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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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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Hunting Knives | Lockback Hunting Knife

Buying Lockback Hunting Knife!

Every person that takes to the hunting woods needs a variety of hunting knives in their backpack to tackle any task that presents itself. One of the knives that needs to be in your arsenal is a midsize lockback knife. Carrying a high quality Lockback Hunting Knife give you several key advantages.

Lockback and folding blade knives are available with one handed opening feature that utilizes a small thumb lever to assist in the opening of the blade. Most quality folding knives have another feature that makes them safer to use, it is a locking feature that, after opening the blade stays locked to prevent accidental closing that could cause injury to you. When closing the knife you must depress a small locking lever and the blade will fold back into the handle. Personally the lockback hunting knife is the safest knife to carry if worn on your belt. These knives are generally smaller in size and will fit neatly into a pocket or a small belt sheath. Folding lockback knives are great for everyday use as well, but because of their smaller size, may not be the best choice to butcher larger game.

Lockback Hunting Knife Handles

Choosing the knife handle material for your lockback knife is a preference of the user. There is a wide range of materials available some better than others. Some materials are more for looks like the Rosewood and the cocobola wood handle. The wood handle is more susceptible to water damage if not kept dry and when butchering may get slick. The stag horn and composite knife handles are generally less expensive take less maintenance for the user. This, in my opinion makes these lockback hunting knives durable for years down the road.

When making your decision on which type of lockback hunting knife to buy keep in mind this knife is compact and less cumbersome to carry. 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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