In my opinion a 7" smooth blade in RAT or ESEE brand would be my survival knife of chioce and I actually own a RAT 3 neck knife, a RAT 7 survival knife And an ESEE Junglas large survival knife. All are awesome blades and each has its own place its more useful but they are all very capable woods blades. Only problem your not going to get any of them for the kinda change your talking about. Im not a rich guy by any means but for a good blade that I would trust my life with Im gonna spend some dough. And the idea of everyone having a diff blade is the way Id go. 1 large survival blade, 1 med survival blade, 1 small survival blade, 1 large folder w/ a saw, 1 Leatherman wave, and 1 Gerber Bear Grylls U.S.K. (has diamond shapener and fire starter)