There was (IS) a book by I think Robert A.Heinlein titled "Tunnel in the Sky". Futuristic time where people travel to "land rush/homestead" new worlds. Bunch of high schoolers taking a survival class. As the LAST test,they Are sent to a primitive world for supposedly a week. YUP, it all goes south. Kids book, but if you read it and look at the survival aspect, got some things in it that will make you think.

ANYWAY, the "stars" sister is a military leader. She says whenever she sends out one of "her girls" on a recon mission, all she gives them is a knife. They KNOW knife fighting, but with only a knife they are more "stealthy", depending on remaining unseen and not confrontational. Kinda makes you think don't it.