To help you make an informed decision, we've enlisted the insight of noted survival expert and knife designer Doug Ritter. Doug is also the founder, publisher and editor of Equipped to Survive (www.equipped.org), a highly respected survival information source.

What are the general characteristics of a good survival knife?
Well certainly there's truth in the old adage that the best knife is the one you have with you. But generally speaking, you really want to have a proper fixed blade knife, one that is versatile enough to perform a diverse set of tasks and durable enough to withstand hard use. It doesn't have to be big and heavy, generally I think a 4"-6" blade is appropriate for most situations. The knife should have full tang construction -- that is, where the blade material extends through the handle. This gives the knife strength. I think the best overall blade design is a drop point blade. It's a versatile design that's very effective for most common field tasks and offers a strong point. A drop point blade is less likely to break at the point than the more common deep clip point design of Bowie style and traditional hunting style knives. A short, straight clip can also provide the same strong point.

What type of blade steel works best?
How the steel is treated is just as important as the type of steel. The best steel improperly heat treated and tempered is likely to be worse than a lesser steel properly prepared. 1095 and similar carbon steels remain the classic favorite of survival knife aficionados because of their strength and edge retention characteristics. But, because carbon steel is more likely to rust, these knives require extra care and attention many are unwilling to provide. However, most current stainless steels like AUS 8, VG-10, 440C, 154-CM, S30V and others will hold up just as well and require less maintenance and far less care. Technically not a stainless steel, D2 steel is becoming more popular because of its increased corrosion resistance compared to other carbon steels, and the edge holding and toughness properties it offers.

How about the handle?
The handle should be comfortable to hold in any position, which is why few well-designed knives have deep finger grooves. The best handles are designed to provide a firm grip and to be slip-resistant, especially when wet. If a handle is too grippy, or is textured too much, it can cause hot spots and blisters in heavy use. With smaller knives, particularly folders, it sometimes requires a trade-off of more grippiness to ensure safety. A lanyard hole is an important feature to prevent the loss of the knife. You don't need to accidentally lose your most valuable survival tool. Always use a wrist lanyard while working with a knife over water or anywhere else where it might be dropped and lost.

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