[Rourke: The post below was sent to me way back in 2012. I noticed it was no longer published on the internet so I decided to republish it here. Definitely food for thought.]  What is a survival blade and how does it relate to everyday carry. I had a guy in a kung fu/FMA class ask me what was the best knife to use in a fight. I responded the one you have in your hand when it starts. There is no definitive answer to this dilemma. It all depends.
It depends on the day and what your level of EDC is. I had a knife sparring match with a man several years ago. He was a highly skilled martial artist, former green beret. I was trying to illustrate the point about knife-stopping power. We then knife sparred. I turned his arms and wrists red for several minutes. He then saw what I had done and found I did not have any marks on me. He realized I had some experience with knives. He then stated that he liked dagger-type blades for their versatility. I stated I agreed but to a point. I stated they were only good for concealed carry and not for battlefield use. He argued. I walked out to my truck and got out a dagger and my bowie knife. I asked him to cut the 1x 6 board I brought in, standing up on its end. He just nicked it with the dagger. I split it to the floor with the bowie. I demonstrated knife-stopping power.  Knives are like guns in that they possess different levels of stopping power.
Go to the cold steel website and watch the cold steel kukri, one of my favorite knives, cut 11 one-inch thick manila ropes in a bundle with one cut. Watch the cold steel owner cut the head off of a pig carcass with one flick of the wrist. People, this is serious stopping power. Do I like this blade, oh yeah. But it is only applicable to certain carry options. I go to a much smaller bowie blade in a shoulder holster for other carry situations or to a dagger on the belt for concealed carry for every day.Â
But the point is I carry something every day. Be aware of what you want out of your knife.
Brett
I like knives, mostly small lock blade folders, I carry one every day for work. Not for defensive needs but for opening packages and stuff like that. It’s just another tool, like my daily carry flashlight. Currently it’s a CRKT SQUID. I don’t really have a need to carry a knife when not at work, and carrying a pistol sort of eliminates any interest in knife fighting 🙂
John I agree to a degree.. I never go anywhere without a knife, a light, and other stuff… Which means I generally have 15-20 lbs of pocket trash 🙂 .. . I’ve been dithering on a Kukri for a while .. the one I want is a little pricey.. I have a full tang Winchester with similar careerists .. a thick blade Shrade (great for batoning wood), A K-bar fighter (USMC Calamus), and Fairburn Sikes dagger (not a fan personally .. but its a collector) I do really like classical Karambits too.. that tooth really catches anything close for it’s size and has sharp leading AND trailing edge on the claw.. Of course you can’t carry them all at once, you’d rattle like a tinkers cart.. Some of it stays with the bag in the truck.. I agree a concealed carry pistol is a great defensive tool.. if a little noisy (going loud can be good though).. a knife provides quieter options for whatever you need is all I’m saying, and has as John mentioned near infinite Utility (I am a CRKT guy as well – fair blade at a good price point).
Thanks for the article..
GG58
I really liked the website for Cold Steel. I didn’t get a knife but I got something I need. (I can always justify stuff I need, especially when I get a comment from my doctor about my stumbling). Anyway, I ordered a Cold Steel Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick which is a throw back to the Irish Shillelagh. As I’ve gotten older I’m having problems with my stability. I tend to keep going forward when my feet stop. I think like Mr. John Gault. The walking stick will keep me balance, the knob on the end will be for limited self defense, my concealed weapon will take care of business if needed.