Post by: Rainier10 on October 22, 2018, 12:30:56 PM
Wow! is all I can say. I really liked the feel of the knife in my hand, how sharp it was and how easy it made the work.
This weekend he took a buck and I again used the havalon. I did use my Wyoming knife at times but found that the havalon did just as well making the incisions under the skin. I used the big fixed blade for breaking the joints down and cutting the backstraps out but the havalon actually did the majority of the other work.
I can see down the road the Wyoming knife might actually get retired once I get better with the havalon.
All of this was done with the smaller version, can't remember what it is called. I have a larger handled and bladed one as well but the small one worked just fine.
Is there a benefit to using the larger one or is it more of a preference thing?
Post by: boneaddict on October 22, 2018, 12:55:23 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on October 22, 2018, 01:00:40 PM
I replace the blades using my leatherman pliers. Not sure I would want to grab that blade and torque it to get it off using my bare hands.
How do you guys change the blades is a good question also?
Post by: Tschaefer72 on October 22, 2018, 01:40:41 PM
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Havalon-Blade-Remover-Four-Pack/2338564.uts?slotId=14
Post by: Rainier10 on October 22, 2018, 02:02:31 PM
Thanks for the info.
Post by: Stein on October 22, 2018, 02:44:37 PM
Post by: CaNINE on October 22, 2018, 04:37:37 PM
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 22, 2018, 04:51:17 PM
Post by: mossyoak arrow slinger on October 22, 2018, 05:08:39 PM
My buddy and I were boning out two elk we shot this year and when I was doing the last of the four hind quarters I cut myself down to the bone across my wrist. I should have had him hold the meat on that hind quarter while I took it off the bone but we were in a hurry and when that meat slipped for the ground I went to catch it “reflexes are a censored” and slit my wrist. We were 3 miles back from a road and I was going to bleed out fast if my buddy wasn’t on top of his game and EMT qualified. With that being said, I will continue to use these knives and swear by them but you have got to take your time and be very careful around them. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181023/cdb2daa09396c14f9e2306d1931dce22.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 22, 2018, 05:13:23 PM
Post by: Stein on October 22, 2018, 05:48:03 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 22, 2018, 06:10:12 PM
Had to many break even the A doing to much work with them. My outdoor edge was dirty and grabbed a havalon. Just Incase. Sure enough brother knocks a buck down. I was cutting the diaphragm and the blade popped off and I could not find it for the life of me. Talk about scary reaching around in there had to be super careful never had one comes off so easy. Might not have locked in all the way but was a reminder why I don’t use them for that work and carry both.
Post by: Magnum_Willys on October 22, 2018, 06:22:58 PM
Post by: brew on October 22, 2018, 06:36:31 PM
its real sharp and holds an edge and sharpens easily. bought it off amazon for around $22... gonna buy some more cuz it's a helluva knife for the price
Post by: Weehunt66 on October 22, 2018, 07:08:57 PM
Post by: CaNINE on October 22, 2018, 07:23:10 PM
Be careful folks
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 22, 2018, 07:35:59 PM
yeah those havalons are scary sharp and that's my fear of losing the blade. my go to meat cutter is now a 6" victoronix (spelling ?) made by swiss army
its real sharp and holds an edge and sharpens easily. bought it off amazon for around $22... gonna buy some more cuz it's a helluva knife for the price
Hands down the best butcher knives out there. If I am bring a animal out whole or when processing it at home its getting worked with them. Cheap and sharpen easy/hold edge great! You can buy them 20-40 online but cash and carry stocks them to!!!!
Post by: CaNINE on October 23, 2018, 07:38:44 AM
Are you guys using the straight or curved blade version?
Post by: Widgeondeke on October 23, 2018, 08:14:07 AM
For the heavier cutting or breaking the hip socket connection I grab my DH Russell Canadian Belt Knife. They do cost about $105, but hold an edge. I love the ergonomics of them and are what I used exclusively before the Havalon. Mine was given to me by my FIL and is probably 40 years old.
Post by: brew on October 24, 2018, 06:22:06 PM
This knife (Victorinox 6” boning) was just recommended to me by a professional butcher. I was surprised to learn how inexpensive they are. Going to get a couple of them for my home butchering kit.
Are you guys using the straight or curved blade version?
[/quoteusing the curved blade...awesome knife for dirt cheap..
Post by: HighlandLofts on November 23, 2018, 11:49:18 AM
I seen what can happen with these knives, they are extremely sharp and hazardous. One slip up and you can cut an artery which would be life threatening.
Being a thin bladed knife I limit what I use mine for, any of the heavy cutting or joint removal I will not use my havalon, I use a fixed blade knife.
I keep a small pair of needle nosed players in my day pack for swapping out the blade.
Post by: Kenaiwild on November 23, 2018, 01:54:23 PM
A few years ago in MT a buddy of mine had his buck head in his lap and was removing the hide and put too much into it and the knife went right into his thigh to the bone. Blood started squirting out like a super soaker. 2 hour drive to the nearest hospital where he spent a couple days repairing the artery.
Post by: Scheindogg on November 23, 2018, 02:34:14 PM
Been using the Havalon for a few seasons now and after breaking one in half gutting a deer and having a blade pop off gutting an elk I’ve learned to go slower and let the blade to the work and not torque it. It’s no fun feeling around a chest cavity for a blade.
A few years ago in MT a buddy of mine had his buck head in his lap and was removing the hide and put too much into it and the knife went right into his thigh to the bone. Blood started squirting out like a super soaker. 2 hour drive to the nearest hospital where he spent a couple days repairing the artery.
:yike:
:puke:
Post by: PolarBear on November 23, 2018, 02:59:27 PM
Post by: Pinetar on November 23, 2018, 03:22:11 PM
My kids got me an Outdoor Edge Razor Pro for Christmas last year and I was able to gut, skin and break down my buck this year with one blade. I absolutely LOVE it! You do have to be very careful and I did wind up cutting the crease in the joint of one of my fingers while gutting but that was just repositioning the knife in my hand and not paying attention. I won't let my daughter use it to gut but she really liked the skinning blade on it. I have buddies that have had Havalon blades come loose or break while gutting.
:yeah: The outdoor edge razor pro is my favorite as well. And they sharpen easy and fast so blades can last longer, if you don't mind sharpening. The Havalon's are sharp and nice but they will pop off and break. Watched a buddy of mine break his Havalon blade cutting off a deer leg at the joint and the part that broke off stuck in his lower forehead :yike: right between his eyes, luckily it wasn't deep and didn't get an eye.
Post by: PolarBear on November 23, 2018, 05:46:33 PM
Post by: KFhunter on December 01, 2018, 08:36:00 AM
This is my 3 knife set I use for home butchering, finally got my steels figured out so they stay sharp al the time. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181201/8134a522c3de5483e1c27f0efd57a260.jpg)