Preppers know how important survival knives are. They’re great weapons for self-defense and they can be used when foraging for supplies, especially when SHTF.

If you’re overwhelmed when trying to choose a survival knife for your prepping gear, here’s a quick rundown of some of the knives featured at PrepperCon 2018. (h/t to ThePrepperJournal.com.)

4 Kinds of hunting knives

There are different kinds of knives for every situation, but when it comes to prepping, your gear is only as useful as your ability to wield it properly. When choosing from the knives listed below, consider your knife-handling skills and what you’ll be using the knives for before you make your final decision.

Bowie/Clip point knife

In a survival situation, a Bowie or clip point knife can also be used for self-defense thanks to its intimidating blade. But consider two things before getting a Bowie knife: Are you bringing various tools with your or do you want to stick with only a handful of multi-purpose items?

A Bowie knife’s clip point can be used for carving wood or processing animals. However, it might break off if you apply too much pressure.

Drop point knife

If you’re undecided, try a drop point knife for your survival gear. This knife features one long sloping blade that ends in a point at the top of the spine on the knife. It also has a flat back, and a drop point knife’s blade doesn’t have a curve like a clip point knife does.

To make the most out of your drop point knife, consider the following:

• Comfortable handle – If your knife has a comfortable handle, you won’t tire easily even if you use it for strenuous tasks like chopping wood or preparing food. Make sure your knife has a well-made handle. Consider G10 grips if you don’t want handles made of cheap plastic or wood.
• A thick spine that offers a 90-degree edge – A knife with this kind of spine is perfect for tasks such as shredding fibers for tinder and sparking a ferro rod.
• Wide and thick blade – A drop point knife has a wide and thick blade, which can help prevent the tool from breaking. A wide curve is also suitable for skinning animals or fish.

Tanto (“short sword”) 

The Japanese tanto is a fighting knife blade and it’s a better choice compared to the two-sided spear. A tanto is a sturdy and strong knife, making it perfect for survival use. This knife has a flat edge, which is important in a survival knife.

Take note that while the blade of the tanto is easy to sharpen at home with a good stone, its dual-edged blade may be harder to sharpen when you’re out in the wilderness. (Related: What’s in YOUR bug out bag? 10 must-have multipurpose survival tools.)

Two-sided spear points 

Two-side spear points are uncommon and they are often used for fighting instead of for survival tasks. Most of the time, one side of the spear point remains sharp while the other becomes dull due to continued use. Unless you’re used to this kind of knife, you might risk injuring yourself. The two-sided spear point should ideally be affixed to a spear and used for survival hunting instead of being wielded as a knife.

When choosing a knife, consider what you’re going to use it for. Are you going to bring it with you when you’re camping or hiking? Will you use it when fishing, hunting, and preparing food? Or are you looking for a knife that can be used for First Aid and for self-defense?

You can learn more about survival knives and how to choose one that will suit your prepping needs at Gear.news.

Sources include:

ThePrepperJournal.com

ThePreppingGuide.com