• Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Quick and Easy Meals
    • Salad and Veggies
    • Side Dishes
    • Main Courses
    • Breads
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Canning and Preserving
  • Skills
    • Craftmanship
      • Blacksmithing
      • Woodworking
      • Welding
    • Brewing & Distilling
      • Homebrewing
      • Distilling
    • Cooking & Food
      • Cheese & Dairy
      • Drying & Smoking
      • Canning
      • Fermentation & Pickling
    • Homemaking Skills
      • Candle Making
      • Soap Making
      • Spinning & Weaving
  • Projects
    • Workshop
      • Homes & Buildings
      • Sheds & Coops
      • Appliances & Equipment
    • Garden & Outdoor
    • Homemade Products
      • Home Remedies
      • Natural Beauty
      • Cleaning and Home
    • Textiles & Fabric Arts
      • Sewing
      • Knit and Crochet
      • Quilting Skills
      • Weaving
    • Crafts
      • Home Decor
      • Pottery
      • Upcycling
      • Gifts
      • Kids
      • Holiday
  • Gardening
    • Growing Vegetables
    • Growing Fruit
    • Growing Herbs
    • Growing Grain
    • Soil Improvement
      • Composting
      • Worm Farming
      • Fertilizers
    • Aquaculture
  • Animals
    • Raising Poultry
    • Raising Goats
    • Raising Cattle
    • Raising Pigs
    • Raising Horses
    • Raising Rabbits
    • Raising Bees
    • Raising Cats & Dogs
  • Self Sufficiency
    • Emergency Prep
      • Planning
      • How To
      • Skills & Tips
    • Defense & Protection
      • Guns
      • Knives
      • Archery
      • Tools & Weapons
    • Energy & Power
      • Solar Power
      • Fuels
      • Water
    • Home Remedies
Logo
  • Emergency Prep
  • Defense & Protection
  • Energy & Power
  • Home Remedies
  • OUR SHOP
You are here: Home / Self Sufficiency / Self-Protection / 15 Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

15 Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

Reading Time: 5 minutes

May 10, 2023 By Riley E. Carlson 20 Comments

Want to know how a knife can save your life in a survival situation? If all you have in the wilderness is a knife and you know what to do, you’ll make it if you know the ways a knife can save your life!

Learn The Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life

Imagine yourself in a situation where you’re in the wilderness and all you have is a knife to survive. I hope not but just in case you do, it’s very important that you know what to do to survive. As a farm girl, I see to it that I always have a knife on hand and know what to do with it. Don’t find yourself overwhelmed and clueless in an emergency or survival situation, but gear up to survive. Follow this list here to learn how a knife can save your life in an emergency or survival situation.

Before we get started, it’s always best to have the best knife handy as much as possible. So why not check out these tips first on how to choose your survival knife.

15 Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation
Click To Enlarge

 

1. Self-Defense

Self-Defense | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

You may not want to but you have to consider, a knife was invented primarily as a weapon. It is to your benefit indeed, to know how to use it to defend yourself from animals and people alike. You can find pointers on choosing a self-defense knife here.

Click here to own the best selling knife on Earth. The Hoffman-Richter HR-30 Tactical Folding Knife is the #1 knife chosen among homesteaders and preppers, here’s why.

2. Hunting

|

When you’re out in the wild in a survival situation, getting food is one of your top priorities. Whether foraging for edibles or hunting for fish or game, a knife can do a good job at it. You can use your knife as a hunting tool by attaching it to a pole or long stick to use as a spear.

You may also like: Knife Attack Self Defense Myths

3. Dressing Game

|

After you successful hunt, the next step is to skin or gut your catch and what better tool to use than your knife! Most fish have gills and fins too sharp and thick for your hands to handle so let a knife do the job and avoid injuring your hands.

4. Splitting Wood

Splitting Wood | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

Yes, your knife can split thick chunks of wood if you know the technique. Make a wedge in the wood and lodge the sharp edge of the knife safely in with your hands on the handle. Use another thick piece of wood and use it as a baton to drive the knife deep and split the wood.

5. Making Fire

Making Fire | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

Now that you have wood, the next step for your survival is to make fire. In case you don’t have any fire starters, your knife can work wonders in this area. Making a feather stick can help you build fire faster and effectively. Use your knife to split the wood into smaller pieces, then make shavings to make thinner wood strips.

