No discussion of Morakniv would be complete without a few words on their handles. Like the Companion, the Sparkemploys a rubberized friction grip, with a gentle swell for the palm. These knives are renowned for their comfort and stability in the hand. Its rounded shape and subtle finger guard make for a secure experience, even when wearing winter gloves. The side knife may be used as a light froe, for splitting small billets of wood. [1] It is driven through the billet using a hammer. Unlike a froe's extended handle, the side knife does not permit twisting to lever the split open and so it must be driven through all the way. Fortunately, KA-BAR includes a solid polymer sheath to help wrangle this beast of a blade. Its low-ish ride lets you carry the Tac Toolat or below your beltline, which keeps the exposed tang from poking you in the ribs. There are also the ubiquitous MOLLE attachment points, as well as a snap to hold the handle in place. The secret ingredient here is LC200N: An intriguing “high-nitrogen alloyed tool steel specifically formulated to offer superior corrosion resistance and extreme toughness, even at high levels of hardness.”

But if you’re in more desperate need of a fire, users can use the attached lanyard washer to remove the flathead screws holding the scales in place. Nestled against the interior steel are a ferrocerium flint and a pair of tinder tabs, perfect for sparking a flame in a variety of circumstances. Wrapped around this full-tang piece of miracle steel are a pair of contoured G-10 scales. These feature a precision, textured finish ideal for maintaining grip in wet environments. There’s also a generous front finger guard, which should keep users from slipping up onto the blade. What this means, essentially, is that the Waterway won’t rust. Like, ever. And where other corrosion-resistant steels such as H1 do exist, LC200N’s edge retention is in a league of its own. Let’s talk handles because the StrongArm has a great one. This Gerber features a rubberized diamond pattern that manages to be both grippy and incredibly comfortable. The knife ends with a slightly spiked pommel and lanyard hole, adding an option for some light hammering or striking. Excellent question! Like all tools, survival knives need to be cared for to maintain their readiness for action. The biggest factors to consider are edge maintenance and rust prevention.And while we’ve talked about the steel, let’s take a second to consider the blade itself. At just under 4.5 inches long and 0.12 inches wide, this is a precision tool reminiscent of a fillet knife. Its fine edge and nimble nature make it perfect for cutting up fish. As the name would indicate, this is the second version of the Izula. The initial offering had the same blade but was shorter in the handle department. Both are still available, but I’d highly recommend the added length of the Izula-II. Despite what cheerful reviewers and YouTube personalities may lead you to believe, survival isn’t supposed to be fun. It’s not like bushcraft or camping, where you’re out enjoying yourself in the wilderness. Those pursuits are all well and good. But survival is just that — getting out of a precarious or life-threatening situation with nothing but your wits and the tools you have. The StrongArm is one of Gerber’s USA-made knives, forged with a proven 420HC steel. While this may seem like a basic choice for a survival blade, I’ve found its edge retention and toughness to be more than adequate for extended use. While the standard 4-Max utilizes CPM-20CV, the Scout employs AUS-10A. Although this is certainly a step down, it’s an upgrade from the 8CR13MoV and AUS-8 found in many of Cold Steel’s other offerings. This is a perfectly functional steel that, while unable to match the long-term cutting of the premium piece, is less likely to chip and shatter in a survival situation.

There’s even a cord-cutting hook up front, making this an incredibly versatile survival tool. The serrations are found at the base of the 1095 Cro-Van blade, just ahead of the finger guard.

JTN/3 Maxi-Hepwedge Core Separator

No, what you should be looking for is a single piece of high-quality steel, stretching from the tip of the blade to the base of the pommel. We cover a few of the well-known metals below, but you must be able to identify the type of steel used in your knife. If the maker doesn’t list a name, you don’t want it. Comfort In Titanfall 2 the data knife seen is a different model and is likely the newer model, boasting a sharper blade and more durability. The thermoplastic elastomer handle is beautifully textured, with a hooked pommel and finger guard keeping your hand in place. There’s also a nice patch of thumb jimping up top, and a generous forward finger choil. All of these features result in a wealth of possible grips, making the SCHF52 a surprisingly versatile tool. On the most basic level, there’s simply more of it. You’re looking at 6 inches of sharpened edge, with a total span of around 11 inches. You’ll also see an upgrade in steel — laminated VG-10 stainless instead of 1095 high-carbon. This makes for a longer-lasting edge while still maintaining some of the softness and shatter resistance found in softer steels. Bottom line: The Spyderco Waterway is a great light- to medium-duty blade, with a technological and design pedigree far ahead of your standard fishing knife. And while it may not be the best for Schwarzenegger-style survival, it would make a great addition to Tom Hanks’ kit from “Castaway.” Specs: