Monday, March 26, 2012

Best Rated Survival Knife -6 Essentials To look for

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For people who enjoy camping, hunting, prepping or survival  getting the finding the best rated survival knife has to be a top priority. It is one of the best tools you can have at your disposal. Considering the number of things that the knife can be used for, there are several qualities that you need to consider when looking to get the  best rated survival knife 

One of the most important parts of a knife is the blade and tang. This is the part of the knife that you rely on and in some cases with your life.  The blade needs to be thick and made of a strong steel, whether that be stainless or carbon steel. A fixed blade is preferred because it is stronger and less prone to breakage. Most pocket knives have smaller blades which can be folded but these are not nearly as durable as the fixed blades.

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The tang design is also something one should consider when looking for the bestrated survival knife . This influences the strength of the knife. A tang that extends all the way to the end of the blade is stronger compared to one that does not. I would not even consider a knife without a full tang for serious work.

A good survival knife should be easy to handle and should be comfortable in your hand. It should have a handle that fits you appropriately (most high quality knives will) is not slippery and does not cause hot spots when you are chopping or carving..


The length and thickness of the blade are also important factors that one should consider when selecting a good survival knife. The thicker the blade the stronger it is and it can withstand a lot of wear and tear. The best length is said to be between four and six inches though this mainly depends on what one plans to use the knife for. Larger knives are better for chopping but a pain to carry all the time. I suggest a knife with an overall length of 10 to 12 inches. You will get the best of both worlds out of a good knife this size.

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The blade should also be easy for one to sharpen and maintain and / or keep its edge.  The debate over stainless steel vs. Carbon steel is a prevalent one. I lean more towards carbon steel a solid 1095 carbon is a good place to start. The Carbon steel is a harder more durable steel than stainless and holds an edge better. The only downfall is that it rusts easier than stainless. The rusting is most often combated with a powder coat on the blade.

These are just some of the qualities of a good survival knife.

For some of my top picks please check out my site : Best Survival Knife for the money