Survival knives can be one of the most utilitarian tools a person can have whether it is in a survival pack for precarious situations, on your belt for a variety of uses, or with your fishing or hunting gear to use in field dressing animals or cleaning fish. Whatever your intended use is, a knife is not something you want to be caught lacking. With that being said here is a list of the top knives for multiple purposes you should never leave home without.

10. Buck Vanguard

One of the most readily available multi-purpose survival knives for hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen alike is the Buck Vanguard survival knife. Available with both a wooden or rubber handle the Vanguard is sure to please the pickiest of knife enthusiasts. The knife is great for skinning and any field care needed for game due to its strong yet flexible feel and drop blade. The 420HC steel blade is strong enough for near every test yet soft enough for easy sharpening in the field and keeps an edge very well. The Buck Vanguard is a great all around survival knife that will last for years when properly cared for.

9. SOG Field Pup

The SOG Field Pup has been rated one of the top survival knives for sometime now and for very good reasons. The Field Pup has a high gloss satin finish that is generally associated with high-end knives making this knife quite beautiful in appearance. Weighing in at only four ounces, the SOG Field Pup is applicable for any and all outdoor sporting needs you may face from starting a fire to field dressing game. One of the highlights of this knife is the Kraton handle which is a firm yet comfortable material that fits the form and feel of the Field Pup, and with the finger grooves and thumb notches SOG has made one of the most ergonomic, real working knives. The AUS-8 steel blade is as sharp as they come and will stand up to a lot of abuse before having to be sharpened, which makes the SOG Field Pup a terrific all-around knife at an affordable price.

8. Cold Steel Master Hunter Knife

Coming in at number eight on our list of top knives for 2011 is the Cold Steel Master Hunter knife. The Master Hunter boasts having a blade with a lot of backbone that has gradual bevel which is spread out over the entire width of the blade and a drop-point making it a great choice for a working hunting knife in addition to the bright, plain finish. Just as with many of the top knives available, the Cold Steel Master Hunter is made with a Kraton handle making it very useful in less than favorable conditions particularly when wet. Not only is the Cold Steel Master Hunter an ideal hunting knife but it is versatile enough to be useful in nearly any outdoor situation. As for the knife sheath, it is made by Concealex which are adaptable to haul and keeps you safe and the snap closure that will allow you to take the sheath on and off without having to undo your belt.

7. Cold Steel SRK

The Cold Steel SRK survival knife is a sure fit for most any need in the outdoors or indoors for that matter, and by no means is this a wimpy survival knife. The Cold Steel SRK is a rough and tough knife that will attack any job from dressing big game to lopping off fish heads but it is too much for skinning game. The SRK is used for nearly everything because of its stong backbone and the larger size makes it a great option for heavy duty work and the edge holds sharpness over long periods of heavy use and the knife handles extremely well. The blade comes in AUS-8A steel and is Teflon coated while the handle is made from Kraton and is highly touted because of it’s single quillion finger guard.

6. SOG Seal Pup Elite

SOG has engineered a number of top notch survival knives over their long tenure at the top of the survival knife food change and nothing is different with the SOG Seal Pup Elite. When field tested, the Seal Pup Elite passed each test with flying colors have been used on cutting everything from wood to opening cans, in addition to being soaked in water for days without any rusting. The Seal Pup Elite blade stays sharp though any obstacle and held its edge though all the tests making it one of the best survival knives available. The light weight knife, only 5.4 ounces is the right size for hauling and stowing in a pack without adding too much weight to your gear. The handle on the SOG Seal Pup Elite is made from Zytel and has injection molded glass reinforcement and the grip is much deeper than the similar Seal Pup survival knife. The durable nylon sheath is perfect for transporting the survival knife and has enough room in the pocked to carry a flashlight, lighter or fishing line making it a great carrier for other survival kit items.

