The Swiss Army Knife is a critical tool for any serious survivalist.

Durable, versatile and very well made, if kept properly, they will last a life-time.

Here is what you should consider when choosing a Swiss Army Knife.

Purpose And Budget

The first thing you should determine before choosing your Swiss army knife is its intended purpose.

What will you use it for? It makes no sense buying a multi-tool just because it looks cool and comes with myriads of features if you’re not going to use those features.

Stick with the basics, think about what tools will be of real use for you and don’t go for the bulkiest Swiss army knife in the store. Sit down and write down the essential tools that you’ll need and also the “expandable”/desirable ones that you may want and use the search filters available on the manufacturer’s website.

Another thing to keep in mind is your budget.

Depending on the budget, you can set a standard about the price and the qualities of your knife.
Generally speaking, more expensive translates into more reliable so if you’re going to use your knife frequently, keep that in mind.

However, if you’re not planning to use your Swiss army knife frequently or for heavy duty jobs, it makes no sense to spend a fortune on a gizmo.

Looking For The Best

An adequate pocket knife, like a Swiss army knife, should fit comfortable in any pocket; i.e. you should not know that it’s there. In other words, the best knife should be usable in a survival scenario and yet compact enough to make for an everyday carry without being intrusive.

In a real life survival scenario, the best Swiss army knife should have a large main blade, partially serrated and with a locking mechanism. Another must have feature would be a wire stripper and a wood saw.

The rest is up to you, but these are must-have features in my opinion for a survival folder. Don’t choose the largest/bulkiest multi-tool, it will end up in your backpack or in your glove box, not in your pocket.

Another great feature of Swiss army knives is that they are made of high quality materials (stainless steel for the blade and tools/aluminum for the separators/tough plastic in the handle) with impeccable workmanship, hence they require almost no maintenance.

Actually, they come with a lifetime guarantee and a no questions asked return policy. All you’ll ever have to do is to sharpen the blades. Fortunately, they are fairly easy to sharpen and they hold an edge pretty well.

The Swiss Army Knife has been a survivalist (and everyday use) mainstay since the late 1890's.

It's quality of craftsmanship, durability, reliability, versatility and ease of maintenance and use make it a critical element of any survival kit.

To learn more about the Swiss Army Knife and purchase options, please visit Survivopedia.