Tested: The 7 Best Survival Knives for Off-Grid Living

One of the main factors that have allowed humans to thrive over the last several thousand years is our use of tools. While we may still be vulnerable to nature in many off-grid situations, having the right gear on hand can literally mean the difference between life and death. Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most crucial pieces of kit to possess when outdoors is a survival knife, as these blades allow for the facilitation of many of our basic survival needs, from fire prep and starting to build shelters to basic first aid and self-defense to hunting, preparing, and cooking fish and game.

Considering their users often have to trust them with their lives, the overall quality and performance of a survival knife are extremely important. Knowing this firsthand, we’ve set out to shine a light on some of the trustiest and most capable options on the market in this guide to the best survival knives. In addition to counting down our picks for the latest and greatest survival knives available today. we’ll also be delving into what makes for a good survival knife and what factors to consider when buying one.

How We Tested

When we first set out to uncover which survival knives perform the best, we kicked off our hunt by first generating a list of criteria that we’d use to judge each knife. This included design, overall length, blade length, blade thickness, blade shape, blade steel, handle material, and edge type. From there, we used these characteristics and traits to make a selection of around a dozen blades that we thought may represent one of the very best survival knives currently being made. Even the best photographs and most detailed spec sheets only tell one part of the larger story when it comes to survival knives. In order to gain a more comprehensive sense of how they perform, you have to get your hands on them, go out into nature, and actually use them. So, that’s precisely what we did. 

After packing up in Los Angeles, we hit the road and headed into the mountains where we could put our survival knives to the test. Getting hands-on with each knife allowed us to glean information on additional areas that one can only obtain first hand, such as their level of build quality, tolerances, and craftsmanship, handle ergonomics, and balance and weight. While being put through their paces, each knife faced a series of standard tests that included being used to open a can, cut rope, be hammered through logs, lop off small branches, chip horizontally into/through a small log, shave kindling, and to make a spear. We also closely examined each knife’s tolerances and build quality both before and after testing and hard-use in order to see if any showed signs of loosening or deteriorating over time. Each knife was also reviewed by itself, and side-by-side with the rest of the blades we tested. Using the information that we gained through our battery of field tests, we were then able to narrow our original shortlist down to a final hard cut of what we found to truly be the best survival knives that money can buy.  

Morakniv Bushcraft Survival

Best Affordable/Entry-Level Pick: Based in Mora, Morakniv is a renowned Swedish brand that’s been in operation for more than 130 years. During that time, the company has garnered a reputation for producing quality outdoor knives and tools at a fair price. And I’d argue no one single product from its catalog represents this MO better than the Morakniv Bushcraft Survival. Measuring 10.1575” overall, the Bushcraft Survival consists of a 4.29” blade that’s composed of recycled Sandvik steel and equipped with a Scandinavian grind. Boasting a thickness of 0.126”, the blade on this Swedish-made knife comes set in handle made from a thermoplastic elastomer. Upping this fixed blade’s conduciveness to survival use is the fact that it ships with a polymer sheath with an included removable Ferro rod and an integrated diamond sharpening stone. 

The first thing I noticed about this knife as soon as I got it in hand was just how well it felt. The TPE handle is  large but has a soft, almost rubber-like texture that’s more non-slip (or what Morakniv calls a “soft friction grip”). The gently curving back of the handle nestled perfectly in my palm — whether carried normally or in a reverse grip — while the finger groove and the rest of the inside of the handle provide a firm platform for your fingers to wrap around and gain leverage of the knife. In addition to being heavily resistant to the elements and extreme temperatures, the Survival Bushcraft’s handle affords a ton of confidence, even when being exposed to hard use. This area is aided by a wildly-effective finger guard design, as well. And, despite spanning more than 10” overall, the Survival Bushcraft manages to tip the scales at just over 8oz. 

Based on its name, I already knew this knife would lend itself particularly well to bushcraft use, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the applications that it’s conducive to certainly don’t end there. Sure, its Scandi grind and edge geometry make it pretty perfect for bushcraft and woodcraft use, but it also had no problem being hammered through a log or performing finer whittling tasks. Having said that, because the blade spans less than 4.5”, it can only split narrower logs. While it’s more expensive to purchase through its manufacturer in Sweden, this knife can be picked up on most online retailers for between $50 and $60 — affording it pretty terrific bang for your buck in my opinion. And, while they aren’t particularly expensive or difficult to acquire, I nonetheless appreciate the fact that this knife’s sheath comes loaded with a Ferro rod and diamond sharpener, as this items are legitimately useful out in the field. 

