"A scalpel is in my opinion a very bad back-up. Having a much beter back-up knife in a PSK would be a more sensible approach. "
I agree, and IMHO, safer to the user.

Well, is it likely that you could lose your knife?

If your answer is yes: Add a (small) knife.

If it isn't: save the space by using a scalpel blade and then I could add other equipment.

I prefer the last one: I carry a knife on my keychain and a multitool on my belt (secured with pouch and gearkeeper)

It's, once again a personal choice and preference.
I'm respecting your opinion, please respect mine.

A PSK by nature is a concept of downsizing and compromise. There is a point of diminished returns. I remember a post on another website where empty .22 shells were whistles and the blade on a SAK the signal mirror. It had become a game of minutae and not realistic survival. If you choose to include a blade in your PSK kit do so. Like sleeping bags, In this real world YOU will be the one either warm or shivering in the thing, not a name on a forum half a continent away. That said, the blade will be limited in abilities just as the button compass will get you home, but not to a orienteering checkpoint. Small blades on full handles are nothing new. Oetsi's blade seems to have served him well. The late Chris Janowskie's Ranger knife was such a concept. Perhaps the best resolution to this question is FIELD TRIALS in a controlled environ.

I bought a bunch of Benchmade Benchmites (the red line version). I think I paid $30 for each and I stuck them in my kits. They are small and thin, but lock solidly and are relatively comfortable to use for their size. Plus you can engrave your name and address on them or any other info.

Ok, Ok! I can see this is a topic that causes all sort's of disagreements. In the interests of keeping the peace, can I point out to everyone that your tin has to contain all the bits that you CANNOT make easily. That means purification tablets, needles, emergency tinder, fire lighter etc. Any cutting edge you carry is going to be your back up to your back up to your back up. I should also point out that the original tins were designed for E&E. So the contents were picked for concealability as much as for their utility. Our requirements are somewhat different. In terms of knives, I have a scapel blade in mine and a swiss classic in my otterbox kit. And I am in deeeep [censored] if I ever have to resort to either of them.

I won't get into the whole should or shouldn't debate because there is no right answer. The only people that may find a right answer will be using their kits and either thankful to have the knife, or deeply regretting the decision not to.

A flat knife like the Jensen doesn't have to go into the tin though. It could be held on the outside with tape, ranger bands, paracord wrap, etc. The edge could be protected/guarded a lot of different ways but if a skeletal handled knife was chisel ground the edge could rest against the tin and be safe (much like the KISS knife).

Regarding the Jensen J.U.S.T. You may want to do some searchs over at BladeForums for Jensen Elite Blades. Jensen may be out of business, and he is definitely hard to reach all of a sudden. There is some grumbling about knives and money owed, so if you can get a hold of him do some research first. Getting another knife maker to make one for you may be your best bet.

The Douk Douk comes to mind as far as folders go. It is nice and flat, but I think the small is just a bit to long to fit into an Altoids tin diagonally.

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/2292/doukdoukrev.htm

http://www.covecutlery.com/item.cfm?ItemsID=323

If you can swing the price, PJ Tomes makes some very flat folders that are supposed to be very strong. The one linked to below has Ti handles but I think I've seen stainless steel in the past.

http://www.tomesknives.com/model%201-F.htm

He has these little production pieces he designed. I've never seen one in person but two of them are very flat too. The D2 steel seems promising.

http://www.tomesknives.com/production.htm

Let us know what you decide. I've been trying to decide what to do in this regard for quite a while.

I have never been a fan of the tin-box survival kits, but they are very effective. I always include a knife in my PSK. I personally like a good folding/locking knife for my smaller kits, but the J.U.S.T. would be an excellent choice (IMO). I like the design of the knife you drew with the longer handle and shorter blade, I would have to play with one but it looks promising!

As for the controvesy... my PSKs serve one of two purposes; When I am trail running or mountain bike (or similar activities where weight is essential) my PSK is my only survival equipment. My other kits are designed to carry emergency/backup equipment when I am in the field... in both senerio's, if I am in my survival kits, there is a problem.

In the field my PSK is always on me, not in a pack, but on my first line gear. If I loose the rest of my kit I will still have my PSK. I have never tried to get my kits stupid light, having been in a few situations where dumping my pack was my only option, I decided that my field PSKs will be a little hardier than others make theirs.

For me it is a matter of how often I need a survival-style knife. The answer is basically never, in an urban environment. I use smaller, multi-purpose swiss army knives or multi-tools instead.

So I have a semi-PSK that contains a mini-RSK. The point of the kit is to have a single package that I can throw into a small rucksack or large coat pocket without much thought. If it doesn't have a decent knife in it, I probably won't have a decent knife on me.

When I'm hiking in the great outdoors, I have multiple knives. In my pack you'll find a Cold Steel SRK. In my pocket, a Spyderco Native (just bought this one - really like it!) In my larger survival kit in the pack, some old Cold Steel something-or-other. Forgot exactly what it is. About a 3-1/2" folder with liner-lock. An "UltraLock" or something like that. Model no longer made. I don't like it much - it currently serves as a backup - good enough for that role.

In my pocket PSK - the Altoids tin - I don't keep a real knife (wouldn't fit). I have three Exacto blades. These would be my final fallback if I managed to lose my other knives!

Once again... the voice of reason shines through <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />(although, as long as I got in on this, I don't see much use in a scalpel blade either, unless things get bad enough to slit my wrists, but then again, that goes against the whole fight for survival mindset, doesn't it?).

Troy