Knife recommendation

[dmv9]

What's a good knife or set of knives for field prepping a deer/elk?

Thanks!

[h20hunter]

I'll tell yah......I've got some knives of alaska, some buck, some random ones, and my first time this year using a havalon. The havalon with a pair of forceps for changing blades will never leave my pack.

[Big Horn]

Get a havalon torch, best money ever spent

[Kittman]

Kershaw Alaskan Blade Trader is very versatile and is what goes with me in my day pack.  You will not need to keep a bunch of extra blades because this one holds it's edge.  Just butchered a deer with it and did not need to sharpen, used from field to vacuum pack bags, same blade.

[lokidog]

I've only used one Havalon blade per animal as well and it is a lot lighter than that Kershaw set.  I don't use a saw for butchering though.   

The Outdoor Edge replaceable looks like a good one as well.  The Edge looks like it could take more lateral force than the Piranta.  I did break a blade once with my Piranta, although I can't remember what I was doing at the time.  Probably was something I shouldn't have been doing.   

[kirkl]

Havalon, I've gutted and skinned two elk so far on one blade. I'll never sharpen another blade again.

[skeeter 20i]

Havalon torch   

That being said I won't give one to either one of by boys yet,  they are that darn sharp.  I bled pretty good the first time I used one.

[Bean Counter]

Costco has a brand of white-handled knives in the warehouse that are great. Super sharp out of the package.. You can get 4 small pearing knives for like $5. That and a  couple of drop points were enough for my buddy and I to do 5 deer/pronghorns in Wyoming without having to sharpen. I don't particularly like sharpening my blade but I can do it while I watch a movie or something

[CAMPMEAT]

A little Swiss Army knife is all I ever used or use....

[addicted]

I did the switching blade thing for awhile, then bucks with gut hooks, then opinels, then and Alaskan kit but now the mora knives are where it's at. Good grip and you can get them in carbon steel for a scary sharp that holds. Some years here I'm doing 15-20 deer by myself so I have time to test them out and a $12 carbon steel mora with a rubber grip is hard to beat.

[Stein]

The Havalon knives are very sweet.  I held back for a long time and finally got one free from Eastman's.  I now have their filet/boning size as well as the skinning version from Outdoor edge.  You really can't beat a scalpel sharp knife with zero effort.

[ellensburgpo]

I've been using a knife from Rainshadow on here for the last three or four years and love it. As I recall its made from an old bandsaw blade. It's a pain in the rear to sharpen, but man does it stay sharp a long time once it is. I cleaned/skinned three deer including quartering one during deer season this year without re sharpening it. I boned out a bull a few years ago using just that knife and also didn't have to re sharpen. Cost me like 30 bucks, is light, and has a nice kydex type sheath, great deal.

[Eli346]

 I've bought and used both the Outdoor Edge Razor's Edge  and the Piranta. Both are great but I lean towards the Razor's Edge as it is so much tougher, especially for elk. I carry them both in my pack plus a good guthook made by Outdoor Edge also. I think it's called the Swingblade. Overkill for sure, but I use all three!                                                                                                                                                                                                                              PS. Just bought and used the Outdoor Edge Razor Pro for last season and it's cool to have the guthook and the interchangeable blade on the same knife. I used it on 2 deer and 2 elk last year and it is worth it. I think it goes for $6o at the regular price but I found mine on sale for $50.

[Mike450r]

I used a little 3 blade old timer for years.   Was a little small for elk maybe but did the job and was just fine for deer.

Used a havalon for my buck this year and it sure unzipped that sucker real slick.  Gotta pay more attention where your fingers are but it was nice.   Will never stop carrying the old timer since I am a creature of habit but the havalon is in my pocket or pack as well.

[Stein]

I've bought and used both the Outdoor Edge Razor's Edge  and the Piranta. Both are great but I lean towards the Razor's Edge as it is so much tougher, especially for elk. I carry them both in my pack plus a good guthook made by Outdoor Edge also. I think it's called the Swingblade. Overkill for sure, but I use all three!

Funny, that is exactly what I carry.  I use the swingblade for gutting, the Edge for skinning and the Piranta for separating the quarters and the rest of the meat.  The Edge is also great for brute force work like taking the lower leg off and head.  At home the Piranta is perfect for trimming and boning although I do wish it had another inch or two.