My biggest gripe with Morakniv’s Survival Bushcraft knife is no doubt its blade — or at least aspects of it. Not only would it benefit from a thicker construction (as 0.126” is definitely on the skinnier side), but it also uses a rat tail tang, rather than a full tang setup. It’s a fairly long and wide rat tail and it extends fairly deep into the TPE handle, but it would nonetheless be more structurally sound if upgrade to a full tang configuration. Credit where credit is due, I was also beyond impressive with just how razor-sharp this knife’s blade was straight out of the box — in fact it was on par with some of the knives I tested that cost several times as much. Anyway, aside from the fact that I think it leans a bit more in the bushcraft direction than I’d normally want for a survival knife, the blade tang and thickness are my only real issues with this otherwise great knife. 

Verdict: Though its more bushcraft-leaning than any other knife on this list, the Morakniv Bushcraft Survival Desert is still a fantastically-well-rounded outdoor fixed blade that delivers ample utility and versatility in a lightweight and affordable package — and one that includes an integrated Ferro rod and diamond sharpener, further upping its already-far-above-average conduciveness to survival use. 

ESEE Knives ESEE-5POD-017

Best Value Pick: The ESEE Knives ESEE-5 is the archetypal survival knife. Measuring 11.0” overall, the ESEE-5 was designed by military SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) instructors as a purpose-built survival tool and weapon for downed pilots. As a result, it ticks just about every single box that one could hope for when shopping around for survival knives. Boasting a full-tang setup, the version of the knife that I tested — the ESEE-5POD-017 — features a 1095 steel construction paired with a set of grippy and rugged Micarta scales. Though it definitely boasts stellar build quality, the fact that this knife comes backed by an unconditional lifetime warranty ultimately speaks volumes about its next-level durability — with the only other knife on this list that’s comparable being Terrain 365’s Element Alpha-HD. 

Though large, the ESEE-5’s Micarta scales have been carefully considered, and as a result sport a super ergonomic shape that allowed me to grasp it in one of several different ways. This meant I could easily choke-up on the handle and use the jimping along the blade’s spine when carrying out more precise and delicate tasks, or I could slide my hand to the bottom of the scales where the handle’s axe-like curve is able to afford a tremendous amount of leverage. With its ample dimensions, it probably won’t come as a shocker when I tell you that this is the heaviest knife on this list — and by a very significant margin, with the next closest tipping the scales at around 11oz. Its ultra-beefy and robust construction, and hefty weight not only allows this knife to serve as a particularly effective hammer or pry tool, but it’s also able to afford a level of chopping power that can almost rival a pack hatchet. 

Sold with an included KYDEX sheath, the ESEE-5 can also be optioned with available handle replacements that the company sells — most of which are crafted from various Micarta constructions or G10. As previously touched on, the ESEE-5 benefits from quality American-made craftsmanship and an overall level of precision and fit and finish that helps to ensure high levels of longevity — and years of dependable hard use. The team at ESEE have also bestowed the ESEE-5 with a decently-sharp factory edge that helps to make the most of its unparalleled levels of chopping power.  ESEE also produces this iconic outdoor and survival knife in a pretty huge range of variants, all boasting different materials and finishes. Some also have partially-serrated edges and handles with bow drill divots for starting a fire. 

With the knife spanning 11” and weighing more than a pound by itself, it’s able to afford incredible performance. This extreme size and heft, however, is also something of a double-edged sword, as it makes it by far the least packable, travel-friendly survival knife on this list. This isn’t necessarily a huge issue, and it’s not so heavy that it’s in any way difficult to carry, but survival knives are typically kept on hand in case an emergency or situation arises in which they’re needed. So, carrying around this 11-inch behemoth can be something of a tall order. This knife’s ample size can also result in it feeling somewhat awkward in smaller hands — though it also makes it feel absolutely perfect when carried while wearing gloves.  

Verdict: Though it’s admittedly a lot to carry around at over a pound, the ESEE-5’s ample heft and robust build quality and materials ultimately make for a wildly capable survival knife with unparalleled chopping power and the ability to stand up to just about anything.  

KA-BAR USMC

Best Military-Style Pick: Few forces in this world drive innovation quite like militaries and war. With so many rapid advancements taking place across a host of military-related sectors, the vehicles, gear, weapons, gadgets, and other systems carried by soldiers is constantly evolving and being updated. As such, it’s extraordinarily rare to see a piece of kit introduced more than 80 years ago still remain a standard issue item today. Though such is the case with the legendary KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife. First adopted by the United States Marine Corps in late 1942, the KA-BAR USMC is a general purpose survival and utility knife. It doesn’t excel in a single area, but it can do just about anything you could ask of a knife, and do so with decent competence. 

