Knives by Nuge is a fixed blade knife maker out of New Jersey known for making hard use knives. His Wicket line has been wildly popular for the better part of 2 years with hunting enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and EDC users. The Wicket was originally designed as a small neck knife but has evolved to include an XL version that is still pocket friendly and Big Boi for full sized bushcraft use. The success of the Wicket has allowed Knives by Nuge to branch out and bring back older designs like the Chickpea and introduce new designs like the Bruin we will be looking at today.
Above: The Knives by Nuge Wicket, Wicket XL, and Big Boi
Knives by Nuge Bruin Origins
According to Tom Nugent, owner of Knives by Nuge, the design idea for the Bruin came to him when he was processing a deer with his Wicket XL and needed a bit more reach. Taking some inspiration from two discontinued designs called the EDB and the Bushcrafter, Tom set out to create a dedicated hunting fixed blade knife with an ergonomic handle design, a good slicing belly, and enough blade length to get into the deeper cavities of a larger animal.
Like most KNB designs, Tom also wanted to ensure that the knife was easy to carry and would not get in the way when moving through the woods. Part of Tom’s prototyping process involves having trusted outdoor experts test it out in real life use scenarios. Through the testing process, he received a lot of positive feedback on the Bruin’s outdoor prowess, not just as a hunting knife but also as a bushcraft style knife, and he ultimately decided to offer the knife in both a saber grind and in a traditional scandi grind.
Knives by Nuge released the Bruin this year at the Georgia Bushcraft Fall Gathering and I got the opportunity to grab one of the first scandi grind versions in CPM-3V super steel. As I spend a good deal of time in the woods doing bushcraft related tasks its hard to resist a scandi grind especially when it’s combined with a super tough steel like 3V!
Above: The Knives by Nuge Bruin with G10 scales, a scandi grind and CPM-3V super steel.
Knives by Nuge Bruin Design
The Bruin’s 3.75-inch blade is more than enough for game processing tasks and a majority of your typical outdoor and bushcraft tasks. The belly allows it to effectively perform slicing tasks that you’d expect from a hunting knife such as processing game to prepping meat for a camp meal. While many would argue the saber grind is a better option for slicing, the 3/32 inch blade stock combined with KBN’s sharp scandi grind did just fine when I used to cut meat, fruit and vegetables.
The Bruin’s spine has a 90-degree angle allowing it to be used for striking a ferro rod or performing wood scraping tasks, so you won’t need to potentially dull or damage your blade to get your fire started.
The blade point does a great job piercing while still having enough material behind it to prevent accidental breakage, especially when combined with tough steel options. Speaking of tough steel choices, this makes the Bruin ideal for hard use tasks such as batoning wood even with a relatively small blade and thinner stock.
The Bruin’s handle is ergonomic with some contouring for grip making it comfortable over long term use with a hammer grip and performing push cuts. There are scalloped areas closest to the blade that allow for a pinch grip when doing detailed work. The butt of the handle has a slight flare that helps prevent slipping when the Bruin is wet or covered in blood.
Bruin Fixed Blade Knife Specs
Overall Length: 8.25 inches
Blade Length: 3.75inches
Handle Length: 4.50 inches
Blade Grind: Saber or Scandi
Steel Options: AEB-L, Nitro-V, CPM-3V
Handle Materials: G10 or Micarta
Bruin Carry Options
The Bruin I got came with a custom made Kydex pocket sheath and Tom was kind enough to also give me one of the prototype leather belt sheaths made by Badger Claw Outfitters.
Above: The Custom made Kydex Pocket Sheath, makes a for a very slim package.
Kydex Pocket Sheath
The Kydex sheath is ambidextrous, allowing the knife to be inserted into the sheath in with the edge facing either direction. The knife is held in by a friction fit that is secure enough to prevent the knife from falling out, even when I tried to aggressively shake it, but still allow for easy draw. The pocket clip is made by Discreet Carry Concepts and has exceptional retention. There is a small drainage hole on the bottom of the sheath to allow water to exit the sheath should it get in.
