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Top Tips for Choosing a Great Survival Knife

posted by Chris Valentine

Knives are one of the oldest tools of humankind. From kitchen knives to survival knives, there is an endless variety.

When it comes to survival knives, they are a valuable possession for the hunters. Their uses are many and each of the hunting knife carries a unique history as per a company which sells handmade hunting knives in UK.

There are various survival knives available to suit different requirements and tastes. Understanding the type of survival knife you need is important than just randomly picking any one.

While hunting for a survival knife, here’s what you need to look out for:

Blade Length

Before you make a final choice on the type of survival knife you need, ask yourself a few questions: Are you comfortable with a large knife? How are you going to carry it?

For instance, if you want to carry the knife in a pocket, you might want one with a small blade length. However, if you are planning to carry the knife in a bag, you can easily get a knife with longer blade length. Try to get a knife whose blade length is between 6 to 9 inches since it will be easy to manage and carry around.

Folding or fixed blade?

Both of them are apt for use in different situations. For example, in a primary survival situation, fixed blade knife is your best bet. On the other hand, if you want a knife which is easily portable, folding knife is a good option especially when used as a second survival knife.

Tip of the knife

A survival knife will only work if the tip is pointed and sharp. When you shop for a hunting knife, make sure that you do not invest in one that has a fancy tip. It might be more visually appealing to look at but it won’t be so effective in a survival situation. Also, a normal pointed tip has much more utility. You can use it to open cans, skin animals etc.

Tang

Tang is the length of the knife’s core. If you want to get the best out of a survival knife, choose the one that has a full tang because it increases the knife’s durability.

Sheath

When buying a survival knife, it is best to get one that you can easily sheath. Sheathing the knife increases its longevity and makes it easier to carry around.

Further Tips

A hunting knife remains the most reliable tool in a survival situation because of the varied uses it has. Now that you are aware of the tips to choose a good survival knife, here are some things in a knife that you should completely avoid:

Narrow Tang

Knives with narrow tangs are good as kitchen knives but not as survival knives since the knives with narrow tangs are more prone to breaking easily.

Huge Knives

Large knives are not only heavy but also difficult to manage. Invest in a survival knife which is easier to handle. If the knife is huge, you will find it difficult to use it for activities like cauterizing the wound, splitting wood etc.

Conclusion

If you keep the above tips in mind, we are sure that you will be able to pick a great survival knife for yourself. While one kind of survival knife may be great for someone, it might not be so good for someone else. The most important thing is to find a knife that works for you.

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