Yeah I can control it, but I would rather have 'more' control if possible. And you are correct, (and like I said) I would want less than a 5" blade for skinning too. I like the choil on smaller knives and can take 'em or leave 'em on the larger ones. Right tool for right job is correct, but I hunt from my pack and NOT a 4x4. The tools that I keep are the ones that can function in as many uses as possible. Hence, I would like a smaller knife that can to the tip work and one that has the needed (for me) belly. In my limited experience, a smaller, choiled (not sure if that is even a word:) ) knife does that as opposed to one that is w/o a choil. Could I use two blades? Sure. But again, I will likely be hiking many miles and would love to leave out any extra weight possible so if I could get away with only one fixed blade then that would be great for me.

Right now, the best blade that I have found for these chores is the spyderco native III. I love that knife and it has been my choice for the majority of my animals...I guess I would just feel better with a fixed blade if possible.

IF we are just talking about the S5, I think I could go either way as I can see the value w/ or w/o the choil (for me) for this length of blade...but again, a shorter blade needs to have a usable choil for me to buy it...but to each their own!