Fixed blade knives with emergency features for survival, rescue and crisis situations – from the no-compromise Gerber LMF II Infantry with glass breaker and MOLLE sheath, through the Gerber Ultimate Survival Knife with fire starter and whistle, to the Ruike M195 rescue knife with seatbelt cutter. Freely available in Switzerland, stocked in Menzingen.
The survival knife is the specialist branch of the fixed blade family: bigger, more robust and equipped with more integrated emergency functions than a classic bushcraft or hunting knife. Built for the situation where your life or someone else’s may depend on the tool – from the wrecked car on the roadside through the avalanche accident in ski terrain to the emergency shelter in the woods. Characteristic are the typical survival features: glass breaker at the end of the handle, seatbelt cutter at the blade root, integrated fire starter for ignition, sometimes an emergency whistle and always an extremely robust full-tang build.
If you primarily work wood in the forest and need a precise Scandi grind, a bushcraft knife is the more focused choice. For stalking and breaking down big game, take a hunting knife. For everyday carry, a one-handed knife serves you better. The survival knife is the no-compromise emergency choice – bigger, more robust, equipped with emergency tools, designed for the worst-case scenario.
Most survival knives in the range combine several emergency functions on the handle, blade spine or sheath. The five most important:
| Function | Purpose | In our range |
|---|---|---|
| Glass breaker (striking pommel) | Hardened steel pommel at the end of the handle, shatters tempered safety glass (car window, emergency exit) | Gerber LMF II, Ruike M195, Gerber Ultimate Survival |
| Seatbelt cutter | Hook-shaped blade at the blade root for cutting seatbelts and ropes | Ruike M195 rescue knife |
| Fire starter (ferrocerium) | Integrated or included ferro rod for igniting kindling | Gerber Ultimate Survival Knife |
| Emergency whistle | Audible signal over longer distances, often integrated in the handle end | Gerber Ultimate Survival Knife |
| Serrated blade spine | Coarse saw or serration on the blade spine – cuts ropes, plastic, soft wood | Gerber LMF II Infantry (serrated) |
Not every survival knife has all five functions. The premium models like the Ultimate Survival Knife combine several; the no-compromise tactical models like the LMF II rely on fewer but maximally robust functions. For pure rescue use (vehicle extrication, first aid), the combination of glass breaker and seatbelt cutter is central – perfectly implemented in the Ruike M195.
Survival knives tend to be larger than bushcraft or all-purpose outdoor knives. The central question is: how no-compromise should the knife be aimed at worst-case tasks?
| Blade length | Characteristic | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| 9 to 11 cm | Compact survival, focused on rescue and EDC capability | Ruike M195, Mora 2000 S, BeaverCraft BSH (crossover) |
| 11 to 13 cm | Classic survival format, enough blade for batoning | Morakniv Garberg Survival Kit, Gerber StrongArm |
| 13 to 15 cm | Full survival with maximum blade surface – also for large wood | Gerber LMF II Infantry, Gerber Ultimate Survival Knife |
The blade shape is mostly Drop Point (robust, versatile) or Tanto (tough tip, ideal for piercing through material). A partial serration on the front third of the blade helps cut ropes, belts and plastic. Plain blades are more precise in wood work, serrated blades more aggressive on tough material.
Five factors decide which survival knife fits your use:
For a complete overview of all knives, see the main category Knives & Tools; related filters under fixed blade, outdoor & survival knives and bushcraft knives.
Gerber Gear (Portland, Oregon, USA, since 1939) is the dominant brand in the survival knife range, covering the full spectrum. Three highlights: the LMF II Infantry Coyote as a no-compromise survival and tactical knife with glass breaker, MOLLE sheath and partial serration – the original tool of US Army infantry. The Ultimate Survival Knife as a multifunction survival knife with integrated fire starter, emergency whistle and sharp serrated blade – the complete emergency package in one tool. The StrongArm family as robust all-rounders with Full Tang, Drop Point and Kydex sheath – now also in MagnaCut powder steel. Plus the Downwind as a compact outdoor model and the Prodigy as a tactical classic.
Ruike (founded 2014) is represented in the range with two clearly focused survival knives. The M195 rescue knife is the specialised rescue tool with integrated glass breaker and seatbelt cutter – designed for emergency services, fire department, police and private individuals who need vehicle extrication capability in an emergency. The F186-MB and F186-MG are robust survival outdoor knives with D2 tool steel – very edge-retentive and designed for intensive outdoor tasks.
Morakniv (Mora, Sweden, since 1891) is represented in the survival knife range with the survival variants of the Garberg. The Garberg S Survival Kit combines the full-tang classic with sharpening stone and fire starter; the Garberg BlackBlade C Survival Kit the carbon DLC variant with the same survival equipment. Both come with a MOLLE-compatible polymer sheath. Plus the Mora 2000 S Green as a compact, light outdoor companion in stalking style.
Camillus (USA, since 1876) is represented with the Animal outdoor knife and the GB-8B folding knife. Nitecore contributes the NTK10 titanium knife – a compact premium mini folder for discreet survival EDC. The product range covers all price classes from entry-level survival from CHF 50 to the US Army premium model over CHF 200.
Three characteristics: First, the integrated emergency functions – glass breaker at the handle end, seatbelt cutter, integrated fire starter, sometimes an emergency whistle. Second, the larger blade length of 11 to 14 cm compared to 9 to 11 cm for the bushcraft or all-purpose outdoor knife – this creates the necessary blade surface for batoning and breaching large materials. Third, the tactical-oriented build with MOLLE sheath and more robust tang construction. A normal outdoor knife focuses on all-purpose cuts; a survival knife on worst-case tasks.
