Lots of hate in the comments on this one. My two cents: David is an old friend of mine in the industry, and I'm grateful he took the time to do a video with us. He's also a Marine, knife designer, and he's done a ton of good in this industry. Maybe you're personally not keen on his personality on camera.That's fine. I've heard I'm annoying on camera too. However, I think you've got to consider the fact that here's a guy that's been all over the place learning, teaching and growing in this survival sphere. He's used all the knives on the table (something I can't say I've done), and he's got insight that's valuable regarding survival knives. I'm glad we had him on Knife Banter. -Ben
hey , i know youve talked about this in small quantities before but i really have been struggling to find a fully costume knife maker that would do one or two knives for me . if you or your company could help me in any way id really appreciate it
Even as a military guy I would never touch a serrated knife.. hate them and the truth about tactical use, is a myth.. if you end up in knife fight, something has gone horribly wrong and it's time to use your backup piece, if you are not trained in knife fighting, run..
Cro-van is 1095 with a little bit of chromium and vanadium added. It is a slight improvement as far as edge retention and rust retardant, but not a huge difference..it will still rust, just not as quick, so you still need to dry your blade and rubbing a light coat of oil on it is a good idea, like any other high carbon steel blade.
Let’s make this easy. If your version “survival” is the occasional campsite that has a shower house nearby, you are camping and only need the Mora knife as you will be using a lighter to light your fire and you will only use the knife to cut food, open a bag, carve some wood. Be realistic with yourself. If your version of “survival” is packing a bag and doing primitive camping, you HAVE to stay away from high carbon steels. High carbon steels will ALWAYS rust and will not stand up to the elements. A survival knife should be able to handle any environment you go through without having to think; “is my knife okay?” If you are using a fire steel, use a striker as the fire steel will damage the spine of your knife. I personally like the Benchmade 162 as it has served me well, the spine did chip with fire steel, but it lasts a long time, cuts great with the 25 degree angle, just the best I’ve come across as of yet. It’s been in water, in the elements, hasn’t rusted. NEVER PUT A DIRTY KNIFE BACK IN ITS SHEATH! After using any knife, I wipe the blade before I put it away. Simply wiping it on my pants dragging away from the cutting edge will almost always get the job done. I’m always on the hunt for the “end-all” of knives, but the 162 has been the only one thus far to check most of the boxes. If you want a folder to double as your do-it-all knife, look into a Benchmade 275 in a plain edge. The D2 steel blade surprised me that it never rusted, held an edge incredibly well (20 degree was the sweet spot for me), the Axis never failed, but you do have to take it apart and clean it after any primitive camping trip. I’m not a Benchmade fan boy, these are just the two knives I’ve found to hold up the best so far. Get a good knife sharpener with a guided system and diamond abrasives, or get a worksharp belt system. Learn about steels, Rockwell Hardness (rh), and handle materials. Any coating on a knife will come off, G10 and Micarta are great, full tang is a must for “survival knives”, always do research and learn. As a final note, fire steel is great, but it takes a lot of practice, and even a seasoned survivalist will carry a lighter and or matches. Survival is not a fun situation. If you are having fun; you are camping. If you are buying a do it all knife that you plan to use for hunting, you are going to go hungry. If you are buying a knife to kill a bear or mountain lion; you are going to die. If you are reading this, you aren’t a “bushman;” you are a person who will most likely never be in a survival situation, but may be a person who will put themselves in a primitive situation. Educate yourself accordingly and be logical.
I bought one and modifed it to remove the top lump, make a wooden handle to fit, put a scandi edge and a leather sheat. The tip broke so I had to put a second tip on it but right now it's my favorite knife
The LMF II would be an interesting knife if it wasnt for the insane amount of realestate they gave the serrated section. They could certainly have reduced that space without impacting the point of the serrations.
I had one and it wasn't the best. The steel isn't the best when you take the price in consideration. The insulation is fancy, but that also means that you don't want to use the blade for hitting/ batoning, the blade will get loose in the handle (happened to me). The sheat is also made out of cheap plastic, mine broke after it got slightly caught in my rucksac during winter exercise. Interesting design and function, but I wouldn't recommend it for survival usage
its crazy to think dave inspired me to buy my first "real" knife in 2014 after i randomly watched one of fhis videos and ive been in the hobby ever since.
Listening to that dude talk made me cringe I felt like he was clueless going back and forth you talk about the knife know you talked about the knife. What's going on Blade HQ?
