On the lost "indispensible gear" thread, I wrote about the Pigsticker, a handmade sheath knife I found in an Ely antique store.  It is far and away my favorite blade.  The handle is black, with three thin alternating stainless steel and brass rings about every inch, a real handsome knife.  The six inch blade holds an edge as well as any knife I've owned.  The original sheath, also handmade, quickly showed the weakness of old leather, so I replaced it.
The pigsticker cuts anything that needs cutting, is great in the kitchen, passable at flipping pancakes, and serves as a small hammer as well.  It never fails to knock a live fish senseless so they don't learn the secrets of filleting.