barbarian brings up a great thought.

In days of old (1700's & 1800's) I wonder what folks who traveled in the less populated areas carried with them. I suspect that they weren't typically "processing wood" with a knife, but more likely they carried a saw (how common was that???), an axe (almost certainly), and splitting wedges of some kind (maybe locally fashioned out of wood???).

Ken, in "pioneer" days, most explorers, longhunters, mountain men etc. would carry both a skinning knife, similar to the Russel Green River and also a longer knife for more general or combat usage like the Rifleman's Knife or the ever famous Bowie (once it became widespread). In addition, most also carried a hatchet or tomahawk. And a lot of them had a patch knife carried on their possibles bag or around the neck.

That's just the stuff that was carried on the person. If they had pack animals, you can bet they had a felling axe and other tools on the horse!

Jeff White makes some great blades, although I don't own one (yet). I want one of his Nessmuks!

Now, on to the main question...

My latest "outdoor knife" is the TOPS Band of Brothers Fieldcraft knife. It's about 4.5" long and I wouldn't want anything longer. It's pretty thick and solid too. So far I've been able to use it for just about anything, including making fuzz sticks and carving and some heavier work. I also have an ESEE Izula II that's great for when I don't want/need the heavier blade. I also have a couple of Moras that I love, but I think I'd want something full tang for "survival" use.

So, in my opinion, those two blades cover most of what I'd need for emergency use. If I'm going camping, my hatchet/tomahawk comes along. A larger fixed blade is just extra weight and overkill in my view.

I own a gazillion knives, big and small, fixed and folders, BRKT's, ZT, Benchmades, Swamp Rats, ScrapYards, Fallkniven, Buck, etc., collected over 40 years or so. My favorite all around hard use knife is my BRKT Canadian Special. Almost as funky looking as the Nessmuk, full tang 4" x 0.17" A2 tool steel, convex edge, very pointy, but thick right to the point, easily sharpened on a strop with compound and the sharpest knife I have ever seen. Sliced right through two leather BRKT sheaths without even noticing, one of which sliced deep into my hand - also not notice until it began bleeding profusely. I have yet to find a task where this knife does not excel. I would not try to use it to remove a splinter however, unless you plan to cut your hand off at the wrist.

Normally, it's a Bark River Fox River. Generally paired (or tripled ;-) ) with a "pocket knife," like sak, or old trapper or Barlow 2 blade and a "pocket clip" knife like a 710hs, Spydie or similar.

I have a SRKW Camp Tramp that is a great knife but too big for small stuff, and frankly I prefer a hatchet or axe for real chopping.

This does not count multi-tools, since you said knife.

Yes, I carry too much, and faced the fact I may need to dump weight, but at least I have it to dump if it ever becomes necessary.

In my book a knife is one of those things that calls for redundancy.