Based on the size of the Bruin, I was a bit skeptical of the comfort of carrying it in my pocket, but I was pleasantly surprised that the full-sized knife not only fit in my pocket it did some comfortably and I was even able to put other items like my cell phone in the same pocket.
Above: The optional Badger Claw Outfitters leather belt sheath is a great choice for traditional carry.
Leather Belt Sheath
If you are looking for a more traditional fixed blade knife carry option, the leather belt sheath is an excellent option. The leather belt sheath made by Badger Claw Outfitters is made from Crazy Horse Leather, and in my experience only looks better with age! The Bruin sits snuggly in the sheath, with just enough handle exposed for good purchase to draw the knife. The belt loop is large enough to accommodate wide belts and can easily accept a dangler should you want it to ride a bit lower.
Above: The Bruin is an excellent Field knife that can serve as both a hunting knife and a bushcraft knife.
Final Thoughts
While my usage time on the Knives by Nuge Bruin is limited, I am impressed with the design. Through a weekend of use while camping as well as putting it to work as an EDC knife for a few days, and it performed admirably in all tasks. For outdoor use the Bruin seems like it fits the bill for an all-purpose field knife that can act as both a hunting knife and bushcraft knife. For EDC, it’s a great fixed blade if you are looking for an easy to carry full sized knife, that the overall size is not so apparent to others thanks to the pocket sheath.
The first batch of Bruin’s will be available on knivesbynuge.com on Friday, November 15th 2024. As the Bruin is handmade, supplies are limited!
Responding to mass casualty incidents requires rapid access to medical tools for First Responders as well as civilian bystanders. Reviewing the history of these tragic events, North American Rescue has developed the MCI Throw Kit Dispenser (MCI-TKD) kit as a solution for medical responders headed into a situation where there are multiple patients requiring distribution of medical gear optimized to stop major bleeding. The MCI-TKD is carried as a backpack, and features a spring loaded gravity fed compartment that houses 8 vacuum sealed bleeding control kits. This unique delivery system makes it possible to pull and pass kits while on the move – enabling First Responders to move quickly through a scene while delivering life saving equipment to those in need.
For more information: https://www.narescue.com/mci-tkd-kits.html
A medical chest seal is a specialized adhesive device used to treat open chest wounds, such as those caused by gunshots, stab wounds, or other penetrating trauma. These wounds can potentially lead to a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), where air enters the chest cavity and disrupts normal lung function.
Key Features:
Adhesive Backing: Designed to adhere securely to the skin, even in the presence of blood, sweat, or dirt.
One-Way Valve (Optional): Some chest seals have a vent or one-way valve that allows air and fluids to escape from the chest cavity but prevents air from re-entering. This is useful for preventing or managing a tension pneumothorax.
Occlusive Material: Made of a flexible, waterproof material that seals the wound to stop air from entering the chest cavity.
Types:
Vented Chest Seals: Include one-way valves or channels, such as the HyFin Vent or SAM Chest Seal.
Non-Vented Chest Seals: Completely occlusive and used when a vented option is not available or practical.
Application:
Clean the Wound: If possible, remove debris, but don’t delay application if the wound is critical.
Apply Over the Wound: Place the seal over the wound to completely cover it, ensuring an airtight seal.
Monitor for Tension Pneumothorax: Watch for signs such as difficulty breathing or chest expansion and adjust treatment as needed.
Purpose:
Chest seals are a crucial component in trauma care kits for military medics, emergency responders, and civilian first aid kits. They are life-saving devices that stabilize the patient until advanced medical care is available.
North American Rescue’s NAR Doc (Dr. Ethan Miles) takes us through a quick explanation on the mechanics of how chest seals work in the treatment of an open pneumothorax or the prevention of a tension pneumothorax using the HyFin Vent Chest Seal.
