A survival knife is one of the most crucial gadget tools for the serious camper, hiker, and hunter. In some instances, this tool can make a difference between a life and death situation. So, it’s one of the essentials especially when you are out in the wild.

What are some of its uses you might ask? Well, you can use it for a variety of purposes like cutting kindling for lighting up a fire when it gets cold or use it to create a makeshift shelter. You can also open a can of beans and even clean fish for dinner.

A survival knife with a fire starter would allow you to create fire when you are camping or hunting, thus you won’t have to carry separate lighters or other pieces of equipment for it.

Although it might seem easy to get a survival knife, it’s not always the case considering the massive diversity in the market. Therefore, some background information and an idea about the products are necessary.

In a Rush? Here are our Top Picks

Here are our top 3 picks for the best survival knife with a fire starter.

Best Products

Morakniv Survival Knife with Fire Starter

• Fixed blade with 3.2mm (1/8 inches) thickness
• Thick steel blade made of carbon with anti-corrosive black coating
• Black plastic sheath and integral diamond sharpener, fire starter
• Morakniv fire starter yields 7000 strikes
• Limited lifetime manufacturer warranty

Dimensions: 11.8 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 0.23 Kilograms
Blade Material: Carbon Steel
Blade Edge: V-Grind
Blade Length: 4.3 inches

Why the Fire Starter Carbon Steel Survival Knife from Morakniv Bushcraft is our top pick

Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife with Sheath and Fire Starter is our top pick and for a variety of reasons. First of all the blade contains durable and high-quality material which is carbon steel. However, to ensure longevity, it has an anti-corrosive black coating which ensures protection against rust and makes it weather resistant.

The blade thickness is ideal at 3.2 mm and the length around 109 mm. The total length of the knife is around 232 mm and weighs only 5.4 oz. This makes it not only easy to carry on trips but also equally useful.

 Furthermore, it contains a plastic sheath and an integrated sharpener along with Morakniv fire starters that are capable of yielding 700 strikes and generates 3000-degree sparks which are even functional when it’s wet. This makes it an excellent survival tool for long trips.

Overall, the product is very durable and easy to carry along trips which would allow you to cut cords, ropes, and tree branches with ease while also allowing you to ignite them without any extra products.

The thing we like:

• Durability
• Comfortable grip
• Strong fixed blade

Things we don’t like:

• The plastic sheath could’ve been made better

How this product compares with our criteria

• Warranty: Limited lifetime
• Firestarter: Yes
• Durable and strong blade: Yes

ALBATROSS Military Folding Pocket Knives

• Multi-function knife
• The ideal size of 8.5 inches
• Stainless steel and black finished coated
• Ideal tool for camping, hunting, hiking

Dimensions: 5.12 x 1.57 x 0.79 inches
Weight: 0.15 Kilograms
Material: Stainless steel
Handle material: Aluminium
Blade shape: Straight back

What is it that sets apart the ALBATROSS 6-in-1 Survival Tactical Military Folding Pocket Knives from its competitors?

The main reason we like the Albatross military knife is because it provides a lot of features that you won’t normally find in a survival tool.

When we talk about its features it is a multi-function tool that provides a folding knife, Glass breaker, LED light, Magnesium fire starter, Seatbelt cutter, and a bottle opener and at the top of all these features, it is a very durable tool for survival.

It contains stainless steel along with a black-coated finish to add to its durability. The knife is wear-resistant and has high hardness. Its handle is another noticeable thing as it contains a strong, durable aluminum anodizing handle that also feels exceptional.

Furthermore, the blade size is ideal as the knife has an unfolded length of around 8.5 inches and the blade length is about 3.5 inches. This makes the knife an ideal choice for daily use.

Why isn’t it our top pick?

The main reason why it doesn’t top the list despite providing numerous benefits is that it has a foldable blade. It’s important to remember that although a foldable knife might have the best locking mechanism it can still be doubtful in intense situations as a mere slip could make a difference between life and death situations.

