What is the Best Survival Knife in 2023?

Every avid outdoors person knows the benefit of having a quality survival knife. However, even if you are new to camping or roaming through the woods (or only do so occasionally), having one on hand can be extremely beneficial. With uses ranging from pulling out splinters to making fires to self-defense, finding the best survival knife is something every person should consider.

In terms of the best survival knife for you, the most important characteristic to look out for is functionality over flashiness. This includes choosing a blade that is not too big or too small with a fixed handle and a pointed tip. Using these basic criteria, you will be able to narrow down a long list of survival knives.

There are many other features and characteristics to look out for that, in addition to regularly safely using your survival knife, will ensure that you enjoy and get the most use out of your knife for many years. Take a look below to learn how to best pick and utilize your survival knife.

Top Survival Knives

Preview	Title	Features	More Details
	Unlimited Wares HK-1036 Fixed Blade Tactical Combat Knife	• Weighs less than a pound • Comfortable grip • Comes with a sheath
	KA1245-BRK Black Tanto Knife	• Full tang • Extra durable • Easy to sharpen
	Buck Knives 119 Special Fixed Blade Knife	• High carbon steel • Easy to store • Great for detailed work
	Wild Turkey Handmade Biker Tooth-Pick Folding Knife	• Surgical steel blade • Easily stored • Great back-up to use in a pinch
	Kershaw Secret Agent Concealable Boot Knife	• Extra durable steel • Rubber handle, easy to hold • Comes with a clip
	Verifygear 17 in 1 Professional Survival Kit Knife	• 16 other tools besides a knife • Folds up into a small package • Includes compass, pen, rope, water bottle, and more
	EDMRIK Combat Knife	• Stainless steel • Perfect for self-defense • Nylon sheath slows down dulling
	Fixed Blade 16.5″ Full Tang Rambo Knife	• Stainless steel blade • Full tang with wooden handle • Perfect for both collectors and survivalists

Uses for Different Survival Knives

The wide variety of uses a good survival knife has is what makes them so appealing. A person who regularly uses them constantly finds new ways they come in handy, but for those of us who may not be as familiar, here are several ways they can assist you in your outdoor adventures:

As a food processor – A good survival knife is capable of skinning an animal you have hunted, but also able to slice any wild herbs or other vegetables you may find, ensuring that you are well fed.
As a weapon – Let’s face it, the woods are full of adventure, and that includes both finding food – a survival knife with a good, pointed tip can spear a fish – and as self-defense. Most animals do not go searching out confrontations with humans, but just in case, a survival knife is there to help you protect yourself.
First aid – A survival knife can be used to cut up bandages, sterilize wounds, make splints to help stabilize broken bones, and the tip can be used to pull out splinters.
Cutting wood – A good survival knife can cut small trees and branches to make things such as (as mentioned above) splints, stakes for a shelter, larger pieces of wood for the shelter itself, or small shavings that are the most helpful when trying to light a fire.
Lighting fires – A survival knife can be used in conjunction with a faro rod to shoot sparks into kindling to help light a fire. You can find additional methods for fire lighting in my article on how to start a fire without matches.
Fixing clothing – The sharp tip can make small adjustments to clothing or other equipment that can make them easier to carry or use.
Making other tools – One of the main tools you can make with your survival knife is also important for starting a fire: the fire bow and drill. Additionally, maybe you did not have space in your bag to carry some things; a survival knife can help carve out eating utensils or even a spear for hunting.
As a hammer – The end of a survival knife is an effective hammer for driving in stakes for shelter or against another sharp object to help open cans of food.
As a signal – If you are lost in the woods or are traveling with friends and have gotten separated, then a knife reflected in the sun can send a signal, indicating your location.

Keep in mind that using your survival knife effectively is a skill like any other, so make sure you practice with it regularly.

Types of Survival Knives

Now that we know all the benefits and uses of a survival knife, the next task is deciding which survival knife to buy. This can be a bit of a daunting task at first because there are many different kinds with different advantages. The following list mentions each type of survival knife and its pros and cons to help you choose the knife that works best for you.

Boot Knife

Boot knives are smaller than the average survival knife with a fixed, double-edged blade.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Its smaller size means it’s easier to attach. It can be placed in your boot, strapped onto your belt, or worn as a necklace. It is good for precise work, such as unscrewing things or fixing clothing.	Its double-edge makes it harder to chop through wood or to hold comfortably. Its smaller size makes it more difficult to perform the more intense tasks of chopping and hammering.

The boot knife is not meant to be your main survival knife but is a great back-up and can come through in a pinch.

Buck Survival Knife

The buck survival knife is just that – a survival knife. It works for a variety of situations, from camping to walking down the street alone

Advantages	Disadvantages
It can chop wood. It can be used to hammer stakes into the ground. Are a big help with making fires It can be used as protection during a mugging or other physical assault. It comes in a variety of styles.	Not ideal for hunting

The buck knife is a great knife choice for novices and experienced outdoorsmen alike. Its uses are wide and varied and applicable to life, in general, to help you feel safer and more prepared.

