Great thread Ken..... totally wrong as usual... but a cute attempt clever reasoning.

:thumbdn:
Just kidding, bro.
Still, funny you bring me up everytime you talk of thick tools.

But seriously, I only have 2 models that I designed with 1/4" spines in mind. Those were specialized "beater" models, too. Most of my bushblades are 3/16" or thinner. Also, 75% of my handles are now hidden tang... so you'll have to strike me from your full-tang/too-thick list, buddy.
So now that I have scrambled to clear my good name, Let me tell you why I personally prefer heavier blades with thickererer tangs for my "survival" knives. Just for reference, my current hierarchy of blades reads like this... (in order of importance/necessity/preference)...
1. Big knife (7-10")
2. Small knife (3-4")
3. Folding saw (8-10")
4. Hatchet/Hawk (14-19"handle)
5. Folding Saw
6. Takedown Bow Saw
My number one tool is a big honkin knife. It has to have a strong build... stronger than me. Meaning, that it should do what I need it to do, without risk of breaking under a modest amount of human power. So far, every narrow tang and blade under 3/16" has failed in the big-blade category. (KABAR, Marbles, Coldsteel, HI and a few customs) The truth is, as a maker, I can't think of a way to make a strong enough stick tang. That is not to say someone else couldn't... I just haven't come across one... EVER.
Do I need a big knife everytime I go out? Nope... I don't think I'll be getting stranded or lost in the woods around my local county. I can afford to fool around with smaller blades. When I go up North to train we are literally walking into oblivion.... you could get lost forever up their. I want a blade that'll take whatever I throw at it. It is easy to say you will use technique over brute force but that mentality gets old quick when you are either tired, hungry, thristy, freezing your ass off or all of the above. Most of us will never have to go through that. I was stupid enough to volunteer(and pay money) to see what that feels like..... IT SUCKS. Digging in frozen ground to pry up rocks to strike fire with, busting open stumps to get at punkwood or mealworms and chopping out ice for drinking water. "Get to da choppa!" ... extra heavy on the tang, please

:thumbup:
Mind you, that's just me in my environment. In the end, it's all "what ifs" anyway, right?" (What if you need a big knife? What if you need a firearm? What if the SHTF?). Still, I would never be so bold as to tell someone else they're doing it wrong. Aside from Kenny, of course... cuz, well... he IS doing it wrong.:barf:
All in fun.

Rick