How to Use a Survival Knife

Now that you have your survival knife picked out -- and you're good and lost in the wilderness -- let's go over some of the ways your knife can help you out.

Depending on the situation, some of the first things you'll probably need to accomplish include bandaging wounds, starting a fire and building a shelter. A survival knife can help with all three. Whether it's cutting thread and gauze; collecting tinder, kindling and firewood; starting the fire; or fashioning the shelter and lashing down a windproof material with appropriate lengths of rope, you'll often find your knife handy.

At this point your stomach is probably rumbling, so let's consider how a survival knife can help you snag some grub. You can use it to collect edible plants; carve spears, fishhooks and components of animal traps; skin game; gut fish and avoid eating with your fingers (as long as you're very careful about it, of course). Beyond these common uses, you may stumble across others particular to your specific survival scenario. For example, if your knife is shiny enough you can use it to signal distress.

Don't be tricked into buying a gimmicky knife like the ones with hollow handles for storing other emergency supplies. Not only do you sacrifice strength by reducing the tang, what happens if you lose it? You're out a lot more than a knife! Keep other survival gear in a separate wilderness survival kit, which you can read more about in the article How Wilderness Survival Kits Work.

It can't hurt to carry a spare either. This can be another survival knife like the type we've been talking about, or it can be a folding knife or a multipurpose utility tool, which while less strong than a fixed blade, can still be useful for tasks that involve slicing and skinning. If you lose your main knife this one won't be able to fully replace it, but it'll be better than nothing. Just be careful -- these blades are less reliable and may pose a safety risk since they can snap shut on your fingers, even with a locking mechanism.

Find more safety tips for using your new survival knife on the next page.

A survival knife can help save your life, but it can also cause you harm if you aren't careful using it. The most basic safety measure is to always cut away from your body. Keep your eyes on what you're doing, and keep a firm grip on the knife and whatever you're cutting so there are no slipups. You also want to make sure you don't run with a knife, try to grab a falling knife or leave a knife lying around unsheathed. Always use two hands if you're closing a folding knife.

Be extremely careful about using a knife if you're not focused on the task at hand. Hunger, thirst, cold and exhaustion can all be powerful distractions, so make sure you're up to performing whatever activity you're attempting. Otherwise, you could just end up making your situation more dire.

Since your survival knife is so incredibly useful, you'll want to take great care you don't damage or lose it. If you don't let it down in this respect, it's much less likely to let you down in return. Survival knives are built tough to undergo rigorous use, but some are less durable than others so it's usually best to avoid getting too creative when using them. For example, since these knives aren't meant to bend, they can break if you try to use them to pry things open. You also want to avoid using then as awls because this can damage the tip. Don't stick your knife into the ground and don't heat it unless it's essential.

Keep the knife clean, dry and sharp at all times. When you sharpen it, be careful to maintain the point and overall shape of the blade or it could weaken. Always make sure you put it away (ideally fastened to your belt) after you've finished using it, because otherwise you could break camp without grabbing it. Sheaths can be made of many materials like leather, metal, plastic or cloth. Whichever you choose, make sure it's reinforced and attaches firmly to your body. A hole for hanging it on a lanyard can be handy, too. Remember never to throw your knife either -- beyond possibly damaging it, this is also a good way to lose it.

One last good tip is to always buy a survival knife from someone knowledgeable in the field. It's worth the trip to a specialty store to know you have a knife that won't let you down, even in the face of dire circumstances. For more information that can help you out in a pinch, venture a look at the links on the following page.