Yes. Fixed-blade survival knives are freely available and may be carried without special restrictions under Article 4 of the Swiss Weapons Act. You don’t need a justified reason to carry a survival knife. Prohibited, however, are butterfly/balisong knives, gravity knives, switchblades with blades over 5 cm and throwing knives – but those are all special types and not survival knives. An integrated glass breaker or seatbelt cutter does not legally make the knife a special weapon. Source: fedpol.admin.ch.
The glass breaker (also called striking pommel) is a hardened steel pin protruding from the end of the handle. It is designed to shatter tempered safety glass like car side windows or emergency windows in public transport with a targeted strike – crucial, for example, with a car that has fallen into water or a trapped person in a vehicle. Important: tempered safety glass shatters after impact into blunt cubes and is not to be confused with laminated glass (windshield), which cannot be broken by a glass breaker. In our range, the Gerber LMF II, Ruike M195 and Ultimate Survival Knife have an integrated glass breaker.
A seatbelt cutter is a hook-shaped blade, usually mounted at the blade root or laterally on the handle. You slip the seatbelt or rope into the hook, and pulling drives the internal cutting blade through the material cleanly – safe against injuring the person being rescued, because the cutting edge sits protected in the hook. The Ruike M195 is the specialised model in our range with a dedicated seatbelt cutter, used primarily in emergency services, fire department and by private individuals with the need for quick vehicle extrication.
For emergency use, we recommend stainless steels: 14C28N (Sandvik, Ruike standard) as a low-maintenance all-rounder, easy to sharpen; or MagnaCut (Gerber StrongArm MagnaCut) as a modern premium powder steel with maximum edge retention, corrosion resistance and toughness combined. Tool steels like D2 (Ruike F186) are very edge-retentive, but somewhat rust-prone and riskier in an emergency without care. Pure carbon steel is less practical in the survival segment, because it rusts quickly without regular wiping and oiling – and in an emergency, time for that is usually missing.
MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment and is a military attachment system of parallel webbing straps that allows flexible mounting of tools, pouches and holsters on vests, backpacks and plate carriers. A MOLLE-compatible sheath (Gerber LMF II Infantry, Morakniv Garberg Survival Kit) can be securely attached to any MOLLE platform – ideal for tactical vests, survival backpacks and plate carriers. For pure belt-mounted use, classic leather sheaths or Kydex sheaths are enough.
In an emergency bag (bug-out bag), the knife is often stored in the sheath for months without being used. Five points: First, choose stainless steel (14C28N, MagnaCut), not carbon. Second, before storage, rub the blade with a drop of Ballistol or corrosion protection oil. Third, do not store in a damp leather sheath – Kydex or polymer is better in the emergency setup. Fourth, inspect every three to six months while you also update other bug-out bag contents (energy bars, water, batteries). Fifth, check the blade sharpness – a dull survival knife is almost useless in an emergency.
The survival sweet spot is 11 to 13 cm blade length. Smaller blades (9 to 11 cm, Ruike M195) are more comfortable to carry and sufficient for pure rescue use with glass breaker and seatbelt cutter. Medium blades (Morakniv Garberg Survival Kit, Gerber StrongArm) are the balanced all-rounder for bug-out bag and general survival tasks. Large blades (13 to 15 cm, Gerber LMF II Infantry, Ultimate Survival Knife) are the no-compromise choice for batoning large wood, breaching hard materials and tactical use. Blades over 15 cm move towards machetes and bush knives.
For getting started we recommend three models: the Morakniv Garberg S Survival Kit (Stainless 14C28N, Full Tang, polymer MOLLE sheath, with sharpening stone and fire starter included) as a low-maintenance, well-balanced entry-level all-rounder – European quality classic at a fair price. The Gerber StrongArm (FE or SE in brown or black) as a US Army tactical classic with Kydex sheath. The Ruike M195 rescue knife as a specialised rescue choice with glass breaker and seatbelt cutter – highly recommended for everyone who uses the knife primarily in the car or as a rescue tool. Premium upgrade then to the Gerber LMF II Infantry or Ultimate Survival Knife.
It depends on the field of use. A plain blade (Plain Edge) is more precise, easier to resharpen and better suited for woodwork, fine cutting and controlled cuts. It appears in most all-purpose survival knives (Garberg, StrongArm FE, Ruike F186). A partially serrated blade (Combo Edge, half plain half serrated) like on the Gerber LMF II Infantry or StrongArm SE aggressively cuts through ropes, belts, plastic and tough material – ideal for rescue use and tactical. If you primarily need the knife for emergency rescue and material cutting, Combo Edge is the right choice; for outdoor and woodwork the plain blade.
In Switzerland, yes, without special preconditions. A survival knife with a fixed blade is freely carriable under Article 4 of the Weapons Act and may be carried in the toolbox, glove compartment or bug-out bag in the trunk. Especially for the car, the Ruike M195 rescue knife or a comparable model with glass breaker and seatbelt cutter is highly recommended – in an emergency (accident, car in water, trapped occupant) it can be life-decisive. Important: demonstrative display or threatening is a punishable offence even with a freely carriable knife.
Yes. All survival knives are available from our warehouse in Menzingen (ZG) – no waiting time, no customs fees. Free shipping within Switzerland and Liechtenstein from CHF 100. Personal advice in our showroom or by phone at 041 755 34 33. In case of dissatisfaction, our 30-day voluntary right of return applies.
Original goods stocked in Switzerland · Free shipping from CHF 100 · Personal advice at 041 755 34 33
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