Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Knives

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?

That will work for dressing but for skinning, I like a longer one, closer to 4" with a good curve.

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.

I think 3 and a half is just about right (for an elk knife, that is).
donsm70

Worked over many bulls with knives with 2.5-2.75 inch blades.

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

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.

This one is my favorite. A 4" blade out of ATS10 and I like the shape.

The Havalons have been working great for us as well.

Most of my blades are 2.5” to 3”, never felt like I needed more.

That's not what she said.

Another sleeper

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/redhead-pro-series-skinner-fixed-blade-knife-by-buck

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.

the sharade woodsman
http://www.knifeoutlet.com/shop/10Expan ... e=SCH165OT



two decent values in less expensive hunting knives
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SC...ept-blade-delrin-handles-brown-leather-sheath

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SCH152OT/schrade-152ot-old-timer-sharpfinger-fixed-delrin-handles
this woodsman (above) and the sharp finger (below),are both a darn good value in a skinning and dressing game knife,
both work, you may prefer one vs the other,
but both get the job done and at the very low price,
you could buy both and give the one you don,t prefer to a son or friend

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3...ess-steel-blade-sawcut-slab-handle-black

http://www.survival-gear-guide.com/schr ... inued.html

http://www.amazon.com/Schrade-Timer-Sha ... B000IE3ZKA

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...tainless-steel-blade-sawcut-slab-handle-black





now if your looking for a dirt cheap knife of above average quality for its price both of the knives above do a decent job

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.

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...

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?

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.

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/