The best survival knife
Quick answer: the TOPS Fieldcraft by Brothers of Bushcraft (around $190) is the best survival knife for most people: a 4.75 in, 0.190 in thick 1095 carbon steel blade with a modified Scandinavian grind, a bow drill divot and a pommel scraper for a ferro rod, per TOPS. For bushcraft in stainless steel, the full-tang Morakniv Garberg (around $160). For hard use at a low price, the Cold Steel SRK (around $70), the knife named in the most guides we read. Outdoor Life's toughest pick is the Fallkniven S1, a 5 mm laminated stainless blade. On a budget, the Morakniv Kansbol (around $50) is the lightest and lowest-priced knife here. For a compact knife, the Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter has a 3.38 in blade.
How we know: this is a research-based roundup, not our own field testing. Specs come from each maker's own page (the Cold Steel SRK's from the retailer listing), picks from published editors' guides named in the text, and owner opinions from OpticsPlanet reviews, and from TOPS's own site for the Fieldcraft, where they exist.
A survival knife is a fixed blade you can trust for cutting, carving, fire lighting and, on the bigger knives, splitting kindling. The choice comes down to blade length and thickness, steel, tang, grind, sheath and weight. Owner records on these knives are thin: OpticsPlanet has reviews on only two of them (five on the SRK, two on the Garberg), so we say how many owners each opinion comes from. Several editors' picks below come from one writer, and we say so where it applies. For smaller fixed blades you carry every day, see our best fixed blade knife roundup.
Survival knives compared
| Knife | Best for | Blade length | Overall length | Steel | Blade thickness | Tang | Handle | Sheath | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPS Fieldcraft (BROS-01) | Overall | 4.75 in (4.50 in cutting edge) | 10.00 in | 1095 high carbon, RC 56-58 | 0.190 in | Not stated (exposed at the pommel) | Tan Canvas Micarta | Black Kydex, ferro rod attachment point | 9.6 oz, knife only | around $190 |
| Morakniv Garberg (S) | Stainless bushcraft | 109 mm / 4.3 in | 229 mm / 9.0 in knife length | 14C28N stainless, 58 HRC | 3.2 mm | Full tang | Polyamide, friction grip | Polypropene, Multi-Mount Kit | 240 g / 8.47 oz | around $160 |
| Cold Steel SRK (CS-49LCK) | Hard use, value | 6 in | 10.75 in | SK-5, Tuff-Ex finish | 5 mm | Not published | Kray-Ex | Secure-Ex (material not listed) | 8.2 oz | around $70 |
| Fallkniven S1 (S1L) | Premium stainless (Outdoor Life: Toughest) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 247 mm (9.7 in) | Laminated VG7 stainless, 59 HRC | 5 mm | Protruding broad tang | Thermorun | Leather | 193 g (6.8 oz), knife only | around $210 |
| Morakniv Kansbol (S) | Budget | 108 mm (4.25 in) | 225 mm knife length | 12C27 stainless, 56.5 HRC | 2.5 mm | Morakniv Standard Tang | TPE | Polymer, leather belt loop | 134 g / 4.73 oz | around $50 |
| Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter (165-1) | Compact | 3.38 in | 7.58 in | S30V stainless, 58-60 HRC | 0.164 in | Not stated | G10 | Leather, ferro rod attachment | 6.45 oz | around $300 |
Figures are from each maker's own page (TOPS, Morakniv, Fallkniven, Benchmade); the Cold Steel SRK's are from the retailer listing. Inch values in brackets are our conversions from the maker's millimetres or grams. Morakniv gives two lengths (knife length and a longer product length), and makers weigh on different bases, so the weights are not strictly comparable. Prices are bands; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks
