Hunting knives....which point do you prefer??

[elksnout]

Gerber Gator on the belt and one of those new chase me, catch me Outdoor Edge razor knives in pack that I actually don’t care for…


elksnout

[Shoofly09]

havalon for outside work like skinning, old puma game warden for inside chest cavity work

[Karl Blanchard]

Whatever a havalon blade is. That's the point I like 

I carry a havalon, especially when deer hunting.  The only bad thing about the havalon is how weak the blades are....thus why I switched to the outdoor edge.  Equally as sharp and a little more rigidity to the blade.  Still love the Havalon!!! especially for skinning.  I would say it is very close to a drop or straight point.   

Yea, this. The havalons are super great for a pocket knife, I have a few, great for cutting paracord when setting up camp, cleaning under your finger nails (careful, they are shop) but are too weak and fall short on a big game critter. I like a fixed blade drop point (I have a few) and like jreb mentioned, the OE replaceable blade knives…. My favorite combo. Edit: and those tiny havalon blades are way too small to skin off elk hide either doing boneless/gutless or even just quarters during warm weather, there’s a time crunch in those situations……

We will have to agree to disagree on that one sir as I've broken down no less than 50 elk with a havalon on we'll over a hundred deer. Sheep, mountain goats, etc. I honestly can't remember the last time I've broken a blade  They are a cutting tool, not a pry bar. Treat them as such and there are no issues

Can’t argue with those stats brother. I stand corrected. It’s probably my over indulgent wrenching on the H blades that caused my difficulties/negative opinion.

you pound nails with channel locks from time to time don't you 

[WapitiTalk1]

Of course, doesn’t everybody 

[fishngamereaper]

Am I the only one that carries on average 4-5 knives when hunting...

And no less than 2 any given day...
So my answer is D..all the above

 

[C-Money]

I like a skinning blade for skinning, and a small 4" or 5" Rapala wood handle filet knife for butchering/de-boning. A regular folding hunting blade for gutting, and pretty good for skinning.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I like a clip point for gutting. And more of a drop point for skinning.

[NOCK NOCK]

Whatever a havalon blade is. That's the point I like 

I carry a havalon, especially when deer hunting.  The only bad thing about the havalon is how weak the blades are....thus why I switched to the outdoor edge.  Equally as sharp and a little more rigidity to the blade.  Still love the Havalon!!! especially for skinning.  I would say it is very close to a drop or straight point.   

Yea, this. The havalons are super great for a pocket knife, I have a few, great for cutting paracord when setting up camp, cleaning under your finger nails (careful, they are shop) but are too weak and fall short on a big game critter. I like a fixed blade drop point (I have a few) and like jreb mentioned, the OE replaceable blade knives…. My favorite combo. Edit: and those tiny havalon blades are way too small to skin off elk hide either doing boneless/gutless or even just quarters during warm weather, there’s a time crunch in those situations……

We will have to agree to disagree on that one sir as I've broken down no less than 50 elk with a havalon on we'll over a hundred deer. Sheep, mountain goats, etc. I honestly can't remember the last time I've broken a blade  They are a cutting tool, not a pry bar. Treat them as such and there are no issues

Can’t argue with those stats brother. I stand corrected. It’s probably my over indulgent wrenching on the H blades that caused my difficulties/negative opinion.

you pound nails with channel locks from time to time don't you 

What good handy man doesn't? JS   

[rainshadow1]

If I ever got out from under the pile around here and went on forged in fire, my signature blade in my signature style would be the drop point. Of course, they'd make me build it 3x too big! A 3-4" cutting edge is ideal as a skinner/utility. Good steel makes the edge last, and good geometry and sharpening skills make it a pleasure to use. Won't be as sharp as a disposable, but it should still shave right off the stone, and cut absolutely effortlessly for an animal or two.

Thank you for your input.....Any input on what makes good steel.  Is D2 good???  These are the two I am deciding between.....

3.25 blade length on both.  Overall 8.75 on both (or close to).  I have really liked my KOA so was thinking of staying with the brand.  They are very easy to touch up in the field which I really appreciate. 

