Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Knives for elk

Lil Dumplin' by Rick Menefee

Nice hatchet.

Those are some classics right there! Love the opinel, so inexpensive and light, but super sharp and dependable. I remember seeing that Russell in the 1960s Eddie Bauer catalog.

Personally, I use a Havalon Piranta for everything. Black tail deer, sheep, goat, caribou, elk, moose, etc.

I skinned and butchered 8 deer with a McCrosky Elk Skinner, and touched it up, just for giggles and grins afterwards. A friend had the McCroskey Trapper Set, and he skinned 300 Beaver that Winter and never touched up the knife.

I hate having to stop and touch up a knife in the middle of a skinning and butchering job.

A lot of knives went on Ebay after I discovered the McCroskey knives.

RUANA

discontinued 7A preferred

This thread shows you the value and variety in having freedom of choice.

I enjoy seeing what different folks use.

Great thread.

Has anyone ever used the "Diamond Blade" knives on elk? They sure look/sound capable?

I have two of Hank’s knives i use them on every skinning job.

Benchmade has a good hunt line and they will laser etch your logo and name on it.

I agree with that statement. I've owned several over the years. I'm down to an old carbon #1 found in a pawn shop.

The drop point makes it easier for dressing game without nicking the paunch and for slitting the hide on the shanks when skinning. The elliptical blade is second to none for skinning as it allows the knife to be working no matter what angle you hold it. It's mall enough to work inside a deer and yet still large enough to dress and skin a moose. Perfection!

https://www.amazon.com/Bahco-LAP-KN...hU0vJw0aLC7J7UnoYemE4QEdWcxoCxLQQAvD_BwE

This combo and an OutdoorEdge Swing blade. This is a cheap way to go and it works. The saw is tough and is nice to have if limbs or branches need to be cleared out of the way or for processing a bit of wood to start a fire. It's an complete simple kit for wood or saw off skull caps.

The replacement blade knives like Havalon are good on flesh as they're basically scalpels but they lack true durability and utility.

Hi T,

I have this exact combo in my truck. A very good and cheap one.

TTT just to attach a pic since PM doesn't allow that option???

I cannot recall the number of elk I have quartered up with a Mora. None cost $20.



The little carbon blades sharpen up quick and easy and the knives themselves are quite light.



Pack saw:



I usually take a couple and a tiny little ceramic sharpener, along with a small bone saw. No need to carry the extra weight of some of the heavier knives. In fact I weighed a couple of my "good" knives on my postal scale and while truly excellent knives, they weighed more than twice what the Mora knives weighed. I keep the good knives around for butchering when it is time to cut and wrap the animals at home. I have a bunch of good old Gerbers that get a workout for that kind of thing.

Previously mentioned Lite-Hunter pair:

This is a situation where the Indian is more important than the arrow. The last knife i remember using on an elk was a Gerber LMF, first generation, not the later one. Anything with a textured grip, blade 3-1/2 to 6 inches long, made of good steel that will hold an edge, and preferably has a bit of drop point, will work fine. On the little end I'd pick the Benchmade Steep Country, middle choices might be their Saddle Mountain Skinner, Buck Vanguard, or Cold Steel Master Hunter, and on the big end, probably Cold Steel's SRK. I do not care about full tang or how brittle the steel might be, etc on a *hunting* knife. It's not a wedge or a pry bar. It just has to cut and keep cutting.

I picked up a dealer-exclusive Cold Steel SRK-C, 5" version in CPM-3V steel, from Midway a couple months back. I expect it to replace current selections in my pack this coming fall.

I do carry a second knife. I like a smaller blade for 'inside work' like diaphragms and for "skinning the anus" if I am keeping the carcass whole rather than quartering / doing "the gutless method". Current selection is a middle size Gerber LST, however, I'm not thrilled with the steel on the newer ones. I used to use a folding knife for that and may go back. I've long carried a Gerber LST with about a 2-1/2" blade but it has become a box cutter and is often dull. Last year I had a Cold Steel Mini Pendleton in CPM-3V in my pack .. that fugger is scary sharp. Plenty light. Might stick with that, might slip the Benchmade mini Bugout to that role. No way to tell.