Please Recommend Blade Length

[Armithius]

4-5.5 inches for GP use, pair it with a machete/chopper/axe/t-hawk/hatchet and you are set.
The Ratmandu comes to mind instantly.

Bingo. If you can afford it, anything by the Busse Group is top notch; not to mention their ridiculously awesome warranty. Course, ESEE also makes awesome knives for quite a bit less $$ with a very similar "you break it we replace it NQA" warranty. You can't really go wrong either way.

 

[Tightwad]

Money is tight but I still would like to have a reliable fixed blade to take with me into the woods. At this point, I would like to buy one quality piece that can be my one and only. From your experience, what blade length is the best compromise? Small enough to belt carry and perform basic cutting tasks but large enough to perform heavy duty tasks such as batoning and light chopping. If blade thickness and weight are involved in the decision I would like to hear your thoughts on that as well. Thanks for the help guys.

The Buck Nighthawk is a screaming bargain for your use. It was designed as a SEAL TEAM knife and has only gotten better over the years.

http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&productid=2921 (out of production from Buck just now. Can be found at knife dealers)

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toy...-Survival-Tactical-Knife/6050711/product.html

http://www.knifecenter.com/item/BU0...ife-Fixed-6-12-inch-Plain-Blade-Nylon-Handles

 

[Raymond1000]

I’m a small knife-big knife guy myself. A 4” task knife and a 9” or 10” chopper. (Less dangerous than a hatchet.)

If I wanted a single knife small enough for fine cutting and big enough for light chopping, I’d carry my Randall 6” Model 25 Trapper. You can notch traps and dress game with it, though shorter would be better. It chops surprisingly well, though longer would be better. If money is tight you don’t want a Randall. But you want something with similar characteristics.

I used to use a Cold Steel SRK for a similar roll. It’s not as good as the Randall Trapper, but it’s a lot more affordable. My SRK is an old Carbon V model. I don’t know anything about their current version.

 

[gadunz]

I've ordered these
(870BB) General Purpose 6 1/4 "

(655B) Curved Skinner/Sticker/Boning 6 "

 

[dizrack420]

Becker Bk2 (i love mine), bk10, bk7. All would suit you're needs, great steel and all under 100 bucks. Bk16 if you go smaller.

Bk14, Bk16, bk2.

 

[cchu518]

I've studied the whole giant knife fixed blade phenomenon and tried out a fixed blade a little Kershaw Skyline. Realized it wasn't for me. But you said the magic words...chopping and batoning and to me this screams subconsciously you want that bigger knife. Might as well not waste money with do-overs and get that BK9, plus a nice little neck knife for normal duties. If you put your budget towards say a Esee or Becker you can have room for some extra kit and get like a CRKT Minimalist for cheap to handle your small knife duties. I have one and its a sweet knife or just split the difference and get the real Folts.