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Members of the military are some of the most likely people to get thrown into a life-or-death survival scenario. Subsequently, the men and women of the armed forces have carried many different styles of knives over the years. Some of these have saved their lives in extreme scenarios.
Today, we’ll examine various tactical blades, many of which are carried by armed service members. These are our picks for the best military survival knives currently being produced.
Key Considerations
Contrary to popular belief, many armed services branches don’t have a standard issue knife today. Many servicemen and servicewomen have incredibly different experiences with what gets issued to them. Subsequently, I looked for military-style tactical knives that could also be useful for survival. I wanted rugged knives capable of handling rugged tasks such as wood splitting via the baton method. Other features I looked for include:
- Spine: I looked for knives with sharp spines for scraping tasks. Knives with a 90-degree spine were preferable since they strike a big spark with a Ferro rod.
- Steel Quality and Coating: Survival knives are often exposed to the elements. I wanted knives with quality steel that can resist rust and corrosion. Knives with coatings to protect the blade from moisture are even better.
- Handles: Each knife needs a large handle that provides good ergonomics. Knives with an additional texture or grip are ideal for survival in poor weather conditions.
- Grind: I looked mainly for knives with a flat or Scandi grind. These two types of edges are best for food preparation and bushcraft. Although not always preferable, I also considered knives with a serrated edge – mainly because it’s a common feature of combat knives.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Ka-Bar Fighter
- Best Budget: Cold Steel SRK
- Best for Heavy Bushcraft: 5.11 Tactical CFK7 Peacemaker
- Best Small: Montana Knife Company Wargoat
- Best Combat Knife: Ontario Knife Company 3S
Best Overall: Ka-Bar Fighter
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The Ka-Bar Fighter is a classic knife design that can perform any survival task. During my testing, it excelled at wood splitting. The rugged 1095 steel can take a real beating. This knife still hasn’t shown any signs of wear in the year that I’ve owned it. It also holds an excellent edge that hasn’t required much sharpening. I love the handle on this knife. It has a nice amount of tact, making it easy to grip in all weather conditions. The Fighter has a sharp spine that’s perfect for scraping and fire-starting.
At over 12 ounces, this knife is heavy. The blade also feels a little thin for its size. However, please don’t take anything away from its ruggedness here. It’s a worthy survival knife considering how well it tested. It’s also surprisingly affordable compared to other fixed blades of this size.
Best Budget: Cold Steel SRK
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The SRK is known as the knife of Navy Seals because it is used extensively in their grueling training. Thanks to the polymer handle and texture, it has excellent ergonomics. This survival knife performs well in wet environments like those encountered by the Seals. The simplistic design is easy to maintain. Cold Steel utilized SK-5 steel here, which holds a decent edge and makes the knife a bargain at $30–$60. The clip-point blade is versatile for bushcraft, food preparation, and other survival tasks.
The SRK does have a push tang, which some knife enthusiasts see as a strength defect. However, this knife is surprisingly robust. Despite that tang, it is strong enough for aggressive tasks like wood splitting via the baton method. The steel here is also high-carbon steel that doesn’t offer the best corrosion resistance. I can’t confirm it, but I’ve heard that’s one reason that Navy Seal recruits are given this knife to test their ability to care for their equipment. The point is that as long as this knife is cared for, it will last a long time.
Best For Heavy Bushcraft: 5.11 Tactical CFK7 Peacemaker
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During my testing, the Peacemaker's long, extremely thick blade made it a wood-splitting machine. I’ve never had an easier time using the baton method. This gargantuan knife is built to handle an extreme amount of abuse. It’s an excellent option for heavy bushcraft tasks like shelter construction. Although I think the SCM 435 steel is an odd choice, I can’t deny the performance here. This knife was hair-popping sharp straight from the box. It also impressively retained that edge even after the wood-splitting test. I love the ergonomics of this knife. The finger grooves feel great, and the jimping imparts some excellent control.
The sheath has excellent retention qualities. I found the biggest downside to this knife to be its tremendous size. Although I found it comfortable with a heavy belt, it might be too big for some people’s preferences. It will probably carry easier on a backpack than on a belt. However, this is one of the beefiest blades available today for anyone who wants a large survival knife.
Best Small: Montana Knife Company Wargoat
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The Wargoat is a nifty little fixed-blade knife designed for defense purposes. However, the blade shape and size are perfect for various survival tasks. I like it best for light bushcraft and food prep. It is an excellent choice for cutting notches for stakes and shelters. The MagnaCut steel has excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. That will help it withstand any survival scenario's rigors and harsh environment. I also love the simple texture of the G-10 handle of this knife. It provides an excellent grip no matter the conditions.
The sheath of this knife is a bit frustrating to set up perfectly. It took me a while to get it to my liking. Like all MKC offerings, the Wargoat isn’t cheap. However, the cost can be traced back to the choice of steel and the fact that it’s made in the USA. This is an excellent knife for anyone who wants quality that will last a lifetime.
