Dark Aether,

I think you raise a good point. As for me, I never go into the woods with only one type of knife. In fact, I never go into the woods with less than three knives. I usually have my CS trailmaster (9.5 inch blade), my bark river scout (3.75 inch blade)and my CRKT folder (3" blade) which is clipped to the inside of my pants pocket. If I'm backpacking, I usually carry a camp axe and my leatherman as well.

You're probably asking yourself, why I carry so many knives? Well, my grandfather, who was a farmer, always taught me that you need the right tool for the right job. First of all, the crkt folder and the bark river are not that much extra weight. Secondly, you know that monster knife with the 10" blade that can chop down a tree? Well, you're not gonna skin a squirrel or dress a a trout with that thing. In fact, aside from chopping trees and clearing brush for a shelter, that big ole knife isn't much good for anything else.

I hate to break the news to all those Rambo types out there, but the ideal survival knife does not have a 10" blade. In fact, you'll find that a true survival knife is usually in the 4" - 6" range. In fact, if I had to only take one knife into the woods with me, it would be my Bark River with the 4" blade. It is ten times more useful than any knife twice it's size. I can notch with it, strip bark, dress game, etc. Oh yeah, and I wouldn't try to baton it through a frozen log in the dead of winter -- that's what I'd use my AXE for.

Do you know what the Recon Training Unit of the US Marines prefer for a survival knife -- it's a small knife with a 3.75" blade made by Bark River knife and tool.

Let me ask you something. How many times have you been in a survival situation where you only had one knife to depend on? For the majority of outdoor enthusiasts, the answer is probably never. But I encourage everyone to try it. Walk out into the woods with only the clothes on your back and your Rambo blade. When (or IF) you come back out of the bush, You'll have a totally different perspective on what works and doesn't work for a survival knife.

If you can chop through a frozen log with your monster Rambo knife, my hats off to you. But if that's the only knife you're bringing into the woods with you, good luck.

Maverick