This style of blade is great for hunting and other butcher-like tasks such as: The drop point is thicker at the tip, which makes it stronger and preferable for any task that requires prying something apart with the knife tip. If it’s very hot and humid, you run the risk of your hand slipping and getting cut since the edges are so smooth and rounded. But the job you need the knife to do will help you decide how long the blade should be. Fixed blade knives can serve a variety of purposes and functions. CPM-S35VN is about 15% tougher than S30V steel. The hardness of the blade means how resistance it is to deformation under heavy use (how likely it is to get bent). We understand that some hunters prefer to bring along the best fixed blade survival knife on their trip. If you want a tactical knife with good durability and functionality that doesn’t look clunky or takes up a lot of space, the Godson is a great option. The U.S. military is home to the best and brightest. Mossy Oak Fixed Blade Knife, 7.5 Inch Drop Point Survival Knife with 3.5 Inch Full Tang Blade, G10…. The Pro-Tech Godson is THE knife for those who like to show off their style. Most experts agree that a drop point blade is the best all-around blade. The sheath can mount to this or your belt in a vertical or horizontal style. The 9-inch tactical knife has a sharp dual-point dagger 4.7-inch full tang blade which is made of strong 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel and it has a good edge retention. It is now, arguably, more practical than ever, with the ability to open with the push of one button. With that history, this knife is definitely sure to turn heads, as it looks like it’s ready for a fight. We love the look, feel, and performance. It can do both big jobs and small – the ergonomics of the knife make it feel compact and easy to use while completing all the jobs of a bigger knife. That’s because this knife was designed by the famed Alan Folts. G-10 is made by taking fiberglass and soaking it in epoxy resin. We find this ideal for most jobs we encounter. However, each offers unique features that will suit every user differently. The tip of a tanto blade is thicker than that of a normal blade due to the angle. The blade is made of CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC), which is a powder-made, hardened, corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The sheath is glass-reinforced nylon, while the small handle is made from G10 material. We like this for visibility, but it’s also not inconspicuous. The Spyderco Nightstick is the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice for Best New Tactical Fixed Blade 2020! The sheath also has a couple of nice features. It does not have an automatic deployment, but a standard flipper opening. Now for something completely different, Uncle Henry, makes a traditional American style hunting knife. Built tough for rough conditions, the drop-point 4.40-inch, 0.164-inch thick drop-point blade is made from extremely strong CPM-S30V 58-60 HRC stainless steel. The Best Fixed-Blade Knives of 2020 Let’s take a look at fifteen of the best-fixed blade knives that you can use for all your survivalist and self-defense needs available on the market today. One other option you have is folding or fixed, and any hunter worth his salt knows fixed blades are considerably more durable. For some of the heavier duty knives, we even chopped wood with them to see how well they held up. The G10 handle of this knife and the entire design makes it extremely attractive. This translates to the Small Pocket Everyday Wharncliffe knife from Columbia River Knife And Tool. This knife is made of 1095 Cro-Van steel. Knife Center has some of the most popular and best tactical knives that were made with our troops and your wallet in mind. Plus, it’s made in the U.S.A. for that high quality you can rely on. They both have an ergonomic handle that provides a secure grip even with gloves on. They demand a certain level of toughness and reliability that we all want in a knife. The color options for the Cold Steel Recon 1 are limited: it comes in a few variations of black, green, tan, and steel. For a price point of under $150, you can’t get much better than the Spyderco PM2. In a tactical situation, action is faster than reaction. High carbon blades tend to hold an edge better and be more durable. Although this knife doesn’t have an automatic deployment, it features a quick, butter-smooth, one-handed deployment that runs on the KVT ball-bearing pivot. This isn’t uncommon, but it is undesirable. The strength of your grip won’t matter here, as the grooves will stop your hand from slipping. Why have one knife for hunting and another for your EDC kit? Most are one variation or another of high carbon or stainless steel. Save for a few of the pricier, more “fashionable” models, this knife is generally affordable. Are you hunting bears, ducks, or hoping to hook a catfish? However, they will also need to be sharpened far more often. This makes for one fairly heavy hunting knife at 1 pound and 7.6 ounces. Yes, that’s just the blade! Schrade Neck Knife. by Norman Turner - Last updated December 2, 2020. This gorgeous knife catches the eye instantly with its steel-colored aesthetic. While most of the other knives have their strengths subtly and elegantly, this knife is unapologetically meant for an outdoor, tactical environment. This is why they advertise it as one of the best EDC survival knives. There are also finger grooves for additional control over the blade when cutting. It offers a 4-inch blade and measures 8.5 inches overall. There’s no need to hunt with a bow or rifle when you carry this knife…. Unlike