The use of capitals has been forsaken-----a gesture which would be finely met with an acceptance of the title, "Bro"
Now, as to the question itself---
It's a difficult one. "Willing" implies that I had a choice in the matter, because if I didn't I could protest loudly that I wasn't willing to rely on my $19.99 Schrade Peanut pocket knife but to no avail, as my private charter plane has crashed (the only way I could have a knife flying) and I'm alone except for the strange, beautiful woman who's with me; who--because of the severity of the crash--has lost nearly all of her clothing and therefore has no pockets or belt in/on which another choice of knife might be. "It's not FAIR!!!" I scream to the Gods, as I quickly smash the radio which could be used to obtain a quick rescue. "
What was that?" she asks in a silky voice, coming nearer. "Nothing---just venting my frustration at the cruel twist of fate that's put us here." "
But it looks like a rad--" "I SAID IT WAS NOTHING. Now, first we have to make sure you're not hypothermic..."
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. If we can replace "willing" with what lowest price of knife would I be
happy to stake my life on (as odd as that sentence may be) then I would have to throw another vote that the Cold Steel Bushman at $25-$30 would be it. I've had several over the years (and still have several). I'm sure there's a story, somewhere, of one failing, but damned if I've ever been able to brake one. They sit in this magical zone of hardness for SK-5, apparently, which provides enough stability to support a real cutting geometry and yet seems to REFUSE to chip. Yes it blunts, but simple carbon steel that it is, it burnishes readily on damned near anything that's hard and yet will stay sharp more than long enough to process a good size deer, which honestly isn't a survival situation reality (you may kill the deer and eat it--although, if done with a knife it implies a bad-assery which probably means you don't need ANY tool other than your hands for this scenario--but you're not going to be lovingly skinning it and tanning the hide while out on the trail, because unless all of humanity is gone and there's nowhere to go then you could be using your time better). Yes, that was the longest run-on sentence of all time.
Anyway, I think it's the biggest bang for the buck that Cold Steel offers, and damned near anyone else. The other I'd seriously look at is the Condor Basic Bushcraft whic is <$24.00 at New Graham. I don't have direct experience with it but the steel is a good choice, it's full tang, and obviously a good utility pattern.