Best survival knife overall: TOPS Fieldcraft by Brothers of Bushcraft Knife
1095 high carbon steel, RC 56-58 · modified Scandinavian grind · 4.75 in blade, 4.50 in cutting edge (TOPS) · card: BROS-01
around $190exact price on OpticsPlanet
The bushcraft-style survival knife one writer picked first in three guides, with features built for fire and camp work. TOPS lists the Fieldcraft (BROS-01) with a 4.75 in blade and a 4.50 in cutting edge, 10.00 in overall, 0.190 in thick, in 1095 high carbon steel at RC 56-58 with a modified Scandinavian grind and a Black Traction Coating, a Tan Canvas Micarta handle and a 9.6 oz knife weight. TOPS describes a bow drill divot in the handle, thumb scallops on the hilt for carving grips, and an exposed pommel that is the tang of the knife, made to take a baton and fitted with a scraper for a ferro rod. The Black Kydex sheath has a rotating spring steel clip and a built-in ferro rod attachment point. Field & Stream named the Fieldcraft Best Overall in its survival knife guide (June 11, 2026) and its bushcraft knife guide (January 23, 2026), and Knife Informer did the same in its bushcraft knife guide (published Oct 6th, 2026). Read those three picks as one opinion, not three: all come from the same writer, Travis Smola, and the knife tested was the 154CM stainless steel version. The knife on this card is the 1095 carbon steel BROS-01. (Outdoor Life's bushcraft Best Overall is the TOPS Fieldcraft 3.5, a different, smaller model.) For the 1095 version, an independent Prepper Press review (Bob Augustine, May 13, 2016) wrote: "One area that it really excelled in was whittling." Of six owner reviews on TOPS's own site (hosted by TOPS, not independent), four praise its toughness for camp work and two say it holds an edge, while two found the pommel scraper hard to use on a ferro rod.
Pros
- Named Best Overall by Field & Stream (survival and bushcraft guides) and Knife Informer (bushcraft guide); all three picks are by one writer, who tested the 154CM version
- Built for fire work, per TOPS: bow drill divot, pommel scraper for a ferro rod, and a ferro rod attachment point on the sheath
- 0.190 in thick 1095 blade with a modified Scandinavian grind; TOPS differentially heat treats its high carbon knives, with the edge at 56-58 Rockwell and a softer spine
- Lifetime warranty on the knife against defects in materials and workmanship (TOPS); four of six owner reviews on TOPS's site praise its toughness
Cons
- Heaviest published knife weight here: 9.6 oz without the sheath (TOPS)
- Carbon steel needs care: TOPS says that with all knife steels, including stainless, small rust spots can appear if a blade is not wiped dry or kept oiled, and Knife Informer's version note says the 1095 version "needs more rust prevention"
- Two of six owners on TOPS's site found the pommel scraper hard to use on a ferro rod; one disliked the Kydex sheath and one saw the coating wear off in spots
- TOPS's warranty excludes rust and worn coatings, and says a hard baton used to split wood can count as misuse in some cases
Best for: a buyer who wants one bushcraft-style fixed blade for fire lighting, carving and camp work, and does not mind oiling a carbon steel blade. If you want stainless steel and less weight, look at the Morakniv Garberg.
