$8 Harbor Freight Survival Knife - Will It Break? - The Rambo Survival Knife Project

[@MissionaryForMexico]

I did some improvements, fine tuning to mine. I took a diamond hone to the entire edges, got it razor sharp. I took a die grinder and ground a lead cutting angle, and relief angle on alternating teeth, went opposite direction on other teeth. made the saw cut like a hand saw! Installed in handle shortened allen wrench, kitchen matches, variety of different fishing hooks, some fishing weights. On the scabbard I installed magnesium fire stick also from Harbor Freight. You can take the blade off from handle and take to a shop that sharpens skill saw blades. They can put a grind on it with precision! I put lock tite on the screw threads of the allen wrench and in the receiving hole, this stopped the allen screw from loosening. In the marine corp they sale a $150 knife with marine corp on it, in the PX. But just to expensive for daily use for me. This knife is perfect for me, once you do some needed improvements. Also a great gift as long as you do the fine improvements, before you give them as gifts for a survival situation! For under 10 bucks, its worth it.

[@scotthansenmtbt4110]

$8 worth of imagination for a kid! I was also playing war and Rambo with mine, teamed up with a 22 cal pump up Crosman pistol, I WAS a force to be messed with. Thanks for the great memories!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Wow. I was making spears out of sticks and playing Kung Fu.

[@Ron-d2s]

Right after we saw First Blood both my brother and I got "Rambo" knives... I might have been 7 or 8... fun times the 80's

[@BrainRotKills]

Same here, all my friends had one too, I grew up pretty rural, we were always running around out in the woods playing army and Rambo type stuff. Definitely good times the 80s were, glad I was a kid then.

[@douglasdailey5998]

What do you expect for 8 dollars. For 8 dollars i say it's pretty good.

[@Rick-ve5lx]

I expect a Mora for 8 dollars.

[@addicted2tools]

Not when a mora is 9.99 lol much rather have that

[@Synysta_Aka_Syn]

Um.... REAL quick. (Reference to the carving portion) Whenever I buy a new knife I DONT CARE WHO MAKES IT I put my own edge on it. I have this knife too. Holds an edge for an OK time. The black legion version of this knife (pretty much same bells and whistles ie compass in handle survival kit inside etc. Major difference is it's better stainless steel, nylon and glass handle and it's a bayonet style. Taken my black legion camping and hunting and chopped with it on WRIST DIAMETER limbs. Held up didn't loosen.) Think I paid $25 for it. Way better than this one. Save the $8 and get a better one. This one may do good in a pinch if you have nothing else for a time but I aim to keep stuff around for repeated use.

[@martinroe5347]

I keep one of these under the back seat of my truck. With the hollow handle, it would also make a very good spear mounted on a pole or sapling.

[@darrelpost678]

Be careful about carrying that in a vehicle. That may constitute illegal concealed carry.

[@haroldbell213]

Never gave them a thought. I guess with some mods it would work. If not you have next to nothing in it

[@cliffordrandell735]

I was thinking the same thing about the spear

[@cliffordrandell735]

​@@darrelpost678maybe in a libtard State true

[@davidyummus6259]

I bought one a few years back knowing exactly what I bought,... I noticed a gap where the blade meets the handle so I made sure it was tight & then pushed JB Weld into the gaps ;)

[@Natschke_Family_Adventures]

I've had one for over 10 years now and it's holding up great. I had to sharpen it when I bought it, and I put a chunk of inner tube over the handle for grip.

[@g-dub1553]

Don't you remember being a kid in the 80's and having one of these with the compass in the pommel? And wasn't that the best thing ever? There ya go. Kids knife.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

;-)

[@brianrobertson4229]

memories mate i hade the black handle with silver blade i thought it was the best thing ever back then ........ignorance is bliss lol

[@pansophia93]

Dude, I completely forgot about mine until now. I'm not sure where my parents got it. It had some fishing line and a hook, some matches, and something else I can't remember, along with the compass on the end. Edit: just finished video. Mine didn't have a sewing kit with it. Maybe a whetrock?

[@imback3200]

I lucked out a few years ago and got one similar to this on Amazon, with pitons you could screw into the handle.

[@jakesshopandtracktalk1835]

Yeah dude, my favorite aunt bought me one and a mini mag lite. We miss ya Aunt Marge.

[@smithdog4770]

The M9 bayonet that we carried in the infantry was easy to break. It wasn't a full tang would snap at the handle. When you used them on the actual bayonet range you had to be really careful to pull straight back after you stuck the blade in the bags because they would snap off if you twisted even a little bit sideways. I think uncle same was paying over $300 for them.

[@treybecker5637]

Thats ridiculous price for such low quality i could make a great bayonet better than the m9 with the basic rudimentary tools in my garage

[@seresamgala8125]

Uncle Same doesn't seem to be a cost-savvy shopper: he shops at the expense of the taxpayer to the pocket-filling benefit of the crooked connected cronyist politician. Go figure.

