Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: spoonman on August 25, 2017, 08:12:09 AM

Title: Hunting knife
Post by: spoonman on August 25, 2017, 08:12:09 AM: Hey guys and gals. I'm looking at getting a new hunting knife this season and wanted to see what everybody out there is using? What are your recommendations for a good skinning knife? Also recommendations on knives you like for quartering and butchering?
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: kselkhunter on August 25, 2017, 08:53:34 AM: Technically, a Havalon can do it all and that is the go-to knife especially for gutless deboning method.

But I still like my Wyoming knife sometimes for skinning (the ergonomics makes it faster and easier for me). I like the heavy Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate knife for popping the sockets when quartering and just the heft if I have to cut through stuff. And still have the Wyoming saw for cutting off head/feet/etc., as if I'm on a backcountry hunt late season I have it anyway for firewood.

At home, when butchering and packaging I actually use a fish filet knife quite a bit. I like to trim the silver skin and all fat off the meat, and it makes it easier and faster.

I always wear protective gloves both in the field (Kevlar) and at home butchering (the stainless steel filet glove) when doing knife work.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: yakimanoob on August 25, 2017, 09:20:42 AM: Knives are like cars. We can talk about function, or we can talk about the emotion and joy of driving. The joy of using a high-quality, well-balanced knife with a design that matches your motions and method is hard to describe.

For me, I don't want to lug a heavy piece of steel in my pack so my Gerber Vital fits my needs perfect (and handles surprising well for what it is). But if I'm lucky enough to be able to bring my truck up to the animal, I really enjoy using my SOG Team Leader for skinning and trimming. Its design is a great balance with a smooth, broad curve on the blade for quick skinning and a thin, delicate drop point for trimming.

Just make sure your knife fits well in your hand and offers good control.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Magnum_Willys on August 25, 2017, 09:42:23 AM: Function: For Your backup I suggest a havalon with 60A blades and guthook blades.
Form: This is your lucky knife. Pick for looks and feel. Maybe a Buck skinner, benchmade, or custom.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Brushcrawler on August 25, 2017, 09:47:51 AM: Knives of Alaska Probghorn hunter. The handle is orange so you can find it again after putting it down!
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 25, 2017, 09:59:34 AM: Outdoor Edge Razor-lite and a Wyoming knife, both with replacement blades.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Bob33 on August 25, 2017, 10:40:37 AM: I almost always take two with me now: a conventional fixed blade one, and also a replaceable blade model. I have both a Havalon and an Outdoor Edge replaceable blade knive. I prefer the Outdoor Edge model just a bit since the blades are a little more durable and easier to change, while I think the Havalon blades are slightly sharper but more prone to breaking.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: T-Dozzer on August 25, 2017, 11:26:39 AM: Im switching to Tyto.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: follow maggie on August 25, 2017, 12:45:21 PM: I'm still using my Buck 110 folder I bought in 1992. I just like it.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Bofire on August 26, 2017, 02:52:23 PM: I prefer carbon steel Kabar Marine knife in full size and the small one. Have havalon too.
Carl
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: NRA4LIFE on August 26, 2017, 04:15:37 PM: I also carry 2. Outdoor edge with replaceable blades and one of Rain Shadow's skinners. I butchered a moose with those 2 last year. Although, this year I may be packing a Damascus blade I got from CarpSniper. It looks awesome.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on August 26, 2017, 05:13:07 PM: I'm partial to Elk Track Knives; very nice custom knives/borderline works of art really ;). I also carry a replaceable blade Outdoor Edge knives (I do not like the havalons... damn weak/brittle blades; tried one on an elk a few years ago and never again). Happy shopping!

Here's some Elk Track knife images for those of you who have never seen them.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: sumpnz on August 26, 2017, 05:28:04 PM: For my backcountry hunting I'm not sure what I'll like best as it's been a while since I've done that. I'll probably take a couple knives up there next weekend when I'm scouting deer and simultaneously hunting bear. I really like my carbon steel beaver skinner and boning knives, but as sharp as I can get them the edge doesn't last all that long. For elk, since weight is much less of an issue I use those. But in the backcountry I'll likely take my fixed blade Buck with gut hook, and I might grab a Havalon to try it out. I'll leave the carbon steel at home this time.