the Yojimbo though, the Ronin 2 doesn’t need to be opened before use, and its skeletonized full-tang construction makes it light enough at 3.9 oz for everyday carry. While its style is not as “classy and timeless” as a few of the others we’ve showcased here, it is a very functional, basic, utilitarian knife that will last you a long time with a great quality steel blade that won’t quit on you. It’s composed of 420HC steel, which delivers excellent edge retention and strength. This blade is composed of 420HC stainless steel. This blade is made of CPM-S35VN steel, which, as we’ve mentioned before, is premium-quality steel. With an insanely sharp tip, this knife can pierce through just about anything (and look great while doing it). You could find a better knife to do either of those things, but this is a great knife that does both. This knife does not arrive with a super sharp edge to it. Tactical fixed blade knives are growing in popularity and for good reason too. So, it makes the blade ideal for field dressing your game. It’s not meant to be stylish or aesthetically pleasing – it’s meant to get a job done in the most efficient way possible, and that’s exactly what it does. KA-BAR 1217 Full Size USMC Fighting Knife 7" Plain Blade, Leather…. One of the most aggressive looking tactical knives featured, the MX-8055 Fixed Blade Tactical Knife measures 11-inches long, with a six-inch, 5mm wide blade with one role in mind; fighting. The Ka-Bar USMC knife is a fixed blade knife with a 7″ blade and a handle of 4.84″. The 1095 carbon steel has been given a bright orange powder coat finish. What makes this blade ideal for the outdoors? The thinness of the blade allows for finer cuts and thinner lines—this is great, especially if you’re doing things that require detailed work. You could have one great knife that fits both roles. This legendary blade was issued to Marines in the second World War and remains popular today. If you’re looking for the best fixed blade survival knife for hunting, then you’ll want to check out this next option. Based on the knives' unique qualities and functionality, each one has its place in the world of survival. Factors we emphasized in our search were: You’ll notice that the knives featured here are foldable as opposed to retractable – this is because the mechanism on retractable knives can easily get mucked up over time and stop locking as well. That’s when you know the knife will get the job done quickly and efficiently. It can be a bit trickier to sharpen, but with the right tools, this blade will sharpen better than other steel materials. Whatever the situation, we have all your knife needs covered. This is a great blade for hunting expeditions due to its dimensions. Gerber designed this knife to free aircrew and passengers from a downed aircraft. CPM S30V is considered premium grade stainless steel because of its high durability, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. However, since this is higher quality steel, it can be more difficult to sharpen and require special sharpening stones. It doesn’t sport any flashy branding – it promotes itself by its quality of function. It is then given a black ceramic coating to eliminate reflection and corrosion. Ease of use is extremely important: it doesn’t matter how finely a knife can slice if it’s a pain to open it up or unsafe to close. The sheath is made from leather, and also of rather decent quality. Overall this knife is 7.9 inches, while the blade itself comes in at 3.4 inches. Best Affordable Fixed Blade Knife: Gerber StrongArm A Fixed-Blade On A Budget. Sometimes it’s best to be prepared. It’s easier to polish and is all-around a great quality, durable steel blade. Even better, the G10 handle has finger grooves and jimping for maximum control. This brings the overall length in at 10.5 inches, with a weight of 7.5 ounces. There are some knives with unique opening mechanisms. As with the Godson, this knife can be as flashy or as subtle as you want it to be. If you’re headed out hunting, camping, or planning to do some survival training, you might want to take this blade along. Then we wonder how we could consider those other options top-notch. Choosing a knife for self-defense goes beyond aesthetic, design, or hype. The Godson has an automatic deployment. It’s a beauty and a beast all in one. Are you looking for the best knife for camping expeditions? So, yeah, it’s rather tough. This handy knife is 3.75oz, with a blade length of 3.44″ and an overall length of 8.28″. The blade itself is .12″ thick, which hovers around the average of the ones we’ve shown here. We also like the Staglon handle for its eye-catching appeal. It features palm swells to provide a more comfortable grip and an aluminum pommel/guard for balance and safety. In addition to being considered the best combat knife, a reverse tanto has more steel bulk at the tip than other knives – other blade styles tend to taper off at the top, while a reverse tanto bulks up to make the angle. There is a black canvas Micarta handle, while the sheath is constructed from Kydex. The style of this knife definitely falls more into the “tactical tough” category, with several designs featuring skulls on the grip, and the classic finger grip for a more secure and safe hold. Are you looking for the best survival knife you can buy? The flipper is easily depressed with one finger on either hand. How long is the knife? The leather sheath is beautiful, but even better, it features a built-in sharpening stone. The round hole in the handle makes it easy for you to draw the knife but also holds the knife in place when not in use. The overall length of this knife comes in at 10.75 