Spanning just under 12” overall, the KA-BAR USMC is made in America and boasts a 1095 Cro-Van steel construction paired with a handle comprised of stacked leather rings set beneath a super effective finger guard. There’s honestly a lot to like about this knife. I think there’s something really cool about its battle-tested and battle-proven history — and the fact that it’s the long-time standard issue knife of a fairly elite fighting force. Right out of the box, the KA-BAR has a ridiculously sharp blade that’s easily on par with some of the markedly pricier knives that I tested. Though admittedly somewhat antiquated, the KA-BAR USMC’s handle nonetheless offers solid grip regardless of which direction it’s held in, plus the grooves/spaces in between its stacked leather handle rings serve as fantastic lashing points that prevent rope from sliding up or down when its tied to a stick to make a spear. And, considering that they’re known to offer a lifetime of use — and are often even passed down to future generations — KA-BAR’s classic standard issue USMC knife also affords pretty great value, too. 

Being a more-than-80-year-old design, I unsurprisingly took issues with a few aspects of KA-BAR’s USMC Fighting Knife. Despite its length and weight, it didn’t chop any better than some of the 8” knives I tested. The way the knife is designed and pieced together is also lacking in structural integrity compared to contemporary designs. And, while I didn’t experience this issue personally, the thing’s leather handle isn’t exactly impervious to the elements — though can be waxed or hit with a sealant to help protect it.  Because of its clip point profile, this knife’s tip lacks the structural integrity of its drop point counterparts, though the shape of its point makes it markedly more proficient at both piercing and slashing, resulting in a much better self-defense knife, whether used against wildlife or your fellow man. 

The USMC Fighting Knife ships with a leather sheath with the United States Marine Corps’ Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem embossed into the cowhide. And while the standard 1095-steeled version of the knife has been the most popular by far, it isn’t the only variant of this knife that exists — or that should be considered when looking at contemporary survival knife options. Alongside the standard leather-handled, 1095 construction that’s been in production for decades, KA-BAR has more recently debuted a modernized iteration called the D2 Extreme that sees the design brought to life using a D2 blade construction and a stacked Kraton G handle. Additionally, last spring, KA-BAR also partnered with North Carolina-based knife-maker Spartan Blades (after initially linking up in 2019) to deliver an even more premium take on the fighting knife in the form of a Kraton G-handled, CPM MagnaCut-steeled USMC Fighting Knife with a PVD, DLC, or ZrN coating and a KYDEX sheath.  

Verdict: The very definition of tried and true, the KA-BAR USMC is a battle-proven knife that’s been serving soldiers for more than eight decades. And while it doesn’t do any one thing exceedingly well, it lends itself to an enormous variety of uses and boasts satisfactory performance across the board, whether used for bushcraft or self-defense. And it does all this while offering pretty great value, too. 

Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter

Best Compact Pick: The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is a decidedly premium take on a compact do-it-all outdoor knife. Made in America, the Hidden Canyon Hunter features a full-tang blade crafted from Crucible Industries’ super-top-shelf CPM S90V — a super steel that’s more commonly reserved for ultra-high-end folding knives.  Fitted on either side of its full-tang construction are bright orange G10 liners cloaked in Richlite scales — resulting in an eye-catching layer setup that looks as good in person as it feels in the hand. Weighs in at just a tad over 3oz, this knife measures just 6.42” overall — 2.79” of which comprises the blade. 

Thanks to an inverted-S-shape on the inside of the handle, notches running all across the spine of the handle, and two sections of jimping at the blade’s spine, this sub-6.5” survival knife offers incredible levels of control, allowing it to lend itself to fine cutting tasks just about as well as your average folding EDC knife. At the same time, it’s rugged materials coupled with Benchmade’s regular top-notch build quality simultaneously allows it to standup to hard use tasks — though its shorter blade length does admittedly give it a bit less functionality in certain areas such as chopping, at least when compared to larger knives like the ESEE-5.  The Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade comes with the same razor-sharp edge you’d expect from Benchmade. And, while I thoroughly appreciate the seriously next-level edge retention afforded by its S90V construction, I know from S90V-steeled knives in my own collection that when the time finally does come to sharpen it, it will be a serious hassle, as the hardness that gives it its stellar ability to retain an edge also makes it exceedingly difficult to re-hone. 

