Torture Test: Harbor Freight Survival Knife

[@joemumma6776]

6:31 “several little nicks” no shit maybe cause you tried batoning with a rock instead of wood

[@douglasrodrigues9329]

It may be cheap junk by quality knife standards, but it's so cheap that you can keep a couple of them in a survival kit. By removing the handle cap, you can insert a shaved tree branch into the handle to turn it into a nice spear, not for throwing, but for thrusting. That may come in handy if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere and need protection from animals.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Very good point! No pun intended.

[@jojoe2409]

This is not a knife to give our soldiers in combat, it is a knife for use in camping for light duty.

[@davidferguson5444]

I also have one of these knives. I took out the set screw and removed the blade from the handle, filled the cavity with JB Weld and put the blade back and tightened the set screw. I have never had any trouble with it coming loose. Once it is sharp (this takes some time) it's a very good knife.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Good idea, thanks for the tip!

[@Bill23799]

I bought one of those with a 25% off coupon a few years ago and i think it cost me $6.75. I had a hard time sharpening mine because the stainless steel it is made of is very hard. I ended up buying the Harbor Freight 4 sided Diamond Honing Block and with that I could sharpen the knife to where it would push cut paper smoothly and shave hair off my body very smoothly. I modded mine some by wrapping 100% cotton cordage around the handle. Then I wet it and let dry in the sun to shrink and give me a much better grip. I noticed there was daylight coming into the hollow grip from the front so I removed the setscrew holding the blade to the handle and I filled the opening with Harbor Freight's version of JB Weld then re attached the blade and tightened down the setscrew. I removed the cheesey survival kit and replaced it with a Harbor Freight 9 LED Flashlight. I slide the survival kit in the sheath between the fabric and the plastic sheath guard. To stop the saw blade from tearing up the fabric of the sheath I cut a length of plastic border they sell to put on the ends of wall posters for hanging them and snapped that over the saw blade section. I have given several away as gifts modded up this way. Sometimes I have used 550 Paracord wrapped tightly around the grip. Liked.....Subbed...Rang da bell mainly for your family's awesome knife throwing skills haha. PS It's not really a knife I would use for batoning though I know you had to do it or you would get a load of comments asking why you didn't. With the hollow handle it has a very short tang.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Those are some excellent ideas! I should try some of them! Thanks for watching and subbing. I’m making a new vid this Sunday. Reviewing some survival kits with an Army Apache pilot.

[@Bill23799]

@@oursimplestorychannel Here is something weird you should try for fun. Remove the cap from the hollow handle with the compass in it. Run the compass up and down the blade and watch the needle. haha It jumps all over the place as you slide it, It seems the blade itself has varying degrees of megneticism for some strange reason. I'm pretty sure MacGuyver would find a knife blade with varying degrees of magneticism helpful to defuse a nuclear warhead.

[@jackslapp9073]

@@Bill23799. That's funny. The magnet is in the point of the compass needle, not the blade. The compass will do that around any iron or steel, that is why they use an aluminum handle, and why you have to be careful when you are using a compass to keep it away from iron or steel. Any nearby iron or steel can throw the compass off. Aluminum won't attract magnets. And, if the needle in the compass isn't magnetized it won't point toward magnetic north.

[@Bill23799]

@@jackslapp9073 Thanks Jack. I was a Buck Sgt in the US Army and I know how to use a compass. What I was saying that was strange was that the degree of magnetism the compass tip feels toward the steel knife blade varies as you move the compass up and down the blade. It may be caused by impurities in the steel. Or perhaps part of the knife blade has been magnetized during the manufacturing process. The point of the compass literally dances left and right as you move it up and down the steel blade.

[@jackslapp9073]

@@Bill23799. Are you using the piece of junk compass that came with the knife, or a good compass with liquid in it? I just used an engineers military compass on it and compared it with my Chicago Cutlery chef's knife. The compass behaved the same way with both. Near the handle, with the knife on the left side, the compass needle points away from the blade and as you draw the knife back the compass needle turns counter clockwise until the north point of the compass is pointing at the tip of the blade. Moving either knife forwards, the compass needle moves clockwise until it is pointing away from the blade again. Both knives are stainless steel. On my carbon steel pukko it does the same thing. That is generally a result of the heat treating. Also, my refrigerator magnet sticks to the butt end stronger than the point end on all three knives as well. Usually that is a result of the heat treating process since the tang end is not heated and quenched to the same extent as the point. Most knives are softer at the tang end. Not all, but most, because the tang end is the end where they are handled the most during the process. Also, the tang end is easier to drill and rivet if it is softer. However, I do have a stainless steel knife that is so hard all the way through that it is impossible to drill the tang and had to be glued into the antler handle.

