Survival / Specialized

Survival knives and combat knives were often the same knife. Military Post Exchanges offered knives for soldiers who preferred something other than a Ka Bar, Air Force Survival knife or trench knife the government provided. As soldiers travelled they had access to knives crafted in areas like Solingen, Germany and Seki, Japan. Magazines and outdoor stores offered a selection of knives in a variety of patterns made in the USA and imported.

Survival Knives are generally 5.5" or longer, 3/16" or thicker blade to handle abuse such as clearing brush, chopping, processing game and can be field sharpened with basic tools.  Some have pouches on the sheath or a hollow handle to store some survival items.