“canvas micarta, I don’t know if there is a non-canvas micarta does it come any other way” are you drunk?!? YES! linen micarta, burlap micarta, paper micarta, coffeeBag micarta, cork micarta, denim micarta, the list goes on and on
How can you have a video about the best survival knives and not mention the ESEE 6/ Ontario RAT 7 ??? ... and no survival knife should have serrations, they’re useless in a real survival situation.
UPDATED 12 07 18 My MSK-1 Knife. I ordered this and waited about 15 months, PREPAID. I paid for the deluxe sheath $40.00 more, but when the knife came had a cheap Kydex sheath. I was pissed, especially after waiting so long. A few days ago, the new sheath arrived, with an apology, and a letter explaining the delay. The original sheath manufacturer had failed to produce the product in the quality contracted. So the knife maker had to find a new sheath company. During the search, he was able to redesign the sheath for the deluxe model. This is the list of features: 1) It is now AMBIDEXTROUS. 2) Carrying position has 4 options, standard, scout, horizontal, or inverted 3) Add on gear option holes (fire striker, smaller knife side saddle) 4) Fully adjustable knife tension for standard carry vs inverted carry 5) Lower strap slots for more carry options 6) OUTER KYDEX COVER (SAND COLOR) can be removed to a standard olive green look 7) Accepts all MSK optional attachments 8) Heavy Duty Quick Release Belt Clip
Glynn Knox ur INSANE to have paid $500.00 fr piece shit hunk D2 Steel..!!!! knife is shit, design is shit, steel is shit & the guy that designed it a poser fugazi..!!
I got 4 survival knives. LMF II when I go into our main city and travel in underground subways. Good for smashing through safety glass and cutting all kinds of wires etc in a city disaster. Ka-Bar Crewman when traveling in opposite direction along highways towards the bush. Ka-Bar USMC for self-defense while scrounging around for food and supplies after SHTF and humans are killing each other for food, and a Large Ka-Bar TDI Tanto, serrated for backup.
He said "ridiculously good chopper" when I think he meant "ridiculous at chopping!" Its a foot long knife the same length as the Habilis S.R.T knife which puts this to shame in not just chopping but fine work carving, steel, price, design, sharpening, and just overall bushcraft field use! #KnifeAbility
Did he just say that ontario blackbird was basically a scandi grind ? It's not even close to a scandi . I don't wana throw hate but how are you a knife expert and not know steels and grinds ?
@@peterv1318 And to not know about Micarta? To not know 1095 Cro-Van is 1095 with chromium and vanadium added for strength? Those were things I learned in Boy Scouts.
Thanks for bringing these videos to your channel. Unfortunately this guy has become his own worst enemy by overcharging for his crap MSK knife system that is a complete ripoff. You could buy an esee laser strike, a BK 9, and a rat model 1 (D2) and still have change left over...ridiculous. Snake oil salesman and lost all credibility!
Putting my 2 cents in as i recently got to use it. His knife is good i havnt broken the tip nor would i know how to keep in mind ive broken a schf36 with almost a quarter inch thick spine. The msk1 is actually pretty good edge retention wise and holds a edge better then a esse5 assuming you know how to strop. I myself make my own knives as well now. And d2 steel is good... Now for the Cons 1. Price point is a little high 2. Steel is good not great. Thats pretty much all if it was a lower cost knife... Well it would have been better but seing that i prefer my BOB from top knives welll cant say much i did make my own version for personal use out of elmax steel and a leather sheath.
14:49 - I hear and view so many people say that a great advantage of a Scandi grind is that it is easy to sharpen, and my immediate response is "I wonder how many times she/he's sharpened a Scandi knife?" To properly sharpen a Scandi blade without either putting on a secondary bevel( by accident), or damage to the top edge of the Scandi primary bevel, requires a great deaf of skill, heaps of patience and so neat equipment. A badly sharpened Scandi grind knife may function, but could look like a dog's breakfast to get there. Flat and hollow point grinds are wayyyy easier to sharpen and maintain, because the secondary bevel is so narrow (1-2mm). If a hollow ground edge doesn't cut/whittle as well as a Scandi grind knife, then it has been sharpened as well. It won't, however, split logs as well as that is a forte of thick Scandi grind knives. Just my 2 cents' worth.
I understand your point, but I think the reality is just that. It comes out looking a bit rough but it works and it’s easy as long as you aren’t too concerned with aesthetics. If you do just a little bit of a shitty job sharpening a scandi blade it takes on a slight convex and microbevel, but the flat surface is a good guide. Anyway, I think blade geometry is much more important when you are thinking about what tasks you want to accomplish. Any difference in sharpening should not be the the primary reason to choose one geometry over another.