While I genuinely love this knife — as you can probably tell from it being featured on this list — it’s not without a few issues. Right out of the gate, it requires that you pay the so-called “Benchmade tax” — which in this case equates to a $260 MSRP. Having said that, its highly calculated design, quality materials, and stellar craftsmanship make it fairly easy to justify that figure. Likewise, it’s crucial to note that your $260 doesn’t just get you this knife (and its sheath), but also Benchmade’s lifetime warranty, and the Oregon City outfit’s LifeSharp service, which allows customers to send their knife back to Benchmade HQ at any time for free cleaning, sharpening, and serving — another factor that makes its price look a lot more reasonable. I’d also be lying if I said I was content with the thickness of the Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade, as it clocks in at just 0.12” — robust enough to still tackle most hard-use applications, just nowhere near as strong as it could be. 

Though it didn’t occur to me prior to testing, my hands-on experience with this knife ultimately lead me to make an interesting connection between Benchmade’s Hidden Canyon Hunter and KA-BAR’s iconic USMC Fighting Knife. In many ways, the HCH is like a markedly more compact version of the KA-BAR, not doing any one thing particularly well, but generally being competent at just about any outdoor or chore-type task. The knife’s off-the-charts versatility also plays a massive role in making it so ideal for survival use — despite being significantly smaller than what one would typically expect when looking at this segment. And finally, unlike the less top-shelf (but still solid) stabilized wood and CPM-S30V version of the Hidden Canyon Hunter that ships with a leather sheath, the super-steeled variant comes with a more tactical, survival-ready hard sheath made from Boltaron. 

Verdict: As an incredibly compact yet thoroughly utilitarian outdoor knife, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter makes for an exceptional pick, not just as a survival knife, but as a highly-versatile do-it-all fixed blade backed by the brand’s signature use of premium materials and top-shelf craftsmanship. 

Toor Knives Field 3.0

Best USA-Made Pick: Toor Knives’ original Field 1.0 model was born out of an effort to deliver a backpacking and trail knife that was large and robust enough to take on hard-use tasks, while still being compact enough to easily be stowed away in a bag or on your hip, even when backpacking, traveling by motorcycle, or other scenarios where packing space is extremely limited. Downsized from the 11” first-gen and 8.75” second, Toor’s third-generation outdoor knife takes the concept of the original blade to the nth degree, now clocking in at a markedly more compact 8.125″ overall, while still maintaining its predecessor’s beefy 0.1875″ blade thickness. Crafted by hand at the boutique knife brand’s San Diego shop, the Toor Field 3.0 features a full-tang CPM 154 construction fitted with Crelicam ebony scales set over copper liners.

Measuring 4.5” in length, the handle of the Field 3.0 is as ornate as it is utilitarian, and wooden scales are individually hand-worked, receiving a unique grip-bolstering pattern before being sanded with a super-high grit and buffed to hell and back. Not only do I think this knife happens to look fantastic, but it also feels pretty incredible in the hand, with a full-sized grip that affords a natural and comfortable grasp that’s further aided by strategically-placed jimping at the base of the blade’s spine. Even when utilized for hard-use tasks, the handle still felt extremely comfortable in my hand and didn’t create any major hotspots, nor did the knife’s jimping or handle texturing feel too rough on my hands. What’s more, the bottom of the handle is more than capable of serving as an impromptu handle, though the amount of force it can deliver is no doubt limited by the knife’s svelte 6.5oz weight. Not only is CPM 154 a great, and well-balanced blade steel choice for a survival knife in my opinion, but the team at Toor has further elevated this powder metallurgy construction via a KG Gunkote finish that adds increased resistance from abrasions, impacts, and chemicals. Shielded from its user via an oversized finger guard and a super shallow choil, the Field 3.0’s blade sports a drop point profile and a 3.625” length that culminates in a tip designed to maximize animal hide penetration. 

Like every Toor knife that I’ve had the pleasure of using, the Field 3.0 boasts an absolutely stunning level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and, and fit and finish. Pretty much the entire team at HICONSUMPTION HQ was beyond-taken with this knife. Between its attractive drop-point design, ergonomic handle, handworked scales, KG Gunkote-finished blade, and contrasting copper handle liners, the Toor Knives Field 3.0 is just a stunning all-around knife that can legitimately perform as well as it looks — and it looks damn-good. And it offers high levels of performance for outdoor and survival-specific tasks while coming in a decidedly compact and easily-totable package. I actually found it really impressive just how well the knife performed at lopping small branches off of a tree, or being hammered through a piece of fire wood. Does it have the same chopping abilities as the ESEE? Certainly not. But it does punch well above its weight and deliver far more utility and hard-functionality than the vast majority of blades it size. And while its smaller size does limit areas such as chopping power, it also allows Toor’s Field 3.0 to lend itself to finer cutting tasks much better than a KA-BAR USMC or ESEE-5. 

