The Old Survival knife thing!

I remember as a kid at high school, we missed a day of sport because of the rain. A temporary teacher came, she was about in her late 50's early sixties.  She told everyone that there would be no sport but instead she would read us a story! Read a story??? What? we were all about 16-17 years old (that would be unheard of today). So that she did. She read Three Skeleton Key by George G. Toudouze 1937. A story of survival. She read it with such passion no one said a word, no one heckled her, no one was looking out windows or having to take a smoke in the toilets or throwing paper aeroplanes as we did in those days.

Later I watched on TV at some point, The Most Dangerous Game another classic story of survival by Richard Connell, 1924 and later turned into said movie in 1932. In this movie we got a glimpse of the Bowie knife or what was probably the closest rendition of an original Bowie according to historians, with a "bird beak handle" 

Years past and this romanticised thing of human survival was met with countless Sci Fi movies and the pursuit of innocents in the wilds by maniacs unknown! The thing about survival is part of our history, part of our genetics like it or not. For some it lies close to the surface, for many, it is something they would never want to encounter away from the comforts of civilisation.

What's interesting for me is that the "FAD" of the survival knife has never dulled (no pun intended!). Yes it was around before Sylvester Stallone brilliantly portrayed John Rambo in First Blood. Remember the Early Gerber, BUCK and of course the AITOR  Jungle King? Even a glimpse from Wiltshire with their (Wilkinson Sword) version of a "Survival knife", and later Dartmoor versions were popular back in the eighties.

Who didn't want one? Who wasn't allowed one? Who blew their pocket money buying one? Who regretted not buying one?

Since those times there has been a plethora of "survival knives" and one must ask why? Well, it's simple because it's the genetics speaking LOL. Bazillions of Chinese knockoffs of the Rambo knife and even Chinese knock off of the knockoffs LOL! The word genuine holds no value. Countless BUCK knock offs of the "Buckmaster". 

Boy, was I an idiot for not buying a genuine one when I had the chance! Too busy picking the same knife up and down asking for the knife cabinet to be opened every time I went into this particular shop, annoying the owner (just as well I knew him!).

SO, this brings me to the point of this article. I was looking at this Aitor for 3 years at least sitting untouched in the same place and now no longer, I took the plunge and am not dissatisfied. The Aitor Cuchillo 14" Survival knife with Aitor's proprietary stainless steel. They always listed it as CRO (for chrome) Mo Molybdenum and VA as vanadium of course. The word INOX simply means inoxidable and simply means "stainless". This knife was issued to the Spanish Special Forces back in 1980!

There are literally a plethora of manufacturer's claiming to be making the ultimate survival knife. Some designs I have to say border on "Mall Ninja" notoriety! Combine this with the SM (Social media crew) saying crap about saw backs when in fact these are NOT saw backs (on the particular knives they are talking about) but actually wire cutter notches! Remember RAMBO? Yep the back of the knife was a wire cutter and we do indeed see him demonstrate this in the movie. The Buckmaster also features wire cutter notches. Some modern variants exist here: as seen on this Cudeman "survival knife" (shown below) which does in fact cut barbed wire very well . This was a favourite of mine when I bought it but now I hate the handle. I need to grind it down to taper towards the back end, then it will be good.  

Although, better if it wasn't a hollow grind (but probably heavier). Anyway, one can see 3 wire cutter notches, two on the spine and one at the ricasso. Being a hollow grind makes it terrible at chopping as the blade behind the edge is just too thin and can not separate the wood enough. Cutting and levering is the forte of this knife (a strange combination- but originally designed for military usage in Argentina I believe). Plus it's very big and heavy at 6mm thick of 440C. I don't like to cart it around much these days, as it represents a lot more food I can carry by taking a lighter but just as useful, if not more, knife. This recurved shape is nothing new, it can be seen in knives and swords dating easily as far back as the Ottoman Empire days. You can see it on a recent model from Spartan knives too (a very good looking knife too, BTW).

 The following knife from Aitor is much more useful in design and practical aspects of field usage.

Here's why:

A more manageable size length-wise

Blade not too long for hunting (let's face it, if u are trying to survive in the wilds, u maybe required to go hunting)

No wire cutter notches (would be good but no big deal they are absent)

Spine serrations of sorts, good for "hack jobs" to help preserve the blade should one not be able to sharpen their knife in the field.

A small set of serrations on the blade-these are very good to start cuts on difficult materials, then to be finished off by the main blade.

A sharpened swedge-obvious reason this is a good thing.

Comfortable no nonsense wooden grip, can be "customised" to users hands.

Scales permanently riveted on, no chance of them accidentally coming off.

I reground the edge to convex (it was almost convex anyway when I bought it!)

Mandatory lanyard hole or at least some way to secure the blade.

Basic leather scabbard with a keeper loop as well, albeit made from weak leather thonging, one can easily exchange this for nylon cord.

 So there you have it a few thoughts on the ever present Survival knife subject!

BCT