Survival knives have gained a lot of significance in recent times with the increasing instinct among people for survival. These are the best choice for all those people who wish to use them outdoors and in survival situations. These knives need to be durable and versatile enough to cut through a number of different textures and materials while being easy to handle and carry. There are many reasons you can count on for people to carry a survival knife like for camping, hunting, hiking, prepping, setting traps and skinning animals and so many more.
You should always carry a survival knife or some other kind of pocket knife when traveling as it can come in handy for a lot of things and sometimes having a reliable and best survival knife can make a huge difference. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to a good knife, to go camping or hiking with, but in any kind of an extreme situation you would want the best option possible, and so we have prepared you a list of some of the best survival knives out there in the market to help you make the right choice.
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With so many new products out in the market, it becomes hard to choose between different brands and harder to choose the right one. The best survival knives are the ones which make a useful tool for hunters and trappers and they sure are out there somewhere, you just need a nudge in the right direction to get yourself the best product.
Contents
- 1 List Of Top 10 Best Survival Knife Under 100 Of All Time
- 2 Best Survival Knife Under 100 Reviews
- 2.1 #1 Tops Knives Tom Brown Tracker
- 2.2 #2 Fallkniven A1 Fine Edge Fixed Blade Knife
- 2.3 #3 Knives of Alaska Suregrip Bush Camp Knife
- 2.4 #4 Condor Tool & Knife
- 2.5 #5 ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife
- 2.6 #6 KA-BAR 1258 Short USA Clip Point Knife
- 2.7 #7 Ontario Knife Company 8665 Rat-3
- 2.8 #8 Gerber LMF II Survival Knife
- 2.9 #9 Ka-Bar BK-22 Becker Companion Fixed Blade Knife
- 2.10 #10 Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife
- 3 How To Choose The Best Survival Guide Under 100 | Buyer’s Guide
- 4 Conclusion
List Of Top 10 Best Survival Knife Under 100 Of All Time
Best Survival Knife Under 100 Reviews
#1 Tops Knives Tom Brown Tracker
One of the best survival knife under 100, The TOPS Knives Tom Brown Tracker is an outstanding survival knife that is made with 1095 steel, making it a tough and long-lasting choice for your camping trips. It features versatility and that is why it is one of the most popular knives on the market for all those outdoor enthusiasts and adventure lovers. This knife is designed to do all sorts of things like chopping, shaving, notching and many more.
This knife works like a monster when it comes to slicing meat or wood or stuff like that. This full tang blade is considered to be very impressive if you feel good about investing a little more for such an item. It is a very sharp and strong knife whose handle is also worth praising, made out of finger grooved black linen micarta.
The 154CM stainless wide design blade with a drawback is designed to perform tasks efficiently and is durable with very little maintenance required. An additional feature includes a black Kydex belt clip sheath with dual clips and survival whistle.
The Tom Brown Tracker is one of the finest survival knives available today with which you just cannot go wrong.
Pros
- Very durable
- Versatile in nature
- Sturdy construction
- Strong built
- A full tang blade
Cons
- Has a flared handle design
- Hard to sharpen the blade again.
#2 Fallkniven A1 Fine Edge Fixed Blade Knife
The Fallkniven is a Sweden based knife making company which is known for its high-quality products in the market. The A1 Fixed Blade knife is a slightly expensive but top of the line blade designed for heavy use. This is an excellent option for a survival knife as it is extremely sharp and the large blade is great for large and small tasks as well. Comes with a black leather sheath that makes it durable, is very easy to carry or attach to packs even after the considered size of the blade. It has an excellent balance with the convex ground blade.
It is also made of a laminated VG10 steel, and the tang extends all the way through to the end of the handle, making it a full tang knife where the blade comes with a fixed, satin spear point and a Kraton handle and can act as a strong wallop if you might ever need to strike anything. This knife is definitely larger than other blades measuring a solid 6.3″ blade with an overall length of 11”.
The handle feels quite comfortable in the hand and you will never have to worry about it slipping since it provides an amazing grip. If you are thinking about getting yourself a top-quality knife for your survival kit, bug out bag or bush crafting, make sure to choose the Fallkniven A1, one of the best Survival Knife under 100.
Pros
- A full tang knife
- Provides tremendous grip even when wet
- Perfectly balanced blade
- Convex ground blade ideal for hard use
Cons
- Low-quality sheath
- The handle is slightly short
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#3 Knives of Alaska Suregrip Bush Camp Knife
The Knives of Alaska presents you the Suregrip Bush Camp Knife which has been made to handle the roughest abuse and you could even put them through in some of the most challenging conditions on the planet and it will survive. Made from the finest blade steel around, it measures about 2.4″ in length, making it smaller than average blade size but do not get lost on the size, it still works wonders. It is made of 440C stainless steel and has a ceramic penned Hunters Non-Glare” finish.
