I collect "survival" knives. Most have a 4" to 5" blade. I suspect that the reason for the size has more to do with ease of carry than performance. Personally, in the terrain that I go into, a 10" to 12" blade is more my speed. I can do a lot with a camp machete or DFLE. While not ideal, you can use a large knife for small jobs, but a small knife doesn't make it for the big jobs. Going into the swamps without a big knife is like going into the North woods without an axe. The Scrapper 6, ASH-1, M6, SARsquatch, Ratweiler, Chopweiler, NMSFNO, and SOD make sense as survival knives to me. They're big enough to be useful and small enough for easy carry. But I still prefer a longer blade. Give me a M9LE and a multi-tool or SAK, and I would be set.

for me 5" x 5" and about 3/16th. Thick for me...

I like 4-5 inch blades a lot. HD statement is true without a doubt. I will always sharpen a good 6ft sturdy limb if I am in an area where I think the abiity to create or use space is needed. The largest blade I have is a machete, which honeslty is used very little at the moment. So that leaves the SOD and my collection of 4-5 inch blades which serves me fine.

Bigger handles are better IMO. I have a yard keeper, my ownly issue with it is it's handle size could be a bit larger, would only increase the market potential. A half inch more wouldn't hurt.

5&5.
Small enough to keep out of the way but large enough for getting through 3" timber and how often do you need thicker sticks than that when building a temp. shelter or making a spear?


***still chanting S5, S5, S5, S5***

Unless you're building a raft. Then I want my 12" blade.

For my uses, a 4x4 or 5x4 for me. 3/16th or thinner works. I usually have other stuff on my belt so something much larger and I need to bust out my suspenders and the wife hates it when I wear my suspenders. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

"Survival knife" means different things to each of us. My choices for the "survival knife" that I carry are usually 7.5" or larger depending on the day's activities. I'm currently carrying one of my latest Busse NMSFNO. I agree with HD's comments also, and I always have a folder for non-abusive or smaller tasks.

A 9"+ size along with a 4-6" fixed is common for me on certain trips (still have the folders). Let's say a DF and a DM.

As a side note, I frequently carry a tomahawk with a very sharp edge.

I look forward to the Regulator, but would rather it have the changes I've suggested in other threads:
- non-tapered tang
- 3/16" thickness, at least 1/4" or less
- integral steel catches or guards where the handle begins.

Ratmandu 3/16" thick 5" blade 5" handle
Camp Tramp 1/4" thick 7 1/2" blade 5" handle

I would personally go with a larger knife.
Would make it far easier to establish and maintain a campsite with a larger
knife.

Personally, I like a 6"+ blade with a choil. That way I can chop, baton, do big cutting jobs, and choke up on the blade for smaller, more delicate work.

anyone of these, if I had to choose just one knife to keep on my side it would have about a 5 inch blade on it, handle length depends on how the handle is made but I have large hands so I chose a 5 inch handle length.

Nice knives! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />