A knife is an excellent place for most guys to shed weight IMHO. Low-hanging fruit. Unless you are full-on bushcrafting why would any backpack hunter need a heavy knife?
Wife and I are moving our backpacking gear towards ultralight so yes, I'm an ounce weenie.
They add up.
Couldn't agree more Jeff.
Most of my friends have gone to the Havalon Pranta for BP hunting. For 3 oz's you have a knive with 4 extra blades. Me, I've settled on the 1.6oz Opinel no.8 for hunting (available in carbon or stainless), and a small 1.1oz Arkansas stone for touchup.
If I'm backpacking and fishing I use the .9 oz Opinel no.6, otherwise a little Victorinox Classic at less than at .9 oz is ideal. I've never seen the need for more of a knife than the Opinel no.6 for backpacking, and it would work on an elk too, but I prefer the fuller sized no.8...
