A Study of Fixed Blade Knives

Fixed blade knives have been around since roughly the time that people or our ancestors realized that a sharp stone was a helpful tool for cutting flesh or carving wood. Needless to say that they have evolved a little bit over the years. The discovery of metal and forging techniques have allowed us to progress out of the stone age. We now have all different varieties of fixed blade knives, many of which have become very specialized over the years. I will discuss some of the more common fixed blade knives here, you can use this as a buyers guide or simply useless information for your next game of trivial pursuit.

Lets first take a look at the Bowie knife, which Russell T. Johnson once described as "It must be long enough to use as a sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wide enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enough to use as a hatchet." The Bowie knife is most certainly the forerunner of many modern varieties of knife. The bowie knives popularized by outdoorsman Jim Bowie were always fixed blade knives and they were always large, sometimes up to 12”. As previously mentioned they served a number of purposes. Today Bowie knives are not as common for the simple fact that there are more specialized versions of knife and the combat aspect of a large knife is not as important as it used to be. Now days Bowie knives are commonly sold as collectors items and normally have specialty handles, inlays, or carvings.

Hunting knives are direct descendants of the Bowie knife and are one of the purposes for which a Bowie knife served. The more specialized hunting knives of toady are still usually fixed blade knives but will usually serve a multitude of functions. Most notably hunting knives are used for cutting meat in the field and for skinning. The blades are not made for stabbing, as they are on tactical knives, and they are usually fixed blade because of their size and because of the fact that you would not want to fold up a knife that has just been used to gut an animal. Hunting knives are also commonly specialized for fishing, with a serrated edge for descaling and a thin blade for filleting fish.

Survival knives were popularized by movies like Rambo but were actually first used by aircraft personnel during WWI, when the chanced of being shot down behind enemy lines in wooded areas was high. Survival knives are usually fixed blade knives for a couple of reasons. One, fixed blade knives are usually larger than foldable knives, and they are also sturdier. Survival knives also often have a storage compartment in the handle for other small survival tools like, matches, a wire saw, string, or anything else. Survival knives must be very sturdy because they are often used as hatchets, for protection, for hunting, and for any other host of things that a downed paratrooper may need one for. Survival knives are now a required part of many soldiers collection of gear.

Combat knives are still standard issue for most military units. Though not used for hand to hand combat much anymore the art is still taught and still used in some situations. Combat knives are fixed blade because of the ease of access and the durability factor of fixed blade. They will often have a hand guard to catch an adversaries blade. And, they will often be double edged to allow for maximum advantage and because they are not made with safety in mind. Combat knives are deadly and also closely related to survival knives in their military function but are usually much lighter and easier to maneuver.

Neck knives, boot knives, and push knives are all also usually fixed blade knives and usually carried in a small sheath that is easily accessible. Neck knives as would be expected are usually worn around the neck in some configuration and are available for fast access. Boot knives are hidden in a sheath in the boot, are usually no more than a couple inches long, and usually double edged. Being made for combat and concealed leads to some legal issues for boot knives and they are illegal in much of the United States. Push knives resemble brass knuckles with a blade that protruded from between the fingers. These are normally fixed blades knives for the simple fact that you do not want the blade closing on your fingers. These blades have a checkered past and are now usually used for show more than anything else.

Diving knives are also some of the more common and legal types of fixed blade knives. Usually made of stainless steel and double edged, they are made for undersea emergency and must be easily accessible. Divining knives are usually fairly simple and may also double as hunting or fishing knives. One of the most common distinctions of a diving knife is that it usually comes with a very specialized sheath that is made for use underwater and made to strap to a leg, arm or another part of the body.

There is certainly more to fixed blade knives. They have a rich history and a multitude of uses in the modern world. They may be one of the original inventions but they also sit on the same thrown of usefulness as things like the wheel. Fixed blade knives will continue to be used for hunting, survival and many other uses for generations to come.