[@OzarkCherokee]

Military Grade!!! 🤣

[@kirknunya4291]

Yep, I remember it well. I threw one at a tree once and I picked it up off the ground in two pieces. The M- 9 is a tragic piece of garbage.

[@MatchGrade08]

​@@kirknunya4291 was it really that bad? Have you tested or used this harbor freight knife. I got one and it has worked real well for me but I know the steel is a little softer than other knife makers despite being thick. I was still looking around for cooler stuff. If harbor freight sells something head and shoulders above anything else around 100 dollars I might just hide away from looking at the other stuff.

[@dougwatches]

Thumbs up for your persistence, optimism and humor. I didn't expect that much from the Harbor Freight quality Chinesium of the blade. (Gotta keep the maintenance tool close by, though.)

[@adamdelarozza1985]

I got mine around 2015. Glad i watched this, i thought the compass didn't work but when set down on a flat surface it works great! My blade stock seems to be a tad longer inside than the one you showed. I haven't had any lossenung problems but haven't tried wood chopping, glad i got one!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool

[@jonnybronco2802]

This knife can be a decent one with a few minor modifications. Sharpening being one of them, replacing the small pin holding the blade with something more durable, and make your own survival kit for the handle.

[@karvast5726]

Or save yourself the hastle and buy something with a decent tang and steel that's tougher than peanut butter

[@jbfthree1]

Do you wear tampons?

[@greyman1363]

@@jbfthree1 you must because you get mad over a comment

[@misosoup8863]

ahy instead of replacing the pin, wield it so youll have a full tang?

[@TheBootyWrangler]

Ah yes perfect compartment for my survival crack pipe

[@bowman321123]

I have two of them, I am realistic enough to not try to take on a major survival event, but I like them. They came out of the package sharp and after touching them up seem to hold an edge. they make for a fun conversation starter as well. I have wrapped the pommel with paracord, and modified the contents as well, a striker, dependable matches, waxed cottonballs, etc.

[@Chris-cz2kx]

Same here...the Paracord made it a little too blocky in the handle

[@jamesorth1521]

They WILL NOT hold an edge! For a little more you could have a knife that is user safe and will last.

[@kevinlorick4705]

I keep one in my car, who cares if someone steals a 10 dollar knife.

[@ichigocomeoutandfightmeyou6149]

Me bec i am weapon collector any stuff can kill someone even if it 1$ for me worth a looot .

[@thetruebatman4632]

Exactly what I was thinking. I guess I’l drop by the Harbor on the way to the firework stand later. Happy 4th fellas!

[@jomarz1828]

The problem is somebody arming themselves and slicing you and stealing your car ...

[@davidlocke1668]

Mora also works 👍

[@davidwinn8197]

It worked for me in deer camp notching the tree for my climber stand n I've used it for hunting and camping.......it's a budget survival knife it gets the job done for a cheap survival knife......ive never had to tighten the set screw

[@ranchfoot1]

The one I had in the 80's had a snap pouch on the sheath that held a small sharpening stone.

[@madmax13326]

I gave mine a full flat grind, did a little honing, now its razor sharp, not bad for a cheap knife

[@southpaw13100]

Harbor freight will be sold out of these by the weekend 😁

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

;-)

[@treatyourself7965]

Dale Thomas I truly doubt it

[@erlycuyler]

I bought one couple weeks ago for fun. Actually a pretty good knife. The items in the handle are cute. It splits kindling fine.

[@carmineredd1198]

let's sue HB like they got sued over that lockblade that won't lock ??

[@LizzyTexBorden]

That's hilarious.

[@DougShoeBushcraft]

I have watched this video several times. It's surprisingly entertaining.

[@antouab221]

I'd sure rather have this chipo knife for 8 bucks than a sharpened stick.

[@krknfmkr8919]

@Blind Squid there are a few of us blacksmiths around who have hand crank blowers and coal fired forges, and in my case literally tons of steel

[@donaldtrump2078]

$9.99

[@rnation5201]

It’s better than nothing

[@Synysta_Aka_Syn]

@@krknfmkr8919 FACTS. High carbon is still personally preferred over stainless (you know what I'm saying) I have a propane forge but I know what your hinting at.

[@bradcash8572]

​@@krknfmkr8919You got a website?

