Well now wait a second. I think I am gonna have to revise my original list, cause I FORGOT I had at least one of the knives I would choose.

1. Busse Combat BWM (I keep forgetting I've got that one)! With the 911 as second pick.

2. IF I had one, S5 made of INFI steel. (anybody need a Busse Wardog Hack). Alternate picks would be the S5CG or 411.

3. Mud Puppy/LE with the Swamp Warden as an alternate pick.

If I was as good as Tom Hanks I could live comfortably with those blades.

That's a great looking group!

IN the hopes of staving off Murphy's Law, I would probably have the BWM/911 strapped to my pack. Probably the same (Or in one of the smaller compartments) for the Mud Puppy.

Now the INFI S5 would be (always) on my belt.

You know, now I've got a pouch large enough for one of the space saver type space blankets along with a water straw some TP, fire kit and some paracord AND a medium/large folder!

Rich, I kipped it off the interweeb somewhere.

But for Now, Based upon WHAT I OWN, my "There can be only one" blade would still have to be the S6 due to its sturdiness although I prefer a different blade just a tad thinner (.220 seems to be a VERY popular thickness) and made of INFI, Like the ASH series. That IS a very versatile blade shape.

My search continues, but I have a SAR5 and LM. Both are great knives, but are companions.

I'm still looking for "the one". The Survive GSO 7/7 looks VERY interesting.

Andy,
That's a really nice collection. I have a couple of ASH-1 too. My 0.22 Coated is in the "permanent keep" pile. My wife has continually selected it as "her knife" from the literally nearly 200 various Busse and Kin I've now owned (as well as some other really nice knives from other makers).

For her, the "ONE WILDERNESS KNIFE" is the 0.22" ASH-1.

I've all but completely 100% decided a large chopper is unnecessary and is wasted survival weight. "Large" is relative, but for me it means any knife with over 8" of blade. In my search for the perfect SINGLE wilderness knife I keep coming back to the 7" x 3/16" design. Its large enough, but its not too large.

I really want to keep this on track with regards to a single knife. We can all choose 3 knives that fit our needs - that's easy. This thread is about really digging deep and exploring what is important in a wilderness knife. Its about making tough choices which is essentially what wilderness survival requires of people.

Ten years ago I had wilderness survival gear that was so overloaded, redundant, and heavy as to be not only a hindrance to movement but also a danger (of causing mechanical injuries). There is certainly a place for redundancy in survival, but really tough choices need to be made. Any wilderness kit over about 35 pounds can become problematic. Carrying 5+ pounds of knives and sheathes doesn't leave enough residual weight for food, shelter, fire, defense, water, navigation and signaling.

The lighter your load the faster you'll move (and safer you'll be from mechanical injury). I've had to carry someone out of the wood because of an injury. It is not fun.

Realistically, knife redundancy should be a small lightweight skelly (5oz) and a general purpose knife (under 16oz). However, this thread is about THE ONE knife so lets keep digging until we find it...or someone builds it!

Have you checked out the Busse SARGE 7 (SAR Garth Edition)? It has the large SAR handle, ffg, and skeletonkized tang.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/923849-Introducing-the-SARGE-Series-YOWZA!!!!!!-Nice-Job-Garth!!!!!

Link isn't working, but there it is.

I have actually considered that model. Its one that I think I'd have to hold before buying. It seems like a neat design, but there is something off about it. The design brings to mind a 5" knife that has been increased in size by 25% on a copier.

If I can't get ahold of a DSF then a Survive GSO 7/7 will be ordered. I put myself on the email list yesterday. The handle looks super comfy and the weight is pretty nice for that size of a blade

.... your wife is a VERY smart woman.... but you knew that already.

Skunk... those two ASHs are identical. I search for months to find one (they are .32s BTW) in that colour combo and then as fate would have it, scored a second the same week...!!! Not complaining mind you.. I have some more ASH here, just no pics ...