Magic Forums

I want to get an athame and can feel that i will get it soon but i am still confused as to their purpose and how to use it. I have a few questions. Why do you use a athame to draw a circle when the cirlce represents all elements? Should i use it for many things or simply magics? And i am very practical, if i can use it for anyhing i would like it to be good for use in camping and combat but that would be using metals not commonly found in nature, would that be a bad idea? (though really i do not know what it will be made of for sure since i am trying to delay my excitement for it and let it come to me in whatever way it comes)