Outdoor Survival “Your Knife” is your Best Friend

Be Prepared buy a Quality Knife!

Your knife is your best friend when you are in the outdoors and trying to survive. The survival knife is a tool that can be used in so many ways; it is the most invaluable tool you may possess. There are literally hundreds of different knives to choose from but you should be choosing one before you leave for the outdoors.

Buy a Survival Knife that fits YOU!

Choosing a survival knife isn’t easy but you must make the decision based on how suitable the type of knife is for the situations you may be encountering. Survival basically means being prepared and by making informed choices early on, you greatly increase your chances of survival. The things you should be looking for in a knife are as follows:

Size: You want your knife to be small enough to carry but large enough to be used to cut branches from trees, butcher meat and even for digging.

Sharpness: Your survival knife should be sharp at all times especially when you first purchase it, if it isn’t sharp then, then it never will be.

Balance: Your knife should have a good balance to it, meaning the blade and handle will complement each other. When you swing the knife, the weight if the blade should be doing a lot of the work. Try a few knives and you will notice how they differ in balance and pick the one that best suits you.

Good Handle: The handle of the outdoor knife should be comfortable to use and preferably made of wood as this means it won’t slip as much.

If possible try and get a knife that is fixed blade. This means that the blade of the knife doesn’t fold in. A fixed blade knife is more reliable and safer to use as some folding knives don’t lock well or can slip and cause injury. Always make sure your knife has a good sheath, leather is the best kind, and that it is sheathed when not in use.

A Good “Sharpening Stone” is a Must!

The proper care and maintenance of your knife is extremely important and should be a daily ritual when it is in use. Sharpening the blade is essential and the best way to do this is to purchase a sharpening stone. Diamond sharpeners and other type of sharpeners are good but none of these do as good a job as a sharpening stone in the hands of someone who knows how to use one. Your knife’s blade should be sharpened to a point that is not too steep and is still thick enough not to chip.

To properly use a sharpening stone, it is best to dampen it first and then move the blade over the stone in a circular motion on angled so that you are removing the burrs and chips from the cutting edge, you will feel it when you get that perfect angle. When Sharpening the blade it must be simultaneously flipped to get the best cutting edge possible. A sharpened blade should have no burrs and the angle of the cutting edge should be constant.

Before You set out on Your “Adventure”

Your knife is your best friend when in a survival situation. Choosing the right Survival knife and maintain it by keeping it very sharp knife sharpener are lessons that should be learned before heading to the great outdoors for some Outdoor Survival fun.

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Hunting Knives | Entrek 11Bravo Outdoor Survival Knife

The Entrek USA 11Bravo Survival Knife

For those of you who are looking for a quality hand made knife, look no further than Entrek USA knives. Entrek knives combine the quality of custom manufacturing with low, factory pricing. Brought to you by renowned knife maker Ray W. Ennis, who has been designing knives for nearly 40 years, Entrek USA knives are made by hand and are used by professionals all over the world.

“11Bravo” Entrek’s Most Popular Knife!

The Entrek 11Bravo is a popular model that has been used with our armed forces overseas. The Bravo is comprised of a 4.75 inch blade with a thickness of .25 inches, and is made with 440C stainless steel. This hand made knife is tough and resistant to corrosion, and it is heat-treated and sub-zero stabilized. The Entrek 11Bravo has an overall length of 9.375 inches. You will notice that The Entrek USA 11Bravo has a very solid gripping surface. This is because it is made with quality black canvas micarta, which is impervious to the elements and other substances that can cause corrosion or destruction of materials.

Styles Made For Both “Hunting” and “Tactical Use”!

This line of sturdy Entrek USA Knives is comprised of over 30 different models, ranging from the 6.5 inch Lynx to the Strike Eagle which measures an overall length of 14.5 inches. Entrek knives are designed to meet the needs of a vast array of knife users – whether you are using it for hunting, utility, tactical or other purposes. Entrek knives feature sheaths made from black Kydex material. You will notice that the sheath is molded to each knife in order to hold the blade more securely. This means that the blade will stay sheathed in extreme situations where you may be climbing or crawling. Additionally, the sheath features a belt clip that can allow you to strap the knife to your gear or leg.

