|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,357 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,357 Likes: 1 |
Ingram, Olt, and a few others for me so far. No interest in the disposable blades
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,865 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,865 Likes: 3 |
I see so many knifes with less than stellar steel.
kwg We should have a thread on this topic. I have knives with better steel than the 420 HC used in the Gator. A couple of things: first, I use the gutless method on elk. I have not gutted one in 10 years. Contact time with bones is minimal - basically digging around the humerous-pelvis to cut all the tendons/ligaments holding them together, scraping the ribs when taking out the backstrap, separating the front shoulders. Fairly light duty. Second, in almost 50 years of hunting, I've found 3 knives, all obviously related to gut piles. Nothing expensive but a Case XX, a Buck, and a Queen Steel (I'm from PA, fairly common up there). I still have 2 of the 3. I've never left a knife in the woods - but have laid them down and had to look for them. As pointed out more than 4-5" snow makes finding a dropped knife interesting. All that to say, I'd be pretty pissed if I left a $300 knife in the woods. My other point, that cheap Gator stays sharp for its intended purpose. I have quartered 2 elk back to back with 1 knife using the gutless method, and is was still sharp enough to do a third. This past year I gutted 3 deer. Still sharp enough to do more. All that said, the $40 Gators have been sufficient for me. I admire really nice blades but what else could a $300 knife provide? I would be interested in a folding knife with more colorful handle with better steel and overall lighweight that is sub $100. Examples?
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,865 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,865 Likes: 3 |
I'd add that I also don't want to take a week to get it sharp nor so brittle that i cant dig around with it a bit.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,368 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,368 Likes: 13 |
I have this Ingram and a Havalon. The Ingram sharpens very easy and will do an entire elk from start to end on a good blade. I also use the Havalon and can get an entire elk with one blade. I carry both cause I believe in the one is none mantra Oh and I had mine made orange for just the reason Bill mentioned. Dropping it, in the dark. Wanted the best chance of me finding it.
Last edited by beretzs; 01/21/24.
Semper Fi
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,368 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,368 Likes: 13 |
Semper Fi
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,952 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,952 Likes: 2 |
Hank has come a long ways on his knives. Definitely a knife worth looking at Agreed, if looking to go custom, Hank should definitely be on the short list.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,952 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,952 Likes: 2 |
I have this Ingram and a Havalon. The Ingram sharpens very easy and will do an entire elk from start to end on a good blade. I also use the Havalon and can get an entire elk with one blade. I carry both cause I believe in the one is none mantra Oh and I had mine made orange for just the reason Bill mentioned. Dropping it, in the dark. Wanted the best chance of me finding it. I like that one and am partial to orange as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,332 Likes: 18
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,332 Likes: 18 |
Same Gerber Gator I've been carrying for 12-13-14 years. Actually I have 2 of them, hard to tell which one I'm using. Gerber GatorI like the folding Gerbers too, especially for backpacking.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 986
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 986 |
I used a Carbon Steel Recon Tanto (7") on my first cow elk. I reamed her bung hole, That reminded me of the time my buddt took a young man hunting. The guy kills his first deer and in the process of gutting it my buddy tells him to ream the bung hole. He said the next thing he see’s is the guy with his fingers inside the deers ass pulling out turd. Said he nearly died Laughing. Anyways Kershaw Alaskan blade trader
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,865 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,865 Likes: 3 |
Same Gerber Gator I've been carrying for 12-13-14 years. Actually I have 2 of them, hard to tell which one I'm using. Gerber GatorI like the folding Gerbers too, especially for backpacking. Yep they weight 4.4 oz w/o sheath. I've been using them or a Buck 110 before then. Same steel but weighs more.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,780 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,780 Likes: 1 |
What is the Opinel if you don't mind ? Looks like a #10, but I can't tell Really nice overall
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,104 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,104 Likes: 3 |
When I lived in Montana I had that knife on top. Was one of my all time favorites. It got better when I took it in and had the blade flat ground. No idea what ever happened to it. My next favorite was a Puma Hunters Friend I think it was called. Lost it on a hunting trip and was never able to find another. These days my favorite knives are Schrade knives with drop point's. I have a custom knife that really is beautiful but the steel is to hard. Makes sharpening take more time. Few years ago I got aa Buck sheath knife with a drop point. First Buck knife I ever saw I liked. At some point they quit making that horrible beveled edge and this in the first one I've seen. Got a Buck skinning knife several years ago as a judges gift at a field trial. Hollow ground and pretty small but beautiful job! But for a hunting knife I do prefer about 6" fixed blade knives. But them I also use several of my Schrade folders now and then also. Something that occurred to me about my Schrade knives is they are made to use. Little softer steel makes keeping the edge sharp. My Buck's and my custom were made for bragging rights, selling points. Hard steel blades and beautiful wood handles. Favorite knives still today are my Schrade's!
