7 Critical Differences Between Tactical and Survival Knives: Essential Knowledge for Every Prepper

7 Critical Differences Between Tactical and Survival Knives: Essential Knowledge for Every Prepper

As a prepper, I’ve learned that having the right tools can make all the difference in a crisis. When it comes to knives, understanding the distinctions between tactical and survival blades is crucial.

Let’s take a look at the seven key differences you need to know to make an informed choice for your preparedness kit.

1. Blade Design

The most basic difference between tactical and survival knives comes from their blade design. Tactical knives typically feature shorter blades, usually ranging from 3 to 5 inches in length.

These compact blades are optimized for quick deployment and close-quarters use, making them ideal for self-defense situations or urban emergencies.

Tactical knife blades often sport a tanto point, which excels at piercing tough materials like thick clothing or even body armor. The angular design of the tanto tip provides strength and durability, allowing for forceful thrusts without compromising the blade’s integrity.

In contrast, survival knives boast longer blades, often measuring 5 to 7 inches or more. These extended blades are designed with versatility in mind, capable of handling a wide range of wilderness tasks.

You’ll commonly find survival knives featuring drop point or clip point designs.

The drop point blade offers excellent control for slicing and skinning game, with a strong tip that’s less likely to break during heavy-duty tasks. Clip point blades, on the other hand, provide a sharp, controllable point that’s well-suited for detailed work and piercing.

When choosing between tactical and survival knives, consider your primary use case. If you’re more likely to face urban emergencies or need a blade for self-defense, a tactical knife might be your best bet.

For wilderness survival scenarios or extended outdoor use, opt for a longer-bladed survival knife that can handle a broader range of tasks.

Handle design is another crucial factor that sets tactical and survival knives apart. Tactical knife handles prioritize secure grip in high-stress situations.

You’ll often find aggressive texturing, finger grooves, and guards to prevent your hand from slipping onto the blade during use.

These features are essential when you need to maintain control of your knife in a fast-paced, potentially life-threatening scenario. Some tactical knife handles also incorporate materials like G10 or textured polymer that provide excellent grip even when wet or bloody.

Survival knife handles, in contrast, are designed for comfort during extended use. They typically feature a more neutral grip design that allows for various hand positions and reduces fatigue during prolonged tasks.

Many survival knives incorporate a lanyard hole for added security, allowing you to attach a cord and prevent losing the knife in challenging environments.

Some survival knives even have hollow handles for storing small survival items like matches, fishing line, or a basic first aid kit. While this can be a convenient feature, hollow handles can compromise the knife’s overall strength.

Full-tang construction (where the blade steel extends through the entire handle) is generally preferred for most durability in survival situations.

The choice of steel used in tactical vs survival knives reflects their different priorities and intended uses. Tactical knives often use harder steels with a Rockwell hardness of 58-62 HRC (Hardness Rockwell C-scale).

This high hardness provides excellent edge retention and durability, crucial for combat situations where you can’t afford your blade to dull quickly.

Common steel types used in tactical knives include:

S30V: Offers excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance

D2: Known for its wear resistance and toughness

M390: Provides superior edge retention and corrosion resistance

Survival knives, however, may use slightly softer steels with a Rockwell hardness of 55-58 HRC. While this might seem counterintuitive, softer steel is easier to sharpen in the field – a vital consideration when you’re miles from civilization and need to maintain your blade with limited tools.

Popular steel choices for survival knives include:

AUS-8: Provides decent edge retention and is relatively easy to sharpen

440C stainless steel: Offers a good balance of corrosion resistance and edge retention

1095 carbon steel: Easy to sharpen and holds an edge well

When selecting a knife based on steel composition, consider your ability to maintain the blade in various situations. In a survival scenario, a knife you can easily sharpen with limited tools is often more valuable than one with superior edge retention but needs specialized equipment to maintain.

The fourth critical difference comes from the edge type. Tactical knives often feature a combination of plain and serrated edges.

The serrations are excellent for cutting through tough materials like webbing or rope, which can be crucial in combat or rescue situations.

A partially serrated edge on a tactical knife provides versatility, allowing you to quickly saw through fibrous materials while still maintaining a portion of plain edge for precise cutting tasks. This combination can be particularly useful in urban environments where you might encounter a variety of materials that need to be cut.

Survival knives, however, typically stick to a plain edge along the entire blade. This design allows for more precise control in tasks like carving, food preparation, and skinning game.