Best Combat Knife: Ontario Knife Company 3S
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This knife is frequently issued to members of the U.S. Marine Corps and is quite capable for survival in various scenarios. It is robust and has excellent balance, considering its size. We love the old-school military aesthetics of this one. It is frequently used as a bayonet in the military but seamlessly transitions to work tasks. The clip-point blade is highly versatile. This knife has some serrations but is only a tiny portion of the blade. We appreciate that OKC didn’t overkill on this part of the design like many companies. There is enough to be functional without interfering with the usual case uses for this blade.
This knife is costly depending on where it is sold. There are also frequent reports of its scratching easily. However, it’s a combat knife, not a showpiece. It is meant to work in the field and does that job efficiently. This is a solid knife for any ex-Marine who wants a functional and familiar blade.
How To Choose The Best Military Survival Knife
In the modern era, not many military branches have a standard issue knife anymore. Some soldiers aren’t issued knives at all. It greatly depends on where the soldiers are stationed and the type of job they are doing. Soldiers buying their knives themselves is not uncommon these days. Thus, just about any knife can be a military survival knife. The armed forces usually value durability over anything else. That means higher-quality steel and a higher price tag. In my experience, it’s usually worth spending a little extra on a knife.
Grinds
We already briefly mentioned blade grinds. Most survivalists prefer a Scandi grind for chopping and carving tasks. These knives have a deeper belly that makes them better for slicing. Scandi and hollow grinds are great for field dressing. Flat grinds are good all-around grinds but work best for food preparation.
Handles
Ergonomics are valid considerations for any survival knife. Holding the knife securely is critical when starting a fire in wet, cold conditions. Although both G-10 and Micarta handles will work for these tasks, ensure that the knife has a texture that’s easy to grip. It shouldn’t feel slippery in the hands. Rubberized handles are not bad for any survival knife because they are easy to grip and won’t get overly cold. Skeletonized handles are great for weight savings. However, we mainly recommend those for users who want a paracord wrap. The paracord provides an excellent grip, and the fibers make a good fire-starting material in a pinch.
Fixed vs. Folding
Technically, any knife can be a military survival knife, depending on the situation. Any survival expert will tell you that any knife is better than none. However, fixed blades do have an edge over folders for survival. A fixed tang provides much greater strength for constructing shelters or splitting firewood. However, a smaller knife is much easier to control for precision work while making snares or feather sticks. Ultimately, it’s up to personal choice and a person’s priorities for survival when deciding on the right knife.
Length
Knives in the 3-to-5-inch range are usually ideal for survival scenarios. Longer knives are better suited for wood batoning or fileting a fish. However, they can become unwieldy for delicate tasks such as field dressing a small animal. Longer knives also become heavy in a pack. We recommend going larger only for extreme tasks like wood splitting. We also recommend supplementing a larger knife with a smaller one to cover every task in a survival situation.
Why Trust Us
I’ve been covering knives professionally for more than a decade and have tested many “survival knives” during that time. I often destroy a knife’s factory edge by testing it on grueling tasks like wood splitting and carving. One of my favorite tests for any knife is cardboard ripping because the material is very abrasive. It’s easy to find out how quickly a factory edge wears down. Those are some of the tests I gave the knives on this list. Others were picked based on my experience with the brand or from having covered knives for so long. Some knives made this list at the recommendation of others whose opinions I trust.
Final Thoughts
The best military survival knife is the Ka-Bar Fighter because we felt it’s the perfect combination of size, practicality, and price point. It’s hard to find a large, fixed blade that’s the total package like the Fighter. Our runner-up is the 5.11 Tactical CFK 7 Peacemaker, and it was a close race. The only reason we picked the Fighter in our top spot was that its size felt slightly more practical than the Peacemaker's. However, all the blades here are highly functional knives that will be a tremendous asset in any survival situation.
And as always, if you're planning to travel, make sure you consult our State Knife Laws hub.
FAQs
Q: What survival knife do the Navy Seals use?
A: The Cold Steel SRK is famously given to graduates of the elite special forces unit’s grueling training program. However, Seals have been known to use a whole gamut of knives. Others carried by Seals include the Benchmade Adamas and many of Ka-Bar’s fixed blade offerings.
Q: Why get a horizontal carry knife?
A: Horizontal carry is an incredibly comfortable way to carry a fixed blade knife. It’s much easier to manage on a belt loop than on vertical carry. Knives carried in this manner are also easier to conceal for self-defense purposes. It’s also a great way to carry a fixed blade for EDC purposes. These knives usually also double as perfect survival knives.
Q: What is an EDC knife?
A: EDC stands for “everyday carry,” referring to any knife that a user carries continuously. Most people use pocket knives for this purpose. However, short fixed-blade knives are becoming more popular in the neck carry or horizontal carry positions.
