You guys are a bad influence. I'm now seriously shopping for a fixed blade knife, for which I have no use. LOL.
I've carried a folder when out of the house, where legal, since 1994. After I enlisted in the Army in 2001, I discovered that a folder wasn't always sufficient. This hard truth I learned when a team member narrowly escaped injury because I couldn't get to my knife in time- because I was wearing rain gear, so the knife was clipped to my pocket beneath it. After that, I have always carried a fixed blade on my LBV or body armor, because sometimes a folder may not be fast enough. B
lade size doesn't usually matter, but speed does. For civilians, generally a fixed blade is only really important if you are going to be working outside, or may be in an emergency situation...which I guess combat definitely qualifies as! Aside from the many standard things one might use knives for on deployments, like opening mail, packages, cutting 550 cord, etc, I have also used my knives to cut into mortar "tootsie roll" ammo carriers, chop the bands off ammo crates, cut power cables off military gear, and even used my Shane Justice to pry a frozen 120mm mortar round out (obvious abuse, I know).
The exception to my FB policy was when I discovered the WAVE and a sheath called a
Speed Dialer. With this combination, you can mount a Spyderco Endura with WAVE on your gear. If you need an emergency sharp, you grab and pull, and the blade deploys as you pull. You get the speed of a FB, with the lessened "real estate" on your gear of a folder. (Note that I haven't talked to On Scene in years, so please reach out to them before you send them money.)
As herrwalther points out, where you are makes a huge amount of difference. I would have a machete, kukri, or one of my Camp Defenders if I was in an environment and posture which called for it. Similarly, when I was out hunting on the late Byron Quick's family land, I always carried a kukri with me. I would almost always take the time to clear out a few encroaching small trees on the way back to the cabin after the morning's hunt. Likewise, if I had land of my own, I would always have a large blade on my ATV or in my truck if I was out. The
one time I was visiting moderator AC on his large tract of land, and had forgotten a large knife, I regretted it. Every other time I've had a large blade with me, and have always been glad I have.
If you're outdoors in a non-combat environment, and weight isn't a huge concern, Varusteleka's excellent
Skrama 240 is a terrific, versatile option. This and a small FB or sturdy folder will handle all cutting chores smaller than chainsaw size. Another good option for outdoor use and
some wooded military environments would be the
RTAK 2. (Both of these blades would make devastating weapons if you were attacked while using one, btw.)
John