[@FrankATracy]

Years ago when I first bought this knife I did a simple facelift. I took the set screw and blade out and superglued any suspect areas and let it dry. Then I put the blade back in and filled the areas where the blade gets fitted back in with clear superglue. That also keeps dirt out. I also superglued in the set screw. I may have superglued some other others as well, I don’t remember. I also wrapped the handle with white tennis grip overwrap, “taped” it with Yonex tennis tape at the screw-in cap end, and tightened a metal hose clamp outside the bottom of the handle, near the guard. I also removed the compass, inserted 4 nickels and held them in with a rubber o-ring. I put a small piece of plastic inside the tip end of the sheath so the blade wouldn’t accidentally rip the sheath open. I also removed the snap clasp for quicker access. I’m not really super into knives though I have several. Most probably won’t do what I did, but I just wanted to make the knife stronger and more personal. I have to say that the knife has held up really well. Oh, the superglue facelift I do to a lot of things I buy if they seem kinda on the cheap side. The tennis wrap keeps my hand from getting cold against the metal, looks cool, and makes the handle beefier for my big hands - (I’m 6’5” tall and 260 lbs.). By the way, the hose clamp is mostly just for looks and for the way I like to hold the knife. It is by no means necessary, though it does hold the tennis grip on really tight. Inside the handle I put a quarter in first, then a clear plastic storage tube (O.D. 3/4” x 3” - though I plan on moving up to an even more useful storage tube with O.D. of 15/16” x 3” - available on Amazon, though it may need to be slightly smaller because of the end cap ), then of course the rubber o-ring and 4 nickels in the end cap. Inside the plastic tube I have: hurricane matches (wind proof and waterproof) with a long striker, some fishing line and hooks, a miniature magnetized flathead screwdriver for my eyeglasses, a bobby pin, a nail, and a small device that tightens a camera flash unit cord. Also inside is an even smaller plastic storage tube O.D. approximately 9/16” x 1” for some lip balm - though I may look for an even smaller tube for the lip balm. Of course the contents are ever changing as needs change. Lastly, both storage tubes also have end caps.

[@cathleen2]

I had 1 of them knives.....some years ago & I got pissed off with TRYING to keep a sharp edge on it so I TRIED my hardest to intentionally DESTROY it !!!! It NEVER broke or fell apart whatsoever. I just gave up after awhile and gave it away to a buddy of mine !! Tougher knife than I gave it credit for !! 😎👍

[@selador11]

Dude! Several years ago, I was subscribed.We even commented back and forth a few times. I recommended you to everyone I knew. Yet, just now, when this vid came up in my recommendations, I realized I hadn't seen you for years... And lo and behold it showed me to NOT be subscribed any more. How did that happen? I didn't do it. Well, subscribed once again.

[@AyyCam]

I have one and it’s held up well since 2012 can’t beat it for $8

[@N2RI1]

@captain crankypants only way these hold up even 1 year is if you never open package like this guy did for years.

[@garrettferrell6821]

captain crankypants 😂😂

[@brandonfoley7519]

I think I could chop on in half with a kabar

[@MrPAULONEAL]

Does yours have that screw in the tang because mine doesn't?

[@jamesanderton344]

Be interesting to see if you could buy a cutoff wheel, a grinding disc, a drill bit and a piece of sandpaper for 8 bucks and make a solid knife out of an old leaf spring.....I see foot long chunks of them at the roadside everywhere heavy trucks run....

[@travisjennette8970]

Hey Brian! Haven't posted in a while......I kinda had a little heart attack......oh and a stroke......Anyway, another great video. I loved how you gave the knife a chance. Shows a lot of the character you have. You're a good man Brian. As always best of all things to you and yours!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Wow. I wish you all the best and I hope you are doing much better

[@LowenKM]

Thx, it seems to perform reasonably well and certainly didn't fall apart... and wonder if folks are often so hard on these things just 'cuz they are 'cheap' to own? Would love to see a sorta 'blind test' done on knives like they once did with wine snobs... who couldn't see what they were drinking, and often liked the 'cheap wines' _better._

[@Moodymongul]

Got one of these. Tightened the bolt, sharpened it close to finish. Then, i tempered the edge to 'straw' color (using a simply heat torch and a little time/patience). Finally, I completed the sharpening. Came out ok for the price :)

[@elsea8901]

Got my nephew one, he loves it, it’s a great trainer and actually has been used a lot to do little camping tasks...

[@bentnickel7487]

Your nephew is a child? Why expose a loved one to junk?

[@jefmeller3177]

Bent Nickel Because the nephew doesn’t know it’s junk. He thinks it’s the coolest knife he’s ever seen. And when he loses it, uncle is only out &8.

[@thomashaifley2531]

I bought one of these a couple years ago. I removed the blade filled the slot with epoxy pressed the blade back back in and locked down with the Allen screw. That seemed to fix the loosening blade.

[@toddolson573]

The reason they make it so, is so when it goes south you can replace it with a better one you yourself made. Or take it and weld it to a non- cancer causing handle, or weld a tang to the blade and then… the sky's the limit.

[@taurbaby]

I found one of these at a pawn shop,surprizingly the compass works as it should...i think deep inside all your viewers want this knife,it brings out the inner 13 yr old in all of us!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I think you are right.

