A good survival knife is an essential part of anyone’s outdoor kit. Whether you are a casual hiker or a hardcore survivalist, having a good quality knife at the ready can be a lifesaver in sticky situations.
Another key element of survival is always being able to start a fire. Luckily, there are many great survival knives around today which come integrated with their very own fire starter. This means one less thing for you to have to think about and carry when you go out.
In this article, we take a look at 7 of the best survival knives available which come with a fire starter. The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank to afford most of these knives. They are simple tools which do what they promise, offering you the best bang for your buck.
Best Survival Knives with Firestarter
- Best Overall Pick – Selkirk Fixed Blade Buch Knife w Fire Striker
- Most Functional – Morakniv Companion Spark Knife w Fire Starter
- Knife w Highest Reviews – Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Knife
- Best Budget Knife – SE Outdoor Tanto Knife with Firestarter
- Minimalistic Knife – Szco Supplies Tanto Survivor Fire
- Knife w Serrated Edge – UST Full Tang ParaKnife FS 4.0
- Best Neck Knife w Fire Starter – Survival Neck Knife w Kit by Frog & Co.
1. Selkirk Fixed Blade Buch Knife with Fire Striker
Best Overall
Price: $$
Blade Length: 4.63 inches
Overall Length: 9.5 inches
Item Weight: 320 grams
Blade Material: High carbon steel, Full tang
Pros: Constructed, strength, and durability, Perfect size with comfortable handle and carry case.
Cons: Complaints about the knife being made in China and thus of inferior quality to US-made Buck knives, Pricier than its fellow competitors on this list
Description: The 863BRS Selkirk Fixed Blade Knife with Fire Striker is our number one choice on this list. It features a 4.63 inch drop point 420HC steel blade. The blade is thick and sturdy, providing excellent strength, resistance to corrosion, and edge retention. This is a full tang knife for added strength and durability.
The Selkirk comes with a 2.25 inch fire striker which can also be used as a safety whistle. All comes integrated with a convenient carry sheath in which the blade and fire striker fit nicely. The blade clicks in place for extra stability and security, and the carry case can be configured for horizontal or vertical carry.
The Buck also features a pommel at the bottom of the handle which can be used for light hammering.

This knife comes with Buck’s standard lifetime warranty, which shows that it has the Buck stamp of approval. A few people complained that the knife is made in China, but don’t let this discourage you as the quality is up to Buck’s usual high standards.
Overall, this is a solid outdoor survival knife with handy Firestarter and safety whistle which won’t let you down! It can be used in a diverse range of survival scenarios. It is the most expensive knife on this list, but is worth the extra money.
2. Morakniv Companion Spark Outdoor Knife and Fire Starter
Most Functional Knife
Price: $
Blade Length: 3.9 inches
Overall Length: 9.4 inches
Item Weight: 128 grams
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Partial tang
Pros: Good value for money, Durable and long-lasting with a lifetime warranty, Light and easy-to-use
Cons: Partial tang, Some complaints that the fire starter pops out easily, Less sturdy than its competitors
Description: The Morakniv Companion Spark Outdoor Knife is a good value fixed-blade outdoor knife with fire starter. It features a 3.9-inch hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade which is perfectly suited for carving, food preparation, and even cutting wood. This material stays sharp for longer than carbon steel blades.

The fire starter is made from magnesium allow which produces a spark even when wet, and lasts approximately 3000 strikes. It conveniently twist-locks into the anti-slip rubber handle. The knife comes with a colour matching plastic sheath and belt clip.
The Morakniv is a good quality blade for the affordable price point. It is made in Sweden and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It is perfect for those looking for a light weight and convenient companion to take on outdoor trips, and don’t want to break the bank.
3. Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Knife
Knife w Highest Ratings
Price: $
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Overall Length: 8.86 inches
Item Weight: 90 grams
Blade Material: Stainless steel, 3/4 tang
Pros: Attractive and functional design with integrated fire starter, Made from recycled and bio friendly materials, Good quality fire starter
Cons: On the smaller side, which is not ideal for those looking for a bigger/sturdier blade, Not full tang
Description: Another Swedish made survival knife that offers high performance and value for money. The Light My Fire is a versatile hiking and camping knife. It comes with a fire starter flint integrated into the handle for a compact and attractive design. The flint works well, generating sparks up to 3000 degrees Celsius, even in wet conditions.