The item is a full tang with a black rubberized sure-grip that will give you wonderful grip and you don’t have to worry about it slipping from time to time. The sheath is a vegetable-tanned, oiled and split grained cowhide. The blade has been given a double draw heat temper, cryogenic “deep freeze” treatment making it stronger than ever. Each blade has been extensively field-tested by experts on hunts around the globe to ensure its worthiness.
If you are into the feel and heft of a heavy-bladed knife, the Bush Camp Knife will make a great addition to your working knives. It is designed for heavy-duty general-purpose use around camp as well as in field dressing or carving. The Knives of Alaska gives you a lifetime warranty if any customer has a problem with the product.
Pros
- Black rubberized handle with grip ridges for a tough grip
- Great for hard use
- Durable built
- The blade is razor-sharp
Cons
- Low-quality sheath.
#4 Condor Tool & Knife
The Condor Tool & knife is a fine quality survival knife that comes at an affordable price. The handle is made with a beautiful walnut, making the knife look beautiful and appealing and the blade is really sharp made of 1075 high carbon steel, with a blasted satin finish that makes it loo
k even more attractive. This knife can handle any survival situation task with ease and you have a pro knife that will not let you down wherever you are and will be. The knife is made with the finest materials, thus making it one of the highest quality survival knives in the market.
The Condor CTK232-4.3HC is a tremendous knife that doesn’t put a hole in your pocket and when it comes to bushcraft tools, there is nothing that quite matches this one. It is light yet sturdy and a durable knife.
If anything, we don’t like about the knife is the edge grind angle, which we find too large because it creates a lot of drag at the bevel’s “shoulders” when you cut through the wood which causes the blade to wedge in and stick. Other than this, there is no large queries and disappointments with the product and should be on your wishlist soon.
Pros
- An excellent Bushcraft tool
- Has a walnut handle that provides great grip
- Sturdy and built to last
- Blasted satin blade finish
Cons
- The blade needs to be slightly sharper
- The edge grind angle too large
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#5 ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife
The ESEE-6P is a fixed blade, full tang knife that features grey linen Micarta scales and a black finished blade with a plain cutting edge required for the best survival knife under 100. The blade also includes a coyote brown molded sheath with a clip plate, a paracord and a cord lock that gives it an attractive look. The design represents a fine balance and a fit that is light yet tough to hold. The Micarta handle feels homely in your hand and the rounded pommel offers a hole for lanyard attachment which offers an amazing grip to your hand and also prevents it from slipping from time to time.
The 3/16″ thick, 1095 steel blade is fully flat to the ground that will serve you as a primary wilderness survival knife, or be fitted to your modular system for duty carry in any tactical environment. The 1095 steel is a top choice for any professional cutlery designed for hard use, but it will also rust and stain if not properly cared for, especially on the cutting edge and around the laser engraving, therefore you should take care to keep the blades properly lubricated and cleaned.
For that, we will suggest that you use a dry film rust inhibitor such as Tuf-Glide or Tuf-Cloth. This blade also features a jimping on the spine for increased thumb grip and includes a very durable, olive drab molded polymer carry sheath with a removable clip and this blade can any day be your partner for hard as well as general use.
Pros
- Great for both hard as well as general use
- Made from a top choice of carbon steel
- Light and durable
- Jumping on the spine for better grip
- Lifetime warranty provided by the company
Cons
- Can me sharper
- The carbon steel is prone to faster rusting and decay
#6 KA-BAR 1258 Short USA Clip Point Knife
The KA-BAR 1258 short black knife is a strong and compact knife that is designed with black thermoplastic elastomer handle with Kydex sheath and a plain edge to give the blade a superior grip and it doesn’t fall off your hand again and again. The handle other than the black thermoplastic feature has an oval-shaped for the added comfort to your fingers. The powder-coated, high carbon steel blades with powdered metal butt caps and carbon steel guards feel a great mix for your next adventure and should be a definite choice from the mentioned list.
The 1258 clip point knife features a 5 1/4″ blade with an overall length of 9 1/4″ making it an averagely sized blade that is easy to carry around with you. These practically sized fixed blade knives are a perfect size and also the perfect companion for your camping trips or carrying and for general utility purposes.
Pros
- Strong and compact
- User-friendly and durable
- Handle material is comfortable to use
- The grind angles are perfect for both edge retention and sharpness.
