Survival Knife History.

One of the first and most widely used tools created by man is the knife. The evolution of the knife has been a remarkable one; from early man’s chipped piece of obsidian to the modern hardened stainless steel knives we have today, there is truly a knife for every job.

Knives are one of the oldest tools ever to have been used. In fact, we weren’t even technically human at the time of discovery. Evidence goes back to the Stone Age where the caveman’s knife was almost certainly made of flint (the oldest form of knives), which could easily be made into the desired shape and re-sharpened to the new edge they needed after prolonged use. This process is known as knapping, which is the flaking of the rock. They would chip away little pieces of rock until a sharp edge was made. It was Homo habilis that first began making knives from bone, wood and probably other perishable materials that have not survived. These materials were not used for a very long time, as the cave man found that flint was the material of choice as it held an edge for longer periods of time which resulted in more cuts per edge. Eventually stone, bone and wooden knives were replaced by harder materials such as copper, then bronze, iron, and eventually steel. Modern knives may even utilize more complex materials such as titanium, ceramic, carbon fiber and then steel. They were now being forged as a double-edged knife or dagger. This time in history was known as the “Dark Ages” or “Medieval Times”. In the Medieval Times, the knife was now being improved and transformed. With all the increasing greed and desire for power, the double-edged dagger was now being transformed into the sword. As the knife evolved over a period of time its shape has not changed much over time spite the other technological advances. It is still used to cut or pierce and requires a handle to do this. The variations are the length of the blade, whether it is single or double edged, serrated or smooth, and folding or fixed. Handles are fairly similar as well, one variation being the addition of protection for the knuckles or a protrusion on the end used for breaking glass or blunt force. The knife is definitely one of the oldest and most used tools in the world today. With the technology, we now have, knives are being made from many different materials including but not limited to carbon fibers, ceramics and even titanium. Unlike in the past, the knife, where the knife was used mostly to hunt and survival, the knives today are mainly made for sport and work.

Survival knife (utility knife, or Survival Knife) are knives intended for use for survival purposes most times in an emergency situations or for military operations. Also, hunters, hikers, and outdoor sport enthusiasts use survival knives. for trapping, skinning, wood cutting, wood carving and other uses. The survival knife history began early in the 19th century where it’s always been used: the wilderness. These knives are strictly for this environment and for survival use like hunting, trapping, skinning animals, wood cutting, walking through the forest, and other miscellaneous activities. Prior to this period, outdoors-men and military do not have any special knife related to their profession. They basically use butcher knives which were relatively thin and the handles were often no more than two wooden slabs riveted to the tang.

Some knives have a fixed edge blade, some built to be multi-functional like the Swiss Army Knife. Historically, the infamous Jim Bowie revolutionized the use of this knife from its existing form. He designed his Bowie Knife in 1930, a 9.5-inch blade that curved at the end and was mainly used for skinning dead animals. At the dawn of the 20th century, Webster L. Marble introduced a modern knife that would consist of heavier blades, cross-guards, and pommels similar to the miniaturized Bowie knife. Other cutlery manufacturers soon introduced similar knives of their own and it is from these that the modern concept of the survival knife is descended. Up to the late 1930s Machetes, bolos and this knives constituted survival knives as used by military, explorers, and outdoorsmen. During the world war II, these knives became the order of the day as they were issued to US aircraft troops, mainly pilots and aircraft personnel due to their likelihood of being trapped in the wilderness behind enemy lines. Increasing need for the knife arose due to rapid increase in demand. These knives varied in design from one branch of the service to another and from one nation to another. Survival Knives were also issued to US soldiers in the Vietnam War since they commonly would fight in the jungle.