The knife is extremely light and easy to carry, yet tough enough to withstand solid use and harsh conditions. It is also ideal for the environmentally conscious, as the sheath is sustainably produced using a bio-plastic blend containing coconut fibres.
The Light My Fire is undoubtedly one of the best survival knives on the market which comes with a functional fire starter. It offers value for money, and will be more than adequate for most basic needs.
4. SE Outdoor Tanto Knife with Firestarter – KHK6320
Best Budget Knife
Price: $
Blade Length: 3 inches
Overall Length: 7 inches
Item Weight: 170 grams
Blade Material: Stainless steel, black, Full tang
Pros: Small and strong (convenient as a boot or fishing knife), Lowest price, Full tang, Comes with excellent ferro rod fire starter
Cons: Some complaints that the knife-edge was dull and the cord wrapping was low quality, Might be too small to use as a primary knife
Description: The SE KHK6320 Outdoor Tanto Knife is the most affordable choice on our list of top survival knives with fire starter. Don’t let the extremely low price fool you into thinking that this is a low-quality product. It is a simple yet highly effective tool for those who are searching for an extremely compact and durable survival knife. Due its small size, many might prefer to use this as a backup knife to their main, larger size survival knife.

The tanto-style knife comes with nylon sheath for easy carry and storage. The handle is wrapped in a thick army green cord, which can be used to add versatility (e.g. it can be used to fasten the knife to a stick so as to create a spear). A magnesium alloy fire starter is included, which usually cost more than the entire product itself.
Those who are looking for a good budget option will be very happy with the SE KHK6320. It doesn’t come with all the added features and finishes of a higher-end blade, but it is a tough and worthy tool. It is worth noting that many reviewers commented how they were willing to spend the small amount on the alloy ferro rod alone, which usually goes for much more, and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the knife.
5. Szco Supplies Tanto Survivor Fire
Super Minimalistic Knife
Price: $
Blade Length: 2.9 inches
Overall Length: 5.5 inches
Item Weight: 180 grams (including sheath and fire starter)
Blade Material: Stainless steel, Full tang
Pros: Small and compact, with convenient neck carry capabilities, Packed with added features, Good value for money, Good quality steel which maintains its sharpness
Cons: Fire rod is not premium quality, The cord is not tightly wrapped around the handle so you will probably need to retie it
Description: The Szco Supplies tanto knife is fairly similar to the SE KHK6320 and at a comparable price. It comes with a cord wrapped handle, alloy fire starter, and free sheath included.

This knife is useful for small tasks and as a back up to your primary blade. It is small in size, yet sturdy, especially for the low price. You might need to spend some time sharpening up the blade a bit, as there were some complaints that it wasn’t sharp enough to begin with.
At this price range, don’t expect a top-of-the line survival knife. That being said, this is an extremely useful knife that exceeds expectations for the incredibly low price. It is useful as a secondary smaller knife, and the good quality fire starter is worth the money for sure.
6. UST Full Tang ParaKnife FS 4.0
Knife w Serrated Edge
Price: $
Blade Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 8.75 inches
Item Weight: 180 grams (including sheath and fire starter)
Blade Material: Stainless steel, black oxide finish, Full tang
Pros: Sharp blade which is rust resistant and partially serrated, Affordable, The 6ft paracord wrapped handle is an added bonus
Cons: Complaints that it is sometimes tricky to remove the blade from the sheath quickly, The cord is not tightly wrapped around the handle so you will probably need to retie it
Description: The UST Full Tang ParaKnife FS 4.0 is reliable, durable, and convenient. It features a paracord wrapped handle with 6ft of paracord which can be used for tying, sewing, fishing, and many other emergency needs.
It comes with an integrated magnesium fire starter rod which fits neatly into the sheath along with the knife. The fire starter rod reliably produces hot sparks, even in wet conditions.