Quality Hunting Knives Still “Made In The USA”!

The manufacturing process at Entrek USA combines both technological and hand made methods. Each and every knife goes through multiple steps in the production process including blanking, surface grinding, marking, drilling, sandblasting and more. You will come to find that Entrek USA knives are made from the best materials available and are extremely consistent in quality. The Entrek USA 11Bravo most popular fixed blade knife In the Entrek Knife Lineup.

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Fixed Blade or Folding Knife | “Which Style is Better for You?”

Fixed Blade Knife or Folding Knife

Anyone that has ever been hunting, camping or fishing knows how important it is to carry a high quality knife. Knives serve many purposes and are a very handy tool to have around. Whether you need to clean some freshly caught fish, cut open a pack of batteries sealed in an almost indestructible manufacturer’s plastic case, or cut up your food, having a good knife to do the job is essential.

There are many different kinds of knives, each designed for a certain purpose. Some of the more popular kinds of knives are a fixed blade knife, folding knife, hunting knife, lockback knife and pocket knife. Knowing which type of knife or knives to carry with you depends on what you are going to use the knife to do.

Is the Fixed Blade Knife The Right Choice?

A fixed blade knife is usually made of a thicker and stronger steel or other composite material. A hunting knife is a good example of a fixed blade knife. It comes with a thick handle that fits firmly in your hand and is capable of killing small game, cleaning a fish, digging a hole and doing a variety of other useful chores. The knife is somewhat heavier and harder to store than some other types of utilitarian knives. On the other hand, it is very durable and easy to clean and maintain.

Folding Knives are more “Compact to Carry”!

A folding knife opens when you need to put it to use and closes when it is not being used. This type of knife provides a measure of safety that does not exist with a fixed blade. Most pocket knives are of the folding knife variety. Everything from a single blade knife to a multiple blade Swiss Army knife falls under this category. Folding knives can be dangerous when using them to cut aggressively. If you are not careful, the blade can suddenly fold up and cut your hand or fingers. To prevent that from happening, lockback knives were developed.

Should you Choose a Lockback Knife?

Lockback knives have a locking mechanism that keeps the blade secure so it will not accidentally collapse while in use. There is usually a little button or other mechanical method that you must deliberately depress to close the blade on a lockback knife.

Or Do you Prefer the Smaller “Pocket Knife”!

A pocket knife is probably the most common of all knives. It can have a blade just 1 inch in length or some really large ones can have a blade of 5 or 6 inches. The smaller pocket knives are easier to carry around, but the larger ones are stronger and can cut through tougher materials with much more ease.

Deciding which knife to buy depends on your personal preferences and the needs for the knife. Most quality knives do not cost that much, so, perhaps you should buy a couple of different types of knives so you will be prepared for any situation.

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Sport Knives | Functionality vs Style and Looks

Sports Knives – Making the Best Choice

There are a variety of sport knives available to the consumer today, and the first and foremost question to ask yourself is, “What do I plan on using this knife for?”

Is the “Hunting Knife” Best For you?

If you are a hunter, the logical choice is a hunting knife used to field dress game. For those hunters who travel off road on snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles, a solid, fixed blade hunting knife makes it possible to field dress an animal and bring it back. A gut hook is a common feature, although it does add bulkiness to the knife and some hunters dispute its usefulness.

Camp/ Utility Knives

If you are an outdoors man, such as a backpacker, hiker, or fisherman, but not a hunter, then a camp knife may best meet your needs. A camp knife can have a small blade or a very large blade and either style you choose will help you perform chores necessary for setting camp, such as chopping wood, cutting rope, and cutting meat for cooking. Another option for a Camp/ Utility knife is the lockback knife. It is compact to carry by means of a pocket clip, in your pocket or in a belt sheath. It is considerably less bulky than the fixed blade knife.

“Survival Knives” for wilderness trips

When you think of a survival knife, the one that first comes to mind just might be the “Rambo” knife. If you think of a knife as a tool, and the only thing standing between you and death in the wild, then a survival knife is your choice. Yet even an ordinary family can find themselves stranded and fighting to survive, such as the Kim family who took a wrong turn and were stuck in the Oregon wilderness for nine days. Desirable features in a survival knife may include a saw edge, a large blade suitable for chopping and cutting, and a fire starter or compartment for matches. The Bear Grylls knife, named after the renowned star of the Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild” show, is a good example of this type of knife, with bright orange coloration, a pommel suitable for hammering, a built-in fire starter, and a lanyard.