Though they’re massively outweighed by the Field 3.0’s litany of strengths and highlights, there were a few areas I took issue with when testing. For starters, I wish Toor offered the gen-three Field with an optional FlexTech KYDEX sheath (which is only available on the orange G10 version of the knife) rather than the Hermann Oak saddle leather sheath that it ships with. The thing is admittedly well-crafted and it offers surprisingly decent retention, though I’d still personally prefer a hard sheath for outdoor and survival use. I also found the knife’s overall design to be a bit handle-heavy in terms of balance. Next, we have to address its price. At $250, the Field 3.0 is far from cheap, though it’s not an insane amount to spend for a knife that will almost certainly provide a lifetime of dependable use. The absolutely top-notch materials and build quality further help to justify the blade’s MSRP. I also took issue with the knife’s factory edge. It was by no means dull, and was probably sharper than 75-85% of knives right out of the box, though when paying a hefty sum for a knife like this, I expect nothing short of an absolutely razor-sharp edge. With that said, a little bit of sharpening can quickly remedy this. 

Verdict: The Toor Knives Field 3.0 is a highly-calculated third-generation outdoor knife that’s compact enough to easily be carried or packed away, while being big and utilitarian enough that you’ll actually want to use it. 

Terrain 365 Element Alpha-HD

Best All-Conditions/Corrosion-Proof Pick: While I’d definitely make the argument that every single knife represented on this list offers ample durability, they all largely pale in comparison to Terrain 365’s Element Alpha-HD — a fact that I think speaks volumes about this well-rounded fixed blade considering every other blade on this list is plenty rugged. Though it measures 8.0” exactly, the Element Alpha-HD makes for an insanely versatile and utilitarian knife. With a 4” blade with a deep finger grove and a 3.125” cutting length, the knife easily lends itself to finer, more delicate cutting tasks. At the same time, the fact this knife’s full-tang construction clocks in at nearly one-third-of-an-inch at its thickest point gives it more than enough heft and mass to hack and chop with incredible proficiency. This ultra-beefy blade thickness also makes it perfect for hammering, prying, and other hard use tasks. The knife is also made using a one-piece casting process and sports a skeleton channel-type tang.

In addition to the thickness of the blade, the material that the full-tang is constructed from also plays a monumental role in making this knife so, so special. The Element Alpha-HD is composed of Terrain 365’s own proprietary Terravantium — a super-premium Dendritic Cobalt blade steel that not only offers remarkable levels of edge retention, but that, more importantly, is completely and totally impervious to any and all rust and corrosion whatsoever. For obvious reasons, this factor on its own makes this knife wildly ideal for survival use. Made in America, Terrain 365’s Element Alpha-HD also boasts excellent craftsmanship and a stellar overall fit and finish that clearly benefitted from stringent quality control standards. 

The bottom of the handle comes hand-wrapped in rugged 550 paracord, though the handle also features fore holes that can be used as lashing points for turning the blade into a spear. In a pinch, the paracord can also be unwrapped and used in survival situations for helping to build shelter, emergency medical scenarios,  catch fish, or set traps. I was also particularly impressed with the blade’s ability to easily slice though all manner of materials, as I figured its ultra-beefy spine would hugely slow it down, but that simply wasn’t the case. The fact the thing arrives with a ridiculously sharp factory edge no doubt helped this along some too. 

Easily one of my favorite knives that I tested, the Terrain 365 Element Alpha-HD does have a few very minor downsides. Its paracord wrap can eventually fray, and the deep groove just ahead of the blade’s base left my finger dangerously close to the edge — which I’ll remind you is razor sharp. I will acknowledge that the handle is large enough that you don’t have to place your trigger finger in the grove next to the edge, and I found it did make finer more delicate tasks much easier thanks to the added precision and control using it affords. The super compact size of this knife also makes it super easy to bring along on just about any type of trip — plus its ample utility and ability to punch well above its weight means you’ll almost certainly find yourself using it quite a bit. 

Verdict: Not only does the size of this knife make it super easy to wear on your belt, toss in your bag, or keep in your glove compartment, but its ability to deliver a level of utility typically only offered by full-sized survival knives undoubtedly makes it one of the best survival knives on the market — and that’s before even factoring in its completely corrosion-proof proprietary blade steel. 

