Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game What Knife/Knives did you use?

I've been using a KOA Alpha Wolf in S30V the past few years, including on last fall's buck...

Good eye

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I've been using this Spyderco Bill Moran for a few years. Not an expensive knife by any means but the ergonomics of the tool have me reaching for it each season.

Crappy stock photo. Sorry

Gerber Gator, which has a customized "rubber" grip. (Tripper Lab, now 12, but then 3 months). Both were new at the time...used exclusively on Nov 2 moose.

Gerber model "Bear Grillis?" ( The survival flake). Can't stand the guy, but the knife is a good one. Found it on the beach 3 years ago. Used last on 3 caribou Nov 1/2.

Both still need touching up later today. Thanks for reminder!

Of course I had with me my original model Leatherman, not used at all. Got a bigger fancier one around someplace - I think in the PU camper in Soldotna. Never carry it.

I like Buck knives too and have had a laminated Vanguard for around 20 years. The only picture I have is one that I took to show how thick the hide of a moose is:



And they make fine utility knives which is why I often grab mine for opening moose (along the spine) where hair and hide are thick. The edge-holding ability they have was demonstrated well most recently when my #103 kept working well enough that I never thought about going for a sharper knife. (Last time I did that I was operating a Marbles model.)

When I most recently pulled out my Vanguard, I noticed that the edge was very dull and there was a small crack along the edge - so evidently one of the stepsons or their friends had gotten their hands on it. (Anyone know if Buck will give their attention to abused blades?)

Klikitarik;
Good afternoon to you sir, hopefully this finds you and your fine family doing well.

Thanks for the interesting thread and of course thanks to those who've contributed too as it's always an interesting topic for me.

As others have mentioned, I drool every time Steve shows those Heron knives. The top knife in the third photo - horn scales and a bit of a Russell belt knife feel to it - is about perfect to my way of thinking.

Anyway we didn't shoot much at our house this fall so I believe this one was used for gutting. It's built from a 52100 blade I picked up on ebay, white maple scales and I cobbled a sheath up one afternoon too.


As far as the Buck knife goes, we've been fans of US made Bucks for years and became even more so after touring their factory a half dozen years ago.


That visit started my appreciation for their Vantage Pro line of folders and there's always one in my back pocket all season.


From what I understand of the good folks at Buck, they're quite good about customer service, so I'd certainly recommend giving them a shout to see what they say on your Vanguard.

Thanks again for the fine read and views Klik and all the best to you and yours this weekend.

Dwayne

I shot two deer this past season. Used an old {1972} Puma Game Warden on the first and an olive drab carbon steel Mora clipper on the second.

Knives of Alaska Cub Bear.

I never was very good at sharpening so I have succumbed to the cult of the havalon piranta.

I did loose my good, ancient, hand-me-down case folder on an antelope hunt in Sep. That knife had been on 6 continents and been through 3 wars. That sucked but at some point it was bound to happen.

I've got plenty of somewhat cheaper fixed blade knives but plan to use the piranta for all my big game hunting from now on.

'Cobbled' evidently has different meanings than what I generally think of it as��.very nice cobbling as well as knife-making! Thanks for the kind words and same in return.

Piranta almost exclusively like we have since it came out.... I just don't see the need much for anything else.

And when I do, for whatever reason its not a big name knife.. pair of knives from LEM has done the best for me lately if not using piranta, one a small skinner the other gut hook/filet sort of combo...

Awesome cutlery you got there, Sir

What model Zero Tolerance please?

Livin' here in Texas, having critters to skin is easy........




Rocky Menfee "16 bore"





another one of Rocky's blades.





Two handed "Brisket Breaker" by Dale Howe




6.5 Mag by Gene Ingram




Lil' Dumplin' by Rick Menefee (aka, the "BSWD Boner")





#1 Bird and Trout by Gene Ingram


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Cold Steel Outdoorsman and "FUBAB" by Rick Menefee


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Randall #28 Woodsman


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Father and son Winstons.



JAPPF,

GWB

I also like my Buck Vanguard. I have the Cabela's S30V version.

Gutted critters with a medium stockman pocket knife to a Puma Bowie, but most were and will continue to be done with a older Buck 110 with a 440C blade.

Skinned and butchered is done with a variety of knives most of which are Forschner.

Nothing like elk, a Leatherman Wave and a Kauffman #15...

Anyone use an Opinel at any point in time? The newer blades seem kind of soft and easily bent, but the older carbon steel blades we used to use for pocket/utility were sharp and easily sharpened as I recall. Haven't used one for awhile but I have put one of the larger ones to use on occasion.

Buck 422 folder with the orange handle. It was given to me as a tip from a client 25 years ago. Had never used a folder, wasn't sure about the "nontraditional" orange handle. Threw it in my knife box.

A year later, in the course of lightening my daypack load, I decided to try that knife. First elk I killed was after 20 inches of powder fell the previous day. Of course I dropped the knife in the snow and it went right to the ground. When I dug it out of the snow I decided that orange handle was the most brilliant idea to ever hit knifedom.....Been carrying that knife in my daypack ever since.

The 422 sharpens easily and holds a pretty good edge. Over the next few years I received two more 422's from clients as tips. They are my backup knives.

Casey

Didn't get too bloody this year. The top knife, a light hunter from Gene Ingram dressed and carved up my buck.



My Dozier Yukon Pro got a few licks in on my Son-in-Laws bull elk as well.