[@michaelpthompson]

Worked better than I would have expected. I always felt the weakness of those hollow handle knives would be the lack of a decent tang, and that seems to jibe with your experience. As for feathering and such, I don't think I would ever expect a knife to work well straight out of the package without some sharpening.

[@laserjohn2783]

i bought one of these 5yrs ago. Used thread lock on setscrew and epoxied tang to handle no loosening issues at all.Use it when metal detecting has held up great.

[@stuartracing1]

Laser John,I just through drilled mine and drove in a 3/16" steel rod and peen`d over the end`s and then put in the epoxy like you did...I was gonna spot weld the blade to the handle but it`s 2 different metals...

[@serenitynoobosity5905]

I love watching you test cheap knives. It's like watching a comedy special. Have you ever tested the Harbor Freight Gordon Buck 119 clone?

[@joeframo3347]

Hey man really good seeing you love your videos you have a great platform thank you for sharing you always keep me enthused and what's new and what's coming out really cool 👍 keep making these videos thank you

[@henryvandeventer2457]

I got a cheap Rambo style survival knife when I was 8 (thing were different in the 80's 😂. I had about 15 knives - SAK, pocket knife, bushcraft, hunting by the time I was 10) Edge was crap so my dad put it on a grinder and got a real good edge on it. Used it & abused for several years with hunting and just general bushcraft and camping. Compass was perfect even though it was cheap and added my own little "survival" back up kit in the handle. I was really happy with it and it performed pretty well with the home mods

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Cool

[@garrettferrell6821]

In the 80s things were still made of better quality than much of what we see today...I too had a cheap Rambo knife in the early 90s,as a kid I thought it was the coolest thing ever.I felt like I could venture into the wilderness and survive through a Rambo-like scenario 😂

[@samuelherman4859]

I remember having this knife in Mexico 🇲🇽 when we go fishing or when I go hunting 🐇 rabbits when I lost the survival kit I end up filling with concrete the handle 😂😂😂 what a beautiful times back in those days 😊

[@davidferguson5444]

I have the same knife. I filled the tang cavity with J-B Weld and put the set screw back in. Sharpened it up a little and now it works just fine. It's not a Benchmade of course but it can be useful.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Good old JB Weld

[@adrianfirewalker4183]

My "survival knife" is, and has been since 1991, a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Ranger Model. I carried it through 10 years of US Military Service, 6 years of Law Enforcement, Camping, Hunting, Craftwork, and General Pocketknife use. It has served me well.

[@bstevermer9293]

Adrian Firewalker I’m lucky if I don’t lose a knife in a month .

[@adrianfirewalker4183]

@@bstevermer9293, that's me wirh Zippo Lighters! I've owned probably over a dozen, including 1 that had the Parachutist Badge, aka "Jump Wings, engraved with my name and the date of my 1st Jump. I lost it in less than a week. FWIW, when I bought the SAK, I also bought a Leather Sheath that imcluded a mini Sharpening Steel, and I always carry the Knife in the Sheath, and it is also attached to my belt with a Paracord Lanyard. Those probably have kept me from losing it

[@shaneneedles2118]

Swiss army Hunters model - 5 of them in the last 5 decades! Just like toilet paper, never leave home without it!

[@gilbertosuna5496]

A friend of mine bought me one from a Pawn Shop we were browsing through and had it for years. When my Grandson turned 18 I gave it to him and he still has it.

[@stephenwilliams5201]

It's up to you to put the finish on that blade. It is sent to you dull so you won't slice your selfe on first blush .

[@UuddlerLeRoyBaStart]

@@N2RI1 the jungle of St Luis Missouri.... LOL. really

[@502deth]

then why put a "WARNING !! SHARP EDGE!!!" sticker on it if they did not intend for it to be sharp out of the box??

[@scottmefford6917]

I agree. It is common knowledge & practice. I further attest that a low price point does not necessarily denote poor quality.

[@colecole3352]

@@502deth Because idiot's who would ask that are same one's that would burn themselves with coffee and sue MC Ds. You sound like one of those people.

[@EstavanCruz]

My Ontario SP6 has been a tough piece of kit for over 20 years in my possession. I have abused it, left it outside through the seasons and banged on it cutting wood with a mini sledge and it is still solid. Paid around $40 and definitely got my money out of it with many years of service to come. It takes an edge and is useful in a variety of missions.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

cool

[@JohnSmith-ob3zn]

you did broke it on the first hit on the wood, the guard on the edge side

[@williamm6972]

I am surprised he didn't see it. He handled it a bunch after that.

[@joelkelly169]

@@williamm6972 yeah I kept waiting on him to say something about it myself.

[@ChristianAmericanMan]

It probably helped the balance.

