My opinion regarding large knives is quite different from yours. You forget that knives are also used as weapons, and in countries were guns are allowed only for hunting or target shooting, a large knife is something you depend upon for defense against two-legged or four-legged critters. Probably you don't have to face it in the USA but down here, running into cimarron dogs or pumas or, God forbid it, boars, is a distinct possibility. I agree with you that large knives are unwieldy and heavy, but sometimes that weight can be mighty reassuring!
I'm with you....When I am hunting alone in the northern forests, I carry more than one knife. There are wolves, bears, coyotes, and pumas here. None of these animals has ever bothered me, but you never know. In fact, the only animals that have ever attacked me besides dogs were: a chipmunk, a skunk, and a muskrat. I fully realize that if I have to fight a puma or a wolf with a 10 inch knife, I'm going to be a hurtin' unit. My position is that a 10 inch knife is a far superior weapon than my bare hands against a puma, and I will at least have a fighting chance to kill it or drive it off. I always carry a hardwood hiking stick when walking, but when hunting, I don't. I also carry pepper spray, a Leatherman Supertool on my belt, and a tiny Victorinox Classic in my pocket for other knife work.
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