“Self Defense” Knives

If you are more concerned with survival in the city than in the country, then tactical knives are what you need. “Tactical knives” is simply a term to describe a knife intended for self-defense. If you carry a knife for self-defense, you have a choice of a fixed blade knife or folding blade knife. The fixed blade is made to carry on your belt making it faster too grab in an attack. If considering the folding blade knife for self defense look at the assisted opening blade knife. This type of knife offers fast blade deployment. Carrying a folding knife is less conspicuous but also considered a concealed weapon. A sure grip handle and a strong blade are also necessary features when considering tactical knives, because a dropped knife or a broken blade can be fatal in an armed encounter.

Regardless of the types of sport knife you buy, always be mindful of the laws in your area affecting knife legality. When deciding on which type of Sport knife to buy keep in mind “How do I want to Carry this Knife”. I myself carry a mid-size lockback knife on my hunting trips. I use it as a general purpose knife around camp as well as field dressing smaller game.

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Knife Component Anatomy | Learn the Parts of a Knife

Do You Know All the “Parts of a Knife”?

At first glance, the knife components seem obvious. In actuality, a knife has several components, each with its own designated name and important function. Learning and understanding the parts of the knife will help you figure out what kind of knives to purchase when outfitting your gear for the next outdoor adventure you embark on!

Parts of the Knife “Blade”!

The blade is where all the action of the knife takes place. Its basic components are the spine, the edge, the point, and the grind. The blade spine, or back of the knife, is generally the thickest part of the blade. The thicker the blade spine, the stronger the knife. Once called a bevel, the grind of a knife is where the knife is uniformly relief cut to start the taper to the cutting edge of the blade. The edge is where most of the attention is exerted. It extends from the choil or bolster to the tip of the knife and is sharpened to razor cutting sharpness. The point determines the blade style like, drop point, tanto and clip point, and pierces the object to be cut. The term “Full Tang” means the entire length of the knife is one piece of steel and is the strongest the knife made. When inspecting a full tang knife you will see the handle scales on both sides of the tang.

Parts of the Knife “Handle”!

The handle enables the knife to be wielded properly. A finger groove may be carved into it for a better grip; and, if the knife is designed for impact, there will most likely be a guard to protect the hand and fingers. It must be balanced for proper use and may have metal bolsters to strengthen the handle as well as protect the edge of the scales. Front bolsters can be part of the hand guard to protect the fingers, and the rear bolsters are at the butt.

Differently Designed Knives Have Additional Parts!

The basic parts of a outdoor knife each have their own components or specializations. A survival knife may have top serrations on the blade spine for cutting rope or textiles; or the rear bolsters may have a hole drilled in it to attach a lanyard, making it more easy to find in the dark and can even aid in unsheathing. There is an entire world to discover in the field of knife anatomy.

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Hand Made Custom Knives | One Knife at a Time

Qualities of Hand Made Custom Knives

The highest-quality custom knives have several features that make them distinct from their machine-made, mass-produced cousins. A hand made knife should be forged of only high-quality steel, and exquisite care must go into all four aspects of the knife: blade, handle, guard, and sheath. Care of these four features is what makes for true collector knives, not just some fancy engraving of knife handles. True custom knives, whether they are collector knives or not, should be able to be used as a functional camp knife and not just sit in a collector case in a closet.

Preferred Raw Steel to Use

A high-quality hand made knife will be made of either 5160 carbon steel or 52100 carbon steel. Low-temperature forging with this steel allows for a high-degree of refinement. Triple tempering of this steel allows the spine to be soft while the edge is hard and sharp. For the guard, copper or brass can be alloyed into the steel or used pure. When selecting an SAE grade for the steel, O1 is the most popular.

Design the Blade with Style

The shape of the blade must conform to how the hand made knife is to be used. Collector knives are both pleasing to view and functional. A good camp knife must be able to take care of any camp function from cutting wood to field dressing an animal. The quality of the blade must be such that it stays sharp after repeated use.

