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Author Topic: A knife for deer and elk?  (Read 10033 times)

Offline aman

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A knife for deer and elk?
« on: September 11, 2018, 09:20:05 AM »
I have a leatherman but I'd like to purchase a knife for skinning and boning. What would you recommend?


Offline Mfowl

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2018, 09:24:12 AM »
Havalon
Fish hard, hunt harder!

Offline aman

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2018, 09:26:22 AM »
I've never butchered a big game animal before but will Havalon do everything I need?

Offline vandeman17

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2018, 09:26:34 AM »
Havalon

I started using havalon last year as well. Works great for skinning and gutting. I have another knife I use for caping or if I need something a little more rigid as the blades on the havalon can break if you put too much torque on them.
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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2018, 09:27:19 AM »
Havalon Titan. Done.

Surgical blade for the bulk of your boning, fixed blade for tougher joints, and I prefer it for skinning/caping. I also got some of the replaceable gut hooks and saw blades last year. The gut hooks made making my initial cuts for skinning ridiculously easy and fast.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2018, 09:33:00 AM by 7mmfan »
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Offline carlyoungs

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2018, 09:27:46 AM »
Get the outdoor edge razor lite. Just like the havalon but you can put some more pressure on it without the blade popping off

Offline Alchase

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2018, 09:29:18 AM »
Lots and lots of hunters love Havalons, I can't argue against them at all.

I just prefer a good fixed blade knife for skinning and gutting.
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Offline Woodchuck

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2018, 09:30:20 AM »
Havalons are awesome but should come with a map to the nearest ER in the package.
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Offline Stein

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2018, 09:36:31 AM »
I use a Havalon for boning and the razor lite for skinning.


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Offline Buzz2401

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2018, 09:38:19 AM »
I carry a outdoor edge replaceable blade knife and a Buck 112.  I do like the Outdoor edge but it just gets expensive always buying new blades and kinda seems like a waste.  I have broke down around 30-40 elk and at least that many deer with the Buck over the last 30 years and it still is going strong.  If you aren't that good at sharpening knifes then you really cant go wrong with a Outdoor edge or a Havalon they really do work well just be prepared to buy blades.

Offline Jonathan_S

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2018, 09:45:06 AM »
Havalon Piranta will do everything.  Nice to have a heavier blade when I feel lazy but I've completely broken down, skinned, and deboned two deer, a bear, and an elk this year without actually needing anything more.

Working with a sharp, thin blade people just need to start slow and everything will be fine.  People get hurt when they're frantically working or not paying sufficient attention to what they're doing.  Knives are dangerous but so are guns, bows and broadheads.  Slow down  :tup:
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline carlyoungs

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2018, 09:46:52 AM »
Havalon Piranta will do everything.  Nice to have a heavier blade when I feel lazy but I've completely broken down, skinned, and deboned two deer, a bear, and an elk this year without actually needing anything more.

Working with a sharp, thin blade people just need to start slow and everything will be fine.  People get hurt when they're frantically working or not paying sufficient attention to what they're doing.  Knives are dangerous but so are guns, bows and broadheads.  Slow down  :tup:

Good advice.  It is hard to slow down when you got those damn yellow jackets surrounding you and fighting you for the meat

Offline thinkingman

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2018, 09:47:20 AM »
I like my 4" drop point Spyderco Moran.
VG10 steel, processed an entire elk and is still razor sharp.
Nice handle, good grip.
Love the thing.
https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/FB02/Spyderco-Bill-Moran-Drop-Point/43
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Offline andersonjk4

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2018, 09:48:04 AM »
For an inexpensive ($30) all purpose hunting knife I really recommend the Sharade/Uncle Henry Golden Spike fixed blade knife (link below).  I got one of these knives as a gift 20 years ago and I have used it to process a lot of deer and many elk.  I have recently added a Havalon to my kill kit and it plus a good fixed blade knife will do anything you need to do while processing a deer or elk.  As far as processing for the freezer once you get home I just use my Henckel kitchen knives. 

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/526412/uncle-henry-golden-spike-fixed-blade-hunting-knife-5-clip-point-7cr17-high-carbon-stainless-steel-blade-staglon-handle?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=connexity&utm_campaign=Knives+%26+Tools+-+Hunting+Knives+%26+Tools&utm_content=526412
« Last Edit: September 11, 2018, 09:58:36 AM by andersonjk4 »

Offline WapitiTalk1

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Re: A knife for deer and elk?
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2018, 09:51:07 AM »
Get the outdoor edge razor lite. Just like the havalon but you can put some more pressure on it without the blade popping off

This  :tup:.  I used a Havalon on one elk and after three broke blades, that was enough.  My Havalon is now relegated to just a camp knife.  The OE knives have much stronger blades, and, the blades are easier to change. 

To your original question..... I carry one fixed blade knife (depends on how I feel that day which one gets carried) and the OE.   
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