realistic the trainers, the better. There is a huge psychological component to knife fighting and a specific fear many people have with respect to knives. Learning to control that fear is best done through realistic training with realistic training weapons. Many Kali and Filipino influenced martial arts use the aluminum trainers available online. They are a worthwhile investment for those serious about learning to deal effectively with blades. You don't need the fancy, curvy, fantasy looking types. Stick to the basics, they will serve you best. Even a little training is better than none. If you can't find anyone to give you instruction, there are a variety of videos and books. As someone who has trained in martial arts for 28 years, I would not make that option my first choice, but if you have no alternatives, then follow one of these and practice with another person until you gain some understanding of the dynamics involved.
Safety Proviso: Of course, I don't have to tell you but I will: Be careful training and use caution with your mock weapons. Especially protect your eyes and face when using metal training knives - accidents happen in realistic training. Pace yourself, train honestly and you will have one more feather in your preparedness cap.

On Edge

from MANITOBA PREPPERS NETWORK: Drying Garlic by Ancient Dragon

There have been volumes and volumes written about survival knives. Long boring discourses on point types, metallurgy, folding versus fixed, stamped versus hand forged, on and on until it would cross your eyes. Some survival experts would have you carrying a monster blade capable of butchering a moose; others recommend a bewildering array of knives for every purpose that leaves you wondering where you could possibly carry them all.

There is indeed a place in preparedness for large fixed blade knives and full suites of specialist knives, but the average person is unlikely to be carrying either on a day to day basis. In fact, in some places in Manitoba you will contravene bylaws and leave yourself open to large fines if you carry a blade longer than 7 cm (2.5 inches), and to carry a blade in a manner where it is obvious that your intent was to conceal a weapon can result in a charge under the Criminal Code.

So what is the one best survival knife? The answer is simple: The knife you always have with you. It doesn’t matter if you own blades that would make Rambo weep in envy if they are in one place and you in another.

For me, that means an everyday carry knife that will not contravene laws, that will be useful for a variety of situations and that I will carry all the time. In my draconic opinion, that comes down to just two choices for most people: The multi-tool or the venerable Swiss Army Knife. And while I own a multi-tool, the SAK is my personal preference, and I believe it should be the preference of most people. Why do I say that?

I thought you’d never ask...
The multi-tool does have one striking advantage in that it consists of a strong pair of folding pliers (with additional tools in the handles) that offer a gripping strength that Swiss Army Knives can’t match. That said, the multi-tool is often quite heavy (weights of well over half a pound are not uncommon), offers a smaller range of implements, and is generally more expensive than a SAK with comparable functions if pliers are excluded. Additionally, the greater weight and size of the multi-tool makes it harder to manipulate the handle-carried tools, especially for individuals with smaller hands or limited strength. Most importantly, that greater weight also means it is far more likely to be left on the bedroom dresser at home than would a pocket knife.

To give manufacturers their due, there have been efforts to make the multi-tool lighter and more compact, but this has resulted in tools that either offer far fewer accessories, are more fragile, or are more expensive (Titanium ain’t cheap!). Unfortunately, a simultaneous move has been to go the other way, adding more to it in the form of bit sets, turning an already bulky tool into a bulkier one.

In contrast, the SAK is lighter than a multi-tool in most of its incarnations (my Huntsman model, pictured at the start of this article, is ~ 80g), although the flagship model, the ‘Champ’ weighs in at a silly 221 grams. On the whole however, there is such a large variety of knives in so many sizes and degrees of complexity that you're sure to find one to fit your exact requirements.

The usual suspects are present: blades, screwdrivers, can and bottle openers, wood saw, tweezers and scissors to name just a few, but it doesn’t end there. For example, there are knives designed with activity specific tools (e.g., the Equestrian which has a hoof cleaning tool, or the Hunter, with gut hook). There are Swiss Army Knives with integral LED flashlights, a feature I have yet to see on a multi-tool. There are even knives that have removable USB flash drives!

Further items such as magnifying lenses and pens are available, and if you really must have it, there are knives with pliers as part of the tool set, although far from as robust as those of a multi-tool.

In closing, let me make clear that I think multi-tools are great for what they are. The same is true of the SAK. In all honesty, both are far inferior to a purpose built tool intended for a single specific task. Both are far, far better than having nothing at all.

So you need to ask yourself two questions before you choose either:

What combination of features are the most useful to you?