[@poophead4686]

I see we don’t have an English major here

[@reggiefairweather9718]

Poop Head, grammar is hard when you spoke wicha akcent

[@sluggodna]

I had this harbor freight knife. I've always had a knife. Got my very first Swiss army knife the day I was took out Canada. I got my first Rambo knife from my US Army stepdad in 1980's. So when my brother in-law got me this knife, I put it to work. It's amazing 👍

[@craigbennett47]

Maybe you could add a segment in seeing how easily you can sharpen it, and if holds an edge..... ;)

[@randyyeager]

good idea...though I can't see it holding an edge for long

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I have probably spent about as much time asI'm going to on this one. We'll see

[@bobmar9239]

Why? What does blade quality have to do with a movie prop?

[@benworkman177]

I have one I bought years ago also. I did locktite the set screw in on the blade and put a pretty good edge on it with my worksharp belt sharpener but have never taken it out and used it in the field. I do however carry my Morakniv's frequently. No doubt it is a poor excuse for a knife but maybe it is better than nothing.

[@rickiejames7935]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose would giving it a sharpening fresh out the packaging make it worth 8 bucks?

[@lonnieadams7841]

Mom bought me a "Rambo" knife after First Blood in 1983, it was a 1982 Christmas movie. I was 11. Black on black knife, could barely cut butter, compass pointed to anything that resembled metal(including that chrome looking plastic), my grandfather had to use an inner tube to unscrew the compass top, he used a small wire wheel on the threads to fix that issue. The sheath was plastic!!! It rattled straight out the blister pack, tang had "threads" notched in the edges and a nut to "hold" it in place. Grandpa fixed that by tightening it down and adding about a half inch of fiberglass epoxy to it. He also sharpened it since dull knives cut more people than a sharp one does. We lived in a ruralish area, with more land in the country, it may have been a Chinese knockoff, that costs $2 to make and sold for $19.99, but I loved that knife anyway. My suggestion, for what it's worth, buy a couple, make them "good" knife safe, JB Weld the blade in place, give the grandkids one in the blister pack, and swap it for the "good" one when they aren't looking.

[@GR-cf4qh]

I’ve got one of these tucked away somewhere that I bought out of curiosity years ago. For $8 it’s surprisingly good, but that’s not really saying much. It takes a decent edge, holds it reasonably well and the tang is tougher than it looks. It’s not a knife that really has much of a purpose however. The only thing you’d ever use this for are outdoor activities, (camping, hunting, fishing, etc...), and for that there are much better, full tang knives that are also reasonably priced.

[@AngelicusEXperiment]

I put mine through the wringer just the other day, and it held up shockingly well. Just had to tighten the screw up every once in a while. I've decided it'll be my hiking companion, along with my magnum. If I end up needing to warm up at a rest spot on the hike, I can use the matches for a fire. Only damage was that the compass broke, so that was annoying, but as long as I know roughly what time it is, I can use the sun to direct me.

[@russel2352]

When you're in a survival situation any tool will do no matter how cheap or where it's made. I'm from South Africa and often come across the comment "made in USA" as the best. I have many knives and have found Muela knives from Spain the best knife for quality vs price. Recently bought a Schrade SCHF30 from a local supplier, good knife but not quite what I wanted so I ordered another Schrade from Amazon. To my horror the micarta slab fell off when I took it out of the box. Another American great gone to an overseas manufacturer. Enjoyed the video and brought back memories of knives long forgotten.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@MatchGrade08]

Made in USA is not the best right now. They can be but they just are not doing it.

[@MrGoranPa]

Rambo knife performs well even in his most dishonorable form. That shows how great it is!

[@joeydepalmer4457]

love the carving part. light pushing with survival knive but a firm push for the small pocket knife

[@aaftiyoDkcdicurak]

Yeah that geometry definitely isn't designed for whittling

[@jdmikeg4]

It's not sharp anymore cus you took the sticker off! Put the sticker back on!

[@tomconway8881]

Good video. Equal and fair evaluation. I enjoy your videos. Thanks.

[@Mitharian]

Heh...I have that same knife...took one look at the edge and had a friend of mine who sharpens knives professionally take a whack at it...it will take a good edge..😁

[@richardalexander5758]

Amazing!

[@jamesorth1521]

And it will stay sharp until you use it. 😂

[@johnharrington4757]

I had one a few years ago and tried many a time to sharpen to no avail. Also i did a torture test on it in my old yard and got the thing to bend at the threads. Threw it away when i moved never will buy another. It was a fun toy as a kid. Hated the saw it might be useful to groove wood sticks for cordage.

[@nervsouly]

13:29 Solid hit on the ground object, captain!

[@joeframo3347]

Hey Brian I love that watch you got one I like that compass it's on the side very impressive looking 👍🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@paulnewkirk7351]

I found in the Mojave desert, a Smith and Wesson 5 inch outdoorsman. I pulled off the side of the highway I40 to take care of business and was just kicking around in a ravine looking for my rock collection and this knife was in a scabbard lying there. What i expected was a rusted up piece of junk but when I pulled it out, the blade shined like a mirror. I felt kinda bad for the adult beverage consumer who lost it. I checked it out by the model #on it and it was made by S&W before they started outsourcing the making of it in the early 80s. for150.00 dollars!!