Sangin Knives Corsair

Most Innovative Pick: It’s easy to look at an outdoor fixed blade knife and think there isn’t much room for innovation. After all, they’re usually little more than just a single piece of alloy that’s been sharpened on one side and then slapped between a set of scales. The Sangin Knives Corsair, however, proves otherwise. Made by an offshoot of micro watch brand Sangin Instruments, the Corsair is unequivocally one of the most advanced and meticulously-constructed survival knives on the planet, having been born out of a spare-no-expense design and development process. Crafted around a 0.1875-inch-thick full-tang construction forged in premium CPM M4, the Sangin Corsair features a 4.125″ KG Gunkote-finished blade paired with an artisan-made camo carbon fiber handle — at least on the version I tested, as the knife is also offered with Ironwood, 6061 aluminum with Black Palm inlays, or black G10 with Redwood Burl inlays. Sporting a utilitarian drop point silhouette, the blade’s utilitarian shape has also been paired with one of the sharpest factory edges I’ve ever tested on a fixed blade (or any blade of this thickness really) — and that’s despite the beefy thickness of the blade’s spine. 

Rather than mating the carbon fiber handle to the blade using traditional methods, the team at Sangin opted to innovate, custom-developing a precision-turned titanium tubing setup that ultimately allows the knife to achieve markedly tighter tolerances thanks to the handle cleverly being press-fitted and then secured using friction. This also hugely mitigates the likelihood of the knife’s scale separating from the tang. What’s more, in order to deliver this knife, Sangin also formulated a proprietary monolithic texturing process that allows for a seamless texture across multiple materials in the handle. It doesn’t end there though, as the Corsair also benefits from what Sangin calls “Positive Jimping.” This consists of a series of five precision-machined 6AL-4V titanium rods that have been set in the thumb-ramp of the blades spine, partially protruding out. This ultimately affords a smoother, more comfortable grip that still provides the traction and control offered by traditional “negative” jimping — plus there’s no denying the cool-factor of this envelop-pushing setup.

The Corsair may be best described as the hypercar of the survival knife realm. It offers the same basic function as its counterparts that only cost a literal fraction of its price, however, what attracts people to it is the incredible levels of R&D and engineering that go into its creation, along with its use of super premium materials and legitimately world-class craftsmanship and build quality. It’s just exceedingly difficult not to appreciate the staggering amount of time and effort that went into painstakingly designing and developing this knife. Meticulously crafted by hand in small batches in America, the Corsair is made all the more special by the fact that it ships in a crushproof S3 case with a custom die cut foam liner, a suede-covered KYDEX sheath, a serialized authenticity card, and an included UltiClip.

Considering the ridiculous amount of thought and research that went into designing the Corsair, it probably won’t come as a surprise to hear that the thing just happened to boast some of the best ergonomics I’ve ever experienced — and not just for a survival knife. Just below its finger guard is a two-finger-length groove that sweeps up, before the handle dips back down and curves to the bottom of the handle with just enough angle to provide extra leverage when performing chopping tasks — with the Corsair excels at, along with practically every other area I tested. It admittedly did feel pretty weird to subject a nearly $700 knife for hard use, which brings me to my one and only real sticking point with this knife, which is its objectively exorbitant price. With that said, it’s abundantly clear that Sangin didn’t set out to deliver a value-laden knife, and instead were aiming to churn out a modern feat of engineering of a knife for today’s most discerning (and affluent) enthusiasts and outdoorsman.  

Verdict: At the end of the day, the Sangin Knives Corsair is just a ridiculously calculated, well-thought-out, envelop-pushing knife where every aspect of it has been perfectly dialed-in. If money is no object and you’re simply seeking the most advanced, high-performance survival knife that money can buy, the Sangin Corsair is the obvious choice.

Survival Knives Comparison Chart

Bushcraft Vs Survival: What’s The Difference?

Because they’re both rugged full-sized fixed blades designed to offer preparedness and utility in off-grid scenarios, survival and bushcraft knives are often lumped into the same category —with some even using the terms interchangeably. The reality, however, is that are a few key objective differences between survival knives and bushcraft blades that you should be privy to before buying one of either. Bushcraft knives are designed for individuals looking to intentionally venture into the great outdoors and be as comfortable as possible with minimal kit. This requires a blade that’s extremely conducive to processing wood, whether that take the form of shaving kindling, splitting logs, crafting furniture or tent pegs, or even making canoe paddles. In fact, “Woodcraft” may even be a more apt monicker for this type of knife. On top of almost always featuring a Scandinavian grind, bushcraft knives also tend to be fairly compact (at least for outdoor-focused fixed blade knives), with overall lengths that are shorter than survival knives and blades that usually span somewhere between 3.5” and 5”. 

