Handmade Survival Knives

In a survival situation, your knife is your most critical tool. Louis Martin survival knives are built for this reality: high-carbon steel that takes and holds a field-sharp edge, and a sheath with every knife. Tang, spine, and handle details vary from piece to piece, so check each knife before you trust it with hard work.

Characteristics & Construction

These notes describe survival knives in general. Lot pieces are picked from stock, so features such as blade length, handle material and construction vary piece to piece.

1. 1

   Dry and oil after field use

   High-carbon survival blades rust quickly in field conditions. Clean and oil the blade at every camp stop — your survival knife is useless if it's seized with rust.

2. 2

   Maintain your ferro rod capability

   Keep the spine clean and sharp-cornered. Filing the spine flat maintains the 90° edge required to throw sparks from a ferro rod.

3. 3

   Sharpen on natural stone

   In a true survival situation, fine-grained river stones work as improvised whetstones. Practice sharpening your knife on natural stone so you're not learning this skill when you need it.

4. 4

   Check handle scales for cracks

   Wood and synthetic handle scales can crack under extreme cold. Inspect and re-epoxy any loose scales before extended wilderness trips.

5. 5

   Condition a leather sheath

   If your sheath is leather, condition it before any extended field use. A supple sheath is quieter, more water-resistant, and retains its shape around the knife better than dried leather.