- Light in weight
Cons
- Sheath is weak
- The handle is short.
#7 Ontario Knife Company 8665 Rat-3
The Ontario Knife Company 8665 Rat-3 model features a black coated blade with a plain edge and a tan micarta handle. The RAT-3 is an excellent outdoor knife that will stand the test of time. This model is built to be versatile and durable that is outfitted with 1095 carbon steel blade and has been coated with a durable black coating to provide you a superior finish.
The canvas Micarta handle mentioned is slim, yet fills the palm and provides enough texture for a secure grip to prevent any slippage. The knife has an overall length of 7.90″ with a tan-colored handle and a full flat taper blade grind.
The blade also includes a heavy-duty nylon belt sheath with Molle compatibility. Be rest assured because RAT’s make an ideal fixed blade “every day carry (EDC)” or for on the worksite, campground or down range thereby making them multipurpose blades.
Pros
- Versatile and durable
- Tough Micarta handle
- Includes a Molle compatible sheath
- Perfect grip size
Cons
- Cheap Ontario sheath
- Handle to tang fit is a bit low on quality
#8 Gerber LMF II Survival Knife
The Gerber LMF II is one of the top-rated, military-inspired, rugged, fixed blade survival knives. The knife is field-tested to ensure that it is up to the company’s rigorous standards. The design has been upgraded by adding a pointed stainless-steel butt-cap at the end of the blade that can be used to break glass in case of emergency and with this innovation, they only have the tang extend of about 3/4 of the way through the handle, purposefully separating it from the stainless-steel butt-cap to help with shock absorption and prevent electrical shock when in use.
This is a 10″ serrated knife build with 420HC stainless steel that is tested to be both, strong and durable. The nylon handle has a comfortable grip that also features two holes to convert it into a spear, and a hole at the end for a lanyard.
The sheath is also designed smartly that includes a built-in carbide sharpener and a belt attachment ensuring that the knife will keep its edge for a long time. This knife has been reviewed to be a great knife to pick when you are on a budget, but still, need good steel quality and versatility.
Pros
- Military-grade quality knife
- Versatile in nature
- Comfortable to use and durable
- Solid built with excellent serration
- Nylon handle provides a comfortable grip
Cons
- Not a full tang knife
- Not too well suited for carving
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#9 Ka-Bar BK-22 Becker Companion Fixed Blade Knife
The Ka-Bar is a well-renowned company that makes great knives in survival range. The one we are talking about here is the BK-22 Becker knife that has been designed as a full tang, fixed blade knife. The product has been tested to ensure quality and durability and we will definitely recommend the BK-22 greatly as compared to its predecessor, the BK-2 because this being the newest model has a great heavy-duty polyester sheath with a front cargo pocket and a blade insert sleeve.
The knife handle is meant to fit larger hands basically, and the grip feels very natural. The knife is a drop point straight-edge blade, with a 5.25-inch blade and an overall length of 10 1/2’’.
It also comes with a new heavy-duty polyester front pouch sheath. The blade is a flat ground 1095 Cro-Van steel and is best suited for hunting and camping tasks, such as splintering firewood, killing and skinning game, and chopping food. The blade comes in an affordable range and is a good choice when it comes to versatility.
Pros
- A full tang, fixed blade knife
- Overall a good quality knife as compared to its predecessor
- Versatile and durable
- Holds a good edge
- Heavy enough to do light chopping
Cons
- Heavy in weight
- Is not great for finer cutting jobs
#10 Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife
The Morakniv Bushcraft Survival Black is an indispensable tool for a variety of outdoor, hunting, emergency, or tactical applications. The blade is made of a high carbon steel 1/8-inch and is extremely sharp, durable, and is hardened to HRC 56-58 to better withstand any stress on the blade. The tungsten DLC anti-corrosive black coating on the blade helps protect against any kind of corrosion and a pro tip that is oiling the carbon blades after every use will come in handy to prevent it from further corrosion.
The Bushcraft Survival has a Scandi grind which prevents the knife from slipping off easily, bites into any surface without getting stuck and stays sharp for a long time.
The 4.3-inch blade is relatively thin making it easier to carve out things yet is robust enough for batoning and other demanding outdoor activities. The knife holds an included Morakniv Fire Starter in which, you can easily light dry grass, leaves, paper, bark, and even your favorite gas grill or stove. It also comes with a removable belt loop and belt clip that safely and securely hold your knife in place.
