How to choose the best survival knife: the adventurer’s guide

Whether you’re a hiker, a backpacker, a bushcraft fan or a survivalist, we all have a good reason to equip ourselves with the best survival knife. Bivouacs by the river, solo adventures – these are just some of the outdoor activities for which a quality blade provides comfort and safety. In the great outdoors, you need a knife for everything: hunting, fishing, gathering. How do you choose the right knife for survival in the elements? Start by thinking about the precise use you’ll be putting it to. Then think about ergonomics and blade steel. Do you want it fixed or folding? This article guides you through the perilous world of cutlery. A world where craftsmanship still holds pride of place.

Survival knife: what’s it for?

The typical survival activity is best enjoyed by thrill-seekers and the military. The former take on challenges such as getting out of a deep forest as quickly as possible. Equipment is crucial to clear the way and move forward in the best possible conditions, cutting through obstacles at every step. These modern-day adventurers are looking for knives with sturdy blades. Ergonomics are paramount, as the gesture must be quick and efficient. Survival knives generally feature wide, impact-resistant blades with a flat or Scandinavian edge. The quality of the cutting edge is obviously essential.

The Morta Trappeur knife has a Scandinavian serration, which makes its blade slightly thicker and more robust than a flat serration.

To enable its owner to survive in a threatening or simply natural environment, the knife is used to :

🔪 make traps ;

🔪 cut ropes and branches;

🔪 prepare wood for fire;

🔪 build a shelter for the night or against the rain ;

🔪 hunt, fish, gather and feed themselves;

🔪 prepare for any emergency. Indeed, owning the perfect cutting instrument for sharing cheese at a picnic is vital to the survival of general good cheer 😉.

Its use is versatile. The survival knife can be folding or fixed.

Survivalism is said to have between 100 and 150,000 followers in France. Proposed law n° 4212 was tabled in June 2021 following a death during a survival training course. Its aim is to regulate survivalism and combat the associated aberrations and threats. In June 2022, the General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research drew up a report on the safety of survival training courses.

Bushcraft: the survival method of the 21st century?

Everyday life is no longer about defending yourself against wild animals or highwaymen. These days, the survival knife is used more for bushcraft. This is a way of life that consists in fully immersing oneself in nature. The forest provides the primary needs of food, water, shelter and warmth. A modern adventurer recognizes the ideal branches for lighting a fire. Distinguish between poisonous and edible mushrooms. They spot game. In short, they use natural resources for survival. However, all these outdoor activities require a few tools, not least a good knife.

One of the passions of bushcraft enthusiasts is woodcraft (God save the King!). It’s all about woodworking, making tools and accessories to simplify life outdoors.

Here are just a few examples of how you can improve your bivouac and make it more comfortable:

• tripod for cooking over a wood fire;
• spoon or spatula;
• shelter, hut, using thick branches and foliage ;
• torch holder;
• hooks for hanging backpacks and clothes, to protect them from the dampness of the ground;
• fishing spear or pole;
• carve a small toy, because yes, busy, well-behaved children mean more comfort for parents 😉.

These adventurers expect a shorter, more manageable blade, as it allows the hand to stay close to the tip of the knife. This criterion results in better control of the gesture.

Bushcraft knife blades range in length from 9 to 13 cm, with the average being around 11 cm.

Regulations governing the use of knives in France

In France, the carrying of knives and edged weapons in general is regulated. Legislators focus on the circumstances of use, and differentiate between carrying, buying and transporting. Legally, knives are class D weapons. Carrying a knife is therefore prohibited, except that!

It is authorized for people threatened by exceptional risks to life, diplomatic functions and certain professions such as customs, military or police.

In addition, case law reclassifies pocket knives as knives for everyday food use, which means they may be carried. On the other hand, law enforcement agencies can reclassify it as a weapon if your attitude is aggressive. In fact, taking a walk in the woods with a folding knife is a normal activity. Surreptitiously infiltrating a demonstration wearing a balaclava and pointing your knife forward will be considered dangerous to public safety.

