Matthew, I was trying to respond directly to your earlier post. Sorry we're not communicating yet. Whereas you would see an extra 10oz for a bigger fixed blade as adding to your safety, I would see the extra 1/2 lb of steel as taking away safety. That's enough weight to notice. My knife is 2 oz.
This is a really good point and I agree that light fixed blades are nice options. They aren't needed, but they don't hit the scales hard either.
My folder is only 2oz. I don't know of any 3.5" or bigger fixed blades that are lighter. Most lightweight fixed blades that I'm aware of will be in the 3 to 4 oz range, when you include the sheath, no?
So, I'm still pretty new to backpacking. I tried to "gear up" as cost effectively as I can, with an eye towards the 80/20 rule (80% of the benefit, 20% of the price). I do agree that ounces add up to pounds, but will say thats usually over a large number of items. And when you're gearing up, each one of those choices can really add up to a number of pounds different pack weights. I don't see a huge impact from deciding to take a single item that adds a few ounces as "decreasing my safety", as long as you're not making that same choice over and over again for every piece of gear.
Doing some math, just for me.
My rough base weight is less than 15lbs (lighterpacks shows ~13lbs, but doesn't include a few things like the other water bottles I carry). You add food and some water... lets call that 20lbs (for easy math). For me, the choice between a my Mora (4.62oz with sheath, rangerband, and small firesteel), and an Opinel is basically a 2oz choice.
A 2oz difference out of 20lbs total, works out to roughly a
0.63% increase in weight. I don't think I could feel that, nor do I think that this would impact my safety (assuming you're relating additional weight to increased likelihood of mechanical injury). In fact, for less than a percent in total load change, I do actually view my Mora as more beneficial (utility provided > extra weight).
Then, some more math, with an absurdly heavy (for backpacking) BK2. We'll call it roughly a pound (for easy math again). Thats a 5% increase in weight over the Opinel. Now, would it add enough to make me injure myself? Hard to say, and thats the most extreme example I have out of what I own.
I do say that I feel that for backpacking (where you're literally carrying your other things you need to survive on your back), the need for a "fixed" blade knife is lessened in many areas/seasons (because we all agree a knife in general is necessary), but don't think I'd straight up say they aren't necessary ever/anywhere. But especially for situations that may be remote, or for a day hike, etc (where you might not have everything you need to survive a night in the woods), a fixed blade becomes a more clear preference to me.
If I was solo hiking, and rolled my ankle really bad in most places I have gone, I could simply hobble to the nearest trees, hang up my hammock, and wait until the next person comes along to give me a hand. I wouldn't freeze to death, or even really be uncomfortable (other than the ankle). If I go on a dayhike for a few hours and have the same problem, I don't have those other resources available, so my desire for a fixed blade is increased. And, when I say fixed blade, I don't mean a giant one. Just something reasonable.
