I like the phrase because it always makes me think about what to bring before I leave the house.

that s absolutely correct!because we don't choose to be in a survival situation, it's always an accident! Prepared or not, nothing says that you will have the knife you prefer with you! so the best survival knife will be the one you have with you!

@dankefurnichts

2 ай бұрын

so it is. nothing more to add.

I think there are two messages in the "knife you have on you" advice. 1. Know how to stretch any knife's abilities to do more than usual. 2. Try to keep a good field knife near you. Stop leaving it in a bag on the shelf at home. Keep one in a go bag or in a can in the car. Keep one in your checked luggage. Put one in your small day pack. If it is really an important issue for you, then be consistent and keep on on hand all the time. Then when the survival event comes up, you grab a knife from one of your nearby store points and start adapting to what you have on hand. It also means taking a little more knife on your small day hike than you are likely to need. Things could take a bad turn, so be prepared. Or for any small trip where you are out of your usual element - overdress a little.

First, good morning neighbour (Trini here). Second, you're absolutely right about the uselessness of that response. It's not an answer to the question being asked. What's being asked is, "What knife should I take with me, so that I have the best chance in a survival situation?" the cliched answer amounts to responding to that question with "Whatevs."

The phrase is true and useful and is basically part of the 5 P's (Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Perfomance). It's not just for knives but for all gear and even clothes on every outdoor activity. I go on a day hike in a very hot climate but still I pack a hoodie and rain jacket. I don't plan to wear them but it's just in case the weather turns or I have to spend a night. You are much more likely to throw a lightweight small fixed blade in your day pack for a day hike instead of a heavy big ass knife. Still day hikers are the ones needing S&R (Search & Rescue) the most.

The underlying message is, always carry a capable knife with you when you leave the house. Like you I carry more than one. At all times I have folder, plier based multi tool, and a fixed blade. For wilderness use my fixed blade tends to be 7-9", and for edc its 3-4".

I think it is about the definition of the context. "Survival" is if you go for an afternoon walk and spend 3 days in woods. Or the plane crash you mentioned. Or go to city and end up in jungle. Opposed to "camping", "hiking" etc. - you go for several days outside, prepare for it and spend several days there. And you are prepared for the activities. Survival situation is unexpected and life threatening. For the survival it is about your EDC kit. The one you truly carry with you every day, to work etc. If you can have there 15cm fixed blade - great. But a 8cm folder is still better than nothing. If you don't carry the 15cm blade every day, this is what can happen. Great knife for survival. But it is at home when you accidentally need it.

Great presentation and message... a message that works in most areas of life. Of course having something is better than not but better still is to know the optimal and strive for that.

I EDC three knives. Two fixed blades on each hip with 6 inch blades and a 5 inch fold in my front pocket. All concealed. I never leave the house any other way.

Hi JC! You make good points here, and I agree that people often throw this saying around in a way that isn't helpful. My interpretation was always in an EDC context. A lot of newbies come into the hobby asking for an "EDC survival knife," when of course very few people can or should carry a six-inch fixed blade on them in an urban setting. So "the one you have on you" means that if you're between a huge fixed blade that you only carry sometimes, and a folder that you can have on you every day, the everyday choice is always better, because the worst survival knife is no knife. But of course if you're going out into the jungle, a tiny slipjoint probably isn't the best option. Just my thoughts. Love the channel!

@C_Dzz

2 ай бұрын

Agreed. Respect and Blessings 💪🏾🇺🇲

@beentheredonethat5908

2 ай бұрын

I agree, but there is nothing wrong wuth carrying a 6 inch knife in a urban environment. We need to normalize it and carry them, it's our right and if we don't use it we'll lose it. Honestly a fixed blade knife is the proper choice , especially in an urban environment, I carry one, a full tang martinni. I use it to open things, pry things or for whatever I'm doing at work that day. I also carry a folder as well, its my back up blade and is rarely ever used. Don't get me wrong, my knife is 6 inches over all, three inch blade. I personally carry martinni knives. They are constructed well, the sheath is more covering them most knives, and it looks very nice compared to knives where a huge handle sticks out and it's intimateing. It is legal to carry a blade on you if it's in a sheath and visible on your hip. People need to start underling we have a right to carry and it's more of a legal issue when you have a longer folder in your pocket. As ling as your not hiding you knife and its on your hip, you can carry them anywhere that is public in the US.

