Well, you can make a point about those where metal is rare and unaffordable. But the Khuk's have their little karda blades in there for a reason. Most folks with them machetes also have a little folding blade, even a steak knife. I don't know...I get at little bit tired (not directed at you Moose) with the guys who claim that you can do everything on earth with a big blade but that a small blade is limited. Fact is, anybody who has their choice goes the multi-tool route.
I also happen to think that an emergency blanket and garbage bag and some paracord is far smaller and lighter than a big chopper and replaces its function in shelter in aces and spades. There are lots of small, space/weight saving pieces that can readily allow somebody to forgo a big chopper on a day hike and be more prepared than the guy without any of that stuff except the big chopper on his hip.
But hey, a guy who carries all that stuff plus a big chopper. Nothing wrong with that either. I just don't suffer it on day hikes when I know I'm not going to make a big man fire.
No doubt, every word true, IMO. I, like dttomcat, recieved a gift when I was young, a Kabar 1217, used damn near up. It was gift from an uncle who is no longer with us. He wasn't much of a role model, he drank, swore, and was generally considered by most, not much of a man. He was a Korean Vet, and had problems going far beyond my comprehension at that time. I digress, he gave me that knife, taught me how to use it, and keep it sharp. Now, most would not consider a 1217 a big knife, but to an 8yr old boy, its huge. I am in the big knife group, I have axes, and machete's, but I will always have a big knife with me.
Based on my location, and where I play, I have no need to carry an axe when I hit the woods. I also look at it like this, my BK9 has 9" of edge, and is more forgiving when I'm cold, or tired (no survival here guys), than the 4-6" of edge that an axe has. I can expend less energy (I'm lazy) batoning wood (yeah, I baton), sitting on my butt in front of a fire, than I can standing and swinging an axe. I know you don't have to swing an axe standing, but I do. I split wood for my fireplace down to managable sizes on my splittin' stump in the backyard with an axe, but I baton it down to size in my house with my KH Jungle Panawal.
I am in NO WAY trying to sway anyone to change their ideals, just the opposite, I enjoy the diversity in the woodland culture we have here. I like hearing and learning how folks get by with a 4" busher, or machete, or axe, or big knife. I learn how others do it, and it helps me everytime I hit the woods, because I read/see how others are doin' it, and I try it and I learn from it. I may not always be here in East Tennessee, so I have to learn and train myself to break out of my habits. These forums help me do that.
Moose
The trust implicit in that gift from my father (most of the others were from Mom and Dad or from Santa) and the images of the fun days ahead with that axe were almost too much to overcome. That afternoon I took some flak from my cousins who decided to start calling me by my new nickname 'Axe' because I wouldn't stop showing it off.