You can do a lot with a 7" blade. That's about as short as I like for chopping. For just walking in the woods on well kept trails, a smaller knife is fine, even a folder. But for the really bad areas of the swamp, I'll take the 1311 (although I have yet to take it there). If I ever get over these infernal colds and flu, I plan to take Susan for a trip up the Altamaha River. I never go there without a big knife (7" blade minimum).