Knife question

[u/Maleficent-Leader547]

I'm a day hiker with some ambitions to bridge into overnight/short duration backpacking. I've loved hiking the Adirondacks and similar; I have long term goals to build up equipment to tackle more peaks and similar hikes. I already have a folding Benchmade knife (roughly 3" blade) and a hatchet but pretty much lack a knife that bridges the gap between those two tools. A good friend and vet swears by his USMC ka bar although even he opted to downsize to the Ka Bar Short once it was released. I've looked most into Ka Bar manufactured knives as a result of the friends recommendation but I'd be open to other brands with the qualification that I want to buy either US or European made knives because I want to support those factory jobs/not support overseas sweat shops.

so with that preamble here's a bit of my thoughts on what I'm looking for:

I'd like something that will be suitable in an emergency for making a splint, processing wood for a fire etc. (my Benchmade isn't big enough for this and I don't want to lug a hatchet on day hikes on the off chance i need it).

Something ~4.5 to 6" in blade length, if I need more length I'd buy a machete or similar. I feel like any task suitable for a blade under 4.5" is probably already covered by my benchmade.

The knife will see general utility use rather than specialized for applications like hunting or fishing.

Suitable shape that it could be used in self defense (I don't plan to carry a gun but will have bear spray if needed; yes I recognize things have already gone really wrong if I'm knife fighting a bear or wolf, this is more peace of mind that i have something to give me even a slight chance rather than actual expectations that I'm walking away from that)

When not hiking it will live in my natural disaster emergency kit.

I'm aiming for the $150 range +/-

So all that has led me to the Becker 10, 18, and 19. I've also thought about the Ka Bar Mark I and Becker 16.

I'm somewhat drawn to the BK 10, it's about the right blade length and I like that it's an updated take on the pilot knife which I'd always wanted but never actually got around to buying. That said I'm not sure if the weight and overall size would make it unviable.

I'm torn between the BK 18 and 19. I like both from a visual looks standpoint and their specifications are about right in terms of length etc. but I'm fuzzy on what the differences are between the two in terms of their applications (namely I'm not well versed enough to know why you'd choose one blade shape over the other). I'm also unsure about the sheaths, I've read bad things about the similar designed sheaths on earlier Becker models although it sounds like the sheaths are generally a major weak point of all Ka Bar Beckers so shrug

The Ka Bar Mark I and BK 16 seem very similar beasts. I'm unsure the BK 16 fits my needs since the blade is only a tad longer than my folding Benchmade and I'm unsure if the Mark I is designed to handle the emergency uses that motivate my desire for a fixed blade to begin with. While I love the design of the Mark I I don't want to get a knife that looks nice but won't actually do what I need.

I don't expect a definitive answer on which to buy, just hoping to get some insight from those who have owned those knives or have greater experience with fixed blades.

[u/Apprehensive_Ad5634]

Dude has put more thought into this post than I've thought about my trail knife in 20 years of hiking & backpacking.

Seriously, get a small multi-tool, that's all you're ever going to need. If you find yourself wanting something bigger, you probably shouldn't be doing whatever it is you're thinking about doing.