I like you review and thought it was informing. I agree that the LMF is a bit big for any survival situation and personally prefer the Prodigy for that reason.

My biggest issue with this knife is the metal used, 420 stainless steel. While this steel is good around water, it is a very soft steel and not great for the backwoods. I have little doubt that is why Gerber added a sharpener. Users and potential buyers beware, if you try to cut through some metal with this blade, you will mess up the edge and need to reshape and resharpen the knife. But that is also one of the reasons it is so beefy.

Also, unless you are concerned that you will be in a downed helicopter (which is a valid concern for someone in a warzone) you should NEVER use a knife to pound. I have been doing backcountry adventures for years and that is a hard rule. If you are in a survival situation and likely not all there because of dehydration and hunger, the last thing you should be doing is pounding anything with an object that has a blade pointed at your body. If you lose your grip you can slit open you hand and if you lose your footing you can stab yourself. Be smart, find a rock, branch, bone, etc.

After seeing this knife and reading several reviews I would have to pass on it for camping / survival purposes. If this is for hiking it would be too heavy. As for a survival blade, that is whatever blade you have around you when things go to shit.

My advice is to buy a few blades to have around. One in your pack, one in each car, etc. For any readers on a budget out there looking for good survival knives go with the Mora Bushcraft Triflex with the laminated steel which goes for around $20 or the Condor Rodan which goes for $30.