In a military survival situation, nobody is going to be beating on anything and making all that racket, and instead would be leaning on knife while bending whatever undergrowth for shelter or bedding.

The chopping ability was suprising, I hate to say nearly as good as my older 7.5s, as they are the best out of all Randalls tried, and the best out of all similar size knives ever tried. But, I will say the chopping ability of the newer smaller knife, with the extra brass, sure seemed familiar. The 7.5s are as handy as a gladius, while the 5.5 seems more a boy scout knife in handiness. My 7.5s are now retired.