Key specifications
| Blade | 4.75 in blade, 4.50 in cutting edge, 0.190 in thick (TOPS spec table; TOPS's prose says 4 1/2 in and 3/16 in) |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 10.00 in (TOPS) |
| Steel | 1095 high carbon, RC 56-58, Black Traction Coating (TOPS) |
| Grind | Modified Scandinavian grind (TOPS) |
| Tang | Not classified by TOPS; the pommel is the tang of the knife, exposed |
| Handle | Tan Canvas Micarta (TOPS). The retailer's model row for this card says Wood: confirm on the retailer page |
| Weight | 9.6 oz knife weight (TOPS); weight with sheath not published |
| Sheath | Black Kydex, rotating spring steel clip, built-in ferro rod attachment point (TOPS) |
| Designer | Brothers of Bushcraft (TOPS) |
| Warranty | Knife for life against defects in materials and workmanship, sheath one year; rust and use wear excluded (TOPS) |
| Model on this card | BROS-01, 1095 carbon steel. The retailer row also lists 4.63 in and 9.75 in, which TOPS's spec table does not |
Best stainless bushcraft knife: Morakniv Garberg (S) with Multi-Mount
Full tang, 14C28N Swedish stainless steel, 58 HRC · Scandi grind · 109 mm (4.3 in) blade (Morakniv) · card: M-12642
around $160exact price on OpticsPlanet
The full-tang Scandi knife in stainless steel. Morakniv calls the Garberg (S) with Multi-Mount a bushcraft knife with a full-tang blade of Swedish stainless steel (14C28N, heat-treated to 58 HRC) and a Scandi grind, and says it is compatible with a ferro rod and tough enough for batoning. It lists a 109.0 mm (4.3 in) blade, 3.2 mm thick, a 229.0 mm (9.0 in) knife length, 240.0 g (8.47 oz), a polyamide handle with a Dala pattern friction grip and finger guard, a polypropene sheath and the Multi-Mount Kit, a MOLLE-compatible mount for backpacks, snowmobiles or canoes. It is made in Mora, Sweden. Outdoor Life named the Garberg Best Production in its survival knife guide (published Jul 29, 2026) and Best for Survival in its bushcraft knife guide (updated Mar 12, 2025), but both guides describe a carbon steel Garberg, not this stainless 14C28N Multi-Mount version. On OpticsPlanet it has only two owner reviews, both from 2018: one five-star owner values it for food gathering in the back country, and a three-star verified owner liked the sheath, blade, spine and full tang but returned it because the handle was not grippy enough for them.
Pros
- Full tang, per Morakniv, and in stainless steel (14C28N, 58 HRC)
- Morakniv says it is compatible with a ferro rod and tough enough for batoning
- Multi-Mount Kit for MOLLE, backpacks or canoes (Morakniv); made in Mora, Sweden
- Named Best Production (survival guide) and Best for Survival (bushcraft guide) by Outdoor Life, though both guides describe the carbon steel Garberg, not this stainless version
Cons
- A thin owner record: two reviews on OpticsPlanet, both from 2018
- One verified owner returned it over the handle, saying it is not grippy and has no finger protection; Morakniv lists a friction grip and finger guard
- Thinner than the TOPS, SRK and S1 at 3.2 mm (Morakniv), and costs more than the Kansbol
- The retailer package list names only the knife; Morakniv says the Multi-Mount Kit comes with it, so confirm the box on the retailer page
Best for: a camper or bushcrafter who wants a full-tang Scandi knife in stainless steel rather than carbon steel. On a tighter budget, the Kansbol shares the Scandi grind but not the full tang.