inches, while the blade measures 5.75 inches. A good grip has a hefty texture to it and a curved handle, but even this type of grip is somewhat reliant on the strength of your grip. Without a full tang, you will likely break the handle if you attempt to use it as a hammer. There are several blade shapes to choose from, but the most basic model features a tanto blade, which makes a sharp angle down from the knife spine to the blade. Read on to find out our picks for these best tactical knives so you can find the best one for you! Ontario 499 Air … If you want people to know you have a great knife, Damascus is the best material. If you’re a fan of military-style knives, then you’ll likely love the model #39LSF from Cold Steel. It has a full tang design, so even though it’s small, it is still rather strong. This style knife was initially made for marine soldiers during WWII. Which knife you choose should depend largely on two things: While only you can make that decision, we’re here to help: We hope this guide has helped you determine which tactical knife is best for you. This really is one of the best huntsman knives we’ve ever seen. The Zero Tolerance 0450 is incredibly easy to use. Overall this knife measures 4.8 inches. When it’s designed for the professionals…. That being said, Benchmade has added some slight modifications to the design. We can certainly see a number of preppers loving this knife for a few reasons. Machinability is a rating of how easily you can cut metal. When you put that up next to the mirror polished stainless steel blade, it’s almost too pretty to use, but don’t worry, you’ll definitely want to use it. While it isn’t quite as strong as CPM-S30V and will dull quicker, it is easier to sharpen and is less expensive. On the more basic models, the handle is made of anodized T6-6061 aluminum. Having said that, some survival knives make great hunting knives. As mentioned before, this is a hearty material used to build things that are meant to last, so this grip is made to withstand anything you put it through. If you want a subtle work knife, you got it. It’s a beauty for sure, but hunting knives are more about performance. At just under $200, this knife falls in the average price range of the knives we’ve shown here. The blade itself has a satin finish with no coatings. The blade is 4.8 inches long and is composed of 420HC stainless steel. 1095 Cro-Van steel is not 1095 steel; 1095 steel is like its precursor. Cold Steel 80PGTK GI Tanto Fixed 7" Carbon Steel Blade, Secure-Ex…. This knife is unquestionably the most affordable of all the options we’ve showcased here. To help you with this, we have put together this review, as well as a buyers guide. This is a fantastic knife for those of you who are getting out there and going on adventures. With the only branding on it being a small emblem on the blade, this is a stylish knife that isn’t ostentatious or flashy. Thicker, longer blades, however, will better stand up to greater abuse, like cutting brush away. This knife screams of Italian inspiration, like its parent knife, The Godfather. It also features two straps for securing the knife to your leg. This blade’s hardness is rated as 59RC. The original had a manual deployment. This is a great sized knife for large and small hands alike. In our opinion, that almost always means a solid, full tang, fixed blade knife. Specs and Features. The 8Cr13MoV high carbon stainless steel has been given a stonewash. That means that you get an ankle wrap sheath along with the blade. This knife's dualistically stylish and effective, with a wide range of price points and different color combination options to suit people with even the most eclectic taste. It feels substantial enough that it won’t fly out of your hand, but not so heavy that it’s cumbersome. Theusmarines.com is reader-supported. So if you are interested in splashing the cash on the best tactical fixed blade knife, then try out the MTech MX8054. After reviewing these knives, we’ve shown you that just because a knife looks small and stylish doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own. This is a military-grade knife, and it was designed for military use. That’s why some of the knives we have featured here have automatic push-button deployments or single-hand flipper deployment. The slim black clip blends in with darker clothing, and the dark army green goes with just about anything. The handle is made of G-10, a composite material of high-pressure fiberglass laminate, as in the Spyderco knife. This version has a strong coil spring action to quickly deploy your knife, and a strong lockup, so you don’t have to worry about unintentional deployment. For one thing, there is a concave ground gut hook designed into the blade. Let’s see how it earned its place among the best tactical knives. This really is the best survival knife for the outdoors. Considering the price point of $75-$100, this is a great quality knife. Each blade has benefits in specific environments, while a few are designed to be great all-around knives. The grip features very deep and distinct finger grooves for forward or reverse grips. That’s because this classic knife was designed right the first time around. This provides an adequate length for most hunting needs. Their model #SCHF14 is a full tang fixed blade knife that looks like it belongs in an EDC kit. Is it easy to re-sharpen (because you will have to eventually? There are a few different types of steel the blade can be made from. It’s 6.9 inches long in total and features a diamond texture rubber handle. This makes an ideal grip that will last through tough use. 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