[@giterdun1864]

i carried mine in Alaska while hunting grizzlies. It came in real handy one afternoon when i had to leap from a cliff to escape a startled mamma bear and her cubs ( my bow and arrow jammed). Unfortunately my arm got ripped open pretty bad from the fall i took through the tall trees, but lucky for me, the sewing kit in the knife helped me stitch it back together and I used the matches to cauterize the wound. Needless to say, this knife saved my life. Thanks Harbor Freight!

[@giterdun1864]

No, actually i bought it for my 9 year old Son as a Christmas gift a few years ago. When he opened the gift, his his eyes about popped out of his head and had a smile as big as Alaska. Mom said " What the hell honey?..Uh...I don't thinks so!!" It was hilarious. His cub scout pack had a "bring your knife to pack meeting nite" for sharpening skill building, i let him bring it. The scout master took it away. I got it back later.

[@krknfmkr8919]

@@giterdun1864 I have a scout handbook from the sixties, they actually used to teach real survival and search and rescue

[@MichaelRoberts-t7c]

You forgot to add a statement about how you used the compass in the handle. I did that while lost in the wilderness for two weeks. The terrain was so rough I had worn out my Herman Survivors and had to make a pair of Ho Che Man go-aheads from thick tree bark and twisted grass twine.

[@doubletap6236]

There's a beaver somewhere in the woods watching you, feeling sorry for you....lol

[@ezelleducation]

LOL

[@IRONMANINC]

I have had mine for years and havent had need of another knife. So far I have taken down a grizzly bear, a moose, and a wild boar. I have also built my entire cabin and hollowed out a canoe with it not to mention countless cords of wood and felled several good sized trees. Outstanding workmanship and fantastic value.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Wait. You didn’t carve your guitar out of a solid piece of rosewood using it?

[@IRONMANINC]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose No mahogany

[@TonyBrown-lf5nj]

I have this blade the whole handle comes off it just threads on .handles a good sharpening to.

[@armedrealtorakasheepdog6914]

I have one I purchased back in the mid 90’s. The first thing I did was LockTight the Allen screw then sharpen it with my Lansky Deluxe (5 stones) at a 25 degree angle. I wrapped 50’ of paracord around the handle to give it some girth. I have even taken a chainsaw file and sharpened the saw teeth like a chainsaw so it actually cuts. I replaced the items in the handle with much upgraded items like waterproof strike anywhere matches and line with several hooks and split shot. I stumbled across a leather sheath at a flea market that fits it perfectly for $5. For under $20 I have a decent tool... not top quality but after 20+ years it still works and goes camping with me all the time.

[@tacorita1158]

I had one when I was a kid. Back then it had a nut in the handle holding together. Lol even in the 80's it still came lose.

[@foreverendeavors6210]

I had one of those lol.

[@mtstream55n]

I have a couple of them. They do chop well but mostly I like them for batoning fatwood and try to keep my good knives good. If I ruin one of these but used it for awhile I consider that no real loss.

[@billyrapp7884]

Been carrying this in my car for 3 years. Took it to a professional to get sharpened because it came dull with basically a flat tip but it's pointed and plenty sharp now. $8 for the knife, $15 for the sharpening not bad for $23

[@verneparrish1540]

I'm surprised you failed to mention the broken hand guard. I'll agree that what we know about a product isn't always factual so testing is best.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I didn’t even notice it. I guess I was having too much fun

[@MrGunny2009]

Yeah, something happened in the first throw. You first notice the break at about 17:45. The guard must have been made with a brittle pot metal.

[@N2RI1]

that "guard" on the real knives is supposed to be bent and holes threaded for the spikes to screw into to use as a grappling hook for climbing with real Para-cord. this crap would never be able to do that.

[@truthseeker911david]

I own this knife, it is actually better than you would think. I have never once had to tighten it as you did. It was very sharp right out of the package, and holds an edge relatively well. My 2 complaints were that the knife cut the stitching on the sheath no long after I started using it, and the O-ring did not keep the contents of the survival kit dry satisfactory.

[@tootall5559]

As to the knife, to be fair, I have never bought a knife that was truly sharp right out of the package. Handmade knives, yes, but prepackaged knives, never. It's a cheap knife, frankly it's better than I would expect it to be. Please don't blame China for making cheap stuff. In all fairness, the companies that sell it here tell them what the price has to be, so they have to make it accordingly. If the buyers for these companies wanted them to make high quality stuff, they could easily make it.

