Looking for the best fixed blade knives? Check out this review first before you go shopping and get your money’s worth!
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Best Fixed Blade Knives Review: A Survivalist’s Guide
How to Select the Best Fixed Blade Knives to Carry
Finding the best, fixed blade knives to carry
is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. For one thing, most survival knives (the good ones, anyway) aren’t exactly cheap.
If you’re investing in a piece of gear, you’ll want to be sure it will get the job done when the time comes. Your survival knife will be your lifeline when SHTF, so you need to do your research.
The fixed blade is a straightforward knife, and it doesn’t have any bells or whistles. If you do the research, you can find them for very reasonable prices.
The blade usually runs about six inches, and the knife usually weighs somewhere around seven to eight ounces, measuring between 10 to 11 inches in overall length.
So, where do you start when trying to find the best fixed blade survival knives? Which one’s the best? What’s a reasonable price?
Here are a few things to consider before buying a fixed blade knife:
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- It should be made to be strong.
- It should be sturdy. The newest fixed blade knife offers a rubber handle, which provides for a better grip making it easier to work within various types of weather or under different hunting circumstances.
- It should be dependable. The best fixed blade knives have blades that can be changed, so even though you can only use one blade at a time, you can carry a variety of blades with you. For example, if you are hunting larger animals, a heavier blade may be desirable.
To cut through a thick hide, the heavier blade is needed. A serrated edged blade may help saw through an animal’s bones, and other special blades may help in removing the skin.
Now, there’s something you need to do before you EVER walk into a store or go to Amazon. Read this list of seven of the BEST fixed blade knives that’ll never fail you in a life-and-death survival situation.
7 Best Fixed Blade Knives That Are Worth Every Penny
1. The Hoffman-Richter Wolf – ON SALE NOW
The Hoffman-Richter Wolf knife is made of a 5.5mm thick piece of the best 440C stainless steel on the market, and the ultra-tough titanium coating guarantees The Wolf will last a lifetime.
This is the knife I personally carry, and it’s the most badass blade I’ve ever strapped to my hip. The specs speak for themselves:
- Full tang construction, making this knife virtually unbreakable
- Fixed edge so you never need to worry about moving parts breaking or wearing out
- Straight edge drop point blade, so that every inch of the blade stays razor sharp and usable (no serrations to become dull and useless)
- 9″ Overall Length, my preferred size for universal use
- 4″ 5.5 MM Thick Blade (that’s just shy of 1/4″) it’s hard to find a full tang fixed blade with this thickness
- Ultra Tough Titanium Coating to make this knife even stronger
Still, don’t believe me? Check out this video:RELATED: All You Need to Know About Pocket Knives For Everyday Survival
2. Browning Ignite – RRP $33.27
BEST FOR:
- Trimming/sharpening/smoothing wood
- Firemaking
- Chopping food
Don’t let the price fool you; the Browning Ignite is a great knife for its price point and size. Whether you’re fishing, building a shelter or starting a fire, you can’t go wrong with this compact fixed blade knife.
SPECS:
| Blade Length | 4″ | Overall Length | 8 1/2″ |
| Blade Width | 1 1/8″ | Weight (Knife Only) | 5.2 oz |
| Blade Steel | 7Cr | Grip Material | Polymer, with rubber insert |
| Blade Shape | Drop Point | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the tang |
| Blade Grind | Hollow | False Edge | Yes |
| Blade Thickness | 0.15″ | Spine “Jimping” | Jimped Thumb Ramp |
| Choil | Yes | Lanyard Hole | Yes |
| Made in | China |
and form an opinion for yourself.
3. Benchmade HK Feint – RRP $75.23
What is a drop point?
It is a knife shape where it tends to slope at the spine. It uses a thicker blade, making it a good tool for hunting.
BEST FOR:
- Chopping
- Skinning
- Self-defense
- Batoning
The Benchmade HK Fient may just be one the best Benchmade knife ever. Benchmade knives can be pricey, but once you see the quality, you’ll understand why.
