Well a lot of times you knife selection is dictated by the budget: Kabar vs Chris Reeve. Also budget dictates to certain extend if the knife is going to be on you or not: more expensive blades have a tendency to be left at home.

You didn't ask for a knife that you can carry with you everyday but you did mention wilderness activities. So I'm assuming you are looking for a fixed blade knife. Look thru Doug's tips for sharp stuff here:
http://www.equipped.org/devices4.htm

Doug's choices gives you many knives to choose from:
http://www.equipped.org/devices8.htm

I like SOG knives since I have one for the past 12 years and it is an excellent tool. But if I ever had to upgrade I would get one of the Reeve Aviators which I consider to be (with proper planning) an excellent survival tool.

Also look at the folders. Many folders will to excelent job in the wild, will be easy to carry but will not be as strong in some areas such as chopping.

What would be your preference for knife length?

Like I said, I have a BK10 and tend to use smaller (4" blade) moras around the campsite (mostly cooking and fire prep - don't hunt anymore) but I sometimes wonder if I should have gotten the BK7 instead.

It's funny you should ask. I could not decide between the BK7 and the BK10 because I was buying off the net, so I bought both. I figured I could always use the other one for a truck knife. It took me about 10 seconds to decide I'd rather carry the Crewman. I prefer it because it has a stouter tip and a handier length. But I would have been happy with the BK7 as well. I ended up selling my BK7 to a guy I work with for $50, which was $2 more than I paid for it, and bought a Brute for the truck. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I should mention that if I were concerned about combat, I would have picked the BK7. The tip is skinnier and looks like it might penetrate better. That might be a consideration for some.

Regards, Vince