Survival knives, on the other hand, are generally much more versatile, while still being largely engineered for off-grid use. Because they’re made for survival use, these knives need to be conducive to a much wider range of applications that one may face when long or stranded out in nature, such as cutting rope, using it as a pry tool or hammer, hunting or skinning game, setting traps, defensive capabilities from wildlife, opening a can, and even some light bushcraft use. Survival knives are almost always larger than their bushcraft-specific counterparts, plus almost always feature flatter blades with a sharper, smaller bevel. The different intended uses also result in survival knives often sporting a more aggressive, tactics-looking appearance. What’s more, because they’re made to help you survive threw off-grid emergencies, survival knives also need to boast incredible levels of durability. There are other areas that distinguish these two genres of knives — such as ergonomics — but generally speaking, these are the biggest differences between bushcraft and survival blades.  

What Exactly Is A Survival Knife?

As its monicker suggests, survival knives are blades that are engineered from the ground up for survival use when off-grid. Consequently, survival knives need to lend themselves to a wide range of scenarios and applications that one may face when unexpectedly lost or stranded out in nature. As a result, these knives are often carried by individuals who may potentially find themselves in one of these situations such as soldiers, pilots, off-roading enthusiasts, or backpackers. Almost always of the fixed-blade variety, survival knives are primarily characterized by their immense durability, incredible levels of versatility, and general conduciveness to outdoor and off-grid use. It often helps to think of survival knives as ultra-rugged and robust, outdoor-focused all-purpose utility knives.

Unlike your average everyday carry knife which is primarily intended for basic cutting and slicing duties, survival knives need to lend themselves to an enormous range of applications — and stand up to just about anything nature can throw at them in the process. Below, we’ve pieced together a condensed guide on the most important factors to consider when buying a survival knife.

Intended Use: The best way to start your search when buying a survival knife is to consider how you plan on using it. You’ll also want to factor in the other items that you plan on including in your loadout. As an example, if you plan on also carrying a camp ax, you probably won’t need a survival knife that’s capable of splitting wood and can therefore go with a smaller, more compact option.

Size & Weight: When Overlanding or car camping, the size and heft of a knife admittedly aren’t all that important, however, if you’re traveling on foot and carrying your gear on your back, the dimensions and weight of a knife become substantially more important. As such, you’ll want to once again consider how you plan on using the knife in order to make an educated decision. The good news here is that survival knives come in a wider variety of shapes and lengths.

Format: While folding knives are preferred for everyday carry — thanks to their discretion and compactness — the mechanisms that allow them to fold are comparatively delicate and can easily become jammed with debris. That’s why, for the ideal survival knife, we’d certainly suggest picking out a fixed blade. They tend to be sturdier in the long run and, with fewer moving parts, they are less likely to fail in operation. That’s not to say that there aren’t good folding survival knives — just that they’re not preferred.

Blade Steel: The steel of the blade you choose is going to vary depending upon a number of factors. For instance, if your budget is low, you’re going to have to settle for what you can afford. However, if money is no object, you can set your sights on some pretty high-end options. The difference comes in the form of resistance and the trade-offs therein. For instance, high-carbon steel is extremely durable and long-lasting, but it doesn’t hold up well to moisture exposure — meaning it can corrode. By contrast, stainless steels are a bit softer, but they won’t rust like carbon steel — at least not as quickly. Even at the upper echelon of blade steels, there will always be a tradeoff between benefits and drawbacks. Over the last few years, we’ve also seen a growing number of survival knives that have been bestowed with “super steel” blade constructions such as CPM S90V, 20CV, and Bohler M390. What’s more, how a particular steel has been heat-treated will also play a pivotal role in its long-term durability as well as its sharpness and overall performance.

Blade Shape: From drop points to clip points to spear points to tantos, survival knives are produced in a wide variety of blade profiles, each boasting its own respectively strengths and weaknesses — an area you can read up on in our ultimate guide to knife blade shapes. And, while it can often be tempting to opt for the more aggressive-looking tactically-inspired survival knives, the more simple-looking blades actually tend to perform best in most survival applications, allowing for both robust work as well as more detail-oriented cutting tasks. When buying a survival knife, it’s also imperative to opt for a full-tang model (i.e. a knife where the blade steel runs the entire length of the knife, providing far more strength and integrity).

Blade Edge: Likewise, survival knives are also offered with either straight-edged blades, serrated blades, or a combination of the two — the latter of which tends to offer the most utility and versatility, lending itself to the widest range of tasks.

Blade Grind & Geometry: Unlike bushcraft knives that almost always come outfitted with a Scandinavian grind, survival knives tend to feature flatter blades with a sharper, smaller bevel. What’s more, most survival knives feature a much wider edge than regular EDC and pocket knives (often measuring in at between 25° and 30°) that allows for a stronger and more robust edge that can lend itself to a huge variety of outdoor uses. 