I kinda like the DBK take on this, a good knife is one that is versatile and preferably made from a good quality, stainless powder steel that can hold an edge. Modern quality steels with decent geometry can easily stay 3 days in a bushcraft/survival setting and still be perfectly usable, the one exception ive found is if you hunt and process game out in the field. Fur full of dirt and sand is extremely abrasive and will dull any blade in just a couple of cuts. But yeah, it is kinda bad advice. Ive always interpreted it as "what you actually bother to keep with you and use is the best knife, so try different things until you find something you are comfortable with both using and carrying for prolonged amounts of time", but even then its kinda worthless if you ask that question because you are looking to buy a knife and want tips on what to look for.

By far the best I ever heard as a knife enthusiast ❤❤❤

thank you for saying it. people want to buy every popular knife out there yet in a survival situation only one matters. what do you carry.

Great discussion. Myself, in a Survival situation I want a 6 to 9 inch full exposed tang Fixed Blade Knife with at least a 5mm to 6mm thick Saber Flat Ground Blade made out of 3V, Magnacut, or 1095CV and a G-10 or Micarta Handles that I could remove for maintenance. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)

My take on this is...always carry a decent pocket knife on your person, and use it on a daily basis so that you know your knife's capabilities. Also, situational awareness...if you are going to church, a Swiss Army Knife is probably sufficient, but on a hiking or canoeing trip a more appropriate knife might be a fixed blade knife (as well as the SAK). Every environment probably dictates the knife that should be carried, and we all should have a couple of knives suitable for change out in these situations. And if you had yo pick just one...then make it a good one. Ask around for advice. But always carry a knife of some sort, maybe two...and another in your vehicle. So yes the old adage is correct, the knife that you have with you will be your survival knife. The only people who don't see this truism would be the people who are uncomfortable with a Every Day Carry (EDC) knife. Most of us see this as a "given".

I believe you are miss understanding that statement. I believe it's said many times to combat the people on KZread trying to convince people they need certain gear to survive. There is also the knife companies marketing. I'm 55 and I've been trough many survival schools in scouts and army. People without experience tend to believe they need a indestructible knife for survival. When in truth most situations only require a basic cutting tool. I believe that statement is two part. To make people think about what they carry. An real a survival knife at home won't help you in a situation that happens when you least expect. I always carry a lockback because every school I went to most people had buck 110. People with the expensive knives in my experience most hardly use them. Let alone carry them. I hope that helps some. I know I can be abrasive. I'm just trying to help people understand the woods can be dangerous and unforgiving to someone. It's not always a happy video. A few steps off a trail and everything looks the same. Nobody will miss you because you forgot to tell someone. Very easy mistake you only went out for a 3mile hike. So you only have what you have. Didn't take your pack you were only going for a hour or two. How prepared are you? Take care.

@maxpinson5002

2 ай бұрын

A Buck 110 has probably been through more real world wilderness survival situations than any other modern knife. I sure wouldn't feel nekkid with one in a wilderness survival scenario. Carried one many a mile and cut up 3.7 cargo ship loads of fish and game and taters with one. Doesn't break the bank either

@alexandergutfeldt1144

2 ай бұрын

I agree with you! The statement isn't 'advice' per se, it is meant to make you reevaluate your EDC! My EDC folder is the Victorinox S17. The blade is very short, but here in Switzerland I can bring an SAK anywhere anytime. This means it will be in its pouch on my belt when I need it.

@richardhenry1969

2 ай бұрын

@@alexandergutfeldt1144 you explained much better then me with less words.

@samueljlarson

2 ай бұрын

Yep. Experience > everything else.

Well said. While it is ture that the knife you have on you is going to be your survival knife, the heart of that question is what knife should be that knife be. I think alot of people just dont want to debate it do to it being such a hot topic. I think one should at the very least base the knife they carry on their person based on where they live, what skill levels they have. If they are going some place to do their research and understand what they might be faceing and then select a knife to fit. If you would not mind me doing so I would also like to do a video on this subject. I am asking so as not be rude. Thank you for you thoughtful insight on this subject. Very good video!