Key specifications
| Blade | 109.0 mm / 4.3 in, 3.2 mm / 0.13 in thick (Morakniv); the retailer lists 4.25 in |
|---|---|
| Length | Knife length 229.0 mm / 9.0 in; product length 245.0 mm / 9.65 in (Morakniv) |
| Steel | Swedish stainless steel 14C28N, 58 HRC (Morakniv) |
| Grind | Scandi (Morakniv) |
| Tang | Full tang (Morakniv) |
| Handle | Polyamide grip, Dala pattern friction grip and finger guard (Morakniv) |
| Weight | 240.0 g / 8.47 oz, sheath not stated (Morakniv) |
| Sheath | Polypropene, Multi-Mount Kit, MOLLE-compatible (Morakniv) |
| Made in | Mora, Sweden (Morakniv) |
| Model on this card | M-12642, Morakniv item 12642 (the only row on the retailer listing) |
Best value for hard use: Cold Steel SRK 10.75in SK-5 Fixed Blade Knife w/Kray Ex Grip
SK-5 steel, Black Tuff-Ex finish · 6 in blade, 5 mm thick · Kray-Ex handle · Secure-Ex sheath (retailer listing) · card: CS-49LCK
around $70exact price on OpticsPlanet
The big, inexpensive workhorse, and the knife most often named in the guides we read. The retailer lists the SRK with a 6 in SK-5 blade in a Black Tuff-Ex finish, 5 mm thick, 10.75 in overall, a 4.75 in Kray-Ex handle, an 8.2 oz weight and a Secure-Ex sheath. Three publications picked it. Knife Informer called it the Best value for your money in its survival knife guide (last updated Sep 15th, 2026), TruePrepper its Budget Survival Knife (December 4, 2025), and Gear Patrol both the Best Bushcraft Survival Knife in its survival guide (updated August 7, 2024) and the Best Overall Bushcraft Knife in its bushcraft guide (updated December 2, 2025); the two Gear Patrol guides share contributors, Hayley Helms and Tanner Bowden. Knife Informer notes that SK-5 carbon steel requires more maintenance than stainless options and may rust if not cared for properly. On OpticsPlanet, four of its five owner reviews give five stars. Four owners praise the sheath, two say it arrived very sharp, and two mention the price. Two owners mention it is made overseas: one was surprised but still gave five stars, the other (three stars) will not buy Cold Steel again for that reason; neither the retailer nor the maker page we saved states a country. One thing to know about the card: Cold Steel's own SRK (SK-5) page lists the code CS-49LCKZ, while this retailer listing is CS-49LCK, with the same published specs. We could not confirm how the two codes relate.
Pros
- Longest and among the thickest blades here: 6 in, 5 mm (retailer listing)
- Named by Knife Informer, TruePrepper and Gear Patrol (twice, in two guides that share contributors)
- 4.6/5 from 5 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet; four owners praise the sheath
- The second-lowest price on this page
Cons
- The longest knife here at 10.75 in overall, and 8.2 oz (retailer listing)
- One of five owners marked it down because it is made overseas; the listing does not state a country
- One owner notes the blade arrives "covered in thick grease"; another would prefer a flat grind
- Grind, tang and sheath material are not published on the retailer listing, and the card code (CS-49LCK) differs from the code on Cold Steel's page (CS-49LCKZ)
Best for: a buyer who wants a large, tough fixed blade at a low price and will not baby it. For a lighter knife with a Scandi edge for carving, the Morakniv Kansbol costs even less.
Key specifications
| Blade | 6 in, 5 mm thick, SK-5 with Black Tuff-Ex finish (retailer listing) |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 10.75 in (retailer listing) |
| Handle | Kray-Ex, 4.75 in long, black (retailer listing) |
| Weight | 8.2 oz (retailer listing) |
| Sheath | Secure-Ex sheath; material not listed (retailer listing) |
| Grind / tang | Not published on the retailer listing |
| Made in | Not stated by the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | CS-49LCK (the only row on this retailer listing). Cold Steel's SRK (SK-5) page shows CS-49LCKZ; the relationship is unconfirmed |
Best premium stainless survival knife: Fallkniven S1, Thermorun Handle w/ Leather Sheath
Laminated VG7 stainless steel, 59 HRC · convex edge · protruding broad tang · 130 mm blade, 5 mm thick (Fallkniven) · card: S1L
around $210exact price on OpticsPlanet
A thick, stainless, convex-ground blade that two guides picked out. Fallkniven lists the S1 with a 130 mm (5.1 in) blade, 5 mm thick, in strong laminated VG7 stainless steel at 59 HRC, a convex edge, a protruding broad tang, a Thermorun handle, a satin finish, a 247 mm (9.7 in) total length and a 193 g (6.8 oz) knife-only weight. Fallkniven offers it with a leather or Zytel sheath; this card is the leather-sheath S1L. Outdoor Life named the S1 Toughest in its survival knife guide (published Jul 29, 2026), and Knife Informer made it its overall pick in its survival knife guide (last updated Sep 15th, 2026), describing laminated VG10 steel. One thing to know: the retailer listing also calls the steel laminated VG10, while Fallkniven's own S1 page now says laminated VG7. We go by the maker. OpticsPlanet has no customer reviews on this knife yet, so there is no owner record to report.
