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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,038
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,038 |
I love knives. They’re cool.
Saw a beautiful knife today, Damascus steel. But only a 2.5 inch blade got me thinking, how big a knife do you prefer for elk?
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,325
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,325 |
That will work for dressing but for skinning, I like a longer one, closer to 4" with a good curve.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,735
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,735 |
I have a pair of folding Gerber 3 1/4" stag handles that do the field dressing and skinning. I carry one in the pack for the preliminary work.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,159
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,159 |
I think 3 and a half is just about right (for an elk knife, that is). donsm70
Life Member...Safari Club International Life Member...Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Life Member...Keystone Country Elk Alliance Life Member...National Rifle Association
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,085
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,085 |
Worked over many bulls with knives with 2.5-2.75 inch blades.
"I used to be a tired hunting guide, now I'm just a re-tired hunting guide"
"No eternal reward will forgive us now, for wasting the dawn" JM
Jared
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,042
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,042 |
Victorinox 47606 2 1/4" Bird's Beak Paring Knife.
5 bucks, butchers use them.
If you are real cheap a 2 dollar pack of paring knives will skin an elk fast then toss'em, weigh nothing in the pack. another old butcher trick.
Or just use what you have.
Kent
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,886
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,886 |
I’ve used a havalon for 4-7 elk mostly bulls every year for awhile.
I’m bad at sharpening and real good at dulling.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 651
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 651 |
This one is my favorite. A 4" blade out of ATS10 and I like the shape.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,301
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,301 |
I’ve used a havalon for 4-7 elk mostly bulls every year for awhile.
I’m bad at sharpening and real good at dulling. The Havalons have been working great for us as well.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,917
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,917 |
Most of my blades are 2.5” to 3”, never felt like I needed more.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616 |
2.5” to 3”, never felt like I needed more. That's not what she said.
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,240
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,240 |
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,203
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,203 |
I took 3 elk, 2 deer, a moose and an antelope completely apart, plus part of a bison last year with just my havalon and 8 or 10 standard blades.
I still carry a fixed blade out of habit, but have not used it for several years. I am sold on the havalon.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,033
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,033 |
SOG Huntspoint with S30V steel @ about $80 (less when on sale) is a great choice for a 3.6" blade that can last a whole season without being sharpened.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing -- Edmund Burke
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104 |
I used a Buck 110 folder exclusively for about the first 15 years of my hunting career. I also used it for a lot of field dressing and necropsies while we were collecting deer during that period.
In 1977, before my first trip to Wyoming, I bought a Kershaw Folding Field with a 3" blade. I loved that knife and it was on my belt for all of my outdoor work and play until it vanished about nine years ago, while I was helping a hunting buddy break down a big bull elk. I bought another one before the next elk hunt, and it is still the one on my belt when I am hunting.
(I know right where I lost the first one and I have returned several times since to see if it has magically resurfaced--unfortunately, it has not.)
However, I now own a half-dozen or so hunting knives, including another 110 folder with the S30V steel. There are at least two of them in the day pack when I am hunting.
So far, I haven't been able to convince myself to try a Havalon or one of its clones. Maybe next year...
Last edited by mudhen; 05/19/19.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 815
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 815 |
Not to hijack, but for those using replaceable blade knives like the Havalon (or similar), which models are you using? Are you using it in conjunction with anything? How many blades are you packing?
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,886
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,886 |
MIne must be the piranta. Like T I've carried a fixed blade still but rarely use it. I carry plenty of blades. They weigh nothing and take up little space. And the orange color is nice too. Last time I bought blades I got the 100 pack off amazon.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,203
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,203 |
MIne must be the piranta. Like T I've carried a fixed blade still but rarely use it. I carry plenty of blades. They weigh nothing and take up little space. And the orange color is nice too. Last time I bought blades I got the 100 pack off amazon. This. I use the piranta. I have an orange one and a black one. I carry about 20 or so blades with me. I can't remember the blade model but they're just the standard blades. I have some of the 20% thicker blades and some guthook blades too. I do break some blades occassionally when seperating joints, but not too often. The only negative that I can think of is that when a blade does break off you have to fish it out so that you don't jab yourself with it accidentally. It is a small negative compared to all the positives of the havalon though.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,421
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,421 |
I like, and use, my own knives. Here is one I'll be using this fall: I utilize CPM154 stainless steel. Both knives have desert ironwood handles. https://www.instagram.com/doublehknives/
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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