+1 on the Buck Caper. Inexpensive, thin and light, with decent steel and a good heat treat. All it needs is a good Kydex sheath to have a better (and more useful) neck knife than the majority of knives sold as such.
The Svord Peasant is awesome. No lock, so it goes places (like San Antonio) where locking folders are banned. It travels with me and is used constantly at home. Great knife. Get it from Ragweed Forge, where you can buy some Moras at the same time.
Svord Peasant
Ragnar (Ragweed Forge) also sells several knives under the Ahti brand, and the Finman is excellent, and a total steal at $11.50.
The 12-inch Tramontina machete is also a winner, and very inexpensive (mine was under $10). It's one of my most-used tools. I look at it more as a large, sturdy (but thin) knife. It's used like a large fixed blade, but it's light enough and thin enough to be very useful in a camp kitchen, although it could be used for limited chopping, such as making a stretcher or a shelter. I made a cardboard-and-duct-tape sheath with a small pocket for a mill file, so I can keep it sharp. It goes in my day pack and is much more useful to me than most fixed blade knives. Buy at least two, so you can give the extra as a gift to a friend or family member who wants your machete. By the way, the hardwood handle is the way to go, so that you can reshape it if needed to fit your hand better.
Ontario 12-inch machetes (the heavy-duty ones with the 1/8-inch thick blade) are also useful as a chopper than the Tramontina, but heavier. The 12-inch length makes it lighter and handier than the full-size model. Shop around, and you can probably find one within the price range. Stay away from the dorky D-handle models. The grip on mine was loose, and it was way too big for average hands.
+1 also on the Opinels and Moras.
All my best,
Dirty Bob
