I've used the two same Gerber's for almost twenty years. Both are Gators one is folding with 650 steel. The blade is hard and holds up to tough use, like cutting the ivory teeth out. The other is fixed blade with softer steel. That one can be sharpened enough to shave with and is used for skinning. Last year I used a Havalon folding replaceable blade knife on two elk and one buck mulie. The blade is as sharp as a surgical knife and it does a heck of a job. Just have to be extra careful not to cut your fingers off!!