Combat Survival Knife

Combat survival knives are those used by soldiers both on the battlefield and in every-day life situations.

Advantages	Disadvantages
It can be used in self-defense. It can be used as a tool in survival situations such as chopping wood, starting fires, hammering, etc. Good for hunting	Large size may make it difficult to handle without a lot of practice They are not full tang, meaning there are weak spots and the potential to break. Not ideal for more precise and detailed tasks

Combat knives can take some getting used to, but they can be a great tool in a true survival situation out in the wilderness.

Folding Knife

Folding knives are those knives that fold back into themselves. Though they are not generally recommended over fixed blade survival knives because they break more easily and may fold in when in use, they have definite advantages, including:

Easier storage and easier to carry around – Folding knives can fit into a pocket.
Comes with its own sheath – With a fixed blade knife, you may have to purchase a sheath separately and factor in where you can put it on you when in use and where to store it when not in use. A folding blade already comes with its own protective cover.
Low-cost – Folding knives are relatively inexpensive, so if you need a knife immediately but cannot afford a fixed blade knife, a folding knife is a good option.

Military Knife

Military knives are also (obviously) used by the military as a last resort in combat, but mainly for survival in the wilderness.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Good for survival Useful in cutting rope and helping prepare food Last resort weapon in combat or self-defense	Their large size (usually around 14 inches) may be hard for some people to handle. Not as easy to hunt with

A military knife is a good option for someone with military experience or an experienced wilderness camper. It has many uses and can come in handy in a pinch for self-defense, but it will likely take more time to wield it properly.

Rambo Survival Knife

The Rambo survival knife, named for the movies in which it first appeared, is a large survival knife with the appearance of a machete.

If you are looking to expand your knife collection or add a knife for decoration, the Rambo survival knife is a great option. However, while it looks very cool, such a large knife (more than a foot and weighing more than 2 pounds) is not ideal for high-stress survival situations.

Survival Knife Kit with Sheath

The survival knife kit with a sheath is more of a tool kit than anything else. In addition to the knife, many of them come with compasses, sharpening tools, and fishhooks.

This knife kit is a fantastic option for true wilderness roughing it, as you do not have to rely solely on your knife to make everything else. However, it is not as reliable and may break easier than some of the other knives – especially full tang knives.

Tactical Knife

The tactical knife is another knife that is often part of a soldier’s kit – used in both combat and wilderness survival.

Advantages	Disadvantages
A high-quality tactical knife will last a long time. A variety of options for the type of blade you want, including serrated, double edge, and straight edge; this allows you to choose the knife that works best for you and the situations you are in most often.	You need to be more careful when picking it out; whether it lasts or not depends on what you are using it for. Because the materials are so high quality, they will be more expensive.

Tanto Knife

Tanto knives were made in Japan, became highly popular in the 80s, and have maintained that popularity since then. Tanto knives are made with cold steel, which is a highly durable and strong kind of steel. In addition to being made from cold steel, the tanto knife has a reinforced end, making it incredibly strong and very difficult to break.

Their pointed ends are great for various situations, including stabbing (for self-defense), cutting up food, and fine detailed work.

Because of its high-quality steel and build, tanto knives tend to be more expensive and may not be the right choice if you are just learning how to use a survival knife properly.

How to Select the Very Best Survival Knife

While the right survival knife may vary from person to person, there are certain criteria to keep in mind if you want the very best survival knife.

If you are planning to use your survival knife often or expect a lot from it, make sure to include the following in your expectations when you are shopping:

Make sure it is the right size – If your knife is too long, it can be hard to hold, use effectively, or store with ease. If it is too short, it may not be able to perform adequately. One recommendation is for the knife to be 9-11 inches in total, with the blade itself being 5 inches.
A fixed blade – As mentioned above, a fixed blade does not fold into itself. This type of knife does not have the weak points of screws where the knife has the potential to break.
A full tang – Again, a full tang knife is one in which the blade and handle are all made from the same piece of metal. This means that there are no weak or bendy spots where the knife has the potential to break, adding additional strength that even a fixed blade knife with a handle made from different material does not have.
A solid and flat pommel – This can be used for hammering and pounding things.
A single-edged blade – Singled-edged blades are safer as there are fewer places which you can cut yourself, and if you do slip, there is more room for error. They are also much more efficient with tasks such as helping start campfires.
A sharp tip – A sharp tip is always preferable for a survival knife as it is more effective in self-defense situations if you are fighting off a wild animal. It can also be used to screw and unscrew things and remove splinters.

Recommended Survival Knives

Many of the knives listed above can be found on Amazon at reasonable prices.

Unlimited Wares HK-1036 Fixed Blade Tactical Combat Knife

This knife is made by Unlimited Wares and includes a fixed stainless-steel blade with a rubber handle for a comfortable grip. At less than a pound, it is easy to wield and won’t weigh you down. It also comes with a sheath and can be comfortably stored in your pocket.