Things we like:

• Multifunctionality
• Durable construction
• Strong and reliable blade

Things we don’t like:

• Locking mechanism

How this product compares with our criteria

• Strong Blade: Yes
• Firestarter: Yes

Gerber Gear Ultimate Knife

• Fixed blade knife
• Ergonomic textured rubber handle provides a non-slip grip
• Stainless steel pommel at the base of the handle
• A Ferrocerium rod fire starter
• A click-retention nylon sheath

Dimensions: 13 x 2.2 x 0.75 inches
Blade material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Rubber
Blade Shape: Drop point
Blade edge: Compound bevel

Review

The Gerber Gear Ultimate Knife might not be the fanciest choice but it is a durable option that you can rely on. It features a 4 75 partially serrated drop point blade which is an ideal choice for cutting rope and edge retention.

It has an ergonomic textured handle that comprises rubber and provides a non-slip grip for comfortable and accurate handling. Since handling the blade is one of the most important tasks in the wild, this is an important feature. The pommel located at the base of the handle contains stainless steel and you can also use it as a hammer.

The knife contains a Ferrocerium rod fire starter that can lock into the sheath, there is a striker notch integrated into the backside of the blade in case you require emergency fire. It has a click retention nylon sheath which also includes a sharpener for edge adjustments on the go.

Things we like:

• Fixed blade knife
• Sturdy and reliable grip
• Durable and high-quality blade
• Ferrocerium rod fire starter

Thing’s we don’t like:

• It’s heavier than other products in the category

How this product compares with our criteria

• Strong and durable blade: Yes
• Firestarter: Yes

Types of Survival Knives

Survival knives come in a variety of shapes and designs. Before you hit the market in search of one, you need to be aware of the different types to ensure that you find the right product for yourself. The importance of choosing the right type is necessary because fits different purposes and if it doesn’t satisfy your need it won’t be worth the money. So here are the types of survival knives:

Boot Knives

Boot knives are usually small in size and have a fixed blade which allows the user to easily carry it inside of their boot. You can also tuck them away under your belt. It is typically double-edged and has nearly 3-5 inches in length.

Boot knives aren’t the main option particularly if your demands are high with the knife. It is more of a backup, thus it is suitable for the last resort purpose rather than the main one.

Buck Hunting Survival Knives

Typically designed for various hunting-related tasks the buck hunting knives can be very useful on a camping trip. If you want to skin your hunt then this is the choice. These knives usually have a thin blade which provides a high-end cutting performance. However once again they are more of a general performance knife.

Military Knife

Military knives are a stronger option that offers a lot more than regular knife tasks. You can use it for cutting rope and cords, a survival tool on the battlefield and you can also use it for cooking purposes.

Survival Knife with Sheath

This is one of the most important tools, particularly for campers, hunters, and fishers. It provides numerous benefits to anyone that loves outdoor trip and activities.

These knives could also have various other things attached to them like a compass, fire starter, etc. which add to their functionality.

Furthermore, you can also use it for various other benefits such as digging, creating a makeshift shelter cutting branches for a fire since they come in a variety of thickness sizes that is normally higher than regular knives.

Tactical Knife

These knives act as a weapon and tool, thus they need to be durable, resilient, and provide functionality. It comes in various blade edge structures like a serrated edge, straight edge, double edge, and even a combination of the three types.

Rambo Survival knives

These are the large knife with a hollow handle survival and a serrated edge. Tracing its origin back to the Rambo movie in which Sylvester Stallone played the lead role of John Rambo, this knife also became a huge demand. These are knives with a fixed blade that often resemble a machete.

How to Choose a Survival Knife

As like every other product in the market, every survival knife is not the best, and to ensure that you get something that is worth the money, you need to understand what sets it apart from other options. There are various things that you need to notice in a survival knife.

The following are some of the noticeable features in a survival knife:-

Size

When it comes to survival knives, the bigger is not always the best option. If your blade is bigger than the rest, you are unable to use it for various effective and detailed tasks like carving or dressing, etc. however, a small blade might not be the best choice for rugged tasks such as chopping and batoning.

The ideal size for the tool is around 9-11 inches in length. This makes it suitable for various tasks and allows the users to easily manage a variety of activities outdoors.

Fixed Blade

Another thing that many users prefer in a survival knife is a fixed blade. Although you might find it in a folding blade as well, a fixed blade has an edge when it comes to satisfying the demands of a tough survival situation.

