This is my first post, so I'll tell you all a little about myself. I was born and raised in Northern California. I am currently in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Florida. I am a Aircraft Comm/Nav/Mission systems specialist, which basically means I perform maintenance on avionics, I am not a fly-boy. I have had at least a slight interest in survival for a couple of years now. But my interest has only deepened since I found this site about a year ago. Most of my questions I have been able to find the answers to by searching through the forums. However I have a question I haven't found much about.

When you get a new knife what torture tests do you put it through to see if it's worthy enough to be carried in the field? I have a couple of different knives, but I don't know which I would want to carry into the country or throw into a BOB. I just got the book "Bushcraft" by Mors Kochanski and the section on Knife craft has some good ideas. However, I want to know what you guys here at ETS do to test the quality of a knife. Also, how do you put a folding knife through it's paces? I here so much on this forum about testing gear. I also hear a lot about how knives can be the most important tool for survival. However not much is said about testing this most important piece of equipment.

Also, I have a survival story of my own. When I was about 2-3 years old I was camping on Mt. Rainier in Washington state. I was hiking with my sister and just after we left camp I decided to return. It wasn't far so my sister left me walk back alone. I ended up getting lost and wandered around the mountain for something like 3-4 hours. <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I was only found because I wandered across a road as some rangers were driving by. I was very lucky. I was not properly clothed, equipped, or trained. I think this is why I am interested in survival. I don't want a repeat performance. The funny thing is I don't remember feeling scared. All I remember is telling my sister I was going back to camp, and I remember some of the beautiful scenery while wandering the forest.

Sorry for the long post but I appreciate all of your help in advance.
Robert