I think knives are overrated.
You need water, shelter, food, fire.
A knife can help you with all of those, if you know how to use it to obtain them.
So it's about knowing how to use one, not about having one.
I often say if I could only take one thing with me, it would be my Jerven bag. The second thing would be some sort of container.
Then I might start thinking about a knife. But I could make something if I had to, they did it in the Stone Age.
How many people know how to use a knife though?
A bombroof way to make fire would in my opinion be better than a knife.
Then again with enough knowledge you could get by quite comfy with just a knife.
Fire is much more important than a metal knife you can use a sharp rock if you need a cutting tool loads of em around and free...
As Santa says it depends on where you are.
Out in the bush at home in Oz water and shelter from the sun are number one.
Don't need a knife to catch lizard, frogs and insects to eat
Not around here. The nearest rock bigger than a pea is a couple hundred miles away.