Friday Gear Report: Survival Utility Knife

afrankelSurvival, Survival Gear, Survival Gear Reviews

How about a knife designed by one of the pivotal people who taught Neil how to survive in Emergency.

Kevin Reeve, of onPoint Tactical, recently released a knife in conjunction with TOPS Knives known as the onPoint.

Kevin Reeve using the onPoint

Kevin Reeve using the onPoint

Survival knives are a difficult breed to design. They must meet the needs for many jobs, hold an edge, and be rugged. With a flat grind blade made of 1095 steel and coated in Black Traction Coating, the onPoint stands out in a higher class of survival knives.

From TOPS:

The onPoint Tactical knife is designed as a utility/survival knife. Over the past fifteen years teaching wilderness survival I have tried and used literally hundreds of knives. I have seen every innovation and conversely every gimmick out there. What became clear to me many years ago is that you do not need a huge Rambo-type knife for survival. In fact, most survival tasks require fine motor control and precision, which is very difficult with a large blade. My favorite knives over the past several years have all had short 3 ½” blades.

The sweep of the blade means it can be used for skinning, and the distal taper means it penetrates well for fighting.

Adequate finger groves and jibbing look to provide a solid grip without ruining the simplicity of the knife’s style.

All too often knife designers build a blade that can’t be sharpened easily. Care must be taken not to mar the knife. Personally, I am very pleased to see that this blade’s edge does not come flush to the ricasso.

At its introductory price of $139.95 the onPoint Tactical’s Survival-Utility Knife by Kevin Reeve and Tops Knives looks like a great all around survival knife at a very reasonable price.

Being tied up, thrown in a van, and hunted through LA sold separately.