Looking to buy myself a nice multi purpose hunting knife. Prefer a compact to midsize fixed blade. Primary uses: Breasting waterfowl and cleaning other small game Gutting white tails Misc hunting related chores Considering a helle or bill Moran spyderco, but may be able to get a handmade knife in that range of $150 or below. Any suggestions?
If by handmade, you mean a custom knife, I think your price range would be a challenge. Instead, I'd suggest there are still a lot of fine knives being made by well established companies that would fit your needs.
I would encourage you to look for 2 knives instead of one. One with a smaller, more narrow (less than an inch wide) blade under 3" for waterfowl and small game, and one with a little more metal 3-4" long with some belly for gutting/skinning game. And you can do 2 knives and stay under $150 total.
You'll probably get hit by the "knife bug" eventually, so you just as well look at specific purpose knives now rather than general purpose knives that end up in the general purpose drawer somewhere.
There are good general purpose knives so don't abandon that idea, and you will get some good suggestions on here if that's the direction you decide to go. Nothing wrong with that. Most of us started that way too. However, many of us ended up with a bunch of nice knives, each having a specific purpose.
Listen to the advice on here. You chose the right place for help.
Up your budget. I know that can be tough, but if you think about it a custom knife, compared to the rest of your hunting equipment, is relatively cheap and will last a lifetime. For $300 you can get a really nice knife that will do both chores extremely well.
I've bought a few of those Victorinox paring knives and the larger F.Dick knives from BigDave. He makes an excellent kydex sheath for them too. Those 2 purposed knives would do about anything you want and keep you way under budget.
Here is a Dozier Semi Skinner that goes for around $260. There isn’t a pair of knives that will outperform it for the tasks described. For most it would last a lifetime.
I've bought a few of those Victorinox paring knives and the larger F.Dick knives from BigDave. He makes an excellent kydex sheath for them too. Those 2 purposed knives would do about anything you want and keep you way under budget.
Here is a Dozier Semi Skinner that goes for around $260. There isn’t a pair of knives that will outperform it for the tasks described. For most it would last a lifetime.
Dang... I love that blade shape...
very tempting to get that as my first custom knife
There's a gazillion knives of every configuration that can be had for not much cash outlay. I've had some fairly expensive knives, and they really didn't do a better job dressing game than the commercially available knives I use now. Get you some F Dick, Victorinox, Dexter Russell, Old Hickory, etc. and figure out what configuration suits you the best for what you do. If you lose or mess one up, you won't have to cry big tears. Just order another one or two Good Luck
There's a gazillion knives of every configuration that can be had for not much cash outlay. I've had some fairly expensive knives, and they really didn't do a better job dressing game than the commercially available knives I use now. Get you some F Dick, Victorinox, Dexter Russell, Old Hickory, etc. and figure out what configuration suits you the best for what you do. If you lose or mess one up, you won't have to cry big tears. Just order another one or two Good Luck
There's a gazillion knives of every configuration that can be had for not much cash outlay. I've had some fairly expensive knives, and they really didn't do a better job dressing game than the commercially available knives I use now. Get you some F Dick, Victorinox, Dexter Russell, Old Hickory, etc. and figure out what configuration suits you the best for what you do. If you lose or mess one up, you won't have to cry big tears. Just order another one or two Good Luck
And most in practice aren’t worth the steel they are made out of. In my opinion well designed and functional knives are as rare as hens teeth. Most, in practice, are functional garbage. Pretty, and trending, but useless. Which is fine as precious few people use a knife much anyway. I have used a LOT of knives alone in the field over the years. Most knives get the job done and most do everything they can to work against you while you are doing that job. A lot of guys pack two knives because they can’t abide either of them for the work they need done. Think about what your knife needs to do and find a knife that will do all of it well. Good luck with that.
There's a gazillion knives of every configuration that can be had for not much cash outlay. I've had some fairly expensive knives, and they really didn't do a better job dressing game than the commercially available knives I use now. Get you some F Dick, Victorinox, Dexter Russell, Old Hickory, etc. and figure out what configuration suits you the best for what you do. If you lose or mess one up, you won't have to cry big tears. Just order another one or two Good Luck
And most in practice aren’t worth the steel they are made out of. In my opinion well designed and functional knives are as rare as hens teeth. Most, in practice, are functional garbage. Pretty, and trending, but useless. Which is fine as precious few people use a knife much anyway. I have used a LOT of knives alone in the field over the years. Most knives get the job done and most do everything they can to work against you while you are doing that job. A lot of guys pack two knives because they can’t abide either of them for the work they need done. Think about what your knife needs to do and find a knife that will do all of it well. Good luck with that.
Opinions vary!
The O'Neill and the Ingram are A2 steel.
The Olt is CPM M4
The Music Made knife is 52100
Four Different Blade profiles, three different steels.
IMHO, they all serve the purpose for which they were intended.