I frequently read posts of people asking for the best knife. I've long searched my best knife, too. I ended up finding that for me, the best knife is a small axe. Decades ago axes were a lot more popular, but in the last decades they are far less common, while full tang big knives are on the top of the list. I think that this can be caused by the fact that an increasing number of people have never even held an axe in their hands, while the knife is a tool everyone is familiar with. I prefer an axe as my main cutting tool because it can do everything a knife can do, plus a lot more. But I understand that, in order to do so, you need to know very well how to use an axe, which for most people is not the case, being them totally unfamiliar with this tool. So, I think that this is one of the main reasons for a lack of popularity of axes compared to big knives.
As for me, I love and use a lot: a GB Hand Axe, a GB Small Forest Axe and a Hultafors Classic Trekking Axe. I usually bring a Victorinox Farmer with me, too, but I've never used it so far (2 years...). I've done everything with my axes, from feathersticks to full shelter building. They have never failed me. I love knives, too, but more from an artistic point of view (waiting for my Malanika Puukko, 13 months left to wait...).
As for me, I love and use a lot: a GB Hand Axe, a GB Small Forest Axe and a Hultafors Classic Trekking Axe. I usually bring a Victorinox Farmer with me, too, but I've never used it so far (2 years...). I've done everything with my axes, from feathersticks to full shelter building. They have never failed me. I love knives, too, but more from an artistic point of view (waiting for my Malanika Puukko, 13 months left to wait...).