@@chriskp "I think blade geometry is much more important when you are thinking about what tasks you want to accomplish." Thanks Chris. However, that is the whole point of a Scandi grind knife. It is pretty specialised for doing very fine feathersticks, and similar carving. The minute you put on a secondary bevel, the knife will perform no better than a flat grind or sabre grind knife with a similar secondary bevel. That is my personal opinion only, never having used a Scandi grind knife. I would really like a comment from someone who does this a lot for a more informed assessment.
Great video. I love how he stands behind what he wants in a knife, even if it isn't popular. I also like how he talks about how you don't need an expensive knife to do a lot of things. Some of the most expensive knives I know are some of the most useless. They look good and all, but they are out preformed by a knife a fraction of the price. It's more about the skill of the knife user rather than the knife itself.
The knife is overpriced but he also has created an all around system and that taking the time so you don't need to think "what all would I need", in a survival situation. I wish he used 1095 as it is my ideal steel in a survival situation. However if this was a bush craft knife I would demand CPM 3V or CPM Cru Wear.
I knew he was gonna pull his MSK-1 out to show it off. I personally don't mind David, but I really do not like that knife of his for many different reasons. And personally I don't mind 420HC for a cheap hard use beater knife, but is it my favorite survival steel? Hell no! My personal favorite survival steel is Rowen's 1095 because it's tough, will take a patina with use helping it not rust, will sharpen really easy and can be sharpened on glass, a rock ect. Stainless steel can be really hard to sharpen sometimes especially out in the field. Now I do like CPM 3V as well, and plan on getting another knife with that steel, but if I ever had to sharpen it because it got dull from use I'd hate my f'kin life especially if all I had to sharpen the edge was a lil worksharp or something.
Am i the only one who thinks the guy from ultimate survival tips is a little bit drunk? I think it because i watched a ton of his videos and he speaks differently on his videos
Graham Howe In my opinion he seemed like he was slurring his words toward the beginning of the video so that's what I thought. I also feel that it isn't a bad thing. Drunken knife banter would be amazing.
@@MrPERPS which is arguably the same thing as survival. If you find yourself in a survival situation most of the stuff you’re gonna be using your knife for is bushcraft stuff
I have been trying to find a ultimate survival knife and have been shopping all over the internet and watching RU-vid and also watching your videos too. I just subcribed to your channel while viewing this segment. That's what got me to post this comment about the KA-BAR BK2. I saw it several times during my search for my ultimate survival knife and I kept thinking this was the one because I like the style of it and the blade but the handle on it should have had some sort of tpi or rubber or something because from what I see it looks like the handle would slip out of my hands if I was in a true wet survival situation. So that's the only reason I don't have it right now. But keep the videos coming because im learning alot from you guys. Thanks: Scott from Columbus, Ohio.
You're trying to get an MSK1? First, take out a $100 bill. Burn it. Take a second $100 bill and buy a Becker BK7. You've still saved $50 off the price of the MSK1 (which stands for Monkey Shit Knife) and you got a much better, more useful knife. You could also buy the Ka-Bar Heavy Duty Warthog for $50 and get almost the same blade shape and size, but in a better steel. It's funny, you could buy 6 of the Ka-Bar Warthogs and still be $20 under the price of just 1 Monkey Shit Knife.
A lot more than just materials go into making a knife, especially a hyper specialized design. He spent years perfecting the MSK1. Also maybe look into where the d2 is sourced from. D2 has now become a budget steel, but that's because it's made in China. Bob Doziers D2 blades still fetch a premium for a reason. Put OKC Rat D2 up against the one mentioned and tell me they perform the same. You might be very surprised.
My Top 10 Survival Knives 10. TOPS Steel Eagle 9. OKC Rat 7 8. Esee 5 7. Cold Steel SRK 6. White River FC7 5. TOPS Brakimo 4. Fallkniven A1 3. TOPS Tahoma Field Knife 2. Esee 6 1. Esee Junglas II Honorable Mention Best Budget Schrade Extreme Survival Knife Best Knife for the dollar Ka Bar BK2 The Knife that just missed in my opinion TOPS Silent Hero
House of Jello Productions I think they just are still stuck on blade show and survival the people want EDC stuff I would rather watch them do a store tour or what everyone in the office are carrying rather than this stuff
Graham Howe I think it's because they are just trying to push out content as fast as they can without a well-developed storyline like they did with the Spyderco salt video I don't know but you guys but I would like to see more everyday use videos not tabletop reviews like every other nice for reviewer
all these keyboard warriors... its so easy to talk smack rather that make articulate and constructive comments. Thanks for the interview Ben. I probably watch more of your videos than anyone should haha
Everything has pro's and con's. Constructive criticism makes the world go round and keeps nuts from taking control. The angry, uninformed, self centred, foul mouthed fools that comment ? Dropkicks are where you finds 'em and they are everywhere ! They have knives and guns too.
bp69 I don't understand the whole budget thing. Maybe for someone new to knives, but you get what you pay for. Higher quality steel costs more so why not invest? Just makes no sense to me.