SPECS:
| 9.5″ | Overall Length | 14.5″ | |
| Blade Width | 1 3/8″ | Weight (Knife Only) | 11.2 oz |
| Blade Steel | 440C | Grip Material | Santoprene |
| Blade Shape | Drop Point | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the grip |
| Blade Grind | Saber | False Edge | No |
| Blade Thickness | 3/16″ | Spine “Jimping” | No |
| Choil | Yes | Lanyard Hole | Yes |
| Made in | USA |
Whether you’re cutting the cord, chopping wood or using it as a self-defense knife, this will get the job done. Check out our review.
4. Ontario RAT-5 – RRP $78.23
BEST FOR:
- Bushcraft
- Firemaking
- Trimming wood
The 1095 carbon steel on the Ontario RAT-5 makes it durable, sharp and long-lasting, and the knife is still an affordable choice.
SPECS:
| Blade Length | 5″ | Overall Length | 10 1/2″ | |
| Blade Width | 1 1/2″ | Weight (Knife Only) | 11.1 oz | |
| Blade Steel | 1095 | Grip Material | Micarta | |
| Blade Shape | Clip Point | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the tang and grip | |
| Blade Grind | Flat | False Edge | No | |
| Blade Thickness | 0.19″ | Spine “Jimping” | Yes | |
| Choil | Yes (Both) | Lanyard Hole | Yes |
This is a great knife for bushcraft, and you will have no problem using it to perform a variety of outdoor and survival tasks. Click here for our full review.
5. Buck/Hood Punk – RRP $157.95
BEST FOR:
- Bushcraft
- Building shelter
- Drilling
- Chopping food
If you’re looking for a sturdy, reliable bush knife, the Buck/Hood Punk is hard to beat. Don’t let the price tag deter you because this knife is worth every penny.
SPECS:
| Blade Length | 5 5/8″ | Overall Length | 11″ |
| Blade Width | 1 3/16″ | Weight (Knife Only) | 7.5 oz |
| Blade Steel | 5160 | Grip Material | Micarta |
| Blade Shape | Clip Point | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the tang |
| Blade Grind | Flat | False Edge | No |
| Blade Thickness | 0.18″ | Spine “Jimping” | No |
| Choil | Yes | Lanyard Hole | Yes |
.
6. Kabar BK&T Machax – RRP $93.57
BEST FOR:
- Building shelter
- Cutting cord
- Trimming/sharpening/smoothing wood
This is a sturdy, manly knife, and it’s as functional as it is cool to look at. Whether batoning wood, starting a fire or building other weapons, you’ll never go wrong with this knife.
SPECS:
| Blade Length | 9 3/8″ | Overall Length | 14 5/8″ |
| Blade Width | 2″ | Weight (Knife Only) | 15.7 oz |
| Blade Steel | 1095 Cro-Van | Grip Material | Zytel |
| Blade Shape | Kukri | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the grip |
| Blade Grind | Saber | False Edge | Yes |
| Blade Thickness | 0.188″ | Spine “Jimping” | No |
| Choil | No | Lanyard Hole | Yes |
| Made in | USA |
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7. Ontario RTAK-II – RRP $200
BEST FOR:
- Firemaking
- Shelter construction
- Batoning
The Ontario RTAK-II is a solid, affordable choice for a field knife, and it’s especially good for chopping wood and fire making.
SPECS:
| Blade Length | 10.5″ | Overall Length | 17″ | |
| Blade Width | 2″ | Weight (Knife Only) | 22.6 oz | |
| Blade Steel | 5160 | Grip Material | Micarta | |
| Blade Shape | Drop Point | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the tang and grip | |
| Blade Grind | Flat | False Edge | No | |
| Blade Thickness | 0.2″ | Spine “Jimping” | No | |
| Choil | Sort of | Lanyard Hole | Yes | |
| Made in | USA |
You can also use it to build a survival shelter or animal trap as this knife excels at trimming branches and cutting wood. Read our full review.
Check out this video from Howcast to find out what are the best self-defense knives out there:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a survivalist is only as good as his tools. There’s one tool that is ESSENTIAL to have, not only in your BOB (Bug Out Bag) but also as an everyday carry.
A good knife, specifically a full tang constructed fixed blade knife, is necessary for all bug out bags. We sure hope we pointed you to the direction of the best fixed blade knives for you!
Do you have a knife to add? Did we leave out your favorite blade? Let us know in the comments!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on July 28, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
