Surviving in the wild is a challenge in itself. While you’re enjoying the dense forest, walking on unknown paths and amidst trees, you can encounter any kind of challenge. One cannot predict what kind of challenges are going to come ahead on a journey through the wilderness. But, one should always be prepared.
If you’re planning an adventurous trip into the wild, through dense forests, going camping, hiking and just being with nature, then you definitely need to be prepared with all the necessities. Survival knives are one of the many necessities that all hikers, campers and adventure seekers should have in their backpacks. Whether it’s to hunt, camp, start a fire or simply self-defense, a survival knife can be of more uses in unpredictable situations than you can imagine.
So the question now is, what kind of survival knife should you purchase and carry with yourself on your wilderness journey. Well, here are seven survival knives that can help you survive, fight and get you through your journey in the wild.
1. Folding Knives
Folding knives are not as good as fixed blades and knives, but they are quite handy due to their size. For camping and hiking trips where you may not need a full sized fixed blade or knife, you can always carry a folding knife for emergency purposes. It’s much smaller in size and can easily fit into the pockets of your clothes. This survival knife is best if you are going on a small camping trip and need an alternative to camping knives. So basically, carry a folding knife, if you can’t carry any survival knife at all.
2. Survival Knife kit with Sheath
This is one of the most essential tools when it comes to surviving in the wilderness. Whether you’re going hunting, fishing, camping or just for some good old hiking, this knife will come in handy in ways that you cannot count. A survival knife kit with a sheath has survival essentials like a compass, matches with a pad to strike them on, fish hooks, sharpening stone etc. Equipped with the correct tools for a crisis or emergency in the wilderness, a survival knife kit with sheath is a great choice for adventure seekers.
3. Tactical Knives
This one is for life and death situations. If you’re planning to venture out into the wild, knowing that you might face some tough challenges from the wildlife or have major safety concerns, this is one of the best self-defense survival knives you can carry. It is also a great tool to help you with other tasks in the wild like camping, hunting etc. So it works as a weapon and a tool as well. These kinds of knives come in a variety of blade edges like serrated edge, double edge, straight edge and also in a fusion of all three. These knives are very long lasting and are available in different materials for blades and handles. So depending on the use you have of the knives, you should choose the material accordingly.
4. Tanto Knives
A tanto knife is also known as a Japanese short sword because it is identical to the Samurai sword. This type of knife has thin points similar to drop point knives, bowie knives, and daggers. So it is quite apt for slicing, slashing, stabbing, cutting etc. This is a very durable knife and doesn’t get damaged even after repetitive use. For everyday use in the wild, this knife can come in very handy. Whether it’s to cut meat, hunt, defend oneself etc. this is one knife that will not disappoint you.
5. Boot Knives
This one is more of a backup knife when you don’t have anything else to work with. They are about 3-5 inches long, double-edged and have fixed blades. As the name suggests, these are usually carried inside boots. It’s a smaller blade because of which it is considered as the last option when it comes to using it. This is mainly used when nothing else is available and kept as a safe backup for sudden situations where you may have lost your backpack.
6. Kukri
Hailing from Nepal, this knife has an inward curved, heavy blade. It resembles a boomerang if you look at it. It’s the fighting knife of the Gurkha army and came to be known by their name; the Gurkha knife. A kukri knife has a single cutting edge blade which is curved. So it’s apt for the wilderness with thick bushes and vines. It can easily cut them off, making your way through dense forests easier. It’s also a great self-defense fighting weapon. You can say, it is something between an axe and a knife. It can cut down small trees, bushes, and branches easily. It also has a spine, wide enough to be used as a hammer if the user can hit a fine point.
7. Karambit
This was a knife used by a Southeast Asian farmer to cut grass, dig roots and plant rice. It has a sharp, curved blade and is available in single, double and triple-edged blades. The traditional karambit knives used to have a hilt made of wood, ivory or water buffalo horn. One of the unique features of this knife is that it has a finger ring at the base of its hilt which can be used by the user to put his/ her finger through it for more support while cutting. The grand curve of the blade is inspired by the curve of a tiger’s claw.
This is a great survival knife because it is lightweight and easy to carry. There are pocket versions of this knife which can be clipped to the inside of the pocket or on the belt. It is a great tool and a deadly weapon if used for fighting. The ring in this knife gives the advantage of grip to the user, ensuring that he/ she doesn’t drop the weapon, making it difficult for the opponent to disarm him/ her.
Conclusion
Surviving in the wild doesn’t just mean surviving the wildlife, it can also mean surviving human attackers. So a good survival knife should be useful as a tool and also as a weapon. Depending on the size, survival knives can be clipped on belts, inside boots or be packed away in your rucksack. What kind of survival knife you choose to carry with you on your adventure in the wilderness, will depend on the extent of the expected challenges. So make sure you expect the best, but be prepared for the worst.
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