[@flipnotrab]

$8 or nothing? I’d take it. Would beat ANY knife backside with a ROCK and expect there not to be damage.. Would have liked to see it used more as a “hatchet” to see if handle holds up. I think a real outdoors person could “survive” off this thing easy. It’s really just a matter of “using what ya got” that it boils down too.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

For real! The knife you have is better than the one you don’t.

[@rickjensen1636]

i'm i Wrecker/Rollback driver, it maybe be "cheap junk" but i've used it to cut the seatbelt of accident victims out of their cars, i know of at least 5 people that owe their LIVES to that "cheap junk"

[@rcash3625]

Honestly, if u cant survive with this 10$ knife... I doubt you would survive with an expensive one either

[@oursimplestorychannel]

True

[@mikegillaspy1721]

I agree

[@Kuba38OwO]

Also it is waterproof but how the compass broke the fluid came out so that's why there is water inside

[@trynsurviven2440]

It’s a no fluid compass not the most accurate but in a pinch it’s good enough.

[@jsmith5443]

@@trynsurviven2440 no, it had fluid

[@trynsurviven2440]

@@jsmith5443 Mine didn’t.

[@georgecurtis6463]

Ramming a car into a wall will make it useless also.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

especially if it's a junk car.

[@kendo8663]

Just bought one. I'm happy with it, thanks for the review

[@CalebMcFadden]

You really shouldn’t use a rock for the batoning because it will seriously tear up the part where you were hitting it. I recommend using something like a thick tree limb that’s heavy but won’t break. Nice overall video! Thanks

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Thanks!

[@TheBootyWrangler]

I recommend using a carbon steel hammer

[@almummart883]

If the compass had fluid in it and it cracked while hammering or throwing it- maybe the fluid made the inside wet? I have several of these, Great for $8.

[@devildogsbushcraft7898]

You can't go wrong for 8$. You also shouldn't expect 100$ knife abilities from an 8$ knife. But all in all your evaluation wasn't too unfair. Thanks.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@dunderland241]

@ 1:12 stops the video to beat the shit out of his kid 😂

[@norcalsportsguy]

I'm new to knives. I think this will be a perfect entry level knife for me. Great video!

[@jorgecabezas1966]

Is it a good knife?

[@oursimplestorychannel]

It is okay. My biggest complaint is the fact the blade got loose in the handle.

[@Hubertproductions4176]

@@oursimplestorychannel there's a bolt inside the handle u could just tighten

[@trynsurviven2440]

@@Hubertproductions4176 Not on this one. It has a small set screw on the hilt that holds the blade on.

[@k-sell4065]

I purchased one about a year ago. Haven’t put to the test till I saw this video . The water test I observed. I took the cap off the back and tried to blow through it and it was sealed! But yeah throwing it a tree multiple times weakened the cheap seal/ adhesives that actually hold the blade to the handle and that’s where the leaking started! The rubber gasket did its job. So my solution was to heat the knife up just enough so it don’t melt the aluminum handle and removed the blade and uses industrial grade apoxy.that stuff holds steal together. I have not done it yet! It could work! Just a thought. I finally got a space to set up my workshop. So here very soon I will be trying that out and send you my results.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Right on!

[@k-sell4065]

@@oursimplestorychannel over all I think the blade itself is pretty good and also depends on how you use it. My thought would be to keep it in tact as long as I can in a Shtf type situation

[@jsmith5443]

@@k-sell4065 but I suggest not heating it up so you don't ruin the heat treatment and or tempering, whichever one it is.

[@k-sell4065]

@@jsmith5443 I agree. Didn’t realize it has a hex screw to hold the blade in

[@monooutdoors3051]

Thx for the review but for me it lasted a long time. Keep up the good work

[@retparatrooper]

I sharpened to a razors edge, I like it

[@ineedmoney6685]

My dad keeps saying that soliders use it, I really hope he doesn't see it a harbor freight, someone gave it to him 🤣

[@Kuba38OwO]

Are you kidding me that you are batoning with stone ? That will destroy the knife , use wood stick to baton wood

[@Psiberzerker]

This is a torture test. They're trying to see what it takes to break it. Don't try this in a real survival situation, unless your life depends on it. In fact, don't try Anything risky in a survival situation, unless your life depends on it. Both of these things should go without saying. Also, trying to baton a saw-backed knife at all is pretty much folly.

[@patriotrob7066]

Just a fyi. It's a notcher on back not a saw like most think

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Interesting. What is the purpose of a notcher?