5. SpyderCo Tenacious Folding Knife

SpyderCo has engineered a vicious, top- tier folding knife with the Tenacious survival knife. Some may think that since the SpyderCo Tenacious is manufactured in China that the knife will be sub-par in quality but that is most certainly not the case and is a solid and sturdy knife for the price. The leaf-blade is made from 8CR13mov steel which is extremely easy to sharpen after long periods of use and is manufactured with an oversized SpyderCo round hole that is perfectly centered between the handle. Speaking of handles, the SpyderCo Tenacious comes with a G10 grip that will not rip you pockets when being carried and has a bevel that you would find on handles of higher priced survival knives.

4. Ka-Bar Becker Necker Knife

Ka-Bar has been one of the premier knife makers for ages and the Becker Necker is the ideal knife of its kind. Ka-Bar has engineered the Necker to be light in weight, only 2 ounces, and smaller in size, 6.75 inches total, making it easy to carry and conceal and if you choose to wear on your belt there is a clip designed to allow you that option. The blade is 3.25 inches in length which may seem small but the 1095 CroVar steel blade is strong enough to be handy for feather sticking, debarking, kindling and more making it a utility too. The heavy duty blade on the Ka-Bar Becker Necker survival knife has great backbone making it a great tool for prying objects, something that many other folding knives are incapable of doing effectively. The Ka-Bar Becker Necker comes with a black plastic molded glass-filled nylon sheath that was meant to be compatible with the TDI Metal Belt Clip that makes for easy on and off mounting to a belt, in a boot, or on a vest. The sheath snaps the survival knife into place and will not let the blade slip out. This extremely sharp knife comes ready for the toughest challenges.

3. Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife

There has been a lot of hype over the Gerber LMF II Infantry knife and there is good reason for the praise. The 5 inch stainless steel blade has a higher arch to increase the cutting edge and comes in 3/16 inch thickness giving it a hardness C scale rating of 58. But what really makes this survival knife stand above the rest is the stainless steel butt-cap that is made to be able to break though Plexiglass when used as a hammer and is separated from survival knfe by handle substrate which will absorb the shock used. The Gerber LMF II Infantry knife is a survival knife that is tactical, durable, and can be used for nearly every task making it extremely versatile.

2. SOG Trident Military Folding Knife

The SOG Trident Folding knife is a unique knife in a slew of different ways making it a feasible option for most any scenario an outdoor enthusiast may face. Classified as “assisted opening” because of the S.A.T (SOG Assisted Technology) which makes the knife open quickly and much effort but it is not automatic making it ideal for quick and easy opening without the threat of legal issues.  For safety purposes, the Arc-Acuator makes the Trident Folder lock stronger and release easier, and the safety lock prevents you from incurring unwarranted injuries. The blade if fashioned out of AUS-8A stainless steel that is cryogenically heat treated for maximum strength and edge retention and when coupled with the jimping on the back of the blade the SOG Trident folding survival knife has the ultimate in cutting power. Pair the sturdy blade with the Groove in the handle, and you have a knife that cuts paracord, fishing line, rope, wire, etc without having to even open the blade. The handle on the SOG Trident is made from a new concept called Digi-Grip which provides the user with a coarser grip in certain areas where required.

1. Ka-Bar Fullsize US Marine Corp Fighting Knife

If you are doing research on survival knives, undoubtedly the Ka-Bar USMC Fighting knife has crossed your path seeing as how it is one of the most famous fixed blade knives in the World. This massive hardcore survival knife, if it can even be classified in a group with other knives, is made with a 1095 Cro-Van steel that comes in a hardness of 56-58 HRC, and the guard and pommel are made from 1095 carbon steel as well. The carbon and low chromium steel composite blade holds an edge extremely well making it a long lasting tool.

 What tops your list of favorite survival knives? Share with other readers on our outdoor news blog and find all your outdoor sporting goods needs at PoorFish Outdoors, serving knife enthusiasts since 1995.