A plain edge is also easier to sharpen in the field, which is a significant consideration for long-term survival situations.

The continuous plain edge of a survival knife also excels at wood processing tasks like batoning (splitting wood by striking the spine of the knife with another piece of wood) and feather sticking (creating fine wood shavings for fire starting). These tasks are essential in wilderness survival scenarios and are more challenging to perform with a partially serrated blade.

Tang construction is a vital factor in knife durability, and it’s an area where tactical and survival knives often differ. The tang refers to the portion of the blade that extends into the handle.

Most high-quality tactical and survival knives feature full tang construction, where the blade steel extends through the entire handle.

This design provides most strength and durability, crucial for both combat and survival situations.

However, some tactical knives, especially folding models, necessarily have partial tangs. While this can make them more compact and easier to conceal, it also introduces a potential weak point.

Folding tactical knives can be an excellent choice for everyday carry in urban environments where concealment is a priority, but they may not stand up to the rigorous use demanded in a true survival situation.

Survival knives, given their focus on durability and heavy-duty use, almost always feature full tang construction. This makes them more reliable for demanding tasks like batoning wood or prying.

The full tang design distributes force evenly throughout the knife, reducing the risk of the blade breaking or separating from the handle during intense use.

When choosing between different tang constructions, consider the trade-offs between strength and portability. For a dedicated survival knife, always opt for full tang construction.

For a tactical knife, decide whether the benefits of a folding design outweigh the increased durability of a fixed blade with full tang construction.

Tactical and survival knives often come with different sets of additional features that reflect their intended use. These extra elements can enhance the knife’s functionality in specific scenarios but should be carefully evaluated to confirm they don’t compromise the blade’s primary purpose.

Tactical knives might include features like:

• Glass breakers on the pommel for emergency egress from vehicles
• Attachment points for lanyards or tactical gear
• Low-profile sheaths for concealed carry
• Thumb studs or assisted opening mechanisms for rapid deployment

These features cater to the urban combat and rescue scenarios that tactical knives are designed for. A glass breaker can be life-saving in a car accident, while quick deployment options confirm the knife is ready when seconds count.

Survival knives, on the other hand, often incorporate features geared towards wilderness survival:

• Fire starters integrated into the sheath or handle
• Compasses built into the pommel or sheath
• Robust sheaths with many carry options and additional tool storage
• Exposed pommel for hammering

These additions complement the survival knife’s role as a multi-functional tool in outdoor environments. An integrated fire starter confirms you always have a means of creating fire, while a sturdy sheath with extra storage can help you carry other essential survival items.

While these features can be useful, they shouldn’t come at the expense of the knife’s primary function. A simple, well-designed knife is often more reliable than one loaded with bells and whistles.

When evaluating additional features, consider how they align with your specific needs and whether they enhance or detract from the knife’s core purpose.

The final critical difference between tactical and survival knives isn’t in their design, but in how they’re viewed by the law. Many jurisdictions have specific regulations regarding blade length, locking mechanisms, and carry methods.

Tactical knives, with their combat-oriented design, often face stricter regulations than survival knives.

For example, some areas restrict the carry of fixed-blade knives over a certain length, which could affect your ability to legally carry a larger survival knife. Other jurisdictions may have laws against concealed carry of certain knife types, which could impact your choice of a tactical folder.

As a prepper, it’s crucial to be aware of the legal status of your knife in your area. A knife you can’t legally carry is of little use in an emergency.

Research local, state, and federal laws regarding knife ownership and carry.

Some key points to consider include:

• Blade length restrictions
• Regulations on automatic or assisted-opening mechanisms
• Laws regarding concealed vs. open carry
• Restrictions on specific blade shapes or designs
• Special considerations for restricted areas like schools or government buildings

Remember that laws can vary significantly between jurisdictions and may change over time. Stay informed about current regulations and consider how they might affect your knife choices and carry options.

My Recommended Survival Knife

My recommended survival knife for a serious prepper is the Gerber Gear Ultimate Survival Knife.

