I thought carbon steel was a dull gray until I got my Mora--it looked like stainless until it began, well, staining. I assumed that my Old Timer (it's a 165 OT by the way) was stainless, and it has to be because after 30 years in the sheath it isn't stained. The Mora stained after its first encounter with 10# of potatoes.
The Old Timer's spine is about 3/16" thick at its thickest point. It has the brown Delrin handle. The only thing it lacks is a lanyard hole. Unless I hear different I will assume it's fine as a survival knife.

Vince