10 Best Survival Knives of 2021

A survival knife is an absolute must in the time of need. If you are a hiker or like to camp out a lot then you must acknowledge the need of a best survival knife in your life.

However, any knife can help you when your life is in danger but a survival knife is a multipurpose tool that helps in accomplishing various tasks such as cutting a rope, lighting fire, etc.

Here in this article, we will propose some of the greatest models in survival knife that you can consider buying.

• Blade Length: 4.1 inches
• Blade Material: 12C27 stainless steel
• Overall Length: 8.6 inches
• Weight: 4.1 ounces

This model from Morakniv has got 4.1 inches razor sharp fixed blade. This is your best survival weapon in time of need.

The blade is made of high grade Sandvik stainless steel that does not corrode or stain. Also, this can hold the edge for the longest time.

This one is a straight edge and full tang knife for added durability and strength. The steel is hand honed to offer best performance of the knife.

The patterned handle provides excellent grip and comfortable holding. You will not experience hand fatigue with the knife even if you use it for long time.

You will get a matching plastic sheath with this model and limited lifetime warranty against defects. We can proudly announce that this one is the best overall survival knife in our list.

• Blade Length: 7 inches
• Blade Material: 1095 Cro-Van Steel
• Overall Length: 11.875 inches
• Weight: 11.2 ounces

This model from Ka-Bar is one of the most admired knives due to its amazing features. The black coated 7 inches stainless steel blade comes in Cro-Van material.

Let us tell you that the Cro-Van steel is one of the toughest steels in the market today. Finely forged and tested multiple times, the steel can withstand outdoor wear and tear.

Moreover, this one is capable of resisting rust and corrosion. This one has got fixed blade that has been hand honed and forged at 20 degrees to maintain its edge for the longest time.

The razor sharp knife is exceptional for EDC and survival purposes. In order to ensure that your hand finds it really comfortable to hold, this one has got fibre handle.

Knife will not slide away from your hand at all. This one is a large knife that comes with leather sheath to make carrying easy.

With all its incredible features, we can say that this one is the best fixed blade survival knife in our list that you can consider buying.

• Blade Length: 6.4 inches
• Blade Material: 1095 High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Overall Length: 12.1 inches
• Weight: 15.7 ounces

Schrade is one of the leading brands in survival knives. This model is equipped with 6.4 inches full tang high carbon stainless steel blade for durability and unparallel performance.

The black coated blade is highly reliable due to its steel and comes with razor sharp feature. This one is capable to withstand outdoor abuse and will not corrode or rust too soon.

Of course, this demands some maintenance to cater you for long period but has the tendency to hold its edge longer and will also not bother you for repeated sharpening.

The ring textured TPE handle is a great combination to this knife because of its utmost durability and ability to prevent rot.

You can have confidence that the handle will not slip away from your hand even in the worst situations. This provide excellent grip and prevent hand fatigue as well.

You will find this model extremely dependable. It comes with a convenient ballistic belt sheath with removable storage pouch with this model. This one is the best survival knife under 50 in our list.

• Blade Length: 3 inches
• Blade Material: Black Stainless Steel Tanto Blade
• Overall Length: 7 inches
• Weight: 11.2 ounces

Budget is a big concern for all the buyers. That is why the search for a budget friendly knife is endless. This model here is the best budget survival knife in our list and equipped with brilliant features.

To start with, the knife has got 3 inches stainless steel tanto blade which makes highly strong steel to help you in different situations. The blade will not corrode or rust, if maintained well.

Other than that, Tanto steel does not lose its edge soon so you will not have to sharpen the knife repeatedly. The weight, overall length and width of the blade is perfect to give fine balancing to the knife.

Coming to the handle, this model has got cord wrapped handle that offer excellent grip and comfortable handling of the knife.

Irrespective of the number of hours that you hold the knife, you will not feel hand or wrist fatigue.

Other than the exceptional features, this one comes with a magnesium alloy fire starter that helps in starting campfire easily, thus making this knife a perfect companion on a camping trip.

It is available with a nylon sheath to help you carry the knife effortlessly.

• Blade Length: 6.5 inches
• Blade Material: 1095 High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Overall Length: 11.75 inches
• Weight: 16 ounces

This model from ESEE is a fixed blade knife consisting of 6.5 inches long high carbon stainless steel blade. Unquestionably, the performance of the blade is admirable.

High carbon blades can hold the edge for the longest period. The blade in this model will require less sharpening but yes, you may have to worry more about the maintenance.

It being a best outdoor knife will be able to survive the environmental wear and tear, yet it is suggested to keep the knife inside the sheath when you don’t need it.