What you will like about this survival knife is:

• DURABLE SURVIVAL GEAR: The Gerber Ultimate survival knife features a half-serrated, stainless steel drop point blade, a textured rubber grip, hammer pommel, emergency whistle, sheath with integrated sharpener, and fire starteralf-serrated, stainless steel drop point blade
• INNOVATIVE DESIGN: Multifunctional rugged sheath houses a sharpening stone and a ferrocerium rod fire starter, enhancing your outdoor survival capabilities; Includes ergonomic textured rubber non-slip grip in any outdoor conditionsa textured rubber grip
• OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS: Survival knife perfect for hunting, fishing, bushcraft, and everyday carry; An essential addition to your camping gear, hunting equipment, tactical tools, and hiking accessories
• COMPACT AND CONVENIENT: 4.8″ blade length, 10″ overall length and 11.02 oz weight make the Gerber Ultimate Survival knife an essential addition to your hunting gear and outdoor tool collection
• GERBER GUARANTEE: Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, ensuring quality and reliability in all Gerber essential hunting gear

I really like this knife because it is a true multi-purpose knife – ideal for survival. Its technical specifications state that it can handle all of the following : Hunting, Carving, Mincing, Bushcrafting, Peeling, Skinning, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, Whittling. This means it is designed so that it has a very wide range of practical uses in a survival scenario.

It also comes with lots of extra items which means you don’t need to carry alot of other items in your survival backpack. Speaking of backpacks, you can read our article about survival backpacks here.

Whilst not the cheapest knife on the market (it has a mid-range price, currently around $45 on Amazon) it has excellent features for its price point. You can get your Gerber Gear Ultimate Survival Knife here

For those of you who like more details about a product before malking your purchase, you can read our in depth review article about this particular survival knife here.

The following photo shows a typical tactical knife.

Note the key differences between this and a typical survival knife.

The tactical knife is designed for EDC (everyday carry). It is a folding knife, whereas typically, a survival knife has a fixed blade.

The tactical knife has a blade of 3.5 inches, whereas a typical survival knife has a longer blade. (normally over 5 inches).

What is the main difference between a tactical and survival knife?

The main difference comes from their intended use. Tactical knives are designed for combat and self-defense situations, typically featuring shorter blades and combat-oriented features.

Survival knives are built for wilderness use, with longer blades and features geared towards outdoor tasks.

How long should a good survival knife be?

Most experts recommend a blade length between 4 to 6 inches for a survival knife. This length provides versatility for various tasks while remaining manageable.

Can a tactical knife be used for survival purposes?

While a tactical knife can be used for some survival tasks, it’s not ideal. Tactical knives often lack the blade length and robustness needed for heavy-duty wilderness use.

What type of steel is best for a survival knife?

High-carbon steels like 1095 or tool steels like D2 are popular for survival knives because of their toughness and ease of sharpening. Stainless steels like 440C offer better corrosion resistance but may be harder to sharpen in the field.

Are serrated edges useful on a survival knife?

While serrated edges can be helpful for cutting rope or fibrous materials, most survival experts prefer a plain edge for its versatility and ease of sharpening.

What is full tang construction, and why is it important?

Full tang means the knife blade extends through the entire handle. It’s important for survival knives as it provides most strength and durability for demanding tasks.

Are folding knives suitable for survival situations?

While folding knives are more compact, they’re generally not recommended as primary survival knives because of their potential weak points. Fixed blade knives are typically more reliable for survival use.

What features should I look for in a tactical knife sheath?

A good tactical knife sheath should offer secure retention, quick access, and many carry options. Look for features like adjustable retention, MOLLE compatibility, and concealment-friendly designs.

How often should I sharpen my survival knife?

The frequency of sharpening depends on use, but it’s good practice to touch up the edge after each use and perform a more thorough sharpening when the knife struggles to slice paper easily.

Are expensive knives always better for survival or tactical use?

Not necessarily. While high-end knives often offer superior materials and craftsmanship, many affordable options provide excellent performance.

Focus on finding a knife that meets your specific needs and budget.

1. Blade design differs significantly: tactical knives have shorter blades optimized for combat, while survival knives have longer blades for wilderness tasks.
2. Handle ergonomics prioritize different aspects: aggressive grip for tactical knives, comfort for extended use in survival knives.
3. Steel composition balances hardness and ease of sharpening differently in tactical and survival knives.
4. Edge types vary: tactical knives often include serrations, while survival knives typically have plain edges for versatility.
5. Full tang construction is crucial for survival knives, while some tactical knives may have partial tangs for compactness.
6. Additional features reflect intended use: combat-oriented for tactical, wilderness-focused for survival knives.
7. Legal considerations may impact your choice between tactical and survival knives, so research local laws carefully.