A joint is a weakness in these blades and when you have a fixed blade, the risk of damaging and losing it minimizes. Therefore, a knife with a fixed blade provides durability and you can use it for chopping, thrusting, pounding, and hard cutting easily without having the fear of breaking it.

A Full Tang

Apart from being a fixed blade, your survival knife also should be full tang. This means that the handle and a single piece of metal inside the blade and through the handle. The grip or scales connect to the handle area of the knife to provide a comfy grip.

Therefore, a full tang knife is a lot more durable than a partial tang one like rat-tail tang, half tang, or push tang. It’s a lot more substantial and provides a sturdy, reliable weapon particularly in demanding tasks such as chopping, etc.

The main idea behind it all is that it’s a lot more difficult to break a continuous solid piece of metal rather than a partial one. Therefore, when you are choosing a survival knife, this is one feature that you need to look out for at all costs.

A Sharp and Pointed Tip

Although, this is a common point many users often fail to notice the tip of the knife. We all know that a knife is supposed to have a sharp and pointed tip but certain options have hooked angled round or a flat tip.

Despite what some people might believe having a pointed and sharp tip is necessary for two main reasons. The first and one of the most significant reasons is self-defense. You never know what you might come across out in the world, if your tool has a pointed knife, it will allow you to effectively stab or thrust the threat while this ability compromises if you opt for other types.

 Effectively, a spear pointed knife provides you with another major benefit is you can use it for hunting purposes. At times when you are in the wild, you might want to get a fish and if your tool does not allow you to easily clean the scales of the fish and cut it down; well it’s a major letdown.

A Single Edge Blade along with a Flat (Ground) Spine

A survival knife ideally should not have a double-edge dagger-styled blade. It is because that type is not necessary and in some situations suitable for a variety of survival uses. It can turn out to be a disadvantage.

The best knives have a single-edge blade and the backside (spine) of it should have a flat 90-degree grind which makes it suitable for striking a fire starting Ferro-rod. A round or bevel spine makes this task almost impossible.

Strong Pommel

A pommel is the bottom of the knife’s handle, which some people call the “butt” of the knife. Many users often use the pommel for light-duty hammering or pounding and it’s suitable for putting in the shelter stakes. You can also use it for various other tasks such as chipping gout the crude ice fishing holes. 

Since we are talking about a survival knife here, it needs to provide a lot of survival uses to be perfect and fit for the purpose. Therefore, a substantial and well-designed pommel simply adds to the capabilities of the knife.

Sheath

Finally, you should never underestimate the significance of sheath. If you are unable to access your survival knife easily then it’s not very useful. You would need a sheath that you can comfortably attach to your hip or attach to your belt.

FAQS

Q1: How important is a survival knife for camping trips?

A survival knife is one of the most important tools on a camping or hunting trip. It allows you to perform various activities from cutting cordage and wood to even lighting the fire as some of these come with fire starters. The list is endless and it is a necessity for the trip.

Q2: What is the best material for a survival knife?

Survival knives contain different kinds of material in their constructions. However, the most popular one that is also a highly durable option is carbon steel. Nevertheless, many experienced hunters prefer stainless steel since it requires less maintenance and is a lot less prone to corrosion and rust.

Q3:- What is the ideal length of a survival knife?

You can find survival knives in different sizes. The ideal length of the knife ranges between 4 to 8 inches long. It could be anywhere in between depending on the preferences of the user.

Q4:- Are foldable knives a good choice?

Foldable knives can be a good choice but many experienced users prefer knives that are one piece and don’t have a joint. It is because a joint can be a weakness in it and when you are dealing with a survival situation the last thing you want is an unreliable tool at your disposal

Conclusion

You can find survival knives in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. It’s therefore important to acknowledge that it is suitable for different purposes and motives and if you end up getting something that won’t suit you, it’s not going to be worth the money. So, before you go out in the market, always make sure you have a clear idea of what you are getting into.

Regardless of the type that you are choosing, the above-mentioned factors are something that you need to prioritize to ensure that you choose the best tool for your trip. Furthermore, functionality is one thing that you should never comprise on even if you have to give up on some comfort factors.