Also, it is important to keep the knife away from moisture to stay clear from rusting and corrosion. The blade here is highly reliable and performs satisfactorily.

There is jimping on the spine of the blade to offer better thumb grip. Also, the semi serrations make this knife ideal for rope cutting.

Handle is made of grey Micarta which boost the comfort quotient of the knife and also provide best grip to the holder.

This model is available with a double polymer sheath for convenient carrying.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: 420 Stainless Steel
• Overall Length: 8.5 inches
• Weight: 5.6 ounces

This one is a perfect multi-purpose survival knife that offer great features. With the blade length of 3.5 inches made of 420 stainless steel, the blade is highly promising and reliable.

You can expect amazing performance from the drop point edge that will sustain for the longest period and serrated saw to cut rope and other such things.

Other features include magnesium alloy fire starter for instant fire lighting, window breaker, and seatbelt cutter to help you escape any critical situation.

This is commonly considered that folding knives are not very reliable, but not this one because it comes with BlizeTec multipurpose lock that keep the knife firm and steady at one place.

The handle is made of quality material that does not tire your hand and also lend so many amazing features to the buyer.

This one is the top survival knife in our list, ideal for hikers, military personnel, hunters, campers, travellers, outdoor adventurers, etc.

• Blade Length: 7-1/4 inches
• Blade Material: High Quality Stainless Steel
• Weight: 16 ounces

This model from Whetstone is a great purchase which is budget friendly as well. This one has got a 7-1/4 inches blade made of high quality stainless steel which means no corrosion or rusting.

The blade is pretty sharp and holds the edge for long time. This one has got double sided blade with serrated saw back to conveniently cut the ropes or even wood.

The strength of this model is remarkable and this model comes with sharpening whetstone. Other than that, there is a complete survival kit in the handle.

This model has got a compass, matches, bandage, fishing line & a hook. Due to this feature, the knife is quite appreciated by the buyers.

The material of handle is also quite comfortable and offer amazing grip to the holder. This model comes with a low profile nylon sheath to make the carrying easy.

If compared to the cost, this model is really amazing due to the features. You can consider buying this knife.

• Blade Length: 6.3 inches
• Blade Material: VG10 Stainless Steel
• Overall Length: 11 inches
• Weight: 14.4 ounces

The quality of a knife lies in its blade and this model from Fallkniven has got an exceptional quality blade made of highest grade stainless steel.

One thing that you can be sure of this model is that the blade will serve you for the longest period, without losing the edge and getting corroded.

The drop point blade is forged and hand honed so that it can perform well. This one is a heavy duty knife with great strength as it can withstand outdoor abuse.

You can use the blade for cutting soft vegetables as well as chopping the wood. This full tang survival knife is extremely durable.

Handle of this model is also made of high quality material and a lanyard hole to carry the knife conveniently.

We highly recommend this model to all those who don’t have any trouble spending a good amount of money on their survival equipment. This one will be a great choice to make.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: Tanto Stainless Steel Blade
• Weight: 8 ounces

This model from BladeMate is another multipurpose knife in our list with amazing features. This one comes with a folding blade made of Tanto stainless steel to ensure that nothing goes wrong with the knife such as it does not corrode, rust, stain, or lose its colour.

The razor sharp serrated edge gives perfect slicing, sawing, and personal protection. The steel does not get damaged due to the moisture exposure as well.

The blade is coated with alloy to withstand environmental wear and tear. Coming to the handle, this one has got a good handle with a clip at the back to hang in the pocket.

Other than that, the seatbelt cutter and glass breaker in the knife makes it an ideal product for overall protection. With this model in your hand, you don’t have to rely on anything else for your safety.

This model is great for the handymen, first responders, soldiers, hikers, hunters, and adventure enthusiasts.

Make the purchase and enjoy lifetime guarantee with this model against defects. The knife is available at an affordable price and suit the needs of people with budget constraints.

• Blade Length: 6.5 inches
• Blade Material: Thick Stainless Steel Blade
• Overall Length: 12 inches
• Weight: 16.5 ounces

Last one in our list is this unique model with 6.5 inches thick stainless steel blade. The best part is that under any circumstances, the blade will not corrode or rust.

The drop point blade is extremely strong and offer effective cuts. This one has got heavy duty reverse serrations that will help in different situation whether it is cutting or protection purpose.

The thick blade is ideal for cutting, chopping, protection and various other things. Also, the strength is remarkable that you can effortlessly cut wood as well with this knife.