Animal Bone and Horn Handles are the most Popular!

Knife handles should be comfortable allow the wielder to work the knife in the most efficient way possible. No one should have to adjust their hold on the knife after repeated use for comfort. Bad knife handles only diminish the quality of the cuts.

Hand Guard Both Cosmetic and Functional

The guard of a knife was once important in combat situations to protect against an opponent’s blade. Today, the guard is important in protecting the wielder’s hand against his/her own blade. In cases where excessive force must be used in a thrust against a strong object, a weak guard may break, causing the hand to slide onto the blade. The guard must be strong and not merely ornamental.

True Custom Knife Makers

There are some very reputable custom knife makers in the USA. They all have their own design capabilities and no one knife will be the same. There are knife makers that call themselves “custom” but use pre-stamped blades to start with that are cut on CNC equipment. A true “Custom Knife Maker” makes everything by hand by starting with carbon steel round bars!

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Fishing Knives | Match The Fillet Knife to the Fish You Catch

Selecting a “Fishing Knife”!

Fishing is a hobby that is a lot of fun. The best part about it is eating a delicious meal as a reward for success. It is important to not ruin the fish fillet by using a dull fishing knife. A filet knife should be very sharp in order to obtain a quality cut. The following is a guide to selecting fishing knives.

Fishing knives generally are between 6 to 9 inches long. There are many different kinds of handles for a fillet knife. The best type of handle for a fillet knife is a rubber handle, it offers the best grip when your hands are wet and slimly. Rubber is the most durable and easiest-to-clean handle material for knives.

It is important to select a fixed blade fishing knife. A fixed blade on a fillet knife is much sturdier and more reliable, which will ensure a quality cut of the fillet. The most common material for a filet knife is stainless steel. Stainless steel is durable and resistant to weathering, which is important for a outdoor fishing knife.

What is the Right Size Knife for the Job?

Most people do not select a large knife for their fish fillet knife. They select a 6 inch fixed blade. This is the most versatile size to choose. It will handle almost all kinds of freshwater fish with ease, and can even be used on larger saltwater fish if you don’t have the appropriate size knife, It will just take longer to get the job done. The 6 inch size is perfect for trout, bass, crappie and perch. For fishermen that don’t want to carry around more than one filet knife, a 6 inch knife will be the best option to handle almost any fileting task.

For those that head out to the ocean and like to hook into larger fish, they need to select a large knife like a 9 inch fixed blade. A 9 inch fillet knife blade will handle all of those bigger fish like salmon, tuna and swordfish. The 9 inch blade is too big to use on smaller freshwater fish, as it will mangle the fillet badly.

Don’t Compromise, Buy Both Size Fillet Knives!

For those that want to be prepared for everything, they can get both 6 and 9 inch fillet knives to handle any kind of fish that is hooked.

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Hunting Knives – Fixed Blade Buck Knife

Buying Fixed Blade Hunting Knife!

As a hunter, you want a knife that’s easy to carry, not too heavy, but tough enough to get the job done. This knife must also feel good in your hand as well as offer protection for your hand from the blade. Fixed-Blade Buck Knives are an excellent choice to carry with you on your next hunting trip and many years to come.

A clip point(shown left) is one of the most popular blades simply because it can be used for hunting as well as general purpose work. This knife will not work as fast as the drop point, but it can perform the same functions. This knife does not have the same curving or thickness to the steel, but the tang is much thinner for use with Fine detail work.

One of the main types of hunting knives is a drop point. The top of the blade is curved downward and is slightly larger and made from thicker steel than other knives. This Blade style is great for butchering any size game.

Any of the previous knives can include a gut hook on the end. This can assist in splitting the hide in the belly area and will making sure that you not expose the meat to any toxins.

Knife Handle Selections

Deciding on knife handle material is also important to you because some materials are more for looks like the cocobola wood handle. The wood handle is more susceptible to water damage if not kept dry and when butcher may get slick when drenched with blood. The rubberized and composite knife handles are generally less expensive are easier to grip when wet.

This is a starting point in making your decision on which type of fixed blade hunting knife to buy. I myself carry 2 knives on my hunting trips. The first knife in my pack is a caping and guthook knife used for field dressing and skinning, and drop point with for boning out the animal.

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