Blade choice for skinning a black bear?

[Smossy]

Havalon only way to go lol

Yeah after all the looking around those are what I would go with myself, Going to pick one up soon.

I really like the concept of the havalon knives, especially the weight savings - but I've read so many reviews about how flimsy these knives and blades are.

They are flimsy but thats what makes them so sharp. I think the sharpness makes up for the lack of strength, but you would definetly need something alittle bigger to get through bones and stuff.

[h20hunter]

My number one requirement in a bear knife: Sharp.

[carpsniperg2]

Havalon only way to go lol

Yeah after all the looking around those are what I would go with myself, Going to pick one up soon.

I really like the concept of the havalon knives, especially the weight savings - but I've read so many reviews about how flimsy these knives and blades are.

I have 3 of them and all the knives have held up well and I have put them threw a lot. The blades like I have said and shown are prone to breaking when used for more heavy work then skinning. The shorter 22 blades are stronger and been working well for me. I still like them aluminum knife over the plastic one. I like the thickness of the grip on the plastic one. Think the new torch or whatever the newer model is called will be the best. I will pick up one for this fall.

[fillthefreezer]

They are flimsy but thats what makes them so sharp. I think the sharpness makes up for the lack of strength, but you would definetly need something alittle bigger to get through bones and stuff.

dont go through bones, go around. havalon is all a guy needs for anything in north america. i can do a bear with 1.5, maybe 2 blades. youre doing something wrong if youre breaking the blades.

[Smossy]

They are flimsy but thats what makes them so sharp. I think the sharpness makes up for the lack of strength, but you would definetly need something alittle bigger to get through bones and stuff.

dont go through bones, go around. havalon is all a guy needs for anything in north america. i can do a bear with 1.5, maybe 2 blades. youre doing something wrong if youre breaking the blades.

Ive never skinned a game animal, I just play with all the toys. I know lots of people that go chop through the chest cavity's, joints. stuff like that.

[Johnb317]

I've never skinned a bear, but two elk and can still shave with the blade haven't touched it with a steel yet either.   fjellkniven helle, got it from http://www.ragweedforge.com/helle/fjellkniv.htm

[Buckmark]

They are flimsy but thats what makes them so sharp. I think the sharpness makes up for the lack of strength, but you would definetly need something alittle bigger to get through bones and stuff.

dont go through bones, go around. havalon is all a guy needs for anything in north america. i can do a bear with 1.5, maybe 2 blades. youre doing something wrong if youre breaking the blades.

Ive never skinned a game animal, I just play with all the toys. I know lots of people that go chop through the chest cavity's, joints. stuff like that.

If you are chopping though bones you are doing more work than you need to or have to do. bones are held together to make up the skeleton by Ligaments, Tendons, Muscle and Cartilage, cut through that soft stuff and they fall apart, no hacking, chopping, spliting sawing etc...its super easy....unless your doublej and cut yourself in the proccess..

[jackelope]

Havalon only way to go lol

Yeah after all the looking around those are what I would go with myself, Going to pick one up soon.

I really like the concept of the havalon knives, especially the weight savings - but I've read so many reviews about how flimsy these knives and blades are.

Cut straight and you'll be fine. Don't even think about attempting to use them for anything other than cutting straight. Don't try to pry ball+socket joints apart of anything like that.

[Smossy]

They are flimsy but thats what makes them so sharp. I think the sharpness makes up for the lack of strength, but you would definetly need something alittle bigger to get through bones and stuff.

dont go through bones, go around. havalon is all a guy needs for anything in north america. i can do a bear with 1.5, maybe 2 blades. youre doing something wrong if youre breaking the blades.

Ive never skinned a game animal, I just play with all the toys. I know lots of people that go chop through the chest cavity's, joints. stuff like that.

If you are chopping though bones you are doing more work than you need to or have to do. bones are held together to make up the skeleton by Ligaments, Tendons, Muscle and Cartilage, cut through that soft stuff and they fall apart, no hacking, chopping, spliting sawing etc...its super easy....unless your doublej and cut yourself in the proccess..

lol. Alright sounds good. So one sharp knife with tons of replaceable blades it is.

[Smossy]

Havalon only way to go lol

Yeah after all the looking around those are what I would go with myself, Going to pick one up soon.

I really like the concept of the havalon knives, especially the weight savings - but I've read so many reviews about how flimsy these knives and blades are.

I have 3 of them and all the knives have held up well and I have put them threw a lot. The blades like I have said and shown are prone to breaking when used for more heavy work then skinning. The shorter 22 blades are stronger and been working well for me. I still like them aluminum knife over the plastic one. I like the thickness of the grip on the plastic one. Think the new torch or whatever the newer model is called will be the best. I will pick up one for this fall.

So they have 2 styles of blades?

[h20hunter]

Smossy....cut smart...not hard. As long as it isn't gut shot I really do enjoy the knife work.

[Buckmark]

They are flimsy but thats what makes them so sharp. I think the sharpness makes up for the lack of strength, but you would definetly need something alittle bigger to get through bones and stuff.

dont go through bones, go around. havalon is all a guy needs for anything in north america. i can do a bear with 1.5, maybe 2 blades. youre doing something wrong if youre breaking the blades.

Ive never skinned a game animal, I just play with all the toys. I know lots of people that go chop through the chest cavity's, joints. stuff like that.

If you are chopping though bones you are doing more work than you need to or have to do. bones are held together to make up the skeleton by Ligaments, Tendons, Muscle and Cartilage, cut through that soft stuff and they fall apart, no hacking, chopping, spliting sawing etc...its super easy....unless your doublej and cut yourself in the proccess..

lol. Alright sounds good. So one sharp knife with tons of replaceable blades it is.

Or one good knife and a sharpener you know how to use...
I have gutted and taken apart my far share with the leatherman i carry...
Had a hunting partner years ago in utah that lost his knife, found out after he dropped a buck. Broke a piece of shale and used it to gut it out...

[Smossy]

Smossy....cut smart...not hard. As long as it isn't gut shot I really do enjoy the knife work.

Should let me tag along on a deer hunt and show me how its done, Ill help ya pack and gut it out. 

[h20hunter]

I'll keep you posted. The brother in law and I may haul over to the east side for a day/two day doe hunt at the end of Sept....whats one more dude along.....

[jackelope]

Havalon only way to go lol

Yeah after all the looking around those are what I would go with myself, Going to pick one up soon.

I really like the concept of the havalon knives, especially the weight savings - but I've read so many reviews about how flimsy these knives and blades are.

I have 3 of them and all the knives have held up well and I have put them threw a lot. The blades like I have said and shown are prone to breaking when used for more heavy work then skinning. The shorter 22 blades are stronger and been working well for me. I still like them aluminum knife over the plastic one. I like the thickness of the grip on the plastic one. Think the new torch or whatever the newer model is called will be the best. I will pick up one for this fall.

So they have 2 styles of blades?

They have several different blades and handle configurations. The coolest one, I think, is the fillet knife.

http://www.havalon.com/

http://www.havalon.com/fillet-knife-havalon-baracuta-z-xt-127z.html