Pros
- Named Toughest by Outdoor Life and the overall pick in Knife Informer's survival guide
- 5 mm thick laminated VG7 stainless blade with a convex edge and a protruding broad tang (Fallkniven)
- Lighter than the TOPS and the SRK: 193 g (6.8 oz) knife only (Fallkniven)
- Choice of leather or Zytel sheath from Fallkniven; this card is leather
Cons
- The second most expensive knife on this page
- No owner reviews on OpticsPlanet yet
- The retailer listing gives a different steel (laminated VG10) from Fallkniven (laminated VG7): confirm on the retailer page
- The retailer listing publishes almost no measurements, and Fallkniven gives only the knife-only weight
Best for: a buyer who wants one thick, stainless fixed blade to rely on and will pay for it. If you want a Scandi edge for carving and fire lighting, the Morakniv Garberg costs less.
Key specifications
| Blade | 130 mm (5.1 in), 5 mm thick (Fallkniven) |
|---|---|
| Total length | 247 mm (9.7 in) (Fallkniven) |
| Steel | Laminated VG7 stainless, 59 HRC, satin finish (Fallkniven). The retailer listing says laminated VG10 |
| Edge | Convex (Fallkniven) |
| Tang | Protruding broad tang (Fallkniven) |
| Handle | Thermorun (Fallkniven) |
| Weight | 193 g (6.8 oz), knife only (Fallkniven) |
| Sheath | Leather on this card; Fallkniven also offers Zytel |
| Model on this card | S1L, leather sheath, plain edge (the only row on the retailer listing) |
Best budget survival knife: Morakniv Kansbol Fixed Blade Knife
12C27 Swedish stainless steel, 56.5 HRC · Scandi grind · ferro rod compatible spine · 108 mm blade (Morakniv) · card: M-13505, Burnt Orange
around $50exact price on OpticsPlanet
The lowest-priced knife on this page and the lightest, with a spine made for a ferro rod. Morakniv lists the Kansbol (S) in 12C27 Swedish stainless steel at 56.5 HRC with a Scandi grind, a 108.0 mm (4.25 in) blade 2.5 mm thick, a 225.0 mm knife length, 134.0 g (4.73 oz), a TPE handle, a polymer sheath with a leather belt loop, a lanyard hole and a ferro rod compatible spine, made in Sweden. Field & Stream named the Kansbol Best Budget in its survival knife guide (June 11, 2026) and Best For Fire Starting in its bushcraft knife guide (January 23, 2026), and Knife Informer named it Best Budget in its bushcraft knife guide (published Oct 6th, 2026). Like the TOPS picks, all three come from one writer, Travis Smola. Its trade-off is the tang: Morakniv lists a Morakniv Standard Tang, not a full tang, and Field & Stream says that is the Kansbol's only real downside and that it is not something to split wood or use on other heavy projects. OpticsPlanet has no customer reviews on it yet.
Pros
- Lowest price and lightest knife here: 134.0 g (4.73 oz) (Morakniv)
- Ferro rod compatible spine, Scandi grind, Swedish stainless steel (Morakniv)
- Named Best Budget and Best For Fire Starting by Field & Stream and Best Budget by Knife Informer, all by one writer
- Polymer sheath with a leather belt loop and a lanyard hole (Morakniv)
Cons
- Not a full tang (Morakniv Standard Tang); Field & Stream says it is not for splitting wood or other heavy projects
- Thinnest blade here at 2.5 mm (Morakniv)
- No owner reviews on OpticsPlanet yet
- The retailer description calls the handle polypropylene, Morakniv says TPE; the retailer listing also carries a Multi-Mount version (M-13507) that is not this card
Best for: a first survival or camping knife on a budget, for carving, food prep and fire lighting rather than heavy wood splitting. For batoning, step up to the full-tang Garberg.