Other than that, the M9 bayonet style handle is extremely comfortable and provide utmost grip to the holder.

The knife has a wire cutter fastened to it and comes with a sharpening stone. This model is available with a durable nylon sheath for convenient carrying.

Although you can use a survival knife in replacement to hunting knife, but both these tools are different. They have very little to distinguish but we would like to present the differences:

1. Strength

The survival knives are extremely durable and have the strength to endure outdoor wear and tear. These have better cutting ability than a hunting knife.

Due to the extremely strong construction and material, a survival knife is considered to be stronger than a hunting knife.

You should know that a hunting knife is primarily to cut the animal and these are made of different materials so that you don’t accidently puncture the organs of the game.

On the other hand, a survival knife is for multiple uses, your safety being the prime motive. That is why survival knives are lethal and comes with sharper blades.

2. Multiple Uses

A survival knife comes with a latch at the back that helps in stabbing or pounding as well. However, on the other hand, a hunting knife is just a simple knife for peeling, cutting, or slicing meat of the animal.

Survival knife is a weapon and it has to have the abilities to work like one. On the other hand, hunters don’t hunt the animals with a hunting knife. They use their shot gun for that.

A hunting knife is only used to cut the animal for its meat and parts. There is a big difference between the usage of both the knives.

Also, these days the survival knives come with a feature to start campfire as well. However, you can never find such feature in any hunting knife model.

There are various other things that a survival knife can do such as cutting and chopping, fruits, vegetables, or even meat. However, these knives can also not replace the hunting knives because every different tool has its area of expertise which cannot be replaced.

How to Buy the Best Survival Knives

Buying a survival knife, especially for the first time buyers can be extremely troubling. There are various things that you have to consider before buying the best survival knife.

Let’s discuss some of the important points to check as you buy a survival knife:

1. Blade Edge

First of all, we will discuss about the blade edge that survival knives have. Survival knives usually have straight edge which makes them general purpose knives.

These feature three different types of angles including: positive rake angle, neutral angle, or negative rake angle that can be measured from bolster.

• Neutral Rake Angle : This angle is the most common one that extends at a right angle from the bolster.
• Positive Rake Angle: This one extends at a downward angle from the bolster and increases the angle of attack while slicing or cutting.
• Negative Rake Angle : This one works opposite to the positive rake as the angle runs upward from the bolster, making the knife more balanced and controllable.

2. Blade Material

Just like any other knife, survival knives are also available in different blade materials. The steels available in these knives are non stainless- high carbon tool steels, and stainless steel.

The difference between different kinds of steels is the amount of Chromium present in the steel. Let’s take a look at each type of material individually:

• High Carbon : This kind of steel is known for delivering excellent hardness to the knife. They are easy to sharp but not great in holding the edge for long time. At the same time, these are more open to get corroded or catch rusting. These knives are extremely sharp but requires good amount of maintenance.
• Stainless Steel : While this material stays clear from corrosion or rusting, this one is not as strong as the high carbon steel. They do hold their edge longer than its counterpart but at the same time, it can be easily broken as well.

The toughness and edge maintaining tendency of the knife depends on its Rockwell Hardness (HRC). Knife blades with 50 – 54 HRC are tough and 58 – 62 HRC are capable of maintaining the edge better.

From the various kinds of steel available in survival knife, you have to get your priorities sorted and make a choice.

3. Tang

Basically, tang is the portion that extends to the handle and bind both the parts- blade and handle together. But the point where handle and blade are stitched is the weakest part of the knife.

No matter how much a brand is promising for the tough construction of partially tang knife, it can still break from between and cause accident.

The best knife and the most reliable one is with full tang. This means that a single piece of steel runs from the blade and goes till the end of the handle.

A full tang knife is the strongest and durable among others available in the market.

4. Handle

Handle is another extremely imperative factor that must be considered closely. You need to see that the handle fastened to the knife is tough and can prevent breaking.

Most of the handles, when exposed to moisture tends to rot and break from between. This can cause accidents and not to mention, it will hamper the life span of the knife.

From the various handle materials available in survival knives, fibre reinforced plastics are the perfect ones that are further wrapped with rubber material. This will keep your hand at ease.

Conclusion

People like to buy survival knives for EDC purpose or while planning a hunting or camping trip. Given all the amazing features that these knives have, it is a mandatory tool for your safety.

We have discussed survival knife review above in which we mentioned some of the incredible models, equipped with razor sharp blades, making these models one of a kind.

Here you can easily find high quality survival knife that will satisfy all your needs. So, don’t wait anymore and make your purchase.

Happy Shopping!