The 4mm thick blade is durable, and surprisingly sharp at this affordable price range. It comes with a black oxide coating which makes it rust resistant. The bottom half of the blade is serrated, giving it greater versatility for using as a saw, cutting ropes, and using alongside the fire starter. The nylon sheath and lanyard which come with the product make it convenient to carry and store.
This knife is a solid choice on the whole. It is strong and sturdy, and will be more than adequate for most of what you need in a good survival knife. The paracord-wrapped handle is definitely a huge plus, although you might have to spend some time tightening the wrap.
7. Survival Neck Knife Sheath with Kit by Frog & Co.
Best Neck Knife w Fire Starter
Price: $$
Blade Length: 2.9 inches
Overall Length: 5.5 inches
Item Weight: 180 grams (including sheath and fire starter)
Blade Material: Stainless steel, Full tang
Pros: Small and compact, with convenient neck carry capabilities, Packed with added features, Good value for money, Good quality steel which maintains its sharpness
Cons: Fire rod is not premium quality, Might be too small for some users
Description: This knife by Frog & Co. is an incredibly nifty little neck knife which can help you out in a variety of sticky situations. It comes packed with added features such as a fire starter rod, compass in the sheath, signal mirror, sharpener, and paracord necklace for hanging the knife around your neck.
The small build makes it the ideal size to conveniently slip around your neck. The handle contains a number of lanyard holes for fastening the paracord necklace around your neck. The sheath is well designed to fit the knife, compass, fire rod, and signal mirror all together.

It also features a super “grippy” g10 handle, making it easier to wield and sturdier to work with. Due to its small size, this knife is better suited as a convenient backup tool, and will not serve as your primary knife for making bigger cuts.
This is a great little survival knife that is extremely versatile with many additional features. The quality of the steel and sturdiness of the knife are both up to scratch. If you are looking for something a bit more compact which can be conveniently carried at an affordable price, this knife will certainly do the trick for you.
How to Choose the Best Survival Knife?
Let’s go through a few basic points which you should think about before buying a survival knife.

The Blade
This is the first thing you should look at when evaluating any knife. A fixed blade knife is the best choice as a survival knife, as it is much more reliable than a folding knife. Make sure that the blade is made out of good quality stainless steel or high carbon steel that is rust-resistant.
Then there is the size of the blade. Generally, we recommend a knife with a blade length of 3 to 7 inches. This gives you a good balance between strength and convenience. Depending on your specific needs, you might go smaller or larger.
Lastly, you should consider the style you are looking for. There are various shapes available which are suited to different purposes, but generally, a drop point or tanto style blade is the most convenient in survival situations.
The Tang
For those of you that don’t know, a knife’s tang refers to how much of the blade extends through the handle. A full tang blade is always preferred, as it means that the unsharpened part of the blade extends the whole way through the handle. This provides much greater strength and durability for your extreme survival tasks.
Added Features
Some survival knives come packed with additional useful features such as inbuilt fire rods, compasses, safety whistles, clip-on sheaths, paracord handles, and the like. In this review we specifically looked at knives which come with a fire starter, as this is undoubtedly one of the most useful added features for a survival knife to have. You should think about what other extras you are looking for in a survival knife and look for one which suits those needs.
For more: Best Bushcraft Knives Under 100
Price
Lastly, you of course need to consider the price. In this article, we have listed some knives from various price points. Top quality survival knives with good materials can cost you as much as $100 or more. But they also don’t have to. We have listed a few survival knives with very reasonable price points offering unbeatable value for money.
Conclusion
There are so many great survival knives on the market today, but only a handful of really worthwhile ones which come with an integrated fire starter. We think that this is an extremely useful addition to a survival knife, and could well mean the difference between life and death.
We have listed a diverse range of knives which should suit just about anyone’s specific needs and budget. Choosing the right knife for you involves understanding what it is you want out of it and how much you are willing to spend. As always, do your own research to choose the best blade for you.