Both of these guys know literally nothing about the knives that they are looking at. Even the viewers know more about them than these guys, what’s the point reviewing them if I can get more information from an actually informative source, not some biased channel that promotes products in order to increase sales and rip off people who don’t know any better.
I have the SCHF9 and the very day I received it I went out in my front yard and cut down a tree that was about 6 in. in diameter. I just wanted to test it to see how it would do. I successfully chopped the tree down. The tree was really ugly.
Paul Hughes how is it on sharpening? i actually bought schf37 because of that curved edge, which i have issues to sharpen on a stone.. And yeah man, those knifes are excellent, maybe you don't have the best edge retention, maybe it rusts but for sure you can depend your life on it, it never fails and never let you down, and for that price, i think those are the best survival knifes ever
Ghost32567 I use a puck stone, there used for axe's and machetes. It takes a little work but I can get a pretty good edge on it. I have a KME but the knife is to big and heavy. A Works belt sharpening system would be perfect.
Just get a 6 dollar diamond rod, works perfect and puts a razor sharp edge back on it. I had to adjust the bevel on mine from factory since the spine is so thick, it's hard to keep an edge with a thick bevel.
1095 steel is nearly perfect for survival it's tough yet easy to sharpen in a bad situation. While a Bush craft CPM 3V, CPM Cru-Wear, or Bolher K390 are all great they aren't my ideal for a survival knife. Cru-Wear would be the closest for me but the CPM 3V is my favorite steel. I suggest understand the difference between bushcraft and survival. Bushcraft is more like a camping knife. Survival is you are lost in bum fuck no where where you need easy up keep and toughness.
many problems in this vid. but 2 knife guys calling that a scandi grind was painful. though slight there is a difference in a real scandi grind and a scandivex. many simple terms screwed up in this video which shouldn't be possible with 2 apparent knife guys.
There good but overpriced just go get a mora blank and make some nice scales go for wood and make a leather sheath then you’ll get a knife you love that will work for you and possibly last long enough to pass on to you’re children
Whatever you do, do not buy that overpriced piece of crap that he is selling. My friend can attest to the fact that in a short period of time, doing the work it’s supposed to do, one knife will become two.
I think there is a lot of hubris going on when someone calls themselves the Ultimate or Pro anything. People get that into their heads and it seems like they act insulted if you teach them anything new like it wounded their pride. Folks need to realize that everyday is an opportunity to learn something new.
Stacy Boylan not like rest these "bushcrafters" "survivalist" pagliaccios with RU-vid Channels who make "feathersticks" "baton" piece wood with their $300 knife... all bunch metrosexual, simp, cucks.... only few guys on YT are legit....
That guy was terrible. Why would you have him on here? He said so many things that sounded like someone that doesn't know what they're talking about. 420 hc is his favorite steel, he doesn't know if there's any kind of Micarta besides canvas, a Beckley bk2?
lyman135 its his opinion, for fixed blades, 420hc is on of my favorites. Because its tough, corrosion resistant, and takes a great edge in the field. S30v is my go to pocket knife steel though
@@hunterglaspell5580 There's nothing wrong with liking 420HC. It's basic, but that makes it versatile. However, he's supposedly a knife "expert" yet he doesn't know a Scandi grind, doesn't know jack about Micarta, and knows fuck all about being sober on camera.
I love to see you guys join up with other RU-vid channels, I like Dave's channel and his videos, found it a long time ago before I found Blade HQ. PS: what's with all the hateful fuckers in comments sounds like y'all are butt hurt and jealous of him. Lol
down here in no knife australia. i never liked a fixed blade knife. but i'm coming around to them and i would, if i could, carry one scout carry. probably a 6incher micarta, kydex one then a smallish flipper like a elementum or bugout as a main user and as much as i love australia, i wish they would change their laws on knife carry.
What I want in a survival knife is a sharp 90° degree spine. I want 1095 steel for toughness yet easy up keep and very easy to sharpen. So between 6 and 8 inch blade. I like a Micarta handle and a kydex sheath. So the Esee Junglas II is my Ideal survival knife.
Also, love the Esee 6 both are great for a survival knife now I'm not talking about a bush craft knife. Where I would prefer CPM Cru Wear or CPM 3V for the blade.
