What knife could you buy that will satisfactorily pop open a large animal and allow you to take care of moderate-heavy camp chores, but not be as good as any other sharpened piece of metal at sticking or cutting a person?
If you want some way to fend off an attacker that isn't as effective as a firearm, you should probably carry a walking stick or maybe some mace. Depends on your fitness level and comfort with the idea of actually fighting with someone to dissuade them, rather than blinding them long enough to run away. Personally I'm not interested in getting physical with anyone, even as a fit 26 year old man. I'm more confident that I won't permanently injure myself while running than I am that I won't suffer some long-term damage while mutually beating on a stranger, while far from town and with sharp objects probably in play.
If you want some way to fend off an attacker that isn't as effective as a firearm, you should probably carry a walking stick or maybe some mace. Depends on your fitness level and comfort with the idea of actually fighting with someone to dissuade them, rather than blinding them long enough to run away. Personally I'm not interested in getting physical with anyone, even as a fit 26 year old man. I'm more confident that I won't permanently injure myself while running than I am that I won't suffer some long-term damage while mutually beating on a stranger, while far from town and with sharp objects probably in play.
Still i want to be able to know if it ever came to it, it would be ok in a combat scenario. Those smaller knives im looking at will, as they have a more tapered sharp tip.