This video provides viewers with an overview of how to configure your Every Day Carry (EDC) Concealment Fanny Pack with your inside the waistband or outside the waistband holster and to orient it for you preferred draw angle.
For more info: https://www.narescue.com/edc-concealment-fanny-packs.html
Like the title says, I use my good hand only to prepare and make a campfire split wood fire style!
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In my accompanying firearm article, Top Ten Survival Rifles, I defined five roles a good survival rifle must fill.
But to be brutally honest, there is only one role for a survival handgun: self-defense.
Yes, I’m aware that you can hang a big-ass scope on top of a .44 Magnum and hunt deer, but frankly, hunting game is no reason to carry a hand cannon like this in a survival situation.
That’s not to say there aren’t a few useful roles for a Dirty Harry gun when you’re trying to survive. But hunting and long-range sniping are just not one of them.
Instead, the handgun excels at short-range self-defense.
It’s practical for ranges under 60 feet and ideal under 10 feet. And the type of survival gun you want in tight and confined spaces.
Here’s a simple analogy:
It would be silly for an F-350 pickup to attempt to race a Mustang. So why would you try to employ a handgun as a sniper rifle? It’s always best to match the equipment with the goal. And with handguns, the goal is close-range self-defense.
So, the real question we need to answer is this:
What Are You Defending Yourself Against?
This question can be further broken down into two broad categories:
Animals – wild predators with the ability to kill you
Humans – the most dangerous game of them all
With these two categories cleared up, the answer does not involve the best survival gun choice but the ideal cartridge for the task at hand.
Here are the most common handgun rounds we will consider today:
.22 LR
.380 Auto
9 MM Luger
.357 Sig
38 Special
.357 Magnum
Let’s face it:
Some of these cartridge sizes are impractical for survival, and we can dismiss them immediately.
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So, Let’s Play The Elimination Game
.380 Auto?Really? Why the compromise? If your goal is to carry the maximum number of rounds possible, then go for .22LR.
The .22LR is much more common and widely available compared to the .380 auto.
If you’re going to carry a 9mm, why a 9mm short? The round costs more is less powerful and is not nearly as available as the 9mm Luger.
While the 38 Special is an old cartridge and still attractive, it has no advantage over the much more readily available 9 MM Luger.
In fact, the 38 Special is a rimmed cartridge designed for revolvers, so its capacity is also limited compared to that of most 9 MM semi-auto pistols.
If you ramp this baby all the way up to Plus P hollow-point, then why not just go with the .357 Magnum?
You can always shoot 38 Special in a .357 revolver if you happen to find any.
The .357 Sig is a great cartridge fired by high-quality Sig Sauer and other pistols, but again, it is not nearly as prevalent at 9MM.
Sure, the old faithful Luger round may not technically be any better, but its use is far more widespread.
How can I say something bad about the .357 Magnum? It’s a devastatingly powerful round.
However, it is not nearly as common as .45 ACP or as powerful as the .44 Magnum.
A post-apocalyptic world will quickly run short of .357 Magnum.
It always amazes me that Rick on The Walking Dead always has a full cylinder of .357 Magnum hollow points.
For the same reason, a 38 Special is a poor substitute for the .357 Magnum.
Also, the .357 Magnum is a poor substitute for the .44 Magnum. If you have to go large, then go with the .44 Magnum or .45 ACP. We’ll learn why in a little bit.
The .40 S&W is an excellent police round with more stopping power than the 9 mm, but then again, why round up just a bit? Why not round up a lot? The .45 ACP is more common and simply devastating.
The .500 S&W is a big, badass round fired from one heavy, giant hunk of a revolver. It is the most powerful handgun round in the world – designed to take down just about any animal you may run up against.
It was designed specifically for hunting. It’s also a round that will be hard to find in an emergency or survival situation.
So, in my opinion, there is nothing you can kill with a .500 S&W, and you can’t kill with a .44 Magnum.
Yes, it may take two shots, but it is still not worth dragging this huge revolver, which has only a five-round capacity, into a survival situation.
