hmm. i've thought of my priorities in the properties of a knife rather than capabilities. i'm not sure if i should drop one of these five for corrosion resistance. whatever, i think the ideal knife must be....

1. Sharp. i don't care how tough a knife is if it can't cut.

2. Usable. i think a ten inch knife is awesome. who doesn't love a giant bowie? i wouldn't use it for most tasks that need a knife, though. six or seven inches are the max for wielding.

3. Receptive to sharpening. unless it utilizes a disposable utility blade, if it can't be restored easily it just adds to the work that needs to be done and makes life harder which is counterproductive.

4. Tough. if you do need to chop or pry, it would be nice to have some forward weight and for the knife to take receive hard use, or even abuse, well. still, i'd sacrifice this aspect in favor of one and three every time and carry a designated tool.

5. Light. just makes carrying it easier on you.