Do you desire to behead a dinosaur or perhaps escape a vehicle by cutting through the roof? Not a problem my friend. Let me introduce you to the most durable knives on the planet earth capable of saving you from your worst apocalyptic nightmares.
Keep in mind, We’re not considering style points or even specific applications here. The parameters are simple – pure brute strength and ultimate durability. That’s it.
All the knives on this list have absolutely bulletproof reputations and very high satisfaction ratings which you can easily verify by cross-referencing other reputable reviewers. Buyer’s regret is almost non-existent with these knives. All of them are very wise choices.
| Blade | Steel | Price | |
 Busse Trough Raider | Length: 9 1/2″ Thickness: .315″ | INFI (proprietary) Hardness: 58-60 Rc | $$$$$ |
 ESEE 6 | Length: 6.5″ Thickness: .188″ | 1095 Carbon Hardness: RC55-57 | $$ |
 Kabar Becker BK2 | Length: 5.25″ Thickness: .250″ | 1095 Cro-van Hardness: RC56-58 | $ |
 TOPS Steel Eagle 107E | Length: 7.5″ Thickness: .250″ | 1095 Hardness: RC 56-58 | $$$ |
 Falkniven A1 | Length: 6.3″ Thickness: .236″ | Laminated VG10 Hardnesss: RC 59 | $$$ |
Anatomy of a Truly Durable Knife
There are a number of non-negotiables when it comes to picking an extremely durable knife. Knife aficionados will already know this stuff, but here’s the quick rundown:
Fixed Blade
This is the single greatest requirement for a strong knife. In other words, blade does not fold. Rather it is “fixed” as a single piece. The lack of hinges, springs or mechanisms(fail points) makes the strength of fixed blade knives far superior to folders.
Full Tang
“Full tang” simply means that the knife is made from a single piece of steel of the same thickness from the blade to the pommel. This rugged unibody design allows the user to exert punishing forces on the handle without the knife bending or failing.
1095 or Harder Steel
Metallurgy is a super confusing field full of advantages and trade-offs. For instance 420HC is more rust resistant than 1095 steel but it won’t hold an edge as well as 1095. Keep in mind the harder the blade steel, the more difficult it can also be to sharpen.
Extra-Thick Blade
Chunky! That’s what you want in the most durable knife. While beefy blades and handles do make for a heavier knife, it’s a necessary trade-off if you want a truly indestructible beast.
Don’t settle for anything less than a .188″ thick blade.
What about the blade profile? Drop point blades are typically the most robust blade profile but certain clip points and tantos can be very tough too. Avoid knives with long, narrow tips. Obviously, less material makes a knife tip more prone to snap off under prying force.
Replaceable Handle
Basically, the most likely fail point on even the most rugged fixed blade knife is either the tip or the handle.
That’s why you should look for a knife with a replaceable handle. Typically, loosening a few hex screws is all it takes to replace or even upgrade the handle of quality fixed blades.
Replacements and upgrades are usually quite easy to get from knife manufacturers of the knives in this list..except for the Falkniven A5.
Well-Proven Track Record
You can’t safely say something is durable if it hasn’t been proven to be the case over the long term. So, avoid new, unproven knife models and let others be the guinea pigs.
Stick to time-proven knives.
A Generous Lifetime Warranty
Not all super-durable knives come with epic warranties even though they definitely could. A solid warranty that is consistently honored tells you a company is confident in its product.
In this regard, ESEE knives and Busse knives offer the very best warranties in the knife industry. They will fix or replace your knife even if you accidentally damage it. Crazy!
For more of the best knife warranties check out this post.
The Busse Trough Raider: One Knife to Rule them All
Is this a sword or knife? Dang! Behold the mother of all indestructible knives!
Busse’s Battle Mistress used to hold this title but was discontinued. Now the Trough Raider has ably stepped into that void with its behemoth 9 1/2″ long INFI steel blade that is a full .315″ thick! That makes a 1/4″ thick blade look like a child’s toy!
The Trough Raider is a gorgeous looking knife but is it practical? Absolutely! You can chop off Goliath’s head with it! Granted, Busse knives are mainly showpieces. They are custom built and very expensive.
A Busse Trough Raider will set you back over $600. But hey, That’s good value for a dragon slayer wouldn’t you say? This is easily one of the most durable knives on the planet right now.
That said Busse offers a great warranty. In their own words:
“Busse Knife Group encourages extreme usage of our blades as they are without question “The Toughest Knives in the World”. We have no rivals. You can use a Busse Knife Group blade as hard as you like and our warranty has you covered.“
Busse is the only company besides ESEE that offers a warranty like this.
