Last Updated on October 14, 2022 by admin_hunter
Survival knives can be used for many different purposes from defending yourself and hunting animals to cooking dinner, making a fire, and building a shelter too. A good knife is a great survival tool, but that said, they can be quite expensive. So, today we want to help you find the best survival knife for the money.
Best Survival Knife
Gerber LMF II Survival Knife
- Originally designed to free an aircrew from a downed aircraft
- Tough enough to cut through the fuselage of an aircraft
- Purposeful break between the tang and the butt cap, providing insulated protection against stray wires and absorbing any shock from hammering.
- Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon with TPV overmold
- Sheath Material: Ballistic nylon with fire retardant coating
If you need a high-quality survival knife that comes at a moderate price, the Gerber LMF II Survival Knife is a great option to look into. First off, this knife is made in the USA, and the blade is made with 420HC stainless steel, which for a knife is about as durable as it gets.
Not only is this blade super durable, but also very sharp. It’s advertised as being sharp enough to cut through the fuselage of an aircraft, and that’s no small feat of course. Let’s keep in mind that it’s a 10-inch blade, so it is fairly large.
Moving on to the handle, it is made with glass-filled nylon with a TPV over-mold. Therefore, the handle is very lightweight, it’s easy to hold, it’s very durable, and it’s got a good texture for grip, not to mention that it features an ideal balance with the blade.
The break between the tang and handle helps add some protection as it features insulation to prevent any electrical currents from making their way through to your hands. The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife also comes with a sheath.
Pros
- Decent price
- Large, sharp, and durable blade
- Lightweight yet durable handle
- Made in the USA
- Protection from electrical shock
Cons
- Not full tang – blade can loosen in the handle
Ka-Bar BK-22 Becker Companion Fixed Blade Knife
- Used by all branches of miliary and service members
- Great for collectors and outdoor services,Tested to ensure quality and durability
- Becker 22 Second Generation “Companion” Fixed Blade Knife with HD Sheath
- Overall length of 10 1/2″ with a straight edge 5.25″ blade
- Comes with the new heavy-duty Polyester front pouch sheath
If you’re looking for a super lightweight knife that you will barely notice carrying on your person, the Ka-Bar BK-22 Becker Companion Fixed Blade Knife is a great option to keep in mind. It’s about as lightweight as it gets, and it also comes with a lightweight sheath for portability. Keep in mind that the blade is 5.25 inches long, so it’s not overly large or small.
The Ka-Bar BK-22 Becker Companion Fixed Blade Knife has a synthetic handle, and quite honestly the handle could be more durable. However, the blade is made with flat ground 1095 Cro-Van steel, which does feature superior durability.
On that same note, this is a full-tang knife which adds to its durability, plus it’s not too bad for balance. It is also worth noting that the knife itself is made in the US.
Pros
- Decent price
- Durable blade
- Very sharp
- Lightweight and compact
- Made in the US
- Sheath included
Cons
- Handle is not overly durable
ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife w/Molded Polymer Sheath
- Overall Length: 11.75″
- Blade Length: 6.50″
- Blade Material: 1095 Steel
- Handle Material: Gray Micarta
- Sheath: Coyote Brown Molded Polymer
If you have a few extra dollars to spend on a fairly expensive survival knife, the highly durable, sharp, functional, and overall top-notch ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife is an investment worth making. It’s not a cheap knife, but top-quality products rarely come at rock-bottom prices.
For one, this is a full-tang knife, which means that the handle runs all the way down through the blade for great durability. Moreover, the blade is made out of high carbon steel, which is about as durable as it gets, and it’s been ground into an extremely fine and sharp cutting edge; the blade is 6.5 inches long.
The handle is made of gray micarta, a very durable yet lightweight material. The handle also feature jimping on the spine for a better grip, and it also has a hole for a lanyard. The molded polymer carrying sheath with a removable clip brings it all together.
Pros
- Superior durability
- Fairly lightweight
- Well balanced
- Sharp blade
- Full tang
- Quality handle
- Sheath included
Cons
- A bit pricey
- May rust over time
KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife
- Edge Angles – 20 Degrees
- Overall length 11.875 inches
- The most famous fixed blade knife design in the world
- 1095 Cro-van steel
- Leather Handle, USMC Fightning Knife
Yes, this knife is straight out of the US Marine Corps and you better believe that it’s designed for killing and for survival. The 7 inch 1095 Cro-van steel blade is about as durable and sharp as it gets, and it features a full-tang design for the ultimate in toughness.
This is the kind of blade that can cut through a wide variety of materials, it won’t rust, and it should not bend, chip, or break with normal use either. For its size, it’s surprisingly lightweight.
The KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife features a gold plated brass guard and pommel, which not only look nice but are very functional too. The handle looks very sleek, and it features a great texture for secure holding. The included leather sheath is about as high-quality as it gets.
Pros
- Trusted by the Marine Corps
- Superior durability
- Lightweight and well balanced
- Great leather sheath
- High quality handle
- Long blade
Cons
- Sheath is missing sometimes
Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro Knife
- Full tang fine edge blade made from premium steel (9CR19MoV)
- Sheath equipped with pull through sharpener
- Fire starter vertically mounted into sheath
- Emergency lanyard whistle
- Blade length: 4.8 Inches, Overall length: 10 Inches
This is a knife that comes with a 4.8-inch blade made of 9CR19MoV stainless steel. It might not be the largest blade, but it is very sharp and highly durable. Moreover, this knife features a full-tang design that helps with both durability and balance.
The handle is made of rubber, which is not the best, but as far as rubber goes, it is some of the higher quality around. There’s also the fact that the handle has a very ergonomic and lightweight design with a great texture for grip.
What’s really cool is that the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro Knife comes with a fire starter built into it; it comes with a pull-through blade sharpener; and it also comes with a sheath (blade sharpener is built into the sheath). Let’s not forget that there is also a lanyard ring and an emergency whistle.
Pros
- Good balance
- Lightweight and compact
- Very durable and sharp blade
- Full tang design
- Sheath + sharpener
- Whistle, lanyard ring, and fire starter
Cons
- Rubber handle could be better
- Not very elegant
Conclusion
As long as you get a knife that features a high-quality steel blade, an ergonomic handle, and hopefully a sheath, finding the right survival knife should not be a huge challenge. There are tons of great options available.