Last edited by DonFischer; 01/21/24.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 512
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 512 |
Well I hate to be the one Luddite in this fraternity but never carried a sheath other than my sailing and rigging days so all my Elk, deer and antelope chores have been done satisfactorily with my old Boker two blade ‘ Trapper ‘ folder. Certainly not fancy just a bone handle good solid bolsters and most of all a high carbon blade. These days I carry one of those small diamond two grit sharpeners and a couple of quick swipes skinning and it’s fresh. Don’t like any of the different stainless alloy blades never as sharp. I get my Elk down the hardest part at my age is turning them over tie them off belly up with couple of stakes and some small line so I can get to work. My knife has a round tipped Spey blade which ain’t a bad skinner just a bit slow. I also carry my trusty Wyoming saw for bone. Anyway I don’t feel like I’m ill-equipped at all and I’ve had my share of ungulates.
Rick
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,483 Likes: 9
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,483 Likes: 9 |
Hank has come a long ways on his knives. Definitely a knife worth looking at Agreed, if looking to go custom, Hank should definitely be on the short list. Much obliged
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,313 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,313 Likes: 4 |
What is the Opinel if you don't mind ?
Looks like a #10, but I can't tell
Really nice overall It's a No.8 - I agree, it looks more like a No.10 in the photo - that's probably due to wide angle.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,313 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,313 Likes: 4 |
When I lived in Montana I had that knife on top. Was one of my all time favorites. It got better when I took it in and had the blade flat ground. No idea what ever happened to it. Don, I had a Grohmann / DH Russell #1 Canadian Belt Knife from the 1960's. It was my favorite knife. My father happened to be on a trip through Pictou Nova Scotia and dropped in at the Grohmann factory. He bought the knife in the photo in the fall of 1997 and gave it to me for Christmas that year, not knowing it was already my favorite knife. I gave the old one to a friend, and have taken the bulk of the game I've shot here in Montana with that knife. I think of my dad (who turns 95 next month) every time I use it. I find it an essentially perfect knife for game. I've used other knives including small folders like the Gerber LST, but I always go back to the Grohmann. BTW, they do make it with a flat grind available.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,758 Likes: 24
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,758 Likes: 24 |
My three favourites.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,313 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,313 Likes: 4 |
PF, those are absolutely ideal knives in my book.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,411 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,411 Likes: 5 |
I use the same knives for elk and deer, but haven't been hunting elk as much in recent years. These 3 have gotten a lot of use on whitetails the last couple years and I would use them on elk without hesitation. Field dressing: Skinning:
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,780 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,780 Likes: 1 |
What is the Opinel if you don't mind ?
Looks like a #10, but I can't tell
Really nice overall It's a No.8 - I agree, it looks more like a No.10 in the photo - that's probably due to wide angle. Oh ok- thanks The others are nice as well I have several of the Russell models and the Herters "Russell " and Cold Steel
Last edited by Ranger99; 01/21/24.
|
|
|
|
376 members (06hunter59, 1Longbow, 22kHornet, 2500HD, 160user, 1badf350, 32 invisible),
2,487
guests, and
1,083
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,783
Posts18,536,223
Members74,041
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|