The survival Sheath on the knife has an integrated diamond sharpener making it easy to sharpen the blade. The spine of the blade is ridge ground so that it can be used with the Morakniv fire starter that lasts approximately 7,000 strikes and produces a 3,000-degree spark, even when wet. The ergonomic handle on the knife including high-friction rubber grip gives the feeling of control, making work easier and more enjoyable.
Pros
- Sharp and durable
- Has an anti-corrosive coating on the blade
- Added Scandi grind for better grip
- Comes with a fire starter
- Versatile in nature
Cons
- Lesser edge on the knife
- Expensive
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How To Choose The Best Survival Guide Under 100 | Buyer’s Guide
When there are limited options in the market, you don’t get a lot of customizations and vividly detailed products and have to settle for a mediocre item. But today, we don’t have to worry about that at all. There are a lot of options to choose from and the competition is what makes these products better. There are some really important pointers to consider for buying a good and durable survival knife and they are as follows.
The metal used in the blade
While choosing the best survival knife under 100 at first we have to check the metal used in the blade. There are generally two types of steels that survival knives are built from carbon and stainless steel. Stainless steel is popular because it is virtually indestructible, can resist corrosion and is easy to sharpen. However, it still can rust and that too at a higher rate than carbon steel.
High Carbon steel blades tend to be tougher and more durable than stainless steel, however, it can corrode faster than stainless steel and requires more maintenance. There are other different materials that blades are made out of or have different coatings on them to make them durable, so the final choice is yours to choose from.
Design of the blade
Choosing the design of the blade is also a very important task and you have many designs to choose from. There are straight blades that are certainly the easiest choice available for chopping woods and is also easy to sharpen; then there are the serrated ones which are a good choice but usually require a special sharpener; then comes the most common types of designs for blades including clip point, drop points, spear points, trailing points which are also considered some of the best designs because such designs have the blade tip close to the center which gives you better control and also lightens the blade without sacrificing performance or durability.
So, determine where and for what purpose you are likely to use the knife before picking one.
Knife tang
Another thing to consider while selecting a survival knife is its tang. Tang is the back part of the blade where it connects into the handle. The best option considered is a full tang knife in which the metal extends through to the end of the handle that provides strength to the entire knife and they remain well-balanced, withstand lots of pressure, but are more expensive in nature.
While the knives with partial tangs aren’t as sturdy as the full tang knife and the blade can loosen over time and are less likely to stand up to pressure being put on the knife.
Blade’s edge
The design of the cutting edge is also a critical factor when choosing a survival knife. Different types of cutting edges are designed for different purposes and so you should know the purpose and then choose the knife best suited for you.
Firstly, there are the straight cutting edges which are specifically designed to be general-purpose edges and can feature either a positive rake angle, a neutral rake angle, or a negative rake angle measured from the bolster. Then there are recurved edges which feature a straight section and their purpose is to create the blade that is good for both cutting and carving near the bolster but which is also tipped heavy for better chopping performance.
Length of the blade
Choosing the right length of the blade can be a task because different length blades are best suited for different purposes. Blade lengths that range from 8 to 10 inches are usually long enough and have enough weight, well suited for chopping but, they are difficult to control when trying to perform small, precision, cutting tasks.
While blade lengths ranging from 6 to 7.5 inches represent an excellent compromise between long, heavy-duty, blade designs and short utility blade designs. Knives with blade lengths ranging from 3.5 inches to 5 inches are much better suited for more delicate tasks such as cutting notches in stakes and staves to build traps and snares, skinning small game animals and gutting fish, slicing up tubers, etc.
Therefore keep your length game strong and determine the best length as per the requirement.
Handle material
It is very important that you get to understand the handle material to know about the best survival knife under 100 because it determines the comfort and toughness of the knife in order to prevent cracking and breaking and it must be impervious to the absorption of moisture for prevention of rot. The most common material used to make a handle is Canvas or linen Micarta and is considered good to deliver good form and durability.
There are other models too having fiber-reinforced plastics such as G-10 and Zytel which are a good option when it comes to overall performance. If you are more concerned about the grip and the soft cushioning of the handle then you must look for textured rubber or polymer handles such as those made from Krayton or Hypalon and are good choices for heavy-duty choppers.
Conclusion
Make sure you get the best survival knife under 100 for you for whatever reason you might be trying for. It might become like a task when searching for the best survival knife on the market because of the different features and whatnot. But ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference, your budget, and for what activities you will be using it for.
All the ten best survival knives under 100 mentioned in the above list are of high quality, and you really cannot go wrong with any. But the final decision is up to you and we have tried to narrow down the list for you so that you make a rational decision and utilize your precious time on more important things.
