The Reiff Knives F3 XC Might Be the Best Compact Survival Knife Out There

There are plenty of great compact fixed blades out there that can serve as survival knives. Some models that come to mind are the ESEE Izula and Candiru, the Morakniv Eldris and Woods Monkey Kerf Carver. 

But one of the best of the whole bunch is the F3 XC from Reiff Knives. Here’s everything that makes this knife a winner, specifically the model with a blaze orange Cerakote finish. 

About the Reiff Knives F3 XC 

In the realm of small survival knives, the F3 XC (for Extreme Conditions, to distinguish it from the EDC variant) is a heavy-hitter, even among heavy hitters. 

The heart and soul of this little knife are its 2.9”, .125” thick CPM-3V blade. 

First let’s talk about size and stature. If you zoom out, the general deportment of the knife makes it look larger than it actually is. Yet, the blade of this thing is totally on par with other small knives like the Izula. 

This one has a robust drop point profile with a reinforced tip, so even if you abuse the knife, it’s not necessarily likely to fail on you. Pry staples or strip wire, this knife will come up asking for more. 

And, say what you want about the generic drop point profile, though it’s not as flashy as a karambit or as in vogue as all the sheepsfoot blades out there, it’s tough and it gets the job done. The best knife for a job is the one that can actually do the job and this thing won’t flinch. 

Now let’s take a closer look at the steel. These Reiff Knives are made with CPM-3V steel, a powder metallurgy steel that’s renowned primarily for one thing: extraordinary toughness. 

There are three main classes of attributes on which knife steels are customarily assessed, which are hardness (which by extension means edge retention), corrosion resistance, and toughness.

The latter refers to the sort of abuse the steel can take without succumbing to some sort of stress such as a chip, a fracture, or a bend and a set. CPM-3V is one of the toughest steels out there, which is why it is commonly used as a tool steel.

You can abuse this knife and you’ll likely be shocked at how tough the steel turns out to be. It’s not too bad on edge retention, either. The one thing is that CPM-3V is not a particularly corrosion-resistant steel.

But that brings us to another selling point of this Reiff Knife. It’s treated with a high-visibility, bright orange Cerakote, which insulates the steel and helps protect it against rust. Equally importantly, the high-visibility Cerakote finish helps prevent the loss of the knife in the field. 

If you place this knife down among leaf litter or just on the ground for a second, that bright blaze orange finish will at least help ensure you pick it back up again. 

Something else about this knife: it has a 90-degree spine, which means two things. You can use it as a scraping tool, and you can use it with a ferro fire starter for firecraft in the field. 

As for the handle, that’s another thing to love about this knife. It’s equipped with robust G10 scales (available in multiple configurations) that will offer a sure grip in effectively any conditions, even in extreme cold or when the knife is greasy or wet. 

And on top of that, G10 never needs any maintenance. Unlike natural materials, it doesn’t need to be kept clean or conditioned, and it will not crack, warp, deform, or otherwise absorb oil, grease, water, or other liquids.

The contours of the handle and the general size of the thing are also great. Unlike so many other compact and ultra-compact survival knives which only afford a three-finger grip, the F3 XC is expressly designed with a comfortable handle that allows for a full, four-finger grip, for excellent comfort and control. 

And that’s precisely the intersection at which you’ll meet these Reiff Knives. 

Adding to the class of this knife, it also comes with an attractive and durable leather knife sheath. It might not offer the same level of versatility as a Kydex sheath, but there’s no beating leather for class or comfort, and with a knife this small, carrying tip down on the belt is hardly ever inconvenient if it ever is at all. 

Explore This and Other Reiff Knives

Whether you have questions about this model or you want to learn more about Reiff Knives, get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to help you out.