Large Survival Knives

Small or large survival knives are essential in a survival situation. Not all knives are created equal, and a good survival knife is an important of any complete survival kit, disaster kit, bugout bag, and emergency kit.

A good knife can provide the ability to live and flourish in both wilderness and urban conditions. In fact, many life-saving and convenience items can be made by skillfully using a large survival knife. For example, bow and arrows, lance, tent stakes, spoons, shelter, snowshoes, and traps, just to name a few.

You should take into consideration the materials and artisanship used in the construction of a good knife. Anyone who has spent any time in an outdoor setting would vouch for the usefulness of a quality knife. A knife can be like a best friend and should never let you down.

The Hollow Handle

There are several types of large survival knives popular with hikers, hunters, backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts around the world. Some have hollow handles that allow for storage of other survival essentials such as a compass or matches, fishing tackle, wire, etc. The hollow handles are water tight, but they can be weaker than a solid handled knife.

Drawbacks to Hollow Handle

Another item to keep in mind is that storing other survival items in a knife might be dangerous. What happens if the knife is lost? Not only is the most important part of your survival kit missing, but also the other items stored in the handle.

Construction

The best survival knives are constructed from a single piece of metal. The metal should continue from the blade into the handle. A well-designed, comfortable and functional knife will not be one that has the blade and handle either bolted or glued together, this causes a weak point and may cause the knife to fail.

Carbon or Stainless

The metal used in high quality knives is either stainless steel or carbon steel. A stainless steel knife blade does not rust, but usually costs more. In addition, it may be hard to sharpen, and the edge may dull easily. A carbon steel knife blade can rust but does not have to be sharpened as frequently. Moreover, with proper handling and storage, rust shouldnt be a problem.

The Blade

A survival knife blade can be between a 5/32 and 8/32 of an inch thick. If the blade is any thinner, it may be too flexible whereas a thicker blade can be too wide to complete finer work for which a survival knife might be required. It is important to remember to keep the tip of the knife strong and sharp. A missing tip can cause any knife to fail and that may very well cost you your life.

Choose the Best

There are thousands of large survival knives on the market and many are of a good quality. Chose your knife carefully; it may be the only knife that you will have and being in the midst of a disaster or survival situation is not the time of find out you made a bad choice. Price ranges vary and a true prepper will purchase the very best they can afford; because it may very well happen that their life will depend on it.