Nothing will separate the fodder from the experience faster than a survival topic most of the time. There are exceptions, but in this day, there's more people with no actual experience in survival then there are people with actual experience on the web.
If you really want to separate the wheat from the chaff, just bring up survival blades. And asking which one, only one. Oh yeah, this one will get the fabric of those undies in a bind faster then a bullet from a barrel. This argument is also another reason why I just don't like the term survival, or want to be put in that category.
OK, let's just get right into this! What's the best survival edged tool?
First, lets look at what exactly wilderness survival is, and the skills you'll need. Sticking strictly the use of an edged tool. You're going to need to be able to process fish and or game, or you'll starve. You will need to process wood to make fire. You're going to need to carve some items. You're going to need to pry around in wood for bit or food, and dig in the ground for bait or food. You're going to need to sharpen the tool.
I have used hatchets to clean fish and it works about as well as trying to wipe your butt with thorns. I have used a hatchet to process a squirrel and it was worse. Worse than wiping with thorns? Yes! I have used a saw to clean a fish, the small folding type, and it wasn't quite as bad, more like wiping with poison ivy.
I have used an axe and hatchet to dig, and while it works, it doesn't take long for rocks to do many bad things to the edge of the tool, and make any bait chopped up and useless. A saw simply will not work for this effectively, period. Repairing nicks and chips in an axe r hatchet in the field is not as easy as it is on a knife edge. Repairing a saw blade in the field is going to require some sort of file.
A machete or very long knife will work better than an axe or saw, but doesn't work well for trying to dig or pry as they are usually to flexible to accomplish these tasks. If I were to go this route, I'd go with my BK9 (I have personal experience with this knife and no others in this size, so I am sticking to EXPERIENCE). It's sort of a mini machete. It's heavy and thick bladed for chopping but is still short enough to do some more detailed tasks like processing game and carving. But in my opinion, not practical.
I would want either my BK2 or ESEE 5. Both are heavy and durable, but not so big as to make carving too difficult. I can clean fish and game, process wood, pry logs looking for grubs, carve what ever I need to carve, dig around in the ground, and anything else I need an edged tool to so in a survival situation.
Next would be either the BK16, Gerber Prodigy, or SRK.
One thing I would never want in a survival situation is a folding knife! It might be better than nothing, but isn't going to hold up to heavy abuse for long. Especially the flimsy slipjoints. Yes, I don't even recommend an SAK for a pure survival knife.
A long time ago, in a galaxy..... I and some of my friends would venture off for weekends or even 3-4 days with nothing more than a knife. So, I'm not blowing smoke here, I'm talking from actually having experience going out and practicing survival. Something I learned is while something is better that nothing, the right something is best.
My honest best advice, is to be prepared! Carry some items with you:
First Aid Kit
A solid fixed blade knife AND an SAK with a saw
Compass
Fire kit with three ways to make fire
A water bottle, preferably single walled stainless so it can be used as a pot to boil water
A small pot or pan
A light with batteries
A poncho or small tarp
100 feet of cordage
Small fishing kit with line, hooks, and sonkers
I'm on the wagon it's not the tool it's the wielder, but i a survival situation, being smart is better then trying to be a macho man and using an axe or saw to do knife tasks. If you have the skill, your full tang fixed blade knife should do anything you need in a survival situation.