Specs
- Overall length: 15″
- Blade thickness: .315″
- Rockwell hardness: RC 58-60
- Proprietary INFI steel
- Corrugated beveling
- Recurved Blade
- Coffin handle
Pros
- The most durable knife of all
- Beautiful craftsmanship
- Extremely hard steel
- Customizable
Cons
- Hard to sharpen
- Too huge to be practical in most cases
- Very expensive
ESEE 6: Excellent All-Rounder
The ESEE 6 is a serious survival tool carefully designed and used by professional military survival trainers. This is ESEE’s flagship knife and it has garnered a ton of respect in the knife world.
The 6.5″ flat grind 1095 steel blade holds a very strong edge and will slice curly Q’s off paper right out of the box. Spine jimping and a choil allow you to choke up on the blade for finer bushcraft work.
Price: The ESEE 6 sits mid-field among other good quality knives -usually sub $150, but you can check the latest price here .
I actually did a full review on this beast a couple of years ago. So, you can read it here if you’d like.
Specs
- Full Tang
- Drop Point
- Thickness: .118″
- Total length: 11.75″
- Weight: .75lbs (12 oz)
- Changeable Handle
- Powder-coated 1095 Steel
- Thumb Jimping and choil for extra control
- Ergonomic linen Micarta handle
- Kydex sheath
- True Unconditional Lifetime Warranty
Pros
- Very strong
- Easily sharpened
- One of the best all-round survival knives out there.
- Warranty is more like an insurance policy!
Cons
- Not the thickest blade on this list
- Needs to be lubricated against rust.
- Kydex sheath could be better.
Becker BK2 Companion: Best Value
At sub $100, the Kabar Becker BK2 is by far the best value on this list when considering to the price and sheer durability. (Get the latest price)
Its immense strength comes from its relatively wide and stubby 5.25″ blade. The 1095 Cro-Van steel is a full quarter-inch thick from point to pommel.
The tang itself extends past the handle to create a very powerful striking/cracking instrument. Let’s hope you’ll only need to use it for coconuts cause it could do serious damage in tactical situations.
The Becker BK2 consistently makes it into the Top 3 recommendations plenty good survivalist reviews. However, it’s has been criticized for being a bit stupid..ie..a jack of all trades but master of none. You can read my review of the Becker BK2 here.
Specs
- Full Tang
- 1/4″ thick blade
- Overall Length: 10 1/2″”
- Weight: 1lb
- 1095 Cro-Van
- Drop point
- Changeable Handle
Pros
- Extremely thick & strong blade
- Powerful pommel strike
- Great price
- Very good chopper
Cons
- Very heavy for its length.
- Powder-coating wears off
- Doesn’t excel in many bushcraft tasks.
TOPS Steel Eagle 107E: Best Looks
Now we’re getting into the big boys! The 107E is a variant of TOPS’ legendary Steel Eagle line. The 107E is 13″ long with a 1/4″ bruiser of a blade offering immense strength. The downside? It’s on the pricier side.
The linen micarta handle offers a very grippy purchase and secure index grip. Multiple spear lashing points, thumb jimping and a double choil allow for extra control for finer work. Its a favorite for special ops and offers formidable advantages as a tactical knife.
Specs
- Weight:
- Length:
- Blade Thickness: .250″
- Overall Length: 13″
- Weight(with sheath): 1.38 lbs
- 1095 Steel
- Drop point
- Changeable Handle
- Lashing points
- Double Choil
- Spine Jimping
Pros
- Long thick blade
- Really good looking knife
- Very nice handle
- Excellent chopper
Cons
- On the heavy side
- Pricy
- Large size makes it less versatile
Falkniven A1
Falkniven is the pride of the Swedish cutlery industry and the A1 has garnered a lot of praise as their flagship survival knife. The A1 is an outstanding all-round knife for survival bushcraft.
Its secret sauce? A harder VG10 laminated steel blade. This sets it apart from the BK2, ESEE6 and Tops Steel Eagle which are all 1095 steel. On the other hand, the A1’s is quite expensive and its handle is not easily replaced.
Specs
- Weight: .7 lbs
- Length:
- Blade Thickness: .236″
- Overall Length: 11″
- Weight: 1lb
- 1095 Cro-Van
- Drop point
- Changeable Handle
Pros
- Excellent high-performance blade
- Very Comfortable handle
- Extremely versatile
- Very highly respected
Cons
- Handle not replaceable
- Can chip on rocks
Conclusion
If money were no issue and you simply wanted the most durable knife on earth, then go with the Busse Trough Raider.
If money is an issue, your best bang for the buck is the Kabar Becker BK2 Companion. It’s a bit clunky but undeniably the most rugged knife at its price point and most others above its pricepoint too.
I think the most durable knives in terms of real-world practical use are the ESEE6 or the Falkniven A1.
Ultimately, I’d choose the ESEE 6 over the Falkniven A1 because it costs half as much, has a replaceable handle, and comes with an epic warranty that even covers accidental damage.
