If you're hard enough on any knife it will eventually break. However, there are some knives that are tougher than others and can stand up to that abuse for longer. My current abusing knife (the one I use to split wood and do other silly things with) is a Coldsteel Recon Tanto Ken the Knife by Zen, on Flickr. I also carry a Spyderco Schempp Rock for kitchen duties Spydie by Zen, on Flickr

I carry a folder as well, a Spyderco Military, more of an edc used mostly for cutting rope and that sort of thing. 
You can go online to https://www.srknives.com fantastic store at the Woodbine Centre, better prices than most retailers and wonderful staff that know their stuff. Always keep your knife sharp ;)

Last edited by ZenSoloist (2/01/2016 12:45 pm)

Trying to split one piece of firewood by whacking at the back of a folding knife with another baton of firewood on the back of the blade is bound to either wreck the pivot or break the blade. I suggest getting a thug of a made-in-China fixed-blade for hanging on your belt .. for splitting firewood and defending against a charging beast. And a quality folding pocket knife with a hard-steel blade for finer work and a longer-life edge.

Splakin I actually have a knife that looks very similar to that one.  I don't know where I got it (but I know it was a cheapo) but I smash that thing around like crazy and it's still together now.  It's a bit bent but works not bad.  I wish I knew what make it is as I would get another for sure

I've been using the Gerber Big Rock for a number of years, and have been happy with it.  It holds it's edge pretty well, and the blade is quite thick.  Maybe 2x thicker than most knives, so it should hold up to batoning firewood (I do this, but not often).  I suspect you're going to be harder on it than I am, but for the price it's probably a good option.
 

Both my husband and I carry Condor knives (http://www.condortk.com/productos-detalle.php?producto=89&cat=71). One is a small Kephart style and the other is a larger Bushcraft Basic (good for splitting kindling). My husband is pretty precious with his gear (these knives especially) so I can't say whether they'd take a true beating but they have served us well for a few seasons now and they sharpen nicely. 

We like them because they are functional and feel nice to use. My brother-in-law and husband used both knives to carve a mouse-sized canoe out of some nice wood at a campsite one afternoon. They even used some coals to burn out the middle. 

My Dad collected knives when he was younger and I would borrow his Puma Whitehunter for my adventures when I was a kid.  I've had two of my own since growing up (lost one) and it's my go-to knife for sentimental reasons. When weight and space is an issue, I use the smaller Puma Catamount II.  I'm not gentle on my equipment and these have held up well.

Lol. It was actually two.  I lost my dad's in Sharon and my first one on the Whitestone River.

Damascus steel is very good and usually absolutely stunning. Most people I know that own one won't use it much because they like to preserve the look. Oh and they're usually quite pricey.