I'd go with the Howling Rat. The steel takes and keeps a very good edge, and is easy to sharpen. I've never had a problem with rust yet. The grohmans are a little too specialized, and I really dislike S30V. I'm not a fan of Moras, they are fine for cheap knives, but many of my knives outcut them and are much quicker to sharpen. But, at $10 each, they might be worth a look. YMMV.

I'll echo Mors Kochanski's vote: a #1 Erikkson Mora in carbon steel.

There are Moras and then there are Moras. For $20-30 you can get a superb Frost knife with a laminated carbon steel blade. It will rust if not taken care of but other than that it will outcut, outlast and outperform pretty much any high grade stainless at a fraction of the cost. It will also take a finer edge and can be sharpened very easily on any kind of stone.

Not to say I don't like stainless steels, they have their place (EDC folders, salt water and tropical climate knives...). But as far as a serious fixed blade utility knife in a temperate climate something like the Frost or comparable high quality Mora is pretty much the best choice IMHO and by far the most cost effective you'll ever find. I say that as an outdoorsman as well as an amateur knifemaker.

Is there a difference between the knives sold here
http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html
and the knives sold here
http://www.swedishknives.com/?

I'm coming to the conclusion that I need to learn a lot more about knives before finding and spending a lot fo money on my "one" knife.

IMHO: Life is too short for just one knife. I wouldn't blow the farm on experimenting, but spending $11 on a Frost Mora or $12 on a Cold Steel Finn Bear would inexpensively let you know if that type of knife works for you. Then you can decide if you want to upgrade or go in a different direction. The money spent on the initial knife won't be wasted, because you'll still have it "just in case". I'm not what you can call a knife enthusiast, but over the last 20 years or so I've acquired 3 fixed blade knives, all of which I use from time to time in different applications.

For some reason I've also acquired 6 different folders, but 1 was a gift and shouldn't count...

Michael, Mora is both a trademark and a generic name for Swedish knives made by a number of manufacturers based in that town. There is not a lot of difference between various manufacturers but most of them provide knives in several grades, both in terms of blade construction and overall assembly (hilt and sheath).

If you need a good utility blade but you're still not sure which one to pick my suggestion is to get a Mora in your preferred configuration. You won't regret it. At worst you can use it as a kitchen knife (and a good kitchen knife it will be). Personally I would pick a laminated Frost with a traditional birch grip and leather sheath, but that's just me. (As a matter of fact my primary belt knife is a laminated Frost that I mounted myself, only bought the blade). Plastic is cheaper and might last longer. 12C27 is a good stainless steel, not bad if you're worried about rust. A carbon steel laminated blade will cut better and stay sharp longer though.

Frank made some good points. Don't fall for paralysis by overanalysis. A utility knife is foremost a tool. It should be well made but it doesn't have to be expensive. It's a tool, not a fashion statement. I honestly don't care for overhyped survival knives that cost $100+. That's because in my experience a Mora or puukko will do the job at least as well and won't empty your wallet. If you lose it you can always get a new one. But out in the field it's just the kind of knife you can rely on. When I look at experienced woodsmen I have yet to see someone who carries a $100+ knife regularly. What they use day to day are simpler, inexpensive knives and here the Mora is the No. 1 choice.

Also keep this in mind - the design of Scandinavian knives has remained almost unchanged over many centuries. It's a product of a very long tradition that has proven itself time and again through hard use in a challenging environment. This is something that modern one-of-a-kind designer knives with fancy logos simply can't compare to.

My personal choice:

Fallkniven F1
Bark River Golok
Bahco Laplander Saw

That is a great working combination. If you are in a colder climate, you might want to substitute the golok with an axe. I have a Wetterlings axe, but for me here in Hawaii, a machete like blade is more appropriate, hence the golok. I have the F1 and Laplander and am waiting on my Golok. In the meantime, I use a Cold Steel LTC Kukri or a Tramontina machete.

To lower cost, the F1 can be replaced with a Mora (better slicer, but less robust) and the Golok can be replaced with a machete. I would keep the Laplander saw though. This combo can be had for 50-60 bucks and offers redundancy.

A word of warning. Frosts of Sweden is NOT the same as Frost Cutlery. The Swedish knives are a great value. Frost Cutlery makes knives that are, shall we say, a little farther down on the quality scale. Think "50 knives for $12.99!" on the Home Shopping Network. If you buy from Ragnar you will be safe and get great service to boot.

You might look at a Gerber LMF II

http://www.rockynational.com/1791_22-01400_Gerber_LMF_II_ASEK.html

RAT 3 in 1095