Key specifications
| Blade | 108.0 mm (4.25 in), 2.5 mm thick (Morakniv); the retailer description says 4.5 in |
|---|---|
| Length | Knife length 225.0 mm; product length 250.0 mm / 9.84 in (Morakniv) |
| Steel | 12C27 Swedish stainless (Alleima), 56.5 HRC (Morakniv) |
| Grind | Scandi, profile (Morakniv) |
| Tang | Morakniv Standard Tang (Morakniv) |
| Handle | TPE grip (Morakniv); the retailer description says polypropylene |
| Weight | 134.0 g / 4.73 oz (Morakniv) |
| Sheath | Polypropene, polymer sheath with belt loop in leather (Morakniv) |
| Fire steel | Fire steel compatible, ferro rod compatible spine (Morakniv) |
| Made in | Sweden (Morakniv) |
| Model on this card | M-13505, Burnt Orange (Morakniv item 13505). Morakniv's spec block on the Kansbol (S) page is written for the Green colour; the M-13507 Multi-Mount row is not carded |
Best compact survival knife: Benchmade Sibert Mini Bushcrafter Fixed Blade Knife
S30V stainless steel, 58-60 HRC · 3.38 in drop-point blade, 0.164 in thick · G10 · leather sheath with ferro rod attachment (Benchmade) · card: 165-1
around $300exact price on OpticsPlanet
The small fixed blade for a pack or a belt where a 10-inch knife is too much. Benchmade lists the 165-1 Mini Bushcrafter with a 3.38 in drop-point blade in S30V stainless steel (58-60 HRC) with a stonewash finish, 0.164 in thick, a 7.58 in open length, OD Green and Red G10 handle scales, a 6.45 oz weight and a dark brown leather belt sheath with a ferro rod attachment, made in Oregon City, USA. Benchmade says it is built for heavy duty outdoor tasks including feather sticking, batoning, shelter building and food prep. Field & Stream named it Best Fixed Blade in its survival knife guide (June 11, 2026), and Knife Informer named it Best Small in its bushcraft knife guide (published Oct 6th, 2026); both picks are by the same writer, Travis Smola. It is the most expensive knife on this page and has the shortest blade. OpticsPlanet has no customer reviews on it yet.
Pros
- Shortest and most compact knife here: 3.38 in blade, 7.58 in open length (Benchmade)
- S30V stainless steel at 58-60 HRC, G10 handle (Benchmade)
- Leather sheath with a ferro rod attachment; made in Oregon City, USA (Benchmade)
- Named Best Fixed Blade by Field & Stream and Best Small by Knife Informer (one writer)
Cons
- The most expensive knife on this page
- The shortest blade here, below the 4.5 to 7 in range Field & Stream says is better for heavy tasks like batoning
- No owner reviews on OpticsPlanet yet; Benchmade does not state the tang type
- The retailer description mentions a carbon fiber handle and a molded sheath, which match neither its own spec table nor Benchmade's 165-1 page (G10, leather): confirm on the retailer page
Best for: a hiker or camper who wants a small, high-end fixed blade for carving, food prep and feather sticks. For splitting wood, Field & Stream says blades in the 4.5 to 7 inch range are better for heavy tasks like batoning; the TOPS and the SRK fall in that range.