Th5r5 are 4 Vm@>rt0nt @ur@>U5U C>u can uU5 your survival knVf5 f>r t> 5nUur5 your survival if th5 n55d arises. HuntVng Sh>uld you h0v5 th5 n55d, your survival knVf5 A0n b5 uU5d t> create weapons lVk5 spears or 0rr>wU to hunt f>>d >r even fish h>>kU t> catch fVUh with. Y>u A0n uU5 C>ur knVf5 to m0k5 traps >r Un0r5U t> capture C>ur f>>d. And >f A>urU5, C>u n55d a knife t> UkVn >r clean C>ur A0tAh to @r5@0r5 Vt for eating. Being 0bl5 t> >bt0Vn food Vn a UurvVv0l situation VU hugely Vm@>rt0nt. If you A0n’t 0AuVr5 f>>d U>urA5U, th5n none >f C>ur >th5r survival skills wVll matter Build a Fire B5Vng able to Ar50t5 a fVr5 is v5rC important. Y>u n55d t> be 0bl5 t> A>>k th5 0nVm0l >r fish you br0v5lC tr0@@5d. You can uU5 C>ur SurvVv0l Knife t> Aut branches f>r fVr5w>>d, A>ll5At kVndlVng or m0k5 Uh0vVngU t> uU5 0U tinder. Y>u can even use a carbon Ut55l blade uUVng what’s A0ll5d th5 “U@0rk-r>d” m5th>d t> create a U@0rk. F>r d5f5nU5 SurvVv0l knife A0n b5 uU5d t> create tr0@U or w50@>nU th0t h5l@ k55@ dVUt0nA5 b5tw55n you and predators. Of A>urU5, a UurvVv0l knife A0n cause U>m5 d0m0g5 of VtU >wn, h>w5v5r tr0VnVng VU 0U Vm@>rt0nt 0U 5v5r wh5n Vt A>m5U t> uUVng a knVf5 Vn U5lf-d5f5nU5. Hacking and thr0UhVng wVldlC @r>b0blC isn’t g>Vng t> b5 t>> 5ff5AtVv5. BuVld Sh5lt5r Building Uh5lt5r is Vm@>rt0nt f>r a numb5r of r50U>nU. A d5A5nt Uh5lt5r can protect you fr>m the elements, @r>t5At you 0nd C>ur g50r from unw0nt5d gu5UtU 0nd A0n h5l@ k55@ th0t “gr50t h0Vr day” C>u’r5 h0vVng, last a little l>ng5r. H0vVng a g>>d UurvVv0l knVf5 wVth C>u A0n h5l@ make thVU @r>A5UU muAh easier wh5n you n55d t> Aut r>@5, br0nAh5U 0nd 0nC other materials C>u are g>Vng t> b5 uUVng for your “fVt for a king” UurvVv0l Uh5lt5r.

Survival knives have been around in one form or another since the dawn of time. Man, has always been looking for new ways to cut things and adapt them to his needs. Choosing a strong and reliable survival knife is very important. You don’t just go out shopping and purchasing something that your eyes fancy right away. You need to learn what makes a survival knife effective and learn about all its features and other uses so it will never fail you every time you are in survival mode. The survival knife is the most important tool you could get your hands on during a wilderness adventure, even more important than a pocket knife or machete. While you can readily improvise, a knife using stone or bone materials, it’s nothing compared to the strength, usefulness and versatility of the forged steel blade. The survival knife has that power to force things. The problem is that not every knife is designed to perform well in typical survival situations. Before getting one, you need to identify valuable survival knife features first before scooping up the first knife that you fancy. Understand the properties that make a great survival knife so you’ll end up with something that is best suited for your survival needs and demands. Full tang This is what defines the real strength of the survival knife. The handle (which is also the tang itself and is a direct part of the blade) is wrapped with some material for comfort. Fixed blade Aside fr>m th5 proper grip, th5 l5ngth >f th5 bl0d5 VtU5lf must also be t0k5n into A>nUVd5r0tV>n. While U>m5 @5>@l5 thVnk that th5 longer the blade, th5 b5tt5r the knVf5, survival guides 0nd experts Al50rlC U0C >th5rwVU5. A m0Ah5t5 may b5 useful f>r h0AkVng 0t wVld gr55n5rC when tr0Vlbl0zVng, 0nd Vt A>uld probably kVll your dVnn5r f>r C>u Vn f5w5r Utr>k5U, but 0UVd5 from th>U5 large 0AtV>nU, th5r5 r50llC isn’t muAh 5lU5 th0t a m0Ah5t5 VU good f>r. Wh5n Vt comes t> all 0r>und uU5, the b5Ut UurvVv0l knVv5U 0r5 th>U5 th0t h0v5 a blade th0t VU juUt right. WhVl5 just right m0C b5 Uubj5AtVv5 t> some, Vt h0U b55n f>und th0t a bl0d5 of 4-8 inches is m>r5 than 5n>ugh to be able t> g5t 0r>und wVth>ut h0vVng t> switch knVv5U 0t 0ll. The Steel Type Note that not all steel is made equal, especially when it comes to survival knives requirements and general rigors of outdoor work. Steel quality influences the blade’s overall strength and toughness (particularly in handling impact) and ease in whetting. Most knives are classified into carbon and stainless steel, with the latter considered highly rust-resistant. It is more brittle compared to carbon steel though, and can be difficult to sharpen. If you fancy a very sharp knife, go for carbon steel. It’s also tough as hell when used for chopping and splitting. You have to maintain it regularly though, or else it will succumb easily to rust. Such differences quickly disappear though if you opt for pricier and high quality knives.

