The Offsider is an excellent knife. If you don't get the Offsider I'd look at a Becker rather than the CRKT or Cold Steel. (Or spend the bucks for a Ranger or Swamp Rat.)
The Offsider is basically a modern Sheffield bowie.
It's a hair under 1/4", balances just in front of the forefinger, and has great ergos in saber, hammer, or point down. I'm not a big cordura sheath guy, but this is a good example of the breed - tool/folder/stone pouch, multiple carry options and tie downs, and a formed plastic insert for the blade. Lots of Velcro, lots of features.
It seems pretty purpose built as a fighter that can do utility work, rather than a woodsmans knife - like I said, holding it, instead of looking at it online, it screams bowie. It cuts well, nice double hollow grind with a swedge that comes unsharpened but is thin enough to hone. I made a big pot of chili with mine for a potluck, it was thick for onions but hell on peppers and beef, and the straight profile and short integral guard let it work well in full rocking chef knife mode.
It is NOT designed as a chopper. It does chop, fairly well, but it doesn't have the balance or edge geometry to outchop even a light bolo, khukri, etc. If you're looking for your first chopper, this isn't really it. But it's a good all around field knife that chops fine on light stuff and does OK on the thicker wood, it just can't chop a 2x4 or thick branch any where near as fast as a serious whacker can. It would be awkward as a skinner.
It would, in my opinion, be an excellent boar hunting knife, in the finishing thrust sense - great ergonomics, pointy but not narrow, wide wound channel and deep penetration.
I'm very fond of mine. I don't own a M60 or OSS, but compared to the CRKT and Cold Steel fixed blades I do own, the fit and finish is significantly better and the value for the dollar is incredible.:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
