The farther you are from civilization, the more necessary a large blade becomes. Even in the city, there are some things only a large knife can do well.
In early America, a large knife like the Hudson Bay was a multi-use tool that could function as a sidearm in the era of slow-loading BP firearms.
These days, a somewhat smaller knife like the Low Drag is probably a better choice for most applications, being as good at almost everything except chopping.
When I was designing the Camp Defender with Sam, the ideal was a large camp knife big enough to be versatile and useful outdoors, but still small enough to pack. It makes a deadly fighter, too.
I figured a dedicated large fighter is pointless in this time. A useful outdoors knife that is balanced well enough to fight with, though- that's reasonable.
When I tested it, I chopped, sliced, and (having forgotten a spatula) even used it to flip pancakes.
OP, I will say that I find the "Bowies" that look like large butcher knives (with a rounder blade profile near the tip) much more useful in general than the stabby Bowies with the long clip point. This also reflects my own thoughts and philosophy of knife killing: except for a few precise locations, usually the quickest way to end hostilities with a blade shorter than a sword, is a strong chop. It worked for the Gurkas, and it works faster than stabs anywhere except CNS.
John
In early America, a large knife like the Hudson Bay was a multi-use tool that could function as a sidearm in the era of slow-loading BP firearms.
These days, a somewhat smaller knife like the Low Drag is probably a better choice for most applications, being as good at almost everything except chopping.
When I was designing the Camp Defender with Sam, the ideal was a large camp knife big enough to be versatile and useful outdoors, but still small enough to pack. It makes a deadly fighter, too.
I figured a dedicated large fighter is pointless in this time. A useful outdoors knife that is balanced well enough to fight with, though- that's reasonable.When I tested it, I chopped, sliced, and (having forgotten a spatula) even used it to flip pancakes.
OP, I will say that I find the "Bowies" that look like large butcher knives (with a rounder blade profile near the tip) much more useful in general than the stabby Bowies with the long clip point. This also reflects my own thoughts and philosophy of knife killing: except for a few precise locations, usually the quickest way to end hostilities with a blade shorter than a sword, is a strong chop. It worked for the Gurkas, and it works faster than stabs anywhere except CNS.
John
