Full Tang Survival Knife – The Ultimate Tool for Survival

A full tang knife is also known as a fixed blade and it is made from one complete piece of metal. If you are looking for a good, reliable survival tool, get a full tang knife. There are many good folding knives out there but not even the best one can be as strong and durable as a good full tang survival knife.

A survival knife should function exactly as it sounds – it should be able to help you out in situations where survival is a must. It should be able to serve you well beyond its basic function of cutting and slicing; you should be able to use it to:

• split wood
• dig
• make shelter
• administer first aid
• prepare food
• make fire
• hunt for food
• signal for help
• defend yourself
• etc

When looking for a full tang survival knife, make sure you are really getting a full tang, not just a partial tang. Examples of partial tang knives are push tang and rat tail tang.

Push tang – the tang is pushed into the handle either halfway and in full and then secured with epoxy or glue.

Rat tail tang – the tang narrows down the handle. It is either threaded at the end or is welded to a piece of threaded rod. The blade is secured by a bolt or threaded pommel.

Most full tang knives have an exposed tang; it can be seen sandwiched between the knife’s scales.

Partial tang knives are cheaper than full tang knives which is why many people opt for these. But when it comes to survival tools, always put your money on the ones with the best quality. A full tang survival knife is solid and difficult to break so you can rely on it more surely than a folder.

Choosing a full tang survival knife – some factors to consider:
The blade:

Design – There are some debates going on about which is better: straight blade or serrated blade. Straight blade knives are great chopping wood and they are also easy to sharpen. You can even use a smooth stone to sharpen it if you don’t have a whetstone, while serrated edge needs a special sharpener.

Length – Another thing to consider when choosing a survival knife is the length of its blade. The best length of blade for a survival knife is 6 to 8 inches. Any knife with smaller sized blade will be difficult to use when chopping wood, cutting sap, making tools, etc. Knives that are bigger than 9 to 10 inches can be an effective tool and can even be used as a weapon but they are hard to carry and they can become a hindrance.

Metal – There are two types of metal that are used in knives: stainless and carbon.

1. Stainless – Stainless steel is said to be indestructible, can last for a long period of time without rusting, and they can really take a beating. But, stainless blades can lose their sharpness faster than carbon blades.

2. Carbon – Carbon blades can retain their sharpness longer than stainless blades. However, they rust faster than stainless.

Thickness

The most recommended thickness of blade for survival knives is 3/16 to 4/16 of an inch. Knives that have blades like these are extremely solid and can be used for chopping woods and prying.

Avoid knives that have a lot of flex in their blades.

Handle

There are different knife handles, some are hard rubber and some are polymer. When choosing a survival knife you should look at the handle.

Hollow handles should be avoided – a knife that has a hollow handle doesn’t have a full tang.

If the handle has a compass, avoid it also. The knife may have a cool feature, but you could have difficulties holding the knife.

Always opt for grip comfort. Make sure you choose a knife you can wield securely and use even when your hand is sweaty or bloody. It should have a handguard that prevents your hand from slipping on to the blade.

Sheath

The sheath can affect how you carry and draw your knife so you should also consider them carefully. Here are the 3 things you should consider in choosing a sheath:

1. Belt and Lanyard attachment. The sheath should come with a belt loop. The knife should also have a hole for a lanyard.
2. Lower attachment. There should be holes or attachment piece at the tip end so that you can strap your knife around your legs.
3. Strap. The sheath should have a crossover strap right where the handle of the knife meets the sheath.