Which of the two is more likely to be in your pocket or purse when you need it?
Personally, I think that most of the time the honest answers to those questions will lead you to some version of the Swiss Army Knife.

Knives for Self Defense?

from SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA by FerFAL

Julia said...
How much training does one need to use a knife? I recall you saying your wife carries one when out.

I've always thought a knife fight would involve some level of skill. Something like 'if you don't know how to use it someone can take it away from you and use it on you'. They say that about guns, but I wouldn't let anyone disarm me.

I'd like to consider a knife, but I'm bit nervous. What type of knife would be good for a woman?
January 10, 2010 8:17 PM

Hi Julia,

Not long ago I wrote a post about just that, knife for women.
Here’s the link:

Defensive Knives for Women

Also check the "Knives" Topic on the left column for more posts about knives.

If you choose the right knife for you, it’s not going to be easy for an attacker to take it away from you. Much harder than disarming someone with a firearm.
Knives are deadly contact range weapons.
Many folks say don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, but those that know better know that at contact range, against someone that has a slight idea of what to do and some training, the knife wins most often and is deadlier than the handgun.
If you use a razor sharp fighting knife, the kind of damage you can do to a person will make a gunshot wound pale in comparison.

You are right about the possibility of the knife being taken away from a woman, there’s always the risk, but that risk stands mostly on three pillars:


1)Poorly chosen weapon:
Selecting a good knife for defense requires a lot of knowledge. The selection process is much more difficult than choosing a handgun because appropriate grip and blade are crucial. I can recommend just about anyone to arm himself or herself with a Glock 19. Give or take I know it’s a weapon that will work for practically every person you can thing of that takes a minimum amount of time to learn to shoot it well.
A knife? Not so easy. A $400 Busse Battle Mistress will be totally useless for a women that wants a knife for defensive carry, while a $15 Cold Steel Roach Belly may be a very good choice.

Most “combat” knives are poor choices for women or even men with small hands. Others are just too big or heavy, there’s not a one answer fits all knife, the right fitting grip being mandatory for weapon retention during a knife fight. If you ever sparred with a practice knife, you know how often they fly out of the grasp of people, just happens a lot.
Now imagine actually getting a knife stuck on an attacker, desperately twisting away to literally save his life.
Long narrow knife blade? Deadly for sure, but the short blade will come out of the body, and you retain your weapon, while a longer one may catch in the body more when the attacker moves away. A bayonet like blade is an effective stabbing tool , but will require greater physical strength to retain when rumbling. Not a problem with WWII troops, but not ideal for a woman’s defensive use.

Most combat knives also have large grips made for large hands, even for being used with gloves. This may be too large for small hands and while it may not be a problem when working, or cutting an apple, it may give an attacker a surface to hold on to and twist the weapon out of your grip.
I recommend a good grip, small, preferably rubberized and with shallow groves or a concave shape that allows good retention. The blade should be short, but razor sharp and thick, of good steel, flexibility being more important than 60rc hardness.

2) Lack of training:
There’s more than enough proof, many cases of women using knifes (often with deadly results) against rapists and abusive husbands. Just like with men, it’s a weapon that goes along well with rage, instinctive fighting, you stab slash and hurt the person as much as you can, before you know it there’s a bloody mess in front of you.

I of course encourage at least a class or seminar so as to know the basics. There’s Filipino knife fighting martial arts that takes a lifetime to master, but just knowing the basic guard and attacks will make you an adversary to be reckoned with. I’d also recommend knowing the human body very well, so as to know where to cut and stab, and what you can expect.

This is something I went into detail in my book because knowing those things will give you a huge advantage in a contact range fight, where you maybe have a second or two to cut before a stronger attacker pins you down on the floor. If you slashed the face, maybe the result won’t be what you expected, but stabbing on the side of the neck … Mr. Rapist now has to decide if he will spend the last few seconds he has left before passing out and probably dying trying to remove his pants or heading to the ER room.

3) Lack of proper mindset:
This is even more important that training, especially with knives. Gun may malfunction, may run out of ammo or you may not know how to operate it. Not the case with the knife, it depends entirely on how bad you want to carve someone with it.
Women that get beaten by abusive husbands, sometimes just crack, pick a kitchen knife and kill their abusive partner.
But if you doubt, if you hesitate and just don’t fight with all you’ve got, the result can be tragic.
In the end, the handgun requires to be aimed in the right direction, the trigger pulled enough times to stop the treat.
With the knife, there’s sort of an art to it. Where will you strike, will you slash certain key point or just go for a more brutal approach, grab and stitch the guy full of holes. When your stalker grabs you, will you slash the wrist, and follow up with a stab to the face or neck, then continue attacking until you stopped him? It requires some nerve to do this, and specially, I’d say it requires a person that has a mindset tuned to react violently against bad guys as the instant, natural reaction.