So, with all that said – I’m going to narrow our original list down to the following survival calibers:
.22 LR
9MM Luger (Parabellum)
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP
These rounds represent the whole gamut of firepower we’ll need to survive; however, each has its own niche.
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Most Likely Survival Self-Defense Scenarios
Very few people intend to end up in a survival situation.
With an unexpected breakdown, a few poor decisions, and dumb luck, you can survive anywhere, in any climate, and any topography.
It’s most likely to occur in a place you haven’t prepared.
That’s just Murphy’s Law.
Wolves | Coyotes | Wild Dogs
If a wolf or coyote attacks you, remember that one animal is not stalking you—a pack is.
A wolf is a pack animal, and his brother and sister Lobos will be waiting in the wings to ambush you. This is where a high-capacity handgun is ideal.
So, a good, double-stacked 9mm is perfect for this application.
No doubt the .44 Magnum will make a wolf explode, but you only have six opportunities in that big gleaming revolver.
If you miss, you better pray for a small pack.
The .45 ACP will do the trick as well, but again, it’s a big round, and at best, you may be looking at ten rounds. So, I prefer 9MM Luger in this circumstance because of its combination of capacity and power.
Grizzly Bears/Sharks/Big Cats
You may be wondering why I haven’t eliminated the .44 Magnum? These beasts are why.
The grizzly bear is the bad-ass MF of the animal world.
You need stopping power when facing something nine feet tall, 850 pounds, with long teeth and six-inch claws.
Unless you hit him right in the eye, the .22LR represents a mosquito bite to this fellow. I’m not even sure a .22 LR would crack a grizzly skull.
The 9 mm will annoy this giant and maybe even kill him – after he bleeds out over the next few hours – long after you’ve bled out.
So, this is the one instance where the .357 Magnum almost makes the grade.
I’ve been told no one should enter the Alaskan wilderness with less than a .357 Magnum. But, again, why not be sure and go with the .44 Magnum instead?
If you are in an area with large predators, bears, large cats, etc., plan on equipping yourself with a gun that can kill any of them with just one or two shots.
What if you’re in the open ocean being attacked by a shark? Believe me; you’ll be happy with the .44 Magnum here, too.
Finally, this brings us to the most dangerous animal of them all: Man.
Fellow Man
This species can reason, plot, plan, and adapt.
He can be a solo attacker or work in large packs.
He’s often unpredictable, illogical, and irrational.
Or, just as easily, he can be cool, calm, and collected with a predatory instinct.
That’s why other humans are a challenge to plan for…
The toughest ones arm themselves with similar or superior firepower—and they shoot back.
In some cases, they may even wear plate carriers, making them an even harder target.
Here’s the really bad news:
In a post-apocalyptic world, after only a few months, the only humans you will be facing in combat will be the ones who are truly adept at self-survival.
The talented, well-armed fighters will remain.
The days of the rank amateur will be over.
However, there is some good news here:
Any of the rounds mentioned above can kill a human, and no one wants to be shot by any of them.
The .22LR
Even the lowly .22 LR will crack a human skull.
Sub-sonic .22 LRs, by the way, deliver the same punch with all the sound of a survival air rifle – a good option if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.
Still, let’s be realistic.
You probably don’t want to be in a gunfight holding a .22 LR pistol, even if it has some advantages.
These guns tend to be accurate because your aim is not affected by recoil. Why? Because there is no recoil.
Also, many .22 LR semi-autos and revolvers can hold more than six rounds—but you will need every one of those rounds.
Unless you hit your opponent with a headshot or possibly a heart shot, he is not going down right away.
With the .22 LR, penetration is not guaranteed.
If the guy turns and the round hits at an angle, the energy of the .22 LR may dissipate before doing any real damage.
The same applies to shooting through bulky clothing and winter coats. The one nice thing about the .22 LR is that you can carry a lifetime ammo supply on your person.