Key specifications
| Blade | 3.3823 in (3.38 in), 0.164 in thick, drop-point, stonewash (Benchmade) |
|---|---|
| Open length | 7.58 in (Benchmade) |
| Steel | S30V stainless, 58-60 HRC (Benchmade) |
| Handle | G10, OD Green/Red, 0.925 in thick (Benchmade) |
| Weight | 6.45 oz, sheath not stated (Benchmade) |
| Sheath | Dark brown leather, belt carry, ferro rod attachment (Benchmade) |
| Tang | Not stated by Benchmade |
| Made in | Oregon City, USA (Benchmade) |
| Model on this card | 165-1, green G10 (the only row on the retailer listing) |
The best survival knife for camping
For camping, the Morakniv Garberg is our pick: Morakniv calls it a full-tang bushcraft knife in Swedish stainless steel, compatible with a ferro rod and tough enough for batoning, and its Multi-Mount Kit straps to a backpack. On a budget, the Morakniv Kansbol weighs 134 grams and has a ferro rod compatible spine, per Morakniv, though it is not a full tang, so keep it to carving, food prep and fire lighting. If you will wipe and oil a carbon steel blade, the TOPS Fieldcraft adds a bow drill divot and a ferro rod attachment point on the sheath. For a light pack, the Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter is the most compact knife here.
How to choose a survival knife
- Fixed or folding. Field & Stream calls fixed blades the more popular choice for survival because of their versatility and says folders are not robust enough for wood splitting, though they save weight. Gear Patrol puts the weak point plainly: in a folding knife, it is the pivot. Every knife here is a fixed blade.
- Full tang. For splitting wood, look for a full tang. Morakniv lists one for the Garberg; the Kansbol has a Morakniv Standard Tang, which Field & Stream calls its only real downside. Fallkniven lists a protruding broad tang for the S1. TOPS and Benchmade do not classify the tang on their pages.
- Blade length. Field & Stream suggests knives in the 8 to 10 inch overall range and says blades in the 4.5 to 7 inch range are better for heavy tasks like batoning. The SRK (6 in), the S1 (130 mm) and the TOPS (4.75 in) fall in that blade range; the Garberg, the Kansbol and the Mini Bushcrafter are shorter.
- Steel. Carbon steel needs more care: Knife Informer says the TOPS's 1095 version needs more rust prevention and that the SRK's SK-5 carbon steel requires more maintenance than stainless options. Stainless can spot too: TOPS says that with all knife steels, including stainless, small rust spots can appear if a blade is not wiped dry or kept oiled, and its warranty excludes rust. The Moras, the S1 and the Mini Bushcrafter are stainless, per their makers; the SRK is SK-5, per the retailer listing.
- Grind. The TOPS has a modified Scandinavian grind, the Garberg and Kansbol a Scandi grind and the S1 a convex edge, per their makers. Cold Steel's grind is not published on the retailer listing.
- Spine and fire lighting. Morakniv says the Garberg is compatible with a ferro rod and the Kansbol has a ferro rod compatible spine. The TOPS has a pommel scraper for a ferro rod. TOPS and Benchmade add a ferro rod attachment to the sheath; TOPS does not say a ferro rod comes in the box.
- Sheath. Kydex on the TOPS, polymer on the Moras (the Garberg with a Multi-Mount Kit), leather on the S1 and the Mini Bushcrafter, and Cold Steel's Secure-Ex on the SRK. Owners are split on the TOPS Kydex: one disliked it, another liked that its angle adjusts.
- Weight. The Kansbol is the lightest here at 134 g (4.73 oz) and the TOPS the heaviest published knife weight at 9.6 oz without its sheath.
- Carry rules. Knife carry rules vary by state and locality, so check the rules where you live and travel.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We found each knife on OpticsPlanet and read the full model list on each listing to find the exact row each card links to. We checked blade length, thickness, steel, grind, tang, handle, sheath and weight against the maker's own page for TOPS, Morakniv, Fallkniven and Benchmade, and where the retailer and the maker disagree we use the maker and say so. We could not re-read Cold Steel's live page (it blocks automated readers); a saved copy shows the code CS-49LCKZ and the same specs, so we print the retailer listing's figures for the SRK and say where the codes differ. Editors' picks come from Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Knife Informer, TruePrepper and Gear Patrol; we read each guide ourselves before naming a pick, print the date the publication shows, and say when several picks come from the same writer. Owner opinions are OpticsPlanet reviews, with the number of owners behind each, plus the owner reviews on TOPS's own site for the Fieldcraft. We give no ratings of our own. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best survival knife?