Most of the wannabe Rambos will be dead within a week if shtf, 😂. No military experience, no extensive firearms training, no repetitive use and application of survival skills, these guys should just carry a knife sharp enough to slit the wrist,😂. I hope you aren't one of those guys, have a good day.
No such thing as a single ultimate survival knife or a single perfect blade grind angle or cutting edge angle. Horses for courses. If your plane crashes and you parachute out into the snowy wilderness, will you be carrying a machete? Maybe a bowie? A tarp ? No, you'll have nothing. On your next "survival" weekend go easy on yourself, call it bushcraft and take a small hatchet, sharp knife and a good saw and just have fun. Love machetes. Entertaining vid.
*David Robert was one of those guys that joined the Marines with the only reason being money for school and chose an M.O.S. that would keep him in the rear with the gear.*
Grizzly Country ur100% on point FUCK this POSER..!!!!! 2nd Battalion 1st Marines fought in the 1st battle at Fallujah in 2004.... this chucklefuck NEVER saw a day live action...& his knife sucks ass... D2 Steel $500.00 ??? this guy outta his fckn mind..!!!
EddieGuy VH that's because he tends to lean toward a general audience which is made up of people who can't afford to spend 400 bucks on a fixed blade. And you don't even need one, a 12 dollar Mora will last you a lifetime.
Not every knife needs to be a Busse or Dark Timber dude, and not every knife needs to be made out of CPM 3V either. I got some expensive knives, and I got some cheaper 50 dollar knives. I'd rather abuse a 50 dollar knife then snap my LT Wright Sospes for example. Not sure I agree with the steel snobbery that's taken over RU-vid. The first knife they showed off the Gerber Strongarm is tough as nails, and has been reviewed to hell and back and passed crazy destruction test. For 50 bucks that's a fantastic knife for the money.
I love my Mora Knives for sure. Not sure I agree with these kids that need a knife made of some crazy expensive materials for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Who wants to use something worth so much? I got a Fallkniven A1 I won't even use because I paid 200 dollars for it.
Unless you suck balls at wielding a knife and don't know what your doing then sure, enjoy all of those cuts. When I work with a blade I practice safety and stay focused on the task so I don't take a thumb off. I keep my knives hair popping sharp so if I fuck up, it's not gonna be a band-aid mate, I'm gonna have to go get stitches. And BTW I wasn't making fun of David for having a ton of band-aids all over his hands, I just noticed that he had a bunch.
@Just me Just me ya I've carried a belt knife for the last 3 years, and a folder for many years before that. Use my knife all day every day for work. Number of times I've cut myself, 2. That guy is neither "ultimate", nor an "expert". His channel is just a money maker for him, and it's quite obvious.
i trust a full tang over a rat/hidden tang. its just me id rather just be 1000% its durable and i can 1000% trust alot of handles aren't rectangular with smooth edges
Hope you know more about survival than you do about knives. If you want to talk knives know the difference between a flat grind vs. a Scandinavian grind. Convex vs. hollow etc. CroVan = chromium and vanadium added (for durability). People make a big deal about fulltang. Not necessary. Bo Randall proved the point(rat tang).The Glock 78 has less than half tang is legend for durability and is the deal of the century next to Morakniv.
Every knife I have ever broken was either quarter tang or rat tang. I don’t know how you managed to come to the conclusion that bigger and thicker piece of metal isn’t stronger than a thin piece of steel. That’s basic physics.
David seems like he would be hilarious to party with. I like that he has a sense of humor, and just seems generally happy. I'm a fan of Chris Tanner also, but he always seems kinda surely and not excited about life. Too bad the two don't see eye to eye. I think some of David's disposition could rub off on him, and that would be cool if he lightened up a bit. RU-vid drama is so ridick
I actually have the schf9 and the strong-arm and they're probably the two best survival knives I've ever used. And that knife that he was holding does have a scandi grind, which is a high ground bevel typically around 22 degrees.
Trivia: the reason the Shrades don't have names is because when you play shrades...you don't use words; people have to guess what you are...by what you're doing. (Oh yeah...that's charades!)
Im 60 and a knife guy. I see so much junk out there its unreal. I always carry 3 in the field. Thats another story. I want all of you to try something. Under $10.00. Been around for 100 years. Its made out of junk spring steel. Wood handle. 7" blade. Made by the Ontario knife CO. Its the old hickory butcher knife. Look it up. It fits perfect in my K-BAR leather sheath. Its razor sharp. Its pure junk. But i would trust my life with it. Every thanksgiving i cut the turkey with it. And i give them out for gifts at Christmas time. It will rust. Keep oil on it and you will love it. Buy 3. You will fall in love with it. I can shave with it. Have fun.