[@trynsurviven2440]

To cut notches in small limbs to make a primitive trap.

[@jsmith5443]

So basically a saw?

[@jsmith5443]

@@oursimplestorychannel I don't know if he's right, but with notches you can make traps like an automatic fishing line where two notched sticks fit together and when a fish bites the fishing line, the line pulls the top stick free from the bottom one, and tension from a nearby branch can pull the fish from the water.

[@Nohkral]

Water is probably from the compass

[@0zmosis2001]

I just picked one up about 5 days ago and just starting off to let you know I am not into cheap knives that said I'm not a snob either a good knife is a good knife. So for being what it is it took a really good Edge I sharpened it on course DMT working my way up to ultra fine then finishing off with green stropping compound and got to say it's at least heat treated pretty good because I was able to remove the Burr fairly easily and that is already a huge Plus for the steel beyond that no rattles or damage, I've used it for some hacking and chopping on Oak and some Pine 2x4s just to see if it would rattle or come loose from the handle but so far so good and the edge held up surprisingly well so just from somebody out there and knife land my two cents it swings well above it's weight class and if you were to give this to somebody and not tell them where it came from how much it costs I guarantee they would never guess it was a $8 H.F. beater! Recommendations: as soon as you get the knife take a T20 Torx remove the set screw apply liberal amount of red permanent Loctite and retighten the set screw to prevent any loosening down the road

[@johnharrison6745]

I know; right? And, there's plenty of room in that handle for more small items; or you can just put the items that come with it into the sheath [they'll fit quite nicely], and put a roll of nickels/quarters into the handle for added weight, mass, money (another survival item). A guy recently offered me a single Damascus-steel, full-tang knife for $100; and, I'm thinking, 'I can buy 10 or 12 of those H.F. knives for the same money.....

[@johnharrison6745]

I put the survival-contents of the handle into an empty paper nickel roll (and, left a little triangular flap up at the 'top' end), and put them back into the handle that way, to make it easier to get them out of the handle. And, you can just remove them from the handle [they can then fit pretty well inside the sheath], and replace them with an actual roll of nickels/quarters for added weight and mass (and money; another survival item); it fits very nicely inside the handle. Maybe add the appropriate hex-key, and a small diamond sharpening stone, to the survival-contents that came with the knife. 😉

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

just picked this up to check it out for my own mini-series about bushcraft/woodscraft and camping without spending a ton. I'm taking it out today....bringing a backup because I dont have much confidence in it hah

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Sounds fun! Let me know how it goes.

[@JoefromSoCal]

The guy approached this knife evaluation full of attitude but I think he was surprised it was as good as it is. I have 3 Microtech’s, a Kershaw and a Chris Reeve Inkosi. I know what a good knife is. For $8 this is a great knife.

[@goldenweaponry2360]

I mean for $8 it’s a nice piece I have one I done a Camo paint on mine *EDIT* I had to sharpen mine myself but it’s held a pretty good edge

[@rcash3625]

also unscrew the handle remove the blade and use some JB weld where the blade goes into the handle and use some on the screw that usually comes lose and that shouldnt be a problem anymore

[@Masteradamant]

I filled my survival knife with lead and sharpened it. I turned this same knife into a foldable spear also.

[@onlyonemrxonlyonemry306]

Good knives for underwater fishing

[@oursimplestorychannel]

True

[@genoedcknifecollecter1538]

I guess for a beat it to death knife this could be fun

[@brendaleetv]

I just got one, I love it. I used blk, car window sealent on the inside of the handle to make it water proof. But what are the two holes in the front of the handle for?

[@jsmith5443]

Perhaps lashing it to a stick or pole for a spear

[@Psiberzerker]

I don't believe in "Survival knives." Whatever knife you have, or can make in a survival situation is your survival knife. One of the first parts of the Survival Situation is you're probably not going to have a chance to pack, because if you have time to pack, you have enough fore-warning to avoid the life-threatening situation, entirely. I believe in Carry knives, which will most likely be on me, should I find myself in a life-threatening situation. Hiking Camping Knives, because those are the kinds of situations that can turn life-threatening. If you buy ^That knife, and it's collecting dust in your garage when your car goes off the road, it's not going to help you survive. Can you carry that, on your belt, walking down the street? Then that's at best a trunk knife, or a cheap, and pretty shitty camping knife.