You’ll see that carrying a knife on video is a lot more fun! Even I laugh every time I watch it! And as if that weren’t enough, there’s a blooper reel at the end.

What’s the difference between a normal knife and a survival knife?

Hunting and survival knives feature blades averaging at least 10 cm in length, although some are as short as 7 cm. They can be used for making traps, butchering small game, striking, cutting or digging. Would you like to hunt mammoths or dwarf rabbits? 

The Morta rear pump knife has a 9.6 cm blade.

Finally, normal or survival, the limit is precisely where you decide. For some, slicing steak for lunch is a matter of survival. For others, camping in the Amazon rainforest among reptiles and other predators is normal. Go and understand the logic!

Adventurous photographer Erwan Balança talks about his life as an adventurer. He literally fell in love with the Trappeur fixed model. He never separates from it during his many escapades. He tells us about his (sometimes perilous) epics, his bivouac evenings and how his Morta knife even accompanies him on canoe trips. Its 10 cm blade scales, guts fish and cuts branches to feed the fire. It also makes sure the rib steak doesn’t escape 😉! Here’s the proof 👇.

A campfire disguised as a barbecue (or the other way around 😜), is it a matter of survival or a normal situation? You tell us.

How to choose the best survival knife: important criteria

Fixed or folding knife

Fixed knives are reputed to have better cutting capacity and greater strength. In reality, the quality of the knife lies in the materials used and the way it is made. Whether you choose a fixed or folding knife depends more on your tastes and desires. The folding knife fits in your pocket or in a sheath that clips to your belt. The fixed knife slips into a sheath or storage case that fits into your backpack.

If you want to pick a beautiful porcini mushroom, you’ll have plenty of time to open your saddlebag. If there’s only one last slice of sausage left on the picnic board, you’ll be quicker off the mark with a pocket knife. The choice is yours.

Blade steel

Bushcraft and survival sport enthusiasts prefer stainless steel blades. This is logical, since they use their knives outdoors. The steel must resist corrosion perfectly.

That’s why we offer knives with Damascus steel blades (RWL34 and PMC27) or forged carbon steel blades (90MCV8).

The moiré sheen of Damascus steel adds an original, refined dimension. The brut de forge look exudes authenticity.

The blade of our Trapper knife is made of N690 stainless steel, short and sturdy enough for tough jobs.

Steel hardness

Hardness matters too. If the blade breaks at the slightest obstacle, it won’t help our adventurer. A hardness of 59 HRC on the Rockwell scale means that it can withstand the main hazards of outdoor life.

Morta knives in Damascus steel offer a hardness of 59 HRC.

The Couteau Morta model with forged back pump has a hardness of 59 to 60 HRC. Also available in Damascus version.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics are paramount. The user must be at one with the knife for greater dexterity and precision. A good grip prevents slipping and injury.

This feeling remains personal and subjective. We’d be delighted to advise you to try out the different models if you visit our cutlery shop. The size of the palm of the hand influences perception. Our collections are available in mini, standard and XL sizes.

Knife balance is important for precise gestures. A knifemaker always ensures harmony between the weight of the handle and that of the blade.

The budget

The price of a knife varies according to the materials used. So how can you compare a knife with a plastic handle with a survival knife made of fine wood? It’s up to you to judge the right value for money. It also depends on how you’re going to use it.

At JHP, we make knives that are built to last. Our loyal customers carry their folding knives with them as often as they can. Star chefs like Éric Guérin use them daily. As for me, my pocket knife never leaves my side.

Mistakes to avoid with a survival knife

Poor knife care

Outdoor (survival or bushcraft) knives are useful, whatever the weather. Can you imagine an adventurer not leaving his cabin to go hunting because it’s raining?

So both the blade and the handle can get wet. 