Handle Material(s): While the steel is probably of the utmost importance in picking a survival blade, the handle — the part which you hold in order to operate your knife — is still extremely important. There are a few different schools of thought to consider, but we can boil things down to two factors: ergonomics and materials. In regards to survival, a comfortable-to-use knife handle is always going to suit you better, as a knife you can’t hold for an extended period loses value quickly. Similarly, the material of your handle can alter the knife’s longevity. Tougher handle materials that can stand up to hard use and don’t suffer corrosion (like Micarta) can be more expensive, but they’re also going to increase the lifespan of your survival knife.

Versatility: As previously mentioned above, survival knives are used for everything from making fires to building shelters to hunting and self-defense. Unsurprisingly, this requires a high degree of versatility — an area made all the more important by the fact these knives can also be used for camp kitchen duties, making clothing, and a myriad of other uses.

Durability: Used for some of the most demanding tasks involving knives, survival models need to be able to withstand incredible amounts of abuse. As a result, the materials used play an enormous role in this area, as does how a knife was pieced together. The thickness of the blade also plays an important role here — a factor we’ll touch on more directly below.

Blade Thickness: When it comes to survival knives, the thickness of a blade is monumentally important as it not only plays an enormous role in determining their overall durability but is also a big part of what allows survival knives to stand up to hardwearing use such as hammer-splitting logs. While thicker tends to be better, we would recommend a thickness of no less than 0.14”. There are a few exceptions, but generally speaking 0.14” is a solid minimum requirement.

Carrying: Unlike folding knives that can easily fit in your pocket, fixed-blade survival knives are markedly more cumbersome, and as such tend to require their own means of being carried — typically in the form of a sheath or case that can be carried on a belt or attached to a bag (with MOLLE systems being one of the most common means of attachment). More often than not made from leather — or more modern materials like KYDEX — the cases and sheaths of some survival knives also feature built-in sharpeners or storage for other essentials.

Extras: Though the handle and blade are undoubtedly the most important parts of a survival knife, these items can possess additional features that afford them supplementary utility when off-grid. This includes knives with paracord-wrapped handles that can be unwound and used in survival situations, as well as hollow handles that can house survival essentials like fishing line, hooks, matches, or a compass.

Maintenance: With no moving parts unlike folding EDC knives, fixed-blade survival knives tend to be incredibly easy to maintain, only requiring basic cleaning and occasional sharpening. It is worth pointing out, however. that some of the more high-end blade steels — while better at holding an edge — are typically harder to maintain and are markedly more difficult to sharpen when the time comes. For this reason, we’d recommend opting for a cheaper blade steel — especially if you have little to no experience sharpening a knife.

Price: Because they’re often being trusted with our lives, it can be easy to simply opt for the most premium expensive model available, however, this won’t always yield the best knife. A better approach to take is to think about the minimum requirements that you’ll need for your intended use and use this as the jumping-off point in your search.

Honorable Mentions 

The KA-BAR Becker Campanion is another fantastic survival and bushcraft knife currently made by KA-BAR. With the brand’s USMC Fighting Knife being a far more tried-and-true pick, we ultimately opted for that instead of this more contemporary design. 

Spanning a full 12”, the decidedly aggressive-looking Halfbreed Blades LSK-01 Large Survival Knife is something of a modern take on a Rambo-style survival blade. Despite its immense utility, this model happens to tick many of the same boxes as the legendary ESEE-5, which it ultimately lost out to, relegating it to a very honorable mention. 

While the Field 3.0 does pack a truly incredible amount of utility for its size, it still doesn’t offer quite the same level of in-the-field functionality as its original predecessor. As such, if you’re considering the Field 3.0, we also recommend checking out the Toor Knives Field 1.0 as well. 

You can’t talk about today’s best compact survival knives without mentioning the Montana Knife Company Field Craft Survival Knife, as it’s another diminutive yet thoroughly utilitarian model that not only punches well above its weight, but also comes backed by the world-class craftsmanship that’s earned MKC such an impressive reputation in such a short time. 

Chris Reeve Knives unequivocally crafts some of the finest blades on the planet, so the brand’s Pacific fixed blade knife instantly came on our radar when building out our list. Sadly, the massive demand for this knife has resulted in a 3 to 4 year backlog, so we were unable to source an example to test and photograph for this article. 

Tested: The Best Fixed Blade Knives For EDC

Interested in checking out another hands-on review of some of our favorite contemporary cutting tools? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best fixed blade EDC knives for a curated selection of pocketable yet utilitarian rigid EDC options.