You could adopt the attitude (as I do) of not giving a flying fig what others may choose to think about you based on the kit you carry and just use what you like.
Folks were (very successfully) doing outdoorsy stuff with Ka-Bar and similar military knives for donkeys years because for quite a lot time they were the only tool that was familiar and readily (and cheaply) available.
The double guard gets in the way of some carving tasks but you can work around that by adjusting your technique some guys I know have removed the top lug of the guard which also solves the problem very nicely.
The knife is right on the edge of being a little big for general camp work but (very handily) more than big enough so that you dont need to carry a hatchet, so although there are some trade-offs it is one of those tools that can do everything, if you adjust your approach.
Relatively inexpensive, takes and holds a good edge, big enough to handle small axe work and, with the right technique, you can also carve with it they tend to last forever and so I have no problem with them or with anyone who uses one. Thumbs up from me
I met a guy in America two years ago who was half Cherokee and a huge bear of a man. He was living a semi self sufficient lifestyle and constantly carried a Ka Bar knife as his tool of choice he had a lot of experience with it during years in the armed forces and he naturally gravitated to what he knew best in his civilian life. He is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met on the subject of foraging and actually living for long periods in the outdoors. His kit was almost all ex-military, but he was on a different level to most in how he used it and I am pretty sure that the last thing on his mind was what others might think of him.
I dont currently own or use a Ka Bar but I have in the past and the chap I gave my last one to is still merrily using it some five or six years on.
One final point: the stacked leather handle doesn't like getting soaked, so make sure you keep it out of severe weather or treat it with something before you go out.
Have fun