Some years ago the better half and I took a trip counter clockwise around the country. Our last child had left the nest, and we relished our time alone at last. When we got to the Mesa Verde National Park, a park ranger was demonstrating the effectivness of the stone tools the old Anatassi had. He had a road killed deer, and with a little finger size flake of obsidian, he peeled off the hide on a rear haunch, and sliced up the meat like it was nothing. I was very impressed by that little flake of stone. A few years later, a friend got me into knapping, and it changed my whole outlook on knives.
I now very rarely carry anything on my person more than a pocket knife, or very small sheath knife like a Buck Hartsook. I still camp using both canoe and kayaks for getting into the less traveled places, and have not found a need for much more than I carry. It has surprised me how usefull a very small knife can be.
I have not tried a tin knife, but I just may give it a go.
I'll have a hatchet stashed around for an out and out emergency to augment the small knife. If that combo was good enough for the Ice Man, thats good enough for me.
I think in most cases, we carry large knives because we are knife knuts, and want to. Needs and wants are two very different things. In most cases, a tin knife sized tool is going to be all you need if you use your head. Colin Fletcher used a sak classic as his backpacking knife. Anyone who backpacks the length of the Grand Canyon has my attention.
