I have carried a small knife since I was in gradeschool. I use it every day, and I can't imagine being without one. Where I live, I would have to drive for many hours to get to a place where I couldn't see a river, a lake, or a tree. Even in those places there are cougars, rattlesnakes, and coyotes, but no heather.

My ancestors left Ireland in the late 1800's, and it's on my bucket list to go back there someday to see what it's like. Maybe an item for your bucket list could be to come here to the great boreal forests and experience the wilderness.

I respectfully disagree. A knife is one of humanity's oldest tools. While it may be uncommon or rare to need one while camping or walking in the UK, it's still very hard to improvise if you do end up needing to cut something, even if that's just a hopelessly knotted shoelace.

If you're not planning to practice bushcraft and there's no bush for you to craft on, sure, it doesn't make sense to bring a large knife that just adds weight and bulk. Perhaps a small folder or even the blade on a multitool is right for that sort of activity.

I think we all agree that the environment and the surroundings determine the need for, and the type of cutting instrument that is optimum. I am kind of dismissive of the crying need for a Rambo knife on land, but let's change the setting.

If you are out on the water, either real water like the Santa Barbara Channel or those glorified teacups they call lakes in Minnesota,:) you definitely need a knife, probably a fixed blade. Although it doesn't need to be long, it does need to be sharp. On a vessel there are too many lines, and too many chances for critical entanglement (in propellers and things like that). If you are going underwater, a knife that is in easy reach is essential and absolutely necessary. This is one environment where a Rambo style shines (unless you let it get rusty, but that would never happen, would it?).

The best knife, in my opinion, is the one that you have with you when it's needed AND the knife that you are comfortable with using for the task at hand.

I myself, for backpacking and camping trips, I carry a SAK, a KaBar (7" blade) and a short machete. That handles whatever I come up against down here in Lousy-anna. I may leave the machete behind but I will never leave the SAK or the KaBar behind.

>>My ancestors left Ireland in the late 1800's, and it's on my >bucket list to go back there someday to see what it's like. Maybe an item for your bucket list could be to come here to the great boreal forests and experience the wilderness.

Well Hello Paddy! With you on the visiting wilderness; why do you think I'm on this site? If I planned on only walking here I'd be on a UK walking camping site.
My parents left Ireland in the 1940s; you really should get there. What makes it is the Irish are so friendly and funny. Country is even tamer than here. Not a hill you can't see the roads and houses from.

> While it may be uncommon or rare to need one while camping or walking in the UK, it's still very hard to improvise if you do end up needing to cut something, even if that's just a hopelessly knotted shoelace.

Absolutely!
As I said; I do carry a SAK. This is regarded as almost an amusing eccentricity here.
But have to admit I can't think of a time I couldn't have improvised something else walking/camping. Guy lines can be burnt, thread simply pulled apart. Lock knives are illegal here; so I can't use the SAK for anything too rugged. If it was legal I'd carry a fixed blade. This is a survival site; I'm with you all on preparing for the worst.

qjs

Huh, I just used my mini-Mk1 to open a package, then I sat down to eat a banana and used the Mk1 to slit the top to make it easier to peel. ... and that was just in the last few minutes.

When camping the knives get used for cutting cord (I some disposable binder twine in addition to the better paracord and other cordage), whittling, making small kindling, opening food packages, cutting veggies and meat, and more. It seems I'm always pulling it out.

I have NEVER EVER carried a knife as a weapon. Its a tool ... like pliers or a wrench or an axe. That's not to say that if someone - or something - attacked me, I would be using whatever I had on hand as a weapon ... and honestly, I think pending a gun, I'd rather have a large striking device (thinking club-like) than a knife.

Here's a map of a small section of the state and a picture of one lake.....only 14,999 lakes to go!

Oh, and I almost forgot the 'big one'!

Be sure to click the sunset link for a big pic

This is true. Also note that a fixed blade probably would have done the cat in, maybe not immediately, but they would have had a blood trail to follow. And if found they could eliminate the possibility of rabies and a series of painful injections for the boy.

Are you saying a fixed blade that was larger than the 3.5" folder that was used?