Help me choose a survival knife...

[whistleclient]

Going on a trip to Costa Rica. I'm bringing a survival knife for the trip.
Not really a knife guy, but someone recommended I get one.



SOG SEAL Pup Elite

KA-BAR Black Tanto


Anyone know the + / - of the tanto design? is it just needless style?

 

[Turin39789]

doh!

 

[Spoooon]

I think you'll be okay with this one: link

 

[Looney]

I would definitely go with the SOG Pup Elite. That way you can use it as an everyday knife when you get back from your trip.

 

[deerslayer]

I'd go with the SOG. No reason, I just like it better.

 

[thepd7]

I would go with the Ka-bar and also get a leatherman or swiss army knife to carry on your belt.

 

[whistleclient]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
I think you'll be okay with this one: link

lol, thanks.

 

[Ephemeral]

I personally use the seal pup elite, and I wouldn't have it any other way. SOG makes an excellent blade, and the kydex sheath included with the seal pup is icing on the cake.

 

[Ulfhednar]

This should do nicely.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Ulfhednar
This should do nicely.

dual wield ftw

 

[JEDIYoda]

need to check local laws....

 

[Injury]

Tantos are great... if you like carrying around a foot long knife that doesn't fold.

Exactly where are you going and what are you doing there that requires surviving with only a knife?

 

[andylawcc]

there shall be only one.

 

[Minjin]

I recommend a RAT7, RD7, BK7 or Scrapper 6.

Don't have time to link them all right now. Just do some searching.

edit:

RAT7
RD7
BK7...may be difficult to find
Scrapper 6....sold out, look at secondary market

 

[xanis]

Just get yourself a Swiss Army knife and be done with it. You can get them almost anywhere, they're durable and they fit your needs.

 

[rumplestiltskin]

For what it's worth, I know David Wescott, one of the founders of BOSS (boulder outdoor survival school). He also was the consultant for Castaway, and helped Larry Dean Olsen author several books...

He uses this knife http://www.swedishknives.com/760craft.htm the Craftmen 740 Mora Knife with the high carbon blade. (red handle).

I have bought several from him, I love it. It's just what you need, and it's cost effective. He sold them to me for 10 bucks a piece.

I work at a outdoor youth camp, and I'll swear by the knife.

 

[doze]

You will probably get much more use out of a good pocketknife, swiss army knife, or leatherman, so I recommend buying one too

A survival knife like this Gerber LMF II will hold up well and probably last forever.

I don't know anything about the knives you linked, but most of the cheap knives I've purchased over the years were not weighted properly and not held up very well or just broke.

 

[Marinski]

The SOG w/ this sheath and a multitool.

 

[alkemyst]

what kind of survival you aiming at?

ship going down outside civilization? or making sure you can pop tops, open champange, file your nails, pick a tooth, do light mechanical repair..............

Makes a difference in need.

 

[jacc1234]

If you are going to be cutting through jungle and using your knife daily for camp/survival related tasks you really should go with a Khukri. They are perfect for the jungle, it is a larger blade so if you are going to actually be hacking through the brush go with something smaller, but if you need a knife that will get you from point a to point b in dense jungle and handle any tasks you will have along the way a Khukri is your best choice.

Here is the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri

Jacc1234

 

[RichUK]

This should suffice

 

[KDOG]

I personally am on a Benchmade kick right now. I have a mini-Griptilian sheapsfoot plain edge but I ordered a full size Limited Edition Griptilian sheapsfoot combo edge that should be here Monday. I love Benchmades. Not to say they're aren't other great production knives - Spyderco, Kershaw are fantastic as well. You want a good steel in a hight end knife, currently CPM S30V is the way to go, I don't have a knife made of that - yet. My two Griptilians are 154CM which a good steel and they have a good grain.

If you want to spend the money, you can get the totally freakin' awesome Doug Ritter Survival knives. They're basically S30V Griptilians, it was a collaboration between Benchmade and Doug Ritter. I could go on, but I dont' want to cost you too much money. And you want to see your money disappear even faster, get looking at some custom jobs.... Good luck!

EDIT: I forgot to add that in a survival situation you want to stay away from the black coated blades. They look cool and all, but you can't use the blade as a signal mirror like you can with a satin finish blade...