A well-made, consistently maintained knife is one of the most versatile tools a person can own. Whether you are a frequent outdoorsman or a connoisseur of the urban survival landscape, choosing the right knife is imperative. What is the right knife made of, though? For a general-purpose outdoor survival knife, you need a blade that’s ready to go the distance on a variety of tasks. It needs to be sharp enough to filet a fish, yet hard enough to spark a fire with a stone. It needs to be light enough for easy carry, but hardy enough to take a beating.