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Re: What are you knives of choice? Cobble #5121532 04/06/11
Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 7,203 Likes: 1 K keith Campfire Tracker
keith Campfire Tracker K Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 7,203 Likes: 1	I HAD a drawer full of knives USA and German factory made knives. I met a trapper who said that he skinned 200+beaver in one year without sharpening his knife made by Dave McCroskey. I bought an elk skinner and skinned 4 bucks, two does, and two bull elk with that knife and it would still cut you to the bone if you slipped. I sold every knife in that drawer with the exception of some cheap Buck folders and bought 4 of Dave's knives. You can forget carrying something to sharpen you knife with if you are only going to skin 8 deer on a trip...not a bad knife from a guy that came back to life after being put in a body bag! mccroskeyknives.com

GB1

Re: What are you knives of choice? keith #5126360 04/07/11
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 66 4 416Rigby1000 Campfire Greenhorn
416Rigby1000 Campfire Greenhorn 4 Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 66	I have dozens of expensive knives, but now just throw in a couple of $5 pairing knives in my pack. They weigh nothing and will skin an elk or any other critter like nothing. If you lose one, just buy a couple more.

Re: What are you knives of choice? Cobble #5126595 04/07/11
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 69,481 Likes: 18 Filer, ID Rock Chuck Campfire Kahuna
Rock Chuck Campfire Kahuna Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 69,481 Likes: 18 Filer, ID	There's no need to pry on anything in an animal. Flex the leg joints to see exactly where the joint is, then slice all the way around it at that point. Get all the ligaments, etc cut. When the ball is exposed and loose, twist the leg and it will come apart with minor cutting. Whether it's a deer, elk, moose, or a 1200 lb angus, they all work the same. That said, I still carry an extra knife when hunting. Accidents happen. “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.

Re: What are you knives of choice? Rock Chuck #5136358 04/10/11
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,735 Alabama 4 444Matt Campfire Outfitter
444Matt Campfire Outfitter 4 Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,735 Alabama	Hasn't been on a elk hunt yeat (neither have I!) but this is my general camp/field knife. It is a little big for deer but I really like it. Made by Dan Masson of Masson knives in Ga.

Re: What are you knives of choice? 444Matt #5146492 04/13/11
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 239 Arizona U.S.A. willflow OP Campfire Member
OP willflow Campfire Member Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 239 Arizona U.S.A.	Thanks to all. Lots of good info here. If you don't have anything nice to say, you must be talking about Hilary Clinton. When it's time to bury your guns it's time to dig em up.

IC B2

Re: What are you knives of choice? willflow #5147984 04/14/11
Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 112 Indy J jauntymorel Campfire Member
jauntymorel Campfire Member J Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 112 Indy	I'll third what the guys earlier said, Bark River makes a hell of a knife for the money. For general woodbumming/ backpacking i carry a BRKT Canadian special, and it handles anything i've cared to do. My brother bought the bravo 1 and it's built like a tank. That convex edge makes the thick blades cut like a scalpel.

Re: What are you knives of choice? willflow #5247995 05/18/11
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,795 Likes: 9 N. Central Florida, and Miami Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna
Mannlicher Campfire Kahuna Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 67,795 Likes: 9 N. Central Florida, and Miami	Its for sure we don't have Elk in Florida, and I have not been lucky enough to head out west to hunt them there. We do have a lot of White Tail Deer, hogs, gators and small game. All of these have been bloodied processing dead animals. Oldest is my Dad's old Clauss, the newest is from our own Tim Olt. The folders got a lot of use in the old days, that XX changer from 1992 has done a lot of hogs. The most used of all of my blades, is the Randall #11. Sam......

Re: What are you knives of choice? Mannlicher #5249505 05/18/11
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,123 Likes: 1 western michigan M michiganroadkill Campfire Tracker
michiganroadkill Campfire Tracker M Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,123 Likes: 1 western michigan	I used the bottom knife to quarter my cow elk last fall. I used the lower right knike to bone my cow elk the next morning. I used this 150 year old blade (orig V.R. Paget circa 1850) to butcher my cow elk 3 years ago. All worked great. Tim "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein At Khe Sanh a sign read "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never knew".

Re: What are you knives of choice? michiganroadkill #5250584 05/18/11
Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,082 B Biggs300 Campfire Regular
Biggs300 Campfire Regular B Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,082	Don't know why, but I've always been partial to Buck folding knives. I use a small Buck 284 and a larger 278 with gut hook. They are light and fit well in my backpack pockets and have worked well for field dressing deer I've taken. I'll be using them on an elk hunt (I hope) later this year. Start young, hunt hard, and enjoy God's bounty.

Re: What are you knives of choice? shrapnel #5250710 05/18/11
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 28,277 Bozeman, Montana Mark R Dobrenski Campfire Ranger
Mark R Dobrenski Campfire Ranger Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 28,277 Bozeman, Montana	Shrapnel-is Dave K still in the business? I haven't seen him for some time? Dober "True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy

IC B3

Re: What are you knives of choice? Mark R Dobrenski #5250784 05/18/11
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 8,517 n.w. new mexico splattermatic Campfire Outfitter
splattermatic Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 8,517 n.w. new mexico	this one is fast becoming a favorite of mine. haven't used it on an elk yet, but it sure made short work of antelope. holds an awesome edge. and 2 old stanbye's, that a local guy made for me. the lil'r one is real handy in tight places. Last edited by splattermatic; 05/18/11.