[@warrathblacktiger5566]

Loved knife when they came out as kid with the ball compass on ends but the handle was kind flimsy and came unscrewed when you were trying use surated end to saw small limbs I got looking realized the locking nut on the small tang wasn't all that great and used some lock tight to stop it from falling apart but they were only good for few season As for these new ones I expect about same handles need be longer with longer blade more robust tang that's got better lock nut system the longer handle so you have real space to store survival stuff Old ones the stuff was tiny and some times weak like fishing line or tiny hooks And a heavy butt plate in a hammer shape with recessed compass so you don't smash it if you do hammer with it

[@FrederickNewandyke]

Jimmy Lile would be rolling in his grave if he thought Rambo was fooling around with anything from Harbor Fright.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

;-)

[@richardjenkins4787]

I knew Jimmy Lile back in the 80's use to set up next to him and across from Jack Crain who made the predator knives Arnold Schwarzenegger used in his movies those were great handmade knives.

[@ihcterra4625]

I have one and it came reasonably sharp. It’s quite a bit sharper now, but the secondary bevel was pretty good when I go it, so it wasn’t a lot of work.

[@multidimensionaltraveler806]

The knife needs tweeking out the box. You get what you pay for but theres always room for modifications

[@jomarz1828]

For me ,the issue that any yahoo can separate the blade from the handle and conceal it and enter any facility with it that isn't monitored ,gives me the creeps...

[@MatchGrade08]

​@@jomarz1828how is that any different than any other knife.

[@jamescorless8283]

I have a frost bowie i bought about 35 years ago it cuts steak and chops wood pretty good. I know frost isn't top notch but it's been good to me.

[@mac11380]

That knife is so dull, you couldn't cut a fart with it.

[@douglasrodrigues9329]

Stainless steel doesn't hold sharpness well.

[@mr4x4s]

Of course it can’t cut a fart. A fart has superior sharpness, in fact it’s the sharpest thing known to man... it can cut through 4 layers of clothing without even making a hole!

[@brentonburbank4320]

Lol

[@brandonfoley7519]

I think I could cut a fart with it

[@brandonfoley7519]

@@mr4x4s NICE

[@Bill23799]

I did a wrap on the handle with 550 Paracord. The first wrap I used 100% cotton clothes line about the same thickness of the paracord. I wrapped it tight then I wet it down and put it in the hot sun to dry. The hollow handle is not water tight. You can see light coming in around the tang. I unscrewed the setscrew to remove the blade from the handle and filled the hole with JB Weld then reinserted the setscrew. A Harbor Freight 9 LED flashlight fits nicely inside the hollow handle. I made a little pouch on the sheath to put the survival stuff into. I bought a set of plastic clamp on borders you attach to a poster to hang on your wall. I cut a length long enough to cover the saw back section of the blade. This stops the saw from tearing up the nylon sheath. I found that a 2 sided Diamond Steel plate 450/1000 grit worked quite well to sharpen this blade to paper push cutting sharpness. Harbor freight has these knives on sale till end of December for $6.99.

[@shaneskinner5385]

Love the video, it brought back some memories from when I was a kid.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

thanks

[@ernestwalden3894]

I love these cheap junkie knives tests. Makes me feel better about my $50 knives LOL 😁 I believe the back of the knife is Saposed to be for descaleing fish not a wood saw. But I could be wrong. I had a lot of fun waching this. Thanks for sharing. God bless

[@Mason-dj9xp]

First I got one and the blade did not come loose and it carves like an angel

[@kjkblade69]

Can’t believe that didn’t fly apart when you were throwing it. Should have sharpened it to show before and after sharpening.

[@addicted2tone349]

I bought my kid one of these back in like 2013 and he beat the crap out of it.. I was impressed, he can tear up anything.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

cool

[@billkenworthey5258]

Put an edge on it and do again... don't baby it. Work it like a rented mule. Pry, dig, scrape, cut rope, limbs mine works better than what you're showing... it's still an 8 dollar knife... see ya Bill

[@dfrozendog3849]

I have looked at this knife every time I have gone to that store. It brought back memories.

[@chadjazeera9960]

This vid reminded me I have one of these somewhere. Bought it on a whim about 5 years ago and never used it. Wonder where I put it... 🤔

[@ernestwalden3894]

Lol

[@TBUB123]

I like how you tried to give this $8 knife the benefit of the doubt. What knife I would like to see tested is the “SmittyBilt”chopper. Not sure if it has a specific name but it’s made by SmittyBilt,it’s 11” w/ a 6” blade and was VERY sharp out of box and very heavy as far as choppers go

[@Tradekraft]

I would like to see this reviewed after a professional sharpening

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Which would cost more that the knife ;-)

[@tonynicholls7440]

Love the way you go at things Brian. that was a fun vid. I certainly wouldn't entertain that knife up here in Canada. (Ontario) Keep doing what you're doing man. its all COOL

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It was fun

[@gregheller3688]

Had one that broke at the handle, first throw...

[@joep8787]

What a wonderful idea, using the handle, which is normally dead weight, as storage!