So, if you are planning on bugging out, 500 rounds of .22 LR can be stashed in your bug-out bag without destroying your back. 500 rounds of any other ammo will make your bug-out bag too heavy to carry.
On the other hand, if you are in a gunfight with a guy with anything larger, that lifetime will be over in minutes – in which case the other thousand rounds in your bug out bag really didn’t help, now did they?
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The 9mm Semi-Auto
How About A 9mm Semi-Automatic? Now we’re talking.
The Luger is not the last word in stopping power, but it’s still a lethal round.
There is a reason military forces worldwide have employed this round for almost a century.
The beauty of the 9 mm is two-fold.
Many makes of semi-automatic pistols offer double-stacked magazines holding up to 17 rounds. More is always better.
Plus, next to the .22LR, the 9mm Luger is the most common pistol cartridge in the world.
In a post-apocalyptic world, hopefully far into the future, I can imagine that the last round fired from any weapon anywhere may very well be a 9 mm Luger (Parabellum).
The .44 Magnum
The .44 Magnum is no doubt a lethal round.
If it can take down a grizzly, it can destroy a man.
Let’s face it – if it can blow holes in engine blocks, it can blow bigger, messier holes in human beings.
No doubt about it.
Most firearms that employ these rounds are revolvers – carrying at most six shots.
Revolvers are inherently more accurate than semi-auto pistols, but the recoil of this round is monstrous.
This round will do the job in a pinch against a single assailant, maybe even a pair of bad guys.
However, in a more crowded gunfight, you will want more capacity. And since you are carrying one in the case of a grizzly encounter, you’d be advised to carry a few speed-loaders and become proficient in their use.
The .45 ACP
That leaves the somewhat mythic .45 ACP. The catchphrase associated with this round is,
“.45 ACP. Because it’s just silly to shoot twice.”
Against a human being, the .45 ACP is damned deadly.
This round blows big holes in people and is generally delivered from firearms with at least eight-round magazines.
Since this round is fired from a semi-automatic pistol, most of the recoil is absorbed in working the action.
These guns shoot smoothly with little recoil for such a large a bullet, typically 230 grain.
The only advantage the 9mm has over the .45 ACP is capacity—which usually starts the whole argument of stopping power versus capacity—although at least one manufacturer offers a 13-round capacity for .45 ACP.
Final Thoughts: Ten Best Survival Guns (pistols)
These firearms are not listed in any particular order, and the order doesn’t indicate relative value or quality.
Glock 17 – 9mm (17 rds)
Glock 41 – .45 ACP (13 rds)
Springfield Armory XD9 – 9mm (16 rds)
Springfield Armory XD-M – .45 ACP (13 rds)
Beretta Model 92FS – 9mm (15rds)
Sig Sauer P320 – .45 ACP (10 rds)
Sig Sauer P226 – 9mm (15 rds)
Smith and Wesson Model 629 – .44 Magnum (6 rds)
Ruger Single Ten – .22LR (10 rds)
Ruger Super Blackhawk – .44 Magnum (6rds)
That’s ten.
And here’s a runner-up:
11. Smith and Wesson Model 686 – .357 Magnum (6 rds) – (if you absolutely must have to have a .357 Magnum)
One caveat I do want to stress as you read this:
I made this list practical for the average survivalist – which means there are no custom $3500 Les Baer 1911s on my list.
There are some great 1911s out there, like Colt, Kimber, Rock Island Armory, and Ruger, to name a few.
However, I wanted a list of weapons most people can afford while having the same utility as the more expensive alternatives.
Although the 1911s are a tried-and-true design with excellent ergonomics, reliability, recoil management, precision sights, and accuracy, they are also typically restricted to ten or fewer round magazines.
They also tend to be made of old-school, heavy metal—pretty beefy to carry around in a survival situation when there are quality-made, lightweight, composite-rich alternatives.
So, to wrap this up:
The real choice in the best survival gun is not which one but which two.
Carrying one survival gun for capacity and one for sheer power makes for a winning combination.
What Are The Best Survival Guns To Own?