🔪 Always clean your blade to remove all traces of water. Even if the steel is stainless, it’s best to keep it as dry as possible. Your blade will keep its original shine.

🔪 Wood doesn’t like water, and Morta can’t stand it. Wipe it down with a soft, dry cloth. From time to time, you can nourish it with a little natural beeswax.

🔪 The frequency of sharpening depends on the steel and your use. At Couteaux Morta, we recommend natural stone. We explain it all in this video.

Points to bear in mind when making your purchase

🔪 Choose a knife that’s too big or too heavy. Remember that this knife is destined to travel, and you’re the one carrying it. Also think about the comfort of your wrist.

🔪 Neglect the quality of the sheath. A sheath with holes or cracked seams lets the blade pass through, risking cutting you. A faulty or fragile fastening system can hinder you when walking. 

🔪 Buy the cheapest. Of course, budget is an unavoidable criterion. However, saving on the quality of a knife means: low durability, easy breakage, poor cutting edge, dull blade. If you enjoy outdoor activities, opt for a handcrafted knife that will last a lifetime.

🔪 Think carefully about the main use to which you dedicate it. This will tell you the best choice between fixed and folding knives.

🔪 Do not experiment with locking and opening/closing systems. The Morta knife with back lock features a secure locking mechanism. Come and test it in our workshop!

🔪 Underestimate the points explained in the previous paragraph: blade steel, steel hardness, ergonomics.

Where does survival begin?

A survival knife is much more than a simple tool: it’s a companion for those moments when every gesture counts. There’s no need to bivouac on the summit of Mount Everest or cross the Andes; adventure lies at the end of every path. Whether or not you have a survival knife is not so important. Because it’s not the knife that creates the adventure. It’s the exceptional situation that transforms an ordinary knife into an essential ally. 

In the forest, on a hike or faced with the unexpected, the knife you have on hand becomes your survival knife. Picking that huge mushroom you’ve been waiting for, cutting off a branch that’s blocking your path to beautiful wildflowers or impressing your girlfriend by saving her from skinning her ankles in brambles. Here are a few typical moments in life when a detail becomes a matter of survival.

What counts in a knife is its sturdiness, reliability and, above all, your ability to make the most of it in any situation, extreme or otherwise.

Can a survival knife be a work of art? Craftsmanship answers

Why differentiate between beauty and utility? Survival calls on our primary instincts of defense, feeding and protection. This is where we integrate the limbic part of our brain and its emotional dimensions. So if we’re going to vibrate, let’s do it with panache!

This is precisely the mission of French craftsmen. To make objects (often by hand) :

• with noble, regional and typical materials ;
• of durable quality for use over time;
• designed with traditional, sometimes ancestral know-how;
• with a low carbon footprint, as raw materials are not sourced from the other side of the world;
• and above all, yes above all, that tell stories.

For our part, at the JHP workshop, we make knives with a 5,000-year-old wooden handle: Morta. This unique local wood gives your knife a noble touch. Whether you use it as a survival, bushcraft or hiking knife, its handle gives you a sense of security. Feeling the polished wood in your palm gives you confidence. Safety in the face of danger, of course. But also confidence in yourself and in life.

If the wood has survived 5 millennia buried in the peat of Brière, it should withstand a few bucolic adventures.

And the survival knife becomes a work of art!

If it’s for a gift, then enhance the handle with 3 mini mammoth ivory inlays or a blue vulcanized fiber border. Didn’t you just say beauty?

And to make your knife absolutely unique, personalize it! Message, pictogram, first name, etc. 

What will the lucky owner want to read when he pulls out his blade, alone deep in the forest? Here again, let’s give emotion its rightful place.

Our top tips for customizing a knife

We hope we’ve given you the keys to choosing the right survival knife. Once you’ve weighed up the pros and cons of each argument, don’t forget one last thing: please yourself.

Our sources:

Survivalism: the National Geographic website 

Article written by Christelle Lorant 🪶

Key questions

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