Hi, when I associated with "Hard Types" they told me that when they met/trained with "feriners" (sic) they often made disparaging remarks about the "cowboys" that typically carried large Bowie style knives. I think the perfect offensive knife size maybe about the same as the Applegate-Fairbairn knife or about 6". I didn't wish to start this discussion, but only wished to point out that after a hunting knife maybe a defensive/combat/offensive knife can be discussed. When I was a LEO I was attacked with knives but was never in a real knife fight or in the Military; so I defer to others more knowledgeable than me. I did talk often with Col. Applegate and even in his old age knew his stuff, regards, Mike