Best Budget Survival Knives Under $100

We rounded up some of our most affordable options that we trust to take a pounding and come back for more. From smaller belt knives to overbuilt bruisers there are some great options here that anyone can afford.

Featured Knives
0:00 What to look for in a survival knife

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[TheChadWork]

It's not all about the knife. It's also about how well the knife company treats you. I left my Busse Combat Knife on top of my car. It fell off on the highway and got run over by a big truck. Cut up the sheath and slightly damaged the blade. Busse paid for delivery back and forth through the mail, no charge to me, fixed it all, and coated the Infi steel, all no charge. Now that is customer service! I'm a customer for life. They are made in Ohio.

[enddockboyoutdoors]

I absolutely love how you genuinely review every knife on the table with educated detail and the fact you do it with zero brand bias at all. Thank you!

[mitchelloughman]

This channel is an absolute gem. The knife community (and my YouTube feed) is better because it exists .

[freenational]

I think the bang for the money here is the Morakniv Bushcraft.

[BroMorris]

This dude is the Bob Ross of knife presentations....Liked, subbed & clicking the damn link now.
Well done good sir

[j.w.]

DCA has the cleanest presentation in the business. Thank you!

[MyEnemy]

There are SO many options for this style of knife... it's daunting. Thanks for making the choice a little easier.

[glenmo]

I purchased a Cold Steel SRK in 3 layered laminated
San Mai lll WOW .. purchased it KNIFE CENTER $130!!! about 15 years ago wow ..just wow ❤️❤️❤️

[GTx]

I keep a Cold Steel SRK-C in my vehicle’s Bugout bag. I love it, it’s an excellent value knife, the textured rubber handle is one of the best feeling I’ve ever put my hands on. For under $50 I think you can’t beat it!

[boomstickman]

Why no mention of the Becker BK7? I own the 7 and 9 and love them. The 9 is over $100 now, so I can understand it not making the list, but the 7 can still be had for under $100. Also, I would highly recommend the full tang Mora Garberg over the Bushcraft black for the under $100 list.

[canoerepairshop]

This gentleman is the second-most articulate person I know after my wife. Thanks for sharing your vast perspective.

[ryanharnell]

DCA, you're a Godsend. Just days ago a freind asked me about knives that qualify as a medium survival knife. Had no Clue that the Esee 6 with the new sculpted handles would be so expensive by the time they hit my country. As the "Knife guy" in my circle, I can just hand him this video. Already own #4 on this list. Thanks for talking about carbon vs. stainless, steel types and why you want a protected choil or how hands can slip onto the blade under the extremes . Cheers brother, you saved me hours of chats and reco's.

[johnbrady]

I was a crew chief on Huey and first generation Black Hawks. We were issued what they called "aircraft crewman survival knives". They were mounted on our survival vests. Kind of like the little brother of the Marine K-BAR. You could also wear it on your belt. They had teeth on the spine of the knife, which you might think was for sawing wood in a survival situation. Actually the teeth, which faced toward the handle was there for punching through the skin of a helicopter, which was easy enough to do, and pulling back with pressure, cut an escape hole to squeeze out of. Seems kind of far fetched and thank God I never had to use it for that. Sawing wood with it is an exercise in futility.?

But I got so attached to this knife with its stacked leather handle, flat pommel to use for banging on things and sharpening stone in the sheath, that I carried it into civilian life as a pipeline maintenance worker and EDC. Rarely did a day go by and I didn't use it for something. It was an excellent camp knife and I always had one to use in the woods. Camillus made the blades, but if you carry one of these every day, as I did, make sure your sheath has the metal end on it or the point will eventually work its way through the leather and could pose a problem. I still have my original issue for sentimental value, as well as a newer one. With a six inch long, thick blade, it has about one inch of flat untoothed spine that can be used to spark a fire starting rod. I'm surprised I have not seen one of these affordable, durable knives reviewed.

[barrybaldwin]

The more that I follow your reviews the more I appreciate your use of technical industry standard terms in this genre relating to construction, materials, fit & & finish, ergonomics & intended usage & your factual, fluent, flowing diction. I consider your job here as requiring much research & preparation, which I admire. The one thing I think about when perusing your site, is how does the management maintain composure when storing that much inventory, & how saleable will all of those different style & usage designs be!!! Keep up the good work & let your superiors know how much we appreciate your testimony!!!

[LaLaObeRoT]

The Finnish Terävä knives, like the various Jääkkäripuukkos or the Skrama have made a huge impression in the European knife community recently. All well below 100$/€. I had a Jääkkäripuukko 140 with me on an 8 day hike through the Scottish Highlands this summer. It's awesome. Absolutely indestructible.

[gnovincejr]

The amount of videos you guys put out is something I extremely appreciate! Thanks to everyone!

[Setnja]

Steel Will Roamer looks absolutely amazing. The bright orange TPE handle look great and comfy. Over the time i begun to appreciate striking colors on the "survival" knives. To not loose the knife or be able to find him quickly is great. The steel is adequated to the intended use and the construction looks very solid. The blade looks just big enough to be useful for smaller and bigger tasks.

[ThatBoyMGee]

Very nice vid! The QSP bison really looked good to me. I would love to see an episode about survival knives in the range of 100 to 300 bucks.

[bronzegod]

All of the KA BAR and SCHRADE knives you have reviewed make my mouth water. I will have to save up to buy one or the other, or maybe two. Greatest knife review I have seen.

[DaRougaroux]

I own a Gerber Prodigy straight blade ( I hate serrations) and it is the best knife for all purposes in my collection. Incredibly tough (look up Gerber Strong Arm destruction tests for reference) and easy to sharpen and just solid. It also comes with a awesome sheath which is where most knife makers cut cost, Gerber didnt.