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Those'll do nicely. I've long carried an Ontario pilot-survival knife, the short little 5-inch bowie. I pitch the *sharpening* stone from the pocket for it on the sheath and pop in a cutdown magnesium firestarter instead. The one I've got now was an issue *gift* dated 1968, pretty well beat up, but it works.

Rather than a traditional Arkansas/Texas Bowie, I tend to prefer the Gurkha Khukuri, which I've also got decades of practice and familiarity with.

So far as a real full-length sword, I've seen the Ontario *Black Wands* used by some as both fighter and near-machete-much like the cutdown cavalry sabers issued as *Machete, substitute* during the early days of WWII in the Pacifac, to Coastwatchers and Marine Raiders, among others. I've made do with an 18-inch blade Blackie Collins d-handle machete, but more as tool than fighter. If it came right down to that, I think I'd prefer an entrenching tool in a real fight [BTDT] rather than the shorty machete, I might feel otherwise if I was more used to one with a bit more length.

But I'd like to do some serious practice with the sword/saber, and shorty shovels aren't much for ceremonial presentations, either. Maybe after I've seen the Mel Gibson Christos movie I'll have a taste for Gladius Iberius again, but I think their time has come and gone....

Checked the Brigade site...Ontario has a very nice 8" Bowie with the narrower blade I like...penetration over belly...more a spear point...just used to it...and a better "pig-sticker" in the boar fields...God forbid it comes to that ! I have reason to believe the narrower (not in thickness!), long blades do good work on heavy leather jackets...layers of sweatshirts...and layers of illicit anesthetic. Ontario actually highlights that it does NOT have a lanyard hole...which I intend to remedy promptly.

Sure like your magnesium/stone substitution, archy. Now I like that sheath!

Randall 14 is my 1st and long time choice with a real nice Parang made in the PI from an old leaf spring for going native. Goes well with my fire piston and bone shirt !

Great Read Archy....You do a good job here if no ones told ya lately.

Stay safe !

I like the "Black Wind", as it is compact enough and rugged enough to be used as an all-around field tool, and not just as a sword. Its construction of one bar of steel with a paracord handle just feels TOUGH. Plus, it's so inexpensive that one needn't sob if it gets damaged or broken, not that this is likely in usual situations.

It's basically a classic design, modernized for hard use as well as defense. The entire "Spec-Plus" line from Ontario is that way.

Oh, they also have another sword with a 15-inch blade and single-hand handle, for even greater portability.

My katana sits only about a foot from my hand when I'm in my bed at night. It's my "last grab" if repelling boarders is the task (after ye olde trusty 12-bore pumpe).

I use one of those little survival knives on my AIRSAFE vest on flights. Although, mine's a little newer...

Ontario Knife Company has some even better images at their site. The "newer" survival knife comes in three different styles, all with nylon sheaths as opposed to the leather of old, which I've found has a way of rusting the knife. They also have the "old-fashioned" ones for the purists out there.