[@Psiberzerker]

Unprotected barbed fishooks in a ziplock bag is a mistake I've seen repeated for decades. What's that zipper seal on the bag for, to keep it sealed? With barbed hooks in there, brilliant. If you ever get a survival anything with loose fishooks in it, the first thing you should do is put tape over the barbs, and points, then replace that ruined plastic bag. (Also, anything else that's supposed to be "Sealed" in there like a condom/water bladder.) I have no idea why this industry still does something so stupid. Unfortunately, it isn't a mark against this particular knife, because it is such a common mistake.

[@Psiberzerker]

@@antilaw9911 scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/13041452_1116210661757372_7977261291896322365_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=AQnBNklwrjgKX5RtC_jt7esoHDG_IlRAJnrz2iN1xBeclDkwX8ZTpAyBUUtRbWPBxjg&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.xx&oh=72aa11fdcbf65174cadb53f80b73b145&oe=5E25C940

[@smokeymountainbushcraft252]

Why are you hitting it with a rock?!

[@SirenaSpades]

Just dunk the matches in paraffin wax to make them waterproof. Don't need the strike paper, you can use a rock to strike them on.

[@justicekaton8715]

They arent strike anywhere

[@TheIMFAgency]

0:00 MM2 Knife throw

[@giruz]

yea xD

[@mattpartington5312]

These knives are a cheap fun hobby to modify & see what you can do with them, I own 2, 1 is still in the package for a back up, I popped the compass out, put electrical tape around the handle, & added different camping stuff inside the handle, I seen another video on KZbin where they used j-b weld on the inside of the blade & it seemed to hold it in pretty good, might try that with mine, I've abused the crap out of mine & so far the blade wasn't came loose at all, actually works better than an $89.00 hunter knife I got from grimfrost

[@mitch5077]

Your a damn good throw!

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Well thank ya

[@rickjensen1636]

looks like you ARE a good shot , but could it be (prob unintentionally) it's got good balance from the factory? i noticed your son nailed it from a bout 8'-10' feet out too, lol

[@Packaroo]

If possible, use a good piece of wood to baton the knife to cut a piece of wood. Even an expensive knife will be damaged by a rock hitting it. The saw part is so that you can cut a ring around a piece of log, and then by stomping on the ring, the log breaks easier.

[@jimbean5962]

Get a mora I own several $500+ knifes but I’d feel perfectly content using a more in a survival situation

[@springer-qb4dv]

Thanks for the nice demo. Heck of a bargain for a knife. You can do far worse with buying "cheap" survival knife from amazon with plastic handle and which cost twice HF knife. Some cheap amazon knifes are so flimsy that blades fall off after slight stress.

[@michaelxu7132]

For the price range, this is a perfect knife.you get what you pay for! I agreed $500 knife will better than this, but $500?really?lol

[@Tweekedcarrot]

Cold steel survivalist is 50 bucks. I'd recommend that for people not on a budget.

[@rcash3625]

A 500$ knife is a waste of money for a survival knife.... when u drop 500 on a blade do u really wanna take the chance of losing it in the bush??.... I wouldnt spend much over a hundred,.... The marketing guys have been doing a great job at driving up knife prices. with a bunch of jargon. metal vs wood.... Metal wins

[@danielww9022]

A B.O.B. should be as light, efficient, and compact as possible. It's sole purpose is to help one survive in a time of need without being a burden. That said, that knife would never, never, never have a place among my gear.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Mine either

[@danielww9022]

@larry johnson You won't get much for under $20. However, I highly recommend K-bar brand knives, since you seem uninterested in the Mora. Also, consider a multi-tool, such as a Leatherman or Gerber. Swiss Army is known for quality, as well. Shop around, look in local pawn shops, on-line auctions (Ebay isn't the only one), and even hardware stores. I rarely pay top dollar for top rated gear; the goal is utility & survival, & you'll get no points for being the highest bidder. My best advise is this: if you want a fixed blade, be sure it is FULL TANG & high carbon steel. If the handle has a screw-on cap & compass, move on. The only thing a hollow handle is good for in a knife is to keep the receipt inside it (you'll likely want to return the knife before long). Also, if you need a heavy knife with a long blade, then what you really need is an axe, a saw, or both. Try, instead, a blade of 4"-6". That will do anything you need a knife to do. Remember, the right tool for the job....I hope this helps. I couldn't respond earlier because I was on the road. Good luck to you, friend.

[@sparkysurvivalist9507]

@larry johnson yeah for around 20 you can get a camillus hatchet, saw, and small knife . also for a rugged knife theres a camillus for 10 or a gerber for 20 at wallmart. However i agree with this guy a full tang highcarbon steel blade suits me however if you live in a humid environment use stainless steel

[@hillaryclintonscellmatejim3234]

Ok boomer

[@Sneaky-hj3br]

They may be cheap but they can be a little handy

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Sounds like me, cheap and handy.

