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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,786
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,786 |
These are my opinions, feel free to disagree.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,786
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,786 |
As an afterthought I am adding pictures of what I carry for sharpening when walking about. I tend to use it as a steel but it works fine when used as a stone. It is a 12" length of oval ceramic that has shewn itself to be surprisingly tough...I have been using it for some 10 years and in the next few weeks I intend to make up a heavy sheath that will allow me to use the sheath as a handle, and will feature a built in guard.
These are my opinions, feel free to disagree.
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,179 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I agree. I have Winston’s, Marbles, Ingram and others that I like and are prettier but a Cold Steel USA made Carbon V Hunter with rubber scales and a nylon sheets is my no hassle do anything knife that I use most.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,324
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,324 |
I agree. I have Winston’s, Marbles, Ingram and others that I like and are prettier but a Cold Steel USA made Carbon V Hunter with rubber scales and a nylon sheets is my no hassle do anything knife that I use most. Pretty much ditto..
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 790
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 790 |
I also have knives I lusted after a few Fallknivens and others. The one I always use is a Swedish Sandvic blade blank handled with an antler cut off at the skull with nickel silver guard and butt décoration. I harvested the buck with a recurve bow and handled the knife myself. I've used it for 30 years. Made one for my son off the other side. Seems like I'd be cheating on it if I used another knife.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,836 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2006
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Somewhere out there someone is scratching their head trying to figure out how you can possibly get along without a blade made of at least S30V.
"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants". --- William Penn
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,059
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,059 |
These are my working knives I've had over the years and actually use. I have other vintage ones I've picked up here and there in boxes for the grandkids. These are my users. The Case stockman goes in my pants pocket, the big Case stays in the truck, the Old Timer is the spare or loaner, the sheep skinner I'll throw in the pack elk hunting, it does a bit better boning meat on bigger animals than the little folder, the paring knife is a great skinner... That leaves the little Buck protege folder, rubber handled, light weight and cheap, it has broken down a chit ton of animals, stays sharp and is just a workhorse. My daughter when she was about 10, picked it out as my christmas present from Kmart, probably 15 bucks. At first I was like... meh... comparing it to the old timer. Used it the next year on a deer and then the year after on a couple elk and deer, I changed my mind. The cheapest knife is the most valuable to me and it flat out works. Kent
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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That leaves the little Buck protege folder, rubber handled, light weight and cheap, it has broken down a chit ton of animals, stays sharp and is just a workhorse. My daughter when she was about 10, picked it out as my christmas present from Kmart, probably 15 bucks. At first I was like... meh... comparing it to the old timer. Used it the next year on a deer and then the year after on a couple elk and deer, I changed my mind.
The cheapest knife is the most valuable to me and it flat out works.
Kent
Dad and I both have Buck Protégés. My first hunting knife. They work.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975 |
I've always had very good use with my Schrade, Buck, and Browning knives. No need to go expensive.
Some imports that have also been very good knives include Rough Rider, Boker, Elk Ridge, and Steel Warrior. Chinese steel is not bad compared to Pakistan junk.
Sherwood
FIRE UP THE GRILL - is NOT catch and release!
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,632
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,632 |
My rule is very simple, Only spend enough on a hunting knife that is decent but will allow you to replace it with another in the blink of an eye. Hence why Moras knife are my favorite. I have lost one in the last ten years but replaced it right away. I have given them a x-mas presents twice and both friends use them to this day. A knife is tool, and tools are meant to be used.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,394 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,394 Likes: 1 |
Buck 110 Buck 112 Moore Maker mini-trapper lives in my pocket A cheapie Kershaw that even I can't seem to destroy the edge on! That one lives in the truck console, and has cut the twine off a jillion round bales when feeding - with minimal sharpening.
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 968
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Campfire Regular
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My go to knife is an AG Russell One-hand folder in AUS-8 steel. Other steels may hold an edge longer, but some are more finicky to sharpen. Not costly, easy to get a wicked sharp edge, and holds it quite well.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,955 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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There’s no stink on those Mora knives. Everyone should own a couple. That said I like my Buck 116 and a cheap Western knock off I’ve had for 40 years. That knock off I swear was made by a samurai armorer. I haven’t touched that blade with anything more than a ceramic rod in 20 years and it will still shave hair after 3-4 deer.
They say everything happens for a reason. For me that reason is usually because I've made some bad decisions that I need to pay for.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,956
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2009
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I use the Buck 110 that was a birthday present in 1977. Can't even begin to tell you how much game and fish it has seen.
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 343
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 343 |
Since I like folders, an Opinel #10. Carbon steel takes a decent edge, not expensive to replace and works. Locking mechanism is simple. Takes a bit more cleanup than fixed blades but all folders do.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,829
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 1,829 |
These are the field tools I've been using sense the late 90s, before that I was using Russell Green River knives.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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My favorite deer skinner is an Opinel My First Knife. I now have a handmade sort of copy fixed blade version. I've been using that and a Sawk handmade lately. So, yes I actually do use custom knives on game, at least currently.
If the maker had copied the Opinel more closely it would work better. It seems difficult to get a "custom" maker to produce as thin a blade as factory.
That's cleaning one at the rack. Much less often when I do field dress it's a Swiss army Hunter or Spyderco Bill Moran. The Swiss army hunter lives in a pack. The Spyderco is almost always on my belt every day. So, factory knives in the field, then.
Living in a world of G17s and 700s, wishing for P7s and 202s
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have Bark Rivers, Benchmades, ZTs, etc, but my most used EDC is my Spyderco Delica. I know this thread is about hunting knives, but...
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,202
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,202 |
People vary in their needs and wants.
Examples of a using knife, deer club where you are skinning and butchering multiple deer where you need for the knife to stay extremely sharp for not only the skinning but the butchering also 4 or more deer.
Elk is on the ground, you have one, and your buddy also...the party is over, you need an incredible knife to not only skin but quarter with no hatchet or saw.
McCrosky Custom Knives in Stillwater, Ok
Mccroskeyknives.com
Guys, you just have to see it to believe it.
I told a good friend in Mn about these knives, he is a trapper. He bought the trapper set and he skinned 300 beaver with the two knives before they needed sharpening.
I sold a boat load of knives I had collected over the years and now have every knife that McCrosky makes. Obviously, I used the knives, and my knives stay in the gun safe till I need them! There are a lot of really Schitt knives out there when it comes to a guy that uses knives for a big job.
My uncle was a taxidermist, and I grew up skinning deer heads, fish, and birds....I know what a good knife is, and when you start using a really good knife, you just shake your head at the thought of all the crap you have had your hands on in your life. I don't give a crap how the knife looks, bragg'en rights, name brand....I need the knife to perform ...sharp as a surgeon's knife and stay sharp.
McCrosky's Elk Skinner will just blow your mind in cutting....not many knives do this.
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