One is a drop and the other is a clip point.

D2 is excellent if the heat treat is done well. Some patina over time, but very good performance.

I just don't like the clip for working. I like it for a big bowie to take some weight out of the tip, and it looks so cool with a good double grind... but the drop point is just so much easier to use blind. The clip will cut things you don't want cut.

[finnman]

   Depends on a variety of factors, but typically when I think  " hunting knife" it is blade that can cover a large variety of tasks decently and do a couple very well. It doesn't really specialize in any.  For me this is usually a drop point/Canadian point blade in the 3.5 to 4.5 range.  I am in Karls camp on the havalon. Used it on a ton of critters and love it, cant remember ever breaking a blade. But it is not a hunting knife to me. Its an animal breakdown tool and it specializes in that task. I don't want to split kindling, cut roasting sticks, trim shoelaces and paracord, slice apples, spread mayo, stag the bottom of my jeans or shirt because i forgot tp, punch holes in belts, or even field dress a buck with one. Its amazing for skinning and boneless breakdown, but its the knife in my pack not my belt or pocket. 

PLUS 1!!
I own a Havalon. It has its use and I have broke several blades. Usually when trying to use it like a standard knife.
I have a small collection of various knives, and like my quoted friend above, prefer fixed blade drop point knives in the 8-9 inch OAL size. I like mid grade steels that keep an edge but do not required shop time to return the edge.
I have knives that I have never used but will….when the time comes.
I own knives by great manufactures like,
Bark River
Battle Horse knives
Blind Horse knives
Arno Bernard
TRC from Latvia
Enzo of Finland
Manly of Bulgaria
Muela of Spain
Russell of Canada
Camillus from NY
Queen from Pennsylvania
Brisa of Finland
Boker of Germany
Koster
LT Wright
Marbles of Michigan
White River
Moki of Japan
Seki Cut of Japan
Puma of Germany
Schatt & Morgan
Great Eastern knife co.
Case

Some of these are more bush craft style, others are folders, others clip point or skinners,
The point being there is no perfect knife. So why limit your exposure to a simply Havalon? Life is too short to not enjoy multiple knives!
I typically carry 3-4 knives in my pack. One is a havalon. It’s my least favorite tool.

[turkeyfeather]

I've never tried a havalon. I've always thought the blades look flimsy and have been concerned how long they last before having to replace them.

[Dan-o]

I've never tried a havalon. I've always thought the blades look flimsy and have been concerned how long they last before having to replace them.

I absolutely love Havalons for skinning, but you need a knife with a spine to break animals down (or at least I do).
I always have a Havalon and a fixed blade along.

[Alchase]

I like a clip point for gutting. And more of a drop point for skinning.

 

Basically because I suck at skinning with a scalpel sharp knife 
I would never make it as a Trapper that actually had to make money of my skins. 
I tried twice, and I cut through the skin so many times it looked like I used Bird-shot to kill the deer. 

I use a Browning Hunter Drop point to skin, and a SOG SEAL Pup Elite for everything else, hunting.

[Okanagan]

Drop point.  My preference lines up with Rainshadow’s, and a 3 ½ or 4 inch blade is all that's needed.  If I need more knife, then a saw or ax would likely do the job better.  I carry one knife, but have two more in a critter processing kit in my vehicle.  One of those is an orange handled Mora and the other is a narrow Frost fish fillet knife with a yellow handle.  My carry knife is an orange handled Buck folder.  I like to see knives on snow or duff in dim light. 

I’ve been in on a lot of critter from moose to small game, and the smallish to medium drop point is my preference.  YMMV.  I got a kick out of Rainshdow’s comment that a clip point cuts things you don’t want cut.
 

I have an Outdoor Edge lock blade folder a little larger than my Buck that has proven to be an excellent knife that holds an edge.  I think the steel in it is Aus8.

[Sakko300wsm]

Drop point is definitely my favorite! I’ve got a few havalons and they are great , but not for doing a whole animal.
Many knives have their own place
Here are a couple pics of by far my favorite knife I own - way better than benchmade and KOA
And locally made