A knife 🔪 no matter its shape, design, etc is a tool, just like any other tool you would carry if you need it on a routine basis. It’s more about learned skillset(s) and how well someone can use the tool, in the situation they are in. If it’s a “normal situation” then all they’d need is what they normally every day carry (edc). Situation normal. However, the unexpected situation(s) one may somehow find themselves in, caused by no action they did to intentionally put themselves in the unexpected situation, can be quite challenging, stressful and if “unprepared”, the train of thought “oh goodness what do I do now!” hits hard. Say, a protest, a bad vehicle accident closing routes home, or police chasing suspects, or unexpected weather (tornado, damaging wind/rain/storm etc), or other event happens and they are literally “caught off guard”. The stress level elevates high, their anxiety, concerns, and trying to remain calm in such a situation is a challenge, at least for the initial reaction and shock stages. That’s when you have to react to what’s happening. Say you’re at lunch, or in a meeting or something work related, and you are either told of an unexpected event/situation happening RIGHT NOW in your immediate vicinity-again perhaps a protest, or earthquake, or a tornado 🌪️warning/alert, some kind of event that will affect how you would get home or to a place of safety. That’s when you 1) get away, if you can, to a safe location, 2) take some time, when it’s safe, to lower your anxiety and reaction to the unexpected. 3) when you’ve calmed down, take an inventory of everything in your pockets, in your bag 🎒 💼 (if you even have your bag), figure out where you are, and figure out a route to return to work, to home, or to another place of safety (family’s or friend’s home, etc). Try to get as much info as possible about the situation, and if any routes are impacted/impassable (due to damage/riot/protesting, etc.).

@urbanknifeguy

2 ай бұрын

Great advice!

The best survival knife is the Swiss Champ!! LOL just kidding. The best knife for survival is whatever you can find if you don't have one on you. If you are going to have a knife on you, then you can pick the best knife for all conditions. A EDC knife that serve you best for EDC and survival would be something like the Leatherman Signal.

@frakismaximus3052

2 ай бұрын

Yes good one 🏕 ⛺️

On one hand, yes the knife you have with you is the best knife if you find yourself in a survival situation because every other knife you own is not with you. We plan, we train, we practice our craft to improve our skills. You may have the best knife with you (add name here) but to no fault of your own it gets lost, falls down a cliff or into a lake, now that knife you have with you a neck knife, or SAK just became your primary knife. Carry more than one fixed blade if you want to be sure to have the most robust blade you can. Think strategically about how you carry your gear and try not to lose your primary blade. On the other hand if you have a superior skill set, an SAK or Leatherman may be all you need.

the best survival knife is the one you have on you, to me it means that your choice of survival knife shoud be something you are comfortable/willing to carry in case if a survival situation. to me that is the swiss army sd, its super small but i have it wherever i go, and will drasticly help if i happen to find myself in a survival situation. at the same time its a very lazy and bad answer for the question: whats the best survival knife.

Right tool for the right job ,if you plan to be put in a survival situation, then sure choice is key ,but if you are in an actual survival situation, then what you have is the best .my problem with the wording of survival is that it has been taken out of context. Technically, there is only one type of survival, and the so-called other survival means bushcraft with a bit of extra ,in my opinion.

Carry what you need need what you carry if I’m not getting on a plane I always have a folder on body and a Swiss Army knife in my backpack if I carry the bag and in my main form of transport I always have a fixed blade on my electric scooter it was a mora eldris because chances are I’m not going more then 10 km from home my moped has a gerber strongman first aid kit and other supplies in it depending on what your doing you don’t need to carry heaps of stuff but having a phone and a battery pack is more handy stuck on the side of the road then a good knife but you should still have both

Every "quote of the moment" gets old in time. I am 💯 with you on this. Yet, despite having a decent knife collection I'm occasionally caught by surprise having forgotten to grab a knife with a change of clothes, air travel, etc. This is when I suddenly hear these words all over again. 😂

Saying that little sak won't be helpful in the jungle is also not helpful. The tweezers can be useful in removing ticks or splinters or thorns which is something a large fixed blade will be all but useless for, scissors can be useful for cutting a strip of your shirt if you need to make a bandage or tourniquet, even that little blade could be useful in producing wood shavings if necessary.

@urbanknifeguy

Ай бұрын

I think the context is that if it is the only knife you have in a survival situation, a 58mm SAK is not ideal. But for sure it has utility. Thanks!

The version of this advice I know is: "when you come into a survival situation, the knife you have on you is your survival knife. So choose wisely." The knife has to be program compliant so it can be carried. And of course you need to learn to make the most of it ahead of time. For me the knife is a hunting knife with a 4" fixed blade. Is it the best knife conceiveable? Certainly not. It is a knife that I can carry legaly and concealed. It is up to most if not all tasks. It will be on me most of the time. A SAK will ride in my pocket. The question "what is the best survival knife?" is kind of pointless in itself. It indicates that the person asking needs a lot of guidance for their selection.

@urbanknifeguy

Ай бұрын

I think this is the best (and possibly correct) version of the phrase and I thank you greatly!

