Not cheap, but Opinel's take on survival knife.

http://www.opinel-usa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=opinel-No8-outdoor

I'd tend to think a folder would be a better fit for a kit as well. I just checked and on Amazon you can get a Gerber BG Scout for $12 (I paid $25 for one!). I think these are a great, basic locking folders.

I suppose other folks may feel differently but I absolutely loathe serrations. I can think of a couple applications they're good for but nothing survival related. Again, JMOHO.

I have tried several knives for this application. As others have mentioned, Opinels seem to be a great choice, but the handles of both carbon and SS swell up when wet and are impossible to open with fingers. I tried a little vegetable oil on the pivot, but it didn't solve the problem. They are however, strong, very sharp, super light, and the lock works great.

I tried a $10 Winchester branded, wood scaled folder from Wally which looked good, had a good pocket clip, and was pretty sharp. It literally fell apart in the pack. The main pivot pin came apart, and I have no idea where the missing part of it went.

The Bucklite Max folder is a great, sturdy little knife. I carry the small one in orange in my survival pack a a backup, but at $15 it is a little more than your stated price range.

Overall, I think the Mora Companion, which is visually similar to the old Clipper except that the blade steel is thicker, is a great choice for a kit.

I'm not a huge fan of serrations either and definitely wouldn't carry a serrated knife as my primary in the woods. That said, for a back-up knife in a survival kit, I wouldn't really worry one way or another; the serrations may not be a benefit in a survival situation but they aren't really going to be detriment either.

For me, I'd think other considerations (like cost, durability, construction, compactness) trump my serrations/no serration preference when looking for a back-up knife. For example, I would prefer the BG Scout to an Opinel even with the serrations (although, it looks like the price went back up on that Scout so it is no longer a proper comparison ... the sale must've ended!).