[jyl]

OK, I'll be the contrarian here.

In my backpacking days, I never had much need for a "big knife" and certainly never wanted to lug one around. A Swiss Army pocketknife, maybe one with a locking blade, scissor, and mini-saw, is more the ticket.

In my campsite camping experience, I've also hardly ever had the need for a big knife. It's a campground, there's no need to hew down saplings and so on. A 6" or 4" kitchen knife was more like it.

As for disaster readiness, I'll bet a 8" chef's knife, Leatherman tool, and small pry bar will end up being more useful that that kuhkri. After all, when the bad guys challenge you to a knife fight, you can do like Indy and go for your gun. Skip, I know your disaster kit is going to include one of those.

Edit: If your disaster kit has to have a "big knife", I'd just toss in a $10 machete, nicely sharpened.