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If you were a kid in the '80s with a fascination for survival skills and big knives – chances are, Rambo: First Blood had something to do with it. That iconic survival knife, with its sawback spine and hollow handle packed with emergency gear, made us all believe that if we just had that knife, we would be a survival master like John Rambo. Since then, the concepts around survival knives have changed changed. The steels used, the handle materials, the shape of the blade now favor a more utilitarian approach. Many of us still have that old hollow handled, sawtooth spine survival knife in our collection, but we often take something different into the field when camping, backpacking, hiking, or practicing our bushcraft skills. It is hard to fund a knife packs all the features that a bushcraft enthusiast or survivalist need in a single fixed blade – but for me, The Genesis from LT Wright Knives is a fixed blade that just seems to get everything right.
STEEL NERDS REJOICE
Knife enthusiasts will typically want to know “what kind of steel” does a knife have, as a starting point of any knife review, so let’s start there. The LTWK Genesis uses A2 steel. A2 steel is sometimes referred to as a “tool steel.” That means it is used in the manufacturing of some tools, and has a high durability rating. Unlike it’s cousin, D2 steel, A2 sharpens easily, and is not as hard on your sharpening equipment. A2 is more corrosion resistant when compared to many other tool steels due to the presence of chromium, which should give some comfort to those who plan for long bug outs in the wilderness in extreme conditions – or for those of us who accidentally left it out in the rain one night.
A2 also has some advantages of working well in extreme temperatures without breakage, which is also a consideration for those who operate in the desert or artic ecosystems.
A2 steel alloy composition (chromium, nickel, vanadium, carbon, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, phosphorous, copper, and silicone) allows it to be resistant to many chemicals that could deteriorate and weaken some other steel options. Overall, A2 provides a great balance between durability, corrosion resistance and edge retention. LT Wright expertly heat treats their A2 blades between 57-59 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale to bring out the best properties of this versatile steel.
Okay, so enough “nerding” out on the steel composition – let’s talk practicality. There’s a reason why the LT Wright Genesis is trusted by outdoors people and was the chosen knife for several contestants on Alone.
The LTWK Genesis features a Scandi Grind. That means the “edge” is cut very short, and close to the edge of the blade, in a wedge shape. The advantage of this is a very strong cutting edge, and a thicker overall blade meant to stand up to heavy wood work and bushcraft tasks from carving out tools to batoning firewood. The chances of having a chip or roll in your blade edge with a Scandi Grind are significantly less than other types of grinds that may be more suitable for slicing fruits or other culinary tasks that require more finite work. Though if you are looking for a super slicey version capable of “splitting atoms”, the LT Wright team also makes a flat grind version of The Genesis.
THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE
I like big knives and I can not lie. Oh who am I kidding? I like all knives. Big knives, little knives… size matters not! Except for certain tasks. I find that for camping, I generally prefer a knife that is less than 12 inches but not smaller than 7 inches in total length. For me, that seems to come in at that sweet spot where I can delicately work on my campfire steak, but also work on heavy tasks such as managing my firewood without necessarily having to pull out an axe or hatchet every time I need a couple small logs.
This is especially true when working with a smaller fire pit or something like Solo Stove. I typically carry a folder and a fixed blade around the campsite. When I leave the site for a hike, it is usually the same. Lately I have found that the LTWK Genesis seems to be the perfect size for most tasks. It comes in at 9 inches overall, with a 4.25 inch blade. Big enough to do the job, not so big that it feels like I am carrying a broad sword all day.
RAMBO WOULD HAVE UPGRADED TOO
Back in the 80s we all thought that saw tooth spine was the bees knees. But for those of us who tried it, we found that it looked cool, but wasn’t the most practical saw. If I want a saw, I’ll bust out a saw. Nowadays most knife manufacturers have gone back to more practical utilitarian spine designs. In the case of the LT Wright Genesis, it has a sharpened 90-degree spine that can pull sparks off even the most worn out ferro rods. I’ve even used that spine to scrape some tinder to get my campfire started.
JUST THE TIP!
The LTWK team chose a spear point tip for The Genesis. When it comes to bushcraft fixed blades, I generally prefer either a spear point or drop point. The advantage of the spear point tip is that it has equal strength and durability on both sides as the blade descends to the pointed tip, and when combined with the A2 steel strength and the Scandi Grind for the edge, creates a beefier overall blade, greatly reducing the chances of tip breakage under heavy use.
I’ve stabbed mine into oak multiple times to test it, and didn’t notice any rolls, breaks, or dulling. The advantage of a spear point for survival will stand out when fending off a wild animal attack, or needing to finish off game quickly and mercifully – but I’ve also found that it seems to work perfectly for starting the drill hole on a hand or bow drill for primitive fire making.
IT’S ALL IN THE GRIP SIR
The LTWK Genesis doesn’t cut corners on the handle either. When it comes to knives, I generally prefer G10 on folders and micarta on my full tang fixed blades. The micarta on the genesis is one of those handles that just seems to get more grippy, less likely to slip, when my hands are a little sweaty.