Re: What are you knives of choice? Mannlicher #5253052 05/19/11
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,213 Southern Colorado Alamosa Campfire Tracker
Alamosa Campfire Tracker Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,213 Southern Colorado	Originally Posted by Mannlicher .... The folders got a lot of use in the old days, that XX changer from 1992 has done a lot of hogs. The most used of all of my blades, is the Randall #11. I've got to chime in on the Case Changer. I absolutely loved mine. I still recall the exact tree in Wyoming where I last dressed an animal with it and forgot it there.

Re: What are you knives of choice? Mark R Dobrenski #5253098 05/19/11
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 551 PA T ts300wsm Campfire Regular
ts300wsm Campfire Regular T Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 551 PA	I use Knives of Alaska

Re: What are you knives of choice? ts300wsm #5257984 05/20/11
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,034 Top of Foodchain O okiebowhunter Campfire Regular
okiebowhunter Campfire Regular O Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,034 Top of Foodchain	My knife of choice when I have gun in my hand is a Case Trapper. Majority of the time its my 20 yrs old Redbone or occassionally my Mustard handled Trapper. I collect knives and carry some others from time to time, but Ialways have one of the two listed above. I've used them to skin everything from muskrats to elk. Here's a pic of the mustard from a few yrs back camparing to a 223 Rem entrance hole. Dont have one in photobucket of the redbone, but its a good mild red color and is in great shape for having skinned 100's of critters. Joseph Joseph

Re: What are you knives of choice? okiebowhunter #5259031 05/21/11
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,247 Wyoming kalbrecht Campfire Regular
kalbrecht Campfire Regular Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,247 Wyoming	You are getting a lot of advise that doesn't truely answer the initial question. The question was "what is the best knife for skinning an elk. Most of the recomendations I've seen here are not skinning knives. I beleive that for skinning an elk the best knife is a "Forschner" (or Victorinox) skinning knife (I use a model 40535). For field dressing and butchering I use other knives but you asked specifically for skinning. Anyway I'll bet your butcher is using a Forschner skinning knife and I'm also sure that a professional butcher skins way more animals than any elk hunter does.

Re: What are you knives of choice? willflow #5259329 05/21/11
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 651 NC Montana L LarryfromBend Campfire Regular
LarryfromBend Campfire Regular L Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 651 NC Montana	This is my "do-it-all" Elk knife. I find it to be an excellent skinner. It was one of the first ATS34 blades that I saw for sale many years ago. The blade shape is "just right" for my Elk chores and it'll easily last thru a whole Elk ----- I use a Wyoming saw for the heavy work if I don't bone everything out on the spot.

Re: What are you knives of choice? Alamosa #5267692 05/24/11
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 193 N no experience Campfire Member
no experience Campfire Member N Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 193	Originally Posted by Alamosa Three that are excellent for very different reasons - Knives of Alaska - Master Guide Sort of the Willys Jeep of knives. Very hard steel. If you are going light and need all-purpose this is a good choice. Helle Harding - Norwegian Hunting Knife Each one of these is a work of art. Nicely balanced, feels like a natural extension of your hand. Reaching deep into a cavity to separate a diaphram you'll feel what you can't see because of the balance and precision of this knife. Buck - 110 Probably the best value you will ever find. One of the top sellers for many decades. I've still got the first one my Dad gave me. There are many more costly knives but none that give you more for your money. I have a lot of very fine knives but these 3 get chosen to make the trip year after year. could not agree more with the Helle hardin..fabulous knife that i have purchased for many friends and kids. I carry it and the buck as well..but use the Helle on animals and the buck on others

Re: What are you knives of choice? 1minute #5268719 05/24/11
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,891 Edge of nowhere B bangeye Campfire Tracker
bangeye Campfire Tracker B Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,891 Edge of nowhere	never skinned an elk but for deer I usually use a Gerber folder. I had an old western folder for years but the belt loop on the case broke and I lost it and am still mourning over it. It wasn't an expensive knife but after 20 years it becomes part of the tradition.

Re: What are you knives of choice? brymoore #5290236 05/31/11
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 101 Idaho O orion23 Campfire Member
orion23 Campfire Member O Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 101 Idaho	Originally Posted by brymoore I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Havalon Edge knives. I carried one this year and cleaned 7 animals with it. It is lite weight, and razor sharp. I would switch the blades as they dulled. +1 on the havalon's... awesome T.Brown

Re: What are you knives of choice? orion23 #5290282 05/31/11
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 Smoky Mountains, TN bwinters Campfire Outfitter
bwinters Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 Smoky Mountains, TN	Have it narrowed to drop points and Gerber folding. I usually carry 2: an original Gator and the smaller version, the name of which escapes me. I quartered 2 bulls back to back last year without sharpening the Gator. I also have a couple of Buck 110's but they weigh more than the Gerbers so stay home. Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.

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