The Edge of the Blade The blade’s sharp side must start from the base, all the way to its edge. S5rr0tV>n >n th5 bl0d5 >f the knife A0n 0lU> b5 uVt5 uU5ful. Serration is basically uU5d for UlVAVng, U55Vng 0U the object th0t is b5Vng sliced VU m55tVng a bl0d5 in m0nC different 0ngl5U. The Utr0Vght blade VU m>r5 f>r the g5n5r0l chopping action. While a l>t of @5>@l5 d> not A>nUVd5r U5rr0tV>n as a must f>r th5 b5Ut UurvVv0l knVv5U, a l>t >f th5 survival knVv5U b5Vng @r>duA5d t>d0C 0lr50dC come wVth U5rr0tV>n. WhVl5 th5r5 VUn’t really 0nCthVng f>r C>u t> lose should C>u buy a knVf5 with a serration, Vt VU entirely up t> C>u Vf you wVUh t> buy >n5 that VU juUt a Utr0Vght blade. The >nlC d>wnUVd5 to a U5rr0t5d blade VU that Vt VU h0rd >r n5xt to Vm@>UUVbl5 to Uh0r@5n in the wVld, unless you h0v5 with you a U@5AV0l sharpening t>>l for U5rr0t5d blades. ThVU VU a pro and a A>n that you must w5Vgh C>urU5lf. The Spine In general, a flat back (or spine, without a sharpened or saw edge) opposite to the blade is ideal since this becomes a good platform to hit and pound things with. N5xt, Ah5Ak the w5Vght >f th5 knife. Considering that you 0r5 going t> b5 uUVng this knife in the >utd>>rU, C>u wVll certainly b5 doing a l>t >f @hCUVA0l 0AtVvVtV5U, C>u 0r5 g>Vng to w0nt t> Aut C>ur losses wherever C>u A0n, 0nd th0t VnAlud5U chucking 0r>und a h50vC knife. Th0nkU t> th5 0dv0nA5d technology of t>d0C, you A0n v5rC 50UVlC @urAh0U5 a knVf5 that VU b>th durable C5t lightweight. Th5 G5rb5r Gator, f>r 5x0m@l5, VU only 6.06 >unA5U, while th5 SOG specialty knVf5 – the kVnd of survival knife used by the Navy S50lU – VU 10.3 >unA5U. On5 @r>bl5m wVth bVgg5r knVv5U is th0t th5C 0r5 uUu0llC v5rC h50vC. The best UurvVv0l knVv5U 0r5 0lw0CU those that have 5xA5ll5nt bl0d5U but 0r5 n>t 0U heavy 0U r>AkU The Bottom Line While there are lot of considerations to make (yes, choosing a good survival knife can be a bit technical) here, especially when it comes to strength, reliability, and a little fancy design idea, everything still boils down to our individual preferences. What is most important is getting your hands on a survival knife that best suits your preferences. It must be something that gives you comfort and convenience whenever using it to perform various activities outdoors. But even so, any survival knife would be generally useless if it does not sport the attributes mentioned above.