Think about it and be honest with yourself. As a weapon, the knife is terribly effective. A t contact distance it’s the best one bar none. That’s why I have one with me at all times.
So take a class or seminar to know how to grip your weapon, learn to strike, but most of all, be 100% certain that if ever faced with that decision, you will do the worst damage you can.

FerFAL

Tuesday's Tips for Preppers - Safe Knife Usage

from Iowa Preppers Network by American Prepper

Re-post courtesy Riverwalker's Stealth Survival


Like any good tool, a knife can be a valuable part of your equipment. Making sure you can use that tool safely will make it even more valuable. Here are a few tips for using your knife safely.

Tips for Safely Using A Knife


1.) Make sure the knife is the right kind for the intended use. Check for any damage to your knife. If it’s damaged, be safe and use a different knife or buy a new one.

2.) Take care of your knife. Keep it clean and keep it sharp. A sharp knife is an efficient knife and more useful than a knife with a dull blade.

3.) Always close or sheath your knife when not in use. Don’t leave your knife lying around where an exposed blade could cause an unexpected injury.

4.) Stabbing or shoving your knife into the ground is a perfect way to damage your knife. Don’t do it!

5.) Make sure the cutting area is clear of obstructions and other people. This will ensure that any travel from a slipped blade will not hit anything or anyone causing an unexpected injury.

6.) Always cut away from yourself. Make sure no parts of your body are in the path of the blade should it slip or do something unexpected.

7.) Avoid lending your knife to anyone unless they are familiar with the safe use of knives.

8.) Except in emergency situations, don’t use your knife if the lighting conditions are poor or if it is too dark to safely see what you are cutting.

9.) Never attempt to catch a falling knife. This is an extremely dangerous thing to do.

10.) Don’t throw your knife at anything or to anyone! This will most probably result in damaging your knife or seriously injuring someone.

Remember, safety is no accident!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Get a knife with a bright colored handle

by Dan Russell
(Northern Maine)

Just a note about knives in the wilderness. As a hunter and professional forester with over 35 years experience in the woods, my favorite pet peeve is this:

For a survival knife I would like to see the handle a bright color, not black, or camo as is often advertised in hunting catalogs. I have come very close to losing my knife more than once while field dressing game and laying it on the ground. There is nothing "sexy" or manly about a lost knife in a survival situation. There are many quality knives made, but a lost knife is "no knife at all".

Original: http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/get-a-knife-with-a-bright-colored-handle.html

First Look at the NEW Swiss Army Knife

Instead of acting with some class and simply requesting that I remove a post (which I would have done immediately), www.equipped.org demanded via letter from their lawyer that I remove this post immediately under threat of lawsuit.

I gave them full credit in the article and a direct link to their website.
Apparently this was not enough.

Equipped to Survive Foundation aka www.equipped.org, you are in my personal opinion a bunch of no class asses.

Knife Review: SOG Seal Pup

by Johnny
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

SOG Seal Pup hacked with paracord cutter, sharpener and steel striker

I bought a SOG Seal Pup with kydex sheath and modified it by cutting out a portion of the sheath so it can be used to cut cord or string without taking it out of the sheath.

Then I added some velcro and a rapalla sharpener (which I cut down to a smaller size) to cover the cut out portion when not cutting cord or rope. The velcro holds a rod of steel striker on the sheath's backside and I put applied some shiny aluminum tape that would be great for signaling. And of course there's 3 metres of paracord that can be used for a lanyard, belt, shelter, etc. Retrofitting (hacking) it was fun, and I'm pleased with the results.

It's a small blade, but I like to travel light. The SOG Seal Pup is comfortable and I feel safe handling it in every task. Finally, the blade lends itself to choking up for finer carving.

I've abused it in the month I've owned it while hacking, batoning, sawing through metal and plastic (the serrations are great), carving the inside of quinzee, and it's performed well.

I would recommend this knife to any outdoor enthusiast. It's light, comfortable, strong and is a safe option for all ages.