KnifeCenter FAQ #154: Hunting/Survival Knives

Oops, All Fixed Blades! Talking hunting knives for survival, the best blade for splitting firewood, the best way to sharpen a convex grind, and a neck knife for the King of Dinosaurs.

Featured Knives

00:00 Intro
00:42 A Hunting Survival Knife
15:08 Best Wood-Splitting Fixed Blade
19:47 How Thick is that Hunting Knife?
20:47 How to Sharpen a Convex Grind
21:36 Does a T-Rex Need a Knife?

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[colinburgess]

Finally a video where I didn’t need to skip through a plethora of folding knives. I have a drawer full of folders in my knife chest all too expensive and non do the job better than a similar sized fixed blade. FIXED BLADES RULE! 😁

[jerrypomroy]

Thanks for answering my question. Figured you’d be up for a fixed blade question. I think I’ll be going with the Ontario. I like the idea of it also having a burly chisel tip with a fairly acute radius between the chisel tip & main edge.

[zsombordonko]

I've never thought about the noise a sheath can make. What an interesting perspective

[PoetFisherman]

Never like to see these videos end, always appreciate the Medeski Martin and Wood when they do.

[magaman]

I use a Spyderco Delica 4 for everything. It has field dressed deer and tons of small game, cut open every Amazon box delivered, and sliced a lot of grilled steak. I always have it on me so it will probably work well surviving in a suburban apocalypse too.

[andrewfuiten]

A good case trapper isn’t for everyone but it’s what I find most useful for me. Love the quality of the moras can’t beat it for the price. Love the show!

SEMPER FI

[samueljlarson]

For the first question, The White River Firecraft Pro series would have been a good option. Great topic today - love to see a table full of fixed blades!!

[Watchdog_UFOtestpilot]

Benchmade Arvensis and Bushcrafter are my pack staples. I keep a SOCP and an old Nimravus in my get-home bag. I have OKC stuff too, but the Benchmade’s are my workhorse staples and Benchmade is local to me so I supported them pretty heavily. As they change their business model and supply/manufacturing, I may be supporting them less or leaving them completely, but for now I still do. The designer I like the most is Shane Sibert as his designs are insanely ergonomic and robust. His name is on most of my favorite Benchmade offerings, past and present.

[crankythursdays]

Hi KC crew, while there’s no such thing as a true “one & done” or “unicorn” folding knife, there are some that check more boxes than others. Two knives that are often overlooked that I would love for you to compare and discuss are the Spyderco Sage 5 and Benchmade Mini Presidio II

[CuttingEdgetools]

A heavy old school butcher knife worked just fine for Early Fur Trappers and First Nations people! That being said. Dave your video presentations are top notch 👍

[alphaomegasurvivalsupply]

A good way to check if a spine is sharp enough to strike a ferro rod is to see if it will shave your fingernail in the same way, just scrape the spine down the top of your nail and if it produces shavings then more than likely it will strike a ferro rod as well.

[Limicola]

What constitutes a "hunting" knife? I keep hearing about knives with "plenty of belly" for skinning but I remember a deer processing video put out some years ago by the Wisconsin DNR and the person processing the deer was a professional butcher. He skinned and processed the entire deer using a straight boning knife which literally has no belly for skinning. Light touches with the tip of the knife and lots of pulling and the hide was easily removed. Nowadays, it's pretty rare for anyone to skin their deer in the field. Most hunters will field dress their deer and be done with it. That requires a sharp, pointy knife to cut around the bowel and then some skill in gutting. My preferred tool for that is a curved serrated blade found on some SAKs or a drop point, clip point, or Nessmuk-style humped blade. Or use two fingers to lift the hide as you slice, so you don't cut the gut. Then, typically off it goes to the butcher (I butcher my own deer though) or if it's a guided hunt, often the guide will do the processing back at the camp. For small game like squirrels or rabbits, a slice or two here and there with a pocket knife and then the skinning is done by yanking the hide off by hand.

[donovanruiz]

Thank you for all the videos and info over the years. I would love a recommendation on a small game/trout knife that can be a regular EDC. Thank you in advance.

[BradGryphonn]

I like the Mora Basics but I've become a big fan of the Hultifors GK. Cheap and solid so you don't have to worry too much about abusing them.

[WTF-Cubing]

I would trust the Cold Steel Drop Forged Hunter as my survival knife.

I now own 4 Drop Forged series knives, the 52100 steel is one of my favourite steels of all time. If you wanna see how durable it is (and you have the belly for it…) watch Joe X’s destruction video of it.

Spoiler: it took a glock shot to break it.

[r.awilliams]

I have the Condor Hudson's Bay knife. It's an excellent knife for the price, but there are some things that I didn't like. The back of the bolster is sharp on the corners, and will tear your index finger up if you're not careful. A dremel took care of that. The edge grind was badly uneven, which was easy enough to fix, and I don't like the sheath. I'm having a mountain man style sheath made for it. Other than that, it's a good buy.

[joshdoddadbod]

Still hunting for the best survival knife myself. My closest is the tops longhorn bowie and the tops tahoma. Ideally you want a 7-8 inch blade with a long handle for chopping if needed. Weight approx 1 lb, maybe a bit more or a bit less. The long blade allows spanning wood for batoning. For me as well part of it is animal defense and you need some reach to get at vital organs of wild animals. Ideally it is carried drop leg with a dangler and secured around your leg. This allows it to carry easily and you have quick access.

[alexpervanoglu]

8-10 mm thick knife which I have used to butcher a deer, and worked fairly well is my Boker Plus BOB.

[unfi]

Hi DCA & Thomas. Sorry to disappoint you gentlemen but our heirloom from great grandparents cost $25 and hasn't let us down yet. It's full tang 1095 with a wooden handle. Don't really know what kind of wood but we can see the wear & tear on it from years of usages. Are you sure T-Rex only have two claws.?? You might be right saying Joe Flowers probably be riding it....! Even we in Australia knows he's crazy but we love him that way. The man is a true legend. Cheers, be strong & prosperous.

[Thecp]

I've always wanted to ask. Which is more useful a Nessmuck or a Kephart?