For most people, the TOPS Fieldcraft by Brothers of Bushcraft: a 4.75 inch, 0.190 inch thick 1095 carbon steel blade with a modified Scandinavian grind, a bow drill divot and a pommel scraper for a ferro rod, per TOPS. Field & Stream and Knife Informer named the Fieldcraft Best Overall, though all three picks come from one writer, who tested the 154CM stainless version. For a full-tang stainless knife, the Morakniv Garberg; for a big, inexpensive hard-use knife, the Cold Steel SRK; for a premium stainless blade, the Fallkniven S1, Outdoor Life's Toughest pick; on a budget, the Morakniv Kansbol; and for a compact knife, the Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter.
What is the best survival knife for camping?
The Morakniv Garberg, if you want one knife that can also baton wood: Morakniv calls it a full-tang bushcraft knife in Swedish stainless steel, compatible with a ferro rod and tough enough for batoning. On a budget, the Morakniv Kansbol is the lightest knife here at 134 grams, with a ferro rod compatible spine, but it is not a full tang. If you are happy to wipe and oil a carbon steel blade, the TOPS Fieldcraft adds a bow drill divot and a sheath with a ferro rod attachment point.
Is a fixed blade better than a folding knife for survival?
For most survival tasks, yes. Field & Stream calls fixed blades the more popular choice for survival because of their versatility, and says folders are not robust enough for tasks like wood splitting, although they save a lot of weight. Gear Patrol makes the same point about design: in a folding knife the pivot is a point of failure. A folder still works for lighter jobs such as food preparation. Every knife on this page is a fixed blade.
Is carbon steel or stainless steel better for a survival knife?
It is a trade-off. The TOPS Fieldcraft uses 1095 high carbon steel, and Knife Informer says the 1095 version needs more rust prevention. The Cold Steel SRK uses SK-5, per the retailer listing, and Knife Informer says SK-5 carbon steel requires more maintenance than stainless options and may rust if not cared for properly. Stainless can spot too: TOPS says that with all knife steels, including stainless, small rust spots can appear if a blade is not wiped dry or kept oiled, and its warranty excludes rust. The Morakniv Garberg and Kansbol use Swedish stainless steel, the Fallkniven S1 laminated VG7 stainless and the Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter S30V stainless, per their makers.
Does a survival knife need a full tang?
For heavy work such as splitting wood, a full tang is the safer choice. Field & Stream says that with a full tang a fixed blade can move from wood splitting to food prep to shelter building, and calls the Kansbol's lack of a full tang its only real downside. Morakniv lists a full tang for the Garberg and a Morakniv Standard Tang for the Kansbol; Fallkniven lists a protruding broad tang for the S1. TOPS and Benchmade do not classify the tang on their pages for the Fieldcraft and the Mini Bushcrafter.
Which of these knives work with a ferro rod?
Morakniv says the Garberg is compatible with a ferro rod and the Kansbol has a ferro rod compatible spine. TOPS fits the Fieldcraft with a pommel scraper for a ferro rod and a sheath with a ferro rod attachment point, though two of six owners on TOPS's site found the scraper hard to use. Benchmade gives the Mini Bushcrafter a leather sheath with a ferro rod attachment. TOPS does not say a ferro rod comes in the box.
Is this TOPS Fieldcraft the knife Field & Stream tested?
Not exactly. Field & Stream and Knife Informer tested the 154CM stainless steel version of the Fieldcraft. The knife on this page is the 1095 high carbon steel BROS-01, the version TOPS describes on its Fieldcraft by Brothers of Bushcraft page. Outdoor Life's bushcraft pick, the TOPS Fieldcraft 3.5, is a different, smaller model.
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