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Help me find a knife
#7858008
06/02/20 01:17 AM
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 7
Tscott
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 7 |
Just got on my first lease and could use a decent knife to clean deer.
What do I look for?
Is the kind of steel important?
How much should I spend on something that will hold an edge?
Any recommendations?
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858044
06/02/20 01:46 AM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,325
RJH1
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,325 |
For field dressing deer like my KABAR MK1 navy, it is not the big Marine KABAR, it is a handier sized knife. The other one I would look at is a Mora. Just a few dollars and a great knife and great steel. Of course you can spend considerably more on a custom, but for the task of gutting deer, none of them are going to work better than the ones i named, though they will probably be prettier. If you are skinning deer, something like a sheep skinner from Victorinox is hard to bear. They are also fairly cheap and are what are used in processing plants across the country.
Expensive knives are fine and if you want one get it, but don't expect it to be functionally any better than those. Good luck
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858073
06/02/20 02:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,986
HornSlayer
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,986 |
Get a Havalon Baracuta and an extra set of drop point blades. Most practical hunting knife I have ever owned. Then buy one of these beuatiful hand made knives from one of the makers here. Baracuta
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858078
06/02/20 02:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,835
unclebubba
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,835 |
Full tang. Pretty much any of the modern steels will hold a fairly good edge. You can spend as little or as much as you want. The knife that I own that holds the best edge is a cheap Kershaw made from 1029 steel. I think I paid $30 for it? Crappy sheath, but good knife.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858110
06/02/20 02:53 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,835
unclebubba
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,835 |
What to look for:
Full tang not too big, 4 inch blade is plenty style of blade. I prefer a drop point. Some people prefer a clip point, some like a gut hook. I can't stand a gut hook.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858151
06/02/20 03:33 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,765
Wytex
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,765 |
By clean if you men gut and quarter then a lockback folder with about a 3- 3 1/2 inch blade would work fine. My folder has done many an elk and deer.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858328
06/02/20 01:10 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,156
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,156 |
Times have certainly changed. Used to be every self respecting male carried a sharp pocket knife which is all you need. Two or three blade. Case, Boker, and Eye Brand are good knives that will hold an edge.
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Smokey Bear]
#7858511
06/02/20 04:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,325
RJH1
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,325 |
Times have certainly changed. Used to be every self respecting male carried a sharp pocket knife which is all you need. Two or three blade. Case, Boker, and Eye Brand are good knives that will hold an edge. Yep, I've gutted several deer with pocket knives, but most people are speaking of fixed blade when they talk about field dressing deer so that's what I recommend. I have a Jim Bowie that is made by Eye Brand that the hell of a good trapper, but most people wouldn't even think about a Trapper anymore because they don't like slip joints, but a good Trapper is probably the best all-around pocket knife there is. Well, that and a Swiss Army knife
Last edited by RJH1; 06/02/20 04:02 PM.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858567
06/02/20 05:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605
603Country
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,605 |
If I was still into gutting deer, I’d keep using my Kabar. It’s good for working in the body cavity. I still use it for skinning most of the time, but I also use an old Browning 3 blade folder, the one with the blade, gut blade, and saw blade, and use the Browning for deboning. But...now I have a Jank, which is a work of art. We’ll have a go with it this next season.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858613
06/02/20 05:54 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,412
ZK-315
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,412 |
It kind of depends on what I'm doing and where I've been hunting. Probably the knife I use the most for gutting is my fixed blade Buck LINK HERE or my buck knife with a gut hook if I'm in a hurry. LINK HEREI have one of those knives with the replacable blade. I like it but feel like it's going to break. Maybe i'm just used to my big Buck knife, i dont know.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7858884
06/02/20 10:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,986
HornSlayer
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,986 |
One downside I failed to mention about a Havalon is it is just a big freaking scalpel. The steel is not necessarily the best at holding an edge, but it is super easy to sharpen. I do about a dozen blades at a time. But I must reiterate they are scary sharp to the point if the blade touches you it will bleed. To sharpen them, I use a Smith's adjustable pull-thru sharpener to touch-up a used blade then strop it with red rouge. I can sharpen these blades from dull to scary sharp in 15 sec each.
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7859224
06/03/20 12:07 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 284
Longhorn74
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 284 |
Get a solid buck 110, or if you can find an original shrade LB7 you’ll never need another knife.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7859233
06/03/20 12:23 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,020
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,020 |
I ain't going for the scalpel knives. Seen too many break while being used. leave them for the tacticool generation of hunters. Yes, they are sharp (some say too sharp), easy to switch out blades and such, but seen as too delicate here.
Personally, I have a Jank and yes, it is sumpin special. Frankly, I have several knives. I've got a big old folding two blade which is awesome, but since no lock blade, it is not used when cleaning animals. I would only entertain fixed and lock blades. If going with a lock blade, I cannot believe the Benchmade brand has not been listed herein. Lovey mine. SIL #2 loves his.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Longhorn74]
#7859234
06/03/