would a Japanese 440 stainless steel blade make a good field/camping outdoors knife?

Depends on how you take care of your knife. If you are in a corrosive environment or just don't take care of it then the 440 is a good choice. If you want a stronger blade with better edge holding then there's always better steels. I don't particularly care for 440 A, B or C for anything but a small junk knife.

Your question - is like asking if a round black rubber tire would be good on a car.

How about using your phone to post a picture? And then add details - like telling us how long it is, what blade style is, etc etc?

Generally - you dont want a crappy knife for camping. It breaks or slips - you can hurt yourself really bad...... the kind of bad that cant be fixed by the time you get a hospital from a remote camp site. They cant re-attach your finger if it has been in your pocket for a few hours dude. And if a deep cut isnt stitched in 2-3 hours it usually dont go back together very well.

Good better best are given by users of said knife. we don't know what you have other than a Japanese made 440 stainless steel knife and there are literally hundreds out there. A good clue would be the price you paid for it anything below the $10 mark is almost a guarantee you have a disposable knife, dispose of it before you cut your finger off kid.

@ what you have there is a swap meet special, these sell for around $10 just as I stated. Its an imitation Bowie knife basically with the knucklehead guards. For basic camp needs it would suffice for a season, for actual buck skinning it will need constant sharpening. The handle is plastic and chrome plated cheap pot metal, this will not tolerate any abuse such as throwing or chopping, hopefully you also got a mock leather sheath for it as well.

There is lesson to learn here, first your dad loves you and wants you to have manly things, secondly he is watching you and noting how you use your tools hence you got the cheap version until you demonstrate your careful use of this one. Be thankful be courteous have him show you how to care for it and use it and down the road maybe a better knife will be found under the Christmas tree.

it's pretty heavy, it's a full tang knife. i dont know how much it costed my father gave it to me. the blade is pretty thick.