What do you think of Cold Steel folding SR1 lite? Apparently its very heavy duty

@frakismaximus3052

2 ай бұрын

It's extremely strong one

If my knife doesn't survive, time for a new knife. 🐹

I completely agree with the concept of 3 knives. but when they ask me that I will take one and no more, I answer: a big knife! these are both tools and weapons, and small knives are intended only for camp work.

It would be true in my case, my EDC knife in my ‘OLOK psk’ is the Cold steel mini-tac bowie, I chose this knife because it is a fixed blade with a 3.625 inch blade, it has a handle which is just big enough to be intuitive to use but the knife is small and light enough that it does not fill my psk too much. I consider it to be a minimalist true survival knife and have had it for 5 or 6 years and never had to use it but carry it every day just in case.

I always have an axe, a saw and several knives with me when I go out into the forest. but! When I leave the camp lightly, I take only a knife with me.

That’s not how I interpret the saying. Maybe a Fallkniven modern Bowie is the best survival knife, but most people aren’t going to bring that on their hike because its big and heavy and kind of ridiculous if you’re just planning to walk on a busy and familiar trail for a couple hours. But if you lose the trail and get into a bit of trouble just having the victorinox SD attached to your keys will not be ideal. So is there something that is a good compromise, something you’d be comfortable to bring along every time you go out, but still be capable of doing some harder use tasks in case you need it to? And for me that’s usually a multitool and a small/medium fixed blade with a scandi grind

Currently watching,i 'wear' an spoon carving knife.....hope i dont get in a survival incident🥴😳🤓🤗

If you are going into the outdoors prepared you don't have a survival knife, you have the knife for the situation and environment. There are exceptions to this though. I see this advice and a few other rigid pieces of outdoors advice as useful to make you think on the subject at hand. It's your comfort, safety and continued survival you have to look out for, Dave Canterbury, Lofty Wiseman or whoever aren't responsible for you, you are. Everyone needs to think this piece of advice through for themselves and come to their own conclusions.

@cameronlambert9723

2 ай бұрын

If you prepare and bring an appropriate knife for where you are going and what you are doing then you brought the best survival knife possible. Just because you have a knife doesn’t mean it’s the best survival knife possible. Most situations where people need to survive are in situations that could be prepared for beforehand. Such as hiking, hunting or even car wrecks. Don’t just put whatever knife into your kits or on your person. Take what meets the requirements for what you need it to do and then if you find yourself in a survival situation you don’t just have a knife you have the best knife possible for the situation.

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No that advice isn't useless at all. The best survival knife is always and only the one you have on you. And that does not mean to be an idiot , having no idea about what risky situation you might run in and even run into a survival situation with a useless toy or a high end tool you don't even know how to handle. No, in contrary it means to be aware of the risks and potential situations you could run in and to carefully select what you carry with you and to be prepared as best as possible. As your further life might totally depend on it and you have usually no way to exchange your equipment in an emergency against some potential better stuff. The optimum in an emergency is always the stuff you have. The sentence means also, that there is no absolute best survival knife. It is impossible to say in any absolute way which knife is the best survival knife as it totally depends not only on the specific situation you are in but also on your skills level, the climate zone, the external temperatures, the easiness to handle, the fact whether you have still other tools with you, and so many more factors, which knife would be maybe good or better in a certain situation which can be named as survival situation for you. So, don't be fooled by manufacturers, TV actors, marketing managers and influencers. There is no absolute best thing, also no best survival knife. No thing is in any way absolutely the best, because an optimum rating for every thing depends on the circumstances and how that thing fits to them. And as these circumstances are always changing, and there is no standard survival situation with standard people running into it, there is also no best survival knife in general. There is not even a best survival knife for you. As you might run into different situations, also the tools which would be best for handling these situations might vary. As well as your skill level concerning handling the tool would vary. You can only try to find out in advance what would be possibly the best in a certain situation, and bet on that one, but for the next situation you might have to choose something else. So, better to have not only a single knife ... you always have to have a choice🤣 And best is of course, to have even in a survival situation a choice, so better bring always two knives with you into serious situations 🤣🤣

Why????? The recon scout?????? Why? Why did you cut off the hand guard?????????😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Aaaaahhhhhhh!

Other commentators have already said what I was going to so I will simply say this, the message is not being properly applied or interpreted by you and sadly putting messages in text format often means some of the entire message is lost as we don't want to write a book in the comment section.

I really hate that saying. Ive heard it alot. I dont agree with it.

in the plane where is your knife?? IN THE SUIT on your case not with you , and when the plane fall of the sky how many luck for find your knife after the crash .......under 1%

@urbanknifeguy

Ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment. But, what is the point in the context of the video? As I specifically said we are not talking about such situations like a plane crash.