Originally Posted By: Smash
Quote:
Things aren't always this cut and dried in the real world.


I don't mean to sound too sarcastic here, but what real world are you refering to?

I have been borderline hypothermic before. When you are shivering like crazy and and unable to straiten or move your fingers properly then its time to put the knife away. period. The hand guard will do little when the knife slips and you drive the blade into your thigh or foot. If you are properly prepared then you will have another way of getting a fire going without having to resort to using a knife.(I keep a cut road flare for exactly that purpose) But hey, they are your fingers. Do what you need to do I guess. All I know is that in the real world or an imaginary one trying to cut slivers of wood with hands I can no longer feel due to cold would only be worth the risk if there was no other option available.

looks fairly cut and dried to me. YMMV


That's just it. Situations are never cut and dried. Neither you nor I can possibly anticipate all survival situations. That's the real world.

I've been around hypothermic people, and have been hypothermic myself. It's one thing to say that you should put the knife away, but when you feel yourself slipping, some quick action can make all the difference. Some people have greatly impaired judgement as they start getting colder. I'm not talking about cutting slivers of wood either, it's interesting what conclusions you automatically jump to. If you can make fire without a knife while being hypothermic, good for you.

In any event, there are plenty of knives out there that do have good lower guards that protect, yet don't prevent choking up and fine work. As another poster noted, I'm all about stacking the deck in my favor.