For butchering, assuming I don't just take the bear to TnT it'll be those carbon steel knives and my fillet knife.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: cooltimber on August 26, 2017, 06:24:40 PM: Havalon 3 extra blades,and my Buck 119 that I've had for 30 yr's.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Stein on August 26, 2017, 08:53:29 PM: Havalon and Outdoor Edge.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Lingcod on August 26, 2017, 11:08:00 PM: Outdoor Edge swing blade
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Sakko300wsm on August 27, 2017, 07:06:08 PM: Outdoor edge knives are horrible!
I've had 2 break on 2 elk
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Dan-o on August 27, 2017, 07:15:42 PM: I haven't tried them all, but I really like my Havalon Piranta's....... a lot.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: scottcrb on August 27, 2017, 07:49:46 PM: Quote from: Dan-o on August 27, 2017, 07:15:42 PM
I haven't tried them all, but I really like my Havalon Piranta's....... a lot.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Bofire on August 31, 2017, 12:18:01 PM: :)I just got two new Havalons, the long blade knife and the combo knife that can use both size blades. Not done testing them out yet but they are not as sharp as I expected. My Kabar carbon steel knife is sharper and my Case pocket knife.
Carl
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: TheHunt on August 31, 2017, 12:25:59 PM: Havalon with extra blades in the pouch it comes with. I have broke down at least 6 elk with that knife.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: yakimarcher on August 31, 2017, 12:35:07 PM: the outdoor edge replaceable blade one
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: quadrafire on August 31, 2017, 12:40:53 PM: I used a Havalon Piranta last year in the field and was pretty impressed. For butchering at home I like a Fiskars filet knife. Great for silver skin/tendons.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Machias on August 31, 2017, 03:53:03 PM: I have three knives from Rainshadow1 on here. Two of the Budget blades and one Damascus knife that is my favorite knife!
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 31, 2017, 05:12:04 PM: Havalons and Outdoor Edge are great for patient people. Skill is optional but patience is necessary for them :twocents:

I've never been a big knife guy, anything that fits decently in the hand, isn't heavy and holds an edge is my only criteria. Holding an edge being my biggest interest
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: 4T on September 01, 2017, 11:06:25 PM: I love my havalon for skinning, but I used a buck 103 before that and it is a great knife. Buck 103 is on my list to get but my 110 is pretty much the same blade.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: 4T on September 01, 2017, 11:43:02 PM: Correction: the 102 is on my list.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: spoonman on September 02, 2017, 08:40:12 AM: Ok I got a knife fellas and I was able to use it already two times! I picked up the Havalon Titan pro and it has worked wonderfully! I harvested a bear this last week shortly after my post and yesterday my hunting partner got his first ever mountain cat!!! Not sure how to post pics from my phone otherwise I would.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Eli346 on September 04, 2017, 02:26:40 PM: I bought the Outdoor Edge Razor Pro a few years ago with the guthook on it also. The extra blades for the knife itself come in handy if needed but I haven't had to change one out in the middle of a skinning or boning session yet. I keep the blades and can resharpen them for another go round. I have the Havalon also but it basically a backup now. I've probably done 4 elk and as many deer without any problems.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: milldozer on September 04, 2017, 03:30:14 PM: Have not used one in the field but I bought my brother a Benchmade Steep Country as a gift and was impressed with its feel/balance.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: robodad on September 04, 2017, 04:47:01 PM: Quote from: spoonman on September 02, 2017, 08:40:12 AM
Ok I got a knife fellas and I was able to use it already two times! I picked up the Havalon Titan pro and it has worked wonderfully! I harvested a bear this last week shortly after my post and yesterday my hunting partner got his first ever mountain cat!!! Not sure how to post pics from my phone otherwise I would.

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Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: Johnnysabieh on September 04, 2017, 07:22:18 PM: Currently using the outdoor edge with a replaceable blade.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: jaymark6655 on September 07, 2017, 05:19:44 AM: Grohmann #1 Original, $120. My dad has a Russell Canadian Belt Knife but they aren't made anymore. Cold steel also makes a copy of this knife that is a real ugly, but it will work just as well and $10 to $20.
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: BKMFR on September 26, 2017, 05:31:52 AM: Knives of Alaska- Jaeger, and Havelon are in my pack....
Title: Re: Hunting knife
Post by: blackpowderhunter on September 27, 2017, 07:06:35 AM: gerber vital replaceable blade along with a benchmade hidden canyon