6. Opening Cans And Shells

Opening Cans And Shells | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

Okay, so you were able to bring some canned goods, but you forgot the can opener. Don’t fret, a knife can be your substitute! You can also use your knife to pry other things open, like shells.

7. Tool Making

|

A knife is a tool in itself but when you need other tools for your survival, you can surely use it to make some stakes, spears, snares, fish hooks and others.

8. Making Or Cutting Rope

|

It’s easy cutting rope or anything when you have a knife but to make a rope? Out in the wilderness, rope making with the aid of a knife is vital. Strip large bark off a tree and split it into thin strips, then weave it to make your rope stronger.

9. Rescue Tool

|

While you see movie heroes breaking through glass with their own body or hands, you would do well to avoid it in real life. If you find yourself or someone trapped in a car or a building,  you can use your knife to break a window or get the person out of the car by cutting through their seat belt.

10. All Around Emergency Tool

All Around Emergency Tool | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

A knife is an ideal tool for prying things open like sea shells, cans, boxes as well as turning screws in your other tools. It can also be used to make strips from your garments to make bandages or to modify your clothes.

Need a knife you can always have on hand? The Credit Card Knife allows you to be prepared all the time, all you need is your wallet.

cck-final2

Click Here To Get Yours!

11. Clearing A Path

Clearing A Path | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

The wilderness doesn’t always have a ready-made trail for you. Knives can be really handy to clear a path and make sure you get across safely. While a machete is perfect for this job, a knife can still do a decent job of it.

12. First Aid

First Aid | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

When a medical emergency arises, your knife can be very handy for first aid. It’s perfect for tearing apart bandages or getting foreign objects out of a wound. Make sure you’ve got your knife cleaned and sterilized to avoid further medical emergencies.

13. Signaling Device

Signaling Device | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

A shiny knife can be used to signal your location so always keep it clean and sharp. Use its surface to reflect the sun or light to alert rescuers to your position. To sharpen your knife, use hard surfaces and friction or any of these ways to sharpen a knife.

14. Digging Tool

|

If you have a sturdy knife, you can definitely use it as a digging tool. You can use it to dig small holes to dispose of waste, build a fire bit, or even dig for root crops for food.

15. Shelter Making

Shelter Making | Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation

Making a shelter before dark should be one of the first things to do if left defenseless in the wild. A knife will definitely be handy for this job, and you can learn how to build a survival debris hut here!

 

Watch how to build a makeshift shelter with a knife in this video:

Don’t find yourself in a survival situation without a fighting chance. These simple tips and tricks with a knife can spell the difference between survival and demise for you. Be the ultimate survivor and learn how a knife can save your life!

Got a pretty good idea now how a knife can save your life in a desperate situation? Let us know what you think below in the comments!

Find yourself yet without a knife? Learn how to make a knife in a survival situation here.

 Subscribe

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook!

 

This post was originally published in April 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Filed Under: Self-Protection, Knives

Comments

  1. Jeff Smith says

    August 4, 2017 at 9:51 AM

    My all time favorite is still the Kabar 1211. Been around since before WWII and gets the job done. Also like Kershaw folders.

    Reply
  2. Corby Bender says

    April 23, 2019 at 6:22 PM

    Of everything you can use a knife for in a survival situation, it never crossed my mind to use the blade as a signaling tool to reflect light to catch attention. I would think, though, it requires a blade that is polished metal instead of the type that has a powder coating of black or camo on it. But I bet with a little stone action, you could probably peal that coating off if needed. Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How To Prepare Milk For Survival | Homesteading Guide - Your Bushcraft Store says:
    November 21, 2019 at 12:59 AM

    […] 15 Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation […]

    Reply
  2. 20 Ultimate Pandemic Survival Tips For Homesteaders – Homestead Survivalism says:
    May 24, 2020 at 11:29 PM

    […] 15 Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation […]

    Reply
  3. 9 Ways your knife can be your lifesaver in a survival situation – Affordable folding knives says:
    December 1, 2020 at 4:24 AM

    […] Full article here: homesteading.com […]

    Reply
  4. 39 Handy Homesteading Tools To Make You An Ultimate Homesteader – Defence Tactical says:
    June 22, 2021 at 12:23 PM

    […] for home use, self-defense, or in a survival situation, a knife sure is handy. There are different kinds of knives for use around the home, but for outdoors and all-around use, […]

    Reply
  5. Top 5 Knife Making Tutorials – Defence Tactical says:
    June 26, 2021 at 12:27 PM