[@whitwavenger]

Worth every nickle of the $8.00 that you paid for it.

[@maximilianvananderwald4968]

I bought this knife for 7 bucks a few years ago at Ocean State Job Lot. It definitely needed some work out of the package. An hour on the whetstone during a camping trip solved the terrible blade geometry and it shaves like a champ now. The blade holds its edge well once you take the corner of the secondary bevel off. Like in the video, my allen nut tended to loosen. I solved it with a bit of plumbing tape; it hasn’t loosened since. I added a few items to the included ‘survival kit’ as there is plenty of storage space in the handle. For seven (or eight) bucks, you really can’t go wrong. Except for the allen nut and bevel issues, this piece is fairly strong and well built. I noticed in the video that the guard broke, probably during the throwing test; I haven’t had this problem, but I don’t throw mine - I have other knives for that. Over-all, for the price, it’s definitely worth the investment as a back-up and/or emergency survival kit storage device. It LOOKS fairly impressive, too. It’s not my Damascus kukri, but then again, what is?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

And yet for $10 or so on Amazon you can get a Mora Companion that you can shave with straight out of the box (or blister pack). No hollow handle but I have pockets.

[@maximilianvananderwald4968]

Sure. And for $200 bucks, you can get a hand-crafted damascus kukri machete that will slice through 3 inch oak trunks with a flick of the wrist, and then shave your face closer than a 5 blade Schick. Is that the point? I don’t regret spending my $7 on an impulse.

[@robertlandis9560]

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL ON THIS SHARP CONTEST

[@treybecker5637]

This knife is better for putting on a shelf for decoration instead of actually using/….its like those display katanas they use in restaurants

[@alexhenry5542]

I’ve never seen wooden “go-fer” matches before. 😝

[@belligerentprisoner1959]

I know I'm very late. Just watching again. My Pawpaw got me a lil "rambo" knife for my 9th birthday!😆 imagine the outrage! 🤣 I chopped and cut up everything! Spent hours on dulling up the blade thinking it's gonna be razor sharp. Lol! And took friends out in our woods to play. I miss those days. I still have that lil survival knife to this day. With my grandpas engraved signature on one side and my 9th birthday on the other. I have given my daughter the same type of tool to learn. It's different if you want someone to get the basics and move forward. He would've hurt me in giving me an expensive very sharp tool. I wouldn't have learned what I have. Thanks pawpaw! You wouldn't be allowed to just be in these days.

[@khwamtay6459]

step one survival did a video on how to improve the knife making it stronger

[@bornofsource9419]

i have one. it got loose once when i was throwing it at trees for like 2 hours. i tightened it. but im sure it will come loose again. ill just not through it at trees anymore but it doesnt look like the screw can handle much more. it easily stripped

[@patrickgarrison859]

"Just my little benchmade"......Compared to the $7.99 knife!

[@slobbucket]

Compare it to a more once they go on sale that will.do even better than the benchmade

[@chronobot2001]

In a survival situation, any knife is better than no knife.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

True

[@andyblack5687]

"His job was to eliminate enemy personnel."

[@x.y.8581]

Period!

[@andyblack5687]

R. S. “They drew first blood, not me!”

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

I fell sucker to buying one of those "Rambo" style knives at Harbor Freight. Took it home and tried out all the "features" that it had. The cutting edge was useless, unless soft butter was the material to be parted. When it came time to baton some firewood, the thing came apart on the first blow to the blade - the handle and blade separated where they were joined by the rivet. So much for my $8 experiment. I was surprised that your example held up to throwing at the target board - several times, in fact. Nice demo, though. Cheers.

[@MatchGrade08]

Was it the handle that broke or the blade or the screw. It should friction held in place by a screw. Having something like hot glue inside keeps it from moving. Their hardish to sharpen but it can be done. Stainless may be soft to the touch but the chromium in it is not so it takes something hard enough to work with stainless and you cant use too much force. Edge geometry is usually most important.

[@corkyianucci7237]

8$ 20% off coupon and a free HF screwdriver set, how can you beat that!!! MURICA # MAGA

[@Deadtileyedie]

Lol I have one I keep in my truck and it has actually came in handy a few times for things I usually would never use my carry knives on. The sheath ripped but the knife is still the same ol beater.

[@37gdog]

You can beat Sportsman's Guide "club prices" practically everywhere and don't have to pay a club fee.

[@BeefT-Sq]

I bought so much disappointing stuff from Sportsman's Guide that I gave up on that firm. ( E.German boots with a horrible chemical odor / Little John urinal that leaked at the cap / useless musty Baily Bridge tool kit / British commando pillows that were hard and had a feather poking / British commando sleeping bag that was too short for anyone over 5'6" / British emergency shelter that was useless / used ammo can that was dented / Used M Alice pack with tear that wasadvertised as "no tears" / Russian thermal underwear that was too small for anyone / used mess kit sold as new....😨