ETA: I didn't mean to be so verbose. Skip to the bottom and the poll if you don't care to read everything.
The back story:
My lady is very big into animals, specifically learning about their anatomy, she loves nature and is very open to new experiences, even if they're outside her comfort zone. She is really intrigued by the idea of learning how to be self-reliant in the wilderness and is eager to learn survival skills. She wants me to take her into the wilderness for a few days and teach her what I know about surviving off the land. She's especially excited to learn how to snare and process game.
Two small caveats:
She has little to no experience using knives for anything but cooking. AND
She is very timid when it comes to knives. She doesn't mind that I collect them, but she doesn't like holding them or using them. She is very smart, creative and intuitive, so I think she will adapt well, and I also think that once she learns to handle a blade properly, she will be less timid.
I am planning on getting her a blade for when we go camping, but need to find the perfect one so that she will feel comfortable using it. Given her feelings about knives, I want something that does not look like a tactical defensive knife, so a non-coated blade would be preferable. Even more preferable would be a very aesthetically pleasing custom knife, possibly with a natural handle material (I could always have a custom handle made for it.) Also, it will have to have a handle that is comfortable and secure in small hands.
I will be carrying a small, medium and large blade with me, so the primary purposes of the knife I want to get for her are game processing (mostly small game and fish) and food prep. Another reason that I am having a hard time deciding is because my instinct is telling me that I should get a blade that CAN handle more strenuous tasks in an emergency.
I have a few knives in mind, but can't decide on what to get. I want to surprise her with it, so I don't have the option to have her try out a few models before making my decision.
I've put together a poll of my top picks. If you think of a blade that I haven't, definitely let me know.
Too Long; Didn't Read:
I want to get a knife for my girl who is very timid around knives, but wants me to teach her wilderness survival and how to process game. Pick what you think would work best for a woman with small hands and not much experience with handling knives.