    […] to find out how to use a knife in a survival situation? Here are 15 Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation. These are reasons enough to keep a knife handy but always check first your state knife […]

    Reply
  6. Tsunami Preparedness | It’s Better Safe Than Submerged – The Self-Sufficient Life says:
    January 15, 2022 at 12:18 PM

    […] is always someone trapped somewhere in a dangerous survival situation. One such instance is when giant tidal waves called tsunamis hit wrath on land. This happens when […]

    Reply
  7. Tsunami Preparedness | Survival Life Tips - Cooking in Quarantine says:
    January 15, 2022 at 12:31 PM

    […] is always someone trapped somewhere in a dangerous survival situation. One such instance is when giant tidal waves called tsunamis hit wrath on land. This happens when […]

    Reply
  8. Tsunami Preparedness | It’s Better Safe Than Submerged – SurvivalCove.com says:
    January 15, 2022 at 2:44 PM

    […] is always someone trapped somewhere in a dangerous survival situation. One such instance is when giant tidal waves called tsunamis hit wrath on land. This happens when […]

    Reply
  9. Tsunami Preparedness | Survival Life Tips – Bulletproof Survivors says:
    January 15, 2022 at 10:25 PM

    […] is always someone trapped somewhere in a dangerous survival situation. One such instance is when giant tidal waves called tsunamis hit wrath on land. This happens when […]

    Reply
  10. Tsunami Preparedness | Survival Life Tips – Sprent Brass says:
    January 16, 2022 at 9:32 AM

    […] is always someone trapped somewhere in a dangerous survival situation. One such instance is when giant tidal waves called tsunamis hit wrath on land. This happens when […]

    Reply
  11. Top 5 Knife Making Tutorials | brandname says:
    March 27, 2023 at 8:34 PM

    […] to find out how to use a knife in a survival situation? Here are 15 Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation. These are reasons enough to keep a knife handy but always check first your state knife […]

    Reply
  12. 39 Handy Homesteading Tools To Make You An Ultimate Homesteader | brandname says:
    March 27, 2023 at 8:35 PM

    […] for home use, self-defense, or in a survival situation, a knife sure is handy. There are different kinds of knives for use around the home, but for outdoors and all-around use, […]

    Reply
  13. 15 Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival Situation | Best Craft Hacks says:
    May 10, 2023 at 8:28 PM

    […] Read the full article here […]

    Reply
  14. 15 maneiras pelas quais uma faca pode salvar sua vida em uma situação de sobrevivência - FamilyLifestyle says:
    May 10, 2023 at 10:20 PM

    […] Source link […]

    Reply
  15. Top 5 Knife Making Tutorials | Street Defense says:
    July 5, 2023 at 2:20 AM

    […] to find out how to use a knife in a survival situation? Here are 15 Ways a Knife Can Save Your Life in a Survival Situation. These are reasons enough to keep a knife handy but always check first your state knife […]

    Reply
  16. Survival Gear You’ll Be Surprised to Know You Actually Don’t Need | Street Defense says:
    July 5, 2023 at 2:20 AM

    […] to know more about survival skills? You’ll love these articles!15 Ways A Knife Can Save Your Life In A Survival SituationCar Survival Kit: 12 Must Have Winter Survival Items You […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

DIY Projects And Get This FREE GIFT
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Popular Articles

Top 15 Ways To Make Money On Your Homestead

Kickstart Spring By Starting Your Own Straw Bale Garden

The Best Egg Laying Chickens For Your Homestead

50 Gardening Tips And Tricks To Become A Successful Homesteader

Important Pages

  • About Homesteading
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Returns
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Information Disclaimer

Other Great Sites

  • DIY Projects
  • Survival Life
  • Garden Season
  • Outdoor Warrior
  • Sewing.com

Resources

  • Hey Riley
  • Winter Survival
  • Raising Backyard Chickens
  • Canning & Preserving
  • Join Our Newsletter
  • Returns Policy
Homesteading
Email Support: support@homesteading.com
Phone: 512-806-7603

Product returns go to:
1889 E Maule Ave, Ste G
Las Vegas 89119

Copyright © 2025 · Homesteading


This copyrighted material may not be republished without express permission. The information presented here is for general educational purposes only.

MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: You should assume that this website has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the persons or businesses mentioned in or linked to from this page and may receive commissions from purchases you make on subsequent web sites. You should not rely solely on information contained in this email to evaluate the product or service being endorsed. Always exercise due diligence before purchasing any product or service. This website contains advertisements.