Steak knife.
1) Steel, I am a noob on this topic, but I would prefer the same steel that is used in BUSSE knives, same with the heat treat.
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My Busse SHBM. A big knife CAN do small jobs but a small blade can't do BIG jobs.
YMMV
Bob
I saw some really amazing work done with a machete when I went thru Panamanian Survival school in 1981 !!there is no better quote pertaining to small v. large!