Because of this, it’s also safer to use when wet with rain or game blood, and less likely to slip when compared to a wooden handle. Don’t get me wrong, a classic wooden handle looks amazing, but isn’t my choice for when I am playing weekend warrior and pretending I am Rambo on one of my solo hiking adventures. The top of the handles, near the blade, features ambidextrous “scallops” for when you need a little more control on small cuts or intricate work.
USE THE GEAR TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONALS
So at this point, I should tell the truth. I don’t own one LTWK Genesis – I own two! The first was purchased off my friend Carleigh Fairchild (Alone Contestant, Survival Instructor, and Owner of Human Nature Connection). I first met Carleigh at Georgia Bushcraft after taking a class on how to make cordage from plants. I was asking her about her choice of knife on Alone: The LTWK Genesis. She was selling her signature series Genesis, and I had to buy one. She even signed the box for me! Yes I am nerding out a bit, I am a big fan of hers.
After buying that one, I realized it had to go on the trophy case with my other knives that rarely get time in the woods. I had no choice but to buy another Genesis. You understand right? When I attended Blade Show later that year I stopped by the LT Wright Knives booth, and bought my second Genesis – and that is the one that I carry with me while camping and hiking now.
FEATHER STICKS, SNARES, STEAKS, AND BATONING
I’m not usually a “batoning” guy, but batoning does have its uses! When needing very small wood for a solo stove or something similar, you may need to cut down some logs. I have relied the Genesis more then a few times when I didn’t have a hatchet handy, and it certainly does the trick.
I may not be the best at cutting trigger snares, but it’s something I work on when I have a little free time. I do love to slice feather sticks though, and make kindling and tinder. The Genesis performs fantastic on these types of wood working tasks. What has impressed me the most is that even after a weekend of heavy use, I find that the Genesis has retained an edge, and hardly needs a touch up. In fact, I will confess that I have gone longer than I normally would between sharpening just to see how it would hold up, and it continues to impress me.
As far as food prep goes, The Genesis can absolutely handle the task, cutting through tougher meat with ease, thinly slicing your tomato, and chopping that onion for your camp frying pan. If you are a perfectionist and demand ultra thin slicey capabilities, you may opt for the Flat Grind Genesis instead of the Scandi Grind, but for nearly all cooking tasks, I am extremely pleased with my Scandi.
LIFETIME GUARANTEE
From the LT Wright Knives website: “L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives is proud of our quality and we warranty all of our products to be free of defects for the life of the product. Skilled craftsmen, who take pride in their work, and intend for your knife to be handed down for generations, make our knives. We cannot warranty a knife against rust and we cannot warranty knives and sheaths against abuse or normal wear and tear.”
So, don’t leave your knife in the Great Salt Lake and call that a defect, that’s “user error.” But otherwise, that guarantee provides a good degree of assurance that the knife should not fail on you under normal use. Good knives cost good money, so it’s comforting to know that it is money well spent.
GOOD THINGS COME IN GOOD PACKAGES
The LT Wright Knives Genesis usually comes with a gorgeous leather sheathe and dangler loop. You can get the version with the ferro rod loop as well, to complete that “Survival Knife” feel that us wannabe- Rambo's want. Kydex is also available through an order form on their website, and when I shipped my Genesis to them to custom fit my Kydex sheathe, it was completed and returned to me quickly.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The LT Wright Knives Genesis will certainly not be my last knife purchased – but that’s because I’m a collector. For the person looking to buy one knife for camping, bushcraft, or survival it certainly could be “the last knife you’ll ever buy.” The spear point makes it perfect for piercing game flesh or drilling holes for your bow drill base. The sharpened 90-degree spine is perfect for raining a shower of sparks off your ferro rod.
The Scandi Grind cuts through wood and sustains a durable edge, even when batoning, and the micarta handles help keep that knife in your hands even in rainy conditions. It’s hard to find any faults with this knife, and if I had to design something to be my personal bushcraft knife, it would be hard to beat the design of The Genesis. It’s no wonder it’s the choice for many survival instructors and contestants on shows like Alone. I tend to think old John Rambo might have approved as well.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Sarge is a licensed trauma therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, an outdoor adventurer, prepper and survivalist who uses his expertise of the “mind’s response to emergencies” to help people prepare for storms, civil unrest, recession, or even how to survive when lost in the woods. He is the creator behind the YouTube Channels: “Prepping With Sarge” and “The Official Mental Health Matters Channel.” Sarge loves to teach foraging, gardening, review EDC gear, and interview top experts in Survival, Prepping, and Bushcraft to help his audience prepare, survive, and thrive! Sarge has been featured in magazines such as Offgrid/Recoil, and as a guest on numerous podcasts such as Rogue Preparedness Podcast, Round Table Mindset, and Offgrid Podcast. Additionally, as a licensed trauma therapist who works with First Responders and Veterans, he is often travelling for speaking engagements about issues related to mental health. Sarge can be found on YouTube and Instagram as “Prepping With Sarge.”
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