[@bobsugrue2703]

I just got one for $4.99

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Nice!

[@thingamabob9153]

I saw this knife i was like its probaly a peice of junk

[@oursimplestorychannel]

You’d be correct

[@devildogsbushcraft7898]

No one uses a rock to button with!

[@19Tiva74]

It will kill!

[@taitai4real]

I say buy a Machete, it cheapest and can cut better

[@rickeybullington68]

Take the set screw out of the handle and put you some epoxy on the blade and were the set screw go s in the handle put some in their to. And the blade will not come loose any more you will be good to go. That what I did to all 5 of mine .

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Nice, yeah I e heard of some folks doing that. Thanks for the tip!

[@haroldcotten1840]

You're not supposed to us a rock to baton wood, you us a stick

[@oursimplestorychannel]

I use rocks because it destroys the knife faster.

[@devildogsbushcraft7898]

It's an 8$ knife. What do you expect.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Crap 😆

[@dumpsterchild5734]

To be honest I have one I do have that but I bought it for $5 I will say it is pretty good just for a simple work but it's not super sharp but most knives are never Sharp on the factory pretty much got sharpening yourself anyways it might be cheap but as a tool it can work for anything just simple use the survival of little gear not really worth it but I'm blade alone I don't say it's good enough just maybe never take it apart

[@phillipsutherland1970]

Never beat on your equipment with a rock..

[@paulpowell4871]

I bought 20 at $5. they are sharp and you can toss them after a use if need be. one in each bug out bag, By the entry doors and several other places. yep not my $300 knife but who cares

[@choppergirl]

I hate that serrated survivalist wood saw blade notched area along the back spine, it's completely useless and prevents you from pressing on the back of the knife anywhere but at the tip (you suddenly have to be mindful even when working from behind the knife), and actually for me, makes the damn thing kind of dangerous to use. So the first thing I did was make a slip on metal cover to slide over that area, out of some aluminum flashing. This knife is too big to be useful really, or carry, and I just bought it as an impulse fun buy. Maybe in a street fight you could use it just to intimidate someone with, and that's about it, or carry on your motorcycle to stab out cop tires (an old roofing nail is better for that). A common kitchen Ginsu Knife with serrated main cutting edge, or a paring knife, is more useful... and a common as dirt non-provocative Phillips screwdriver as a stiletto I think would be more deadly, if you're looking for a defensive weapon. Dump all that useless crap out of the base, and put a new BIC lighter in there... that's what I did. Harbor Freight stuff is da bomb, I don't know why you be ripping on it... just because it's fashionable to dis Chinese stuff? Well, get use to it, because American industry got sold out long ago and went over seas, thanks to the corrupt lying politicians and two corrupt political parties Americans insist on repeatedly voting into office. Those jobs and American made goods ain't coming back, tariffs or not. I find the quality of HF stuff to be pretty banging for the price. If you think HF sucks, wait until you gawk at the prices at Lowes, and you'll running and screaming back into the arms of HF clutching your 20% off / get one free item coupons in the check out line :-)

[@nathanyosler4025]

Good factory edge but can’t cut paper😂😂 Also your only supposed to hold one side

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Wish you were there to help :)

[@jsmith5443]

I got a similar knife from Academy for about $14.99 it could shave peach fuzz off my face.

[@dyran85]

Wouldn’t wast my time buy a mora cheap and reliable

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Did you see my newest video?

[@steveo601]

Hazard Fraught🤣🤣🤣😬😬

[@brucecox5884]

good video, maybe a dab of Vaseline around the washer and in the screw hole.

[@oursimplestorychannel]

Not a bad idea.

[@flipnotrab]

NOOOOOOOO! Lol! If you want the RUBBER (made in China so it might be something else🙄😆) Vaseline will ruin the seal - oil based products and rubber DO NOT get along. Needs to be silicone SILICONE base product. I’ve been in the swimming pool industry for 35 years. Vaseline on o-rings & gaskets have literally made me well over $100,000.00 over the years. Vaseline will EAT the seal, make it expand, just completely screw it up. Use silicone spray or lube on any o-rings, gaskets, and even the threads if you want it to last. I’ve done SO many service calls where I’ve shown up and there is a tub of Vaseline sitting next to pool equipment and enough of it ON equipment to lube up a tractor trailer hitching system. Replace a $8 gasket, after cleaning Vaseline goo OFF everything, and their pump “WORKS” again. Magic Lube is great silicone base gel and you can get little 1oz tube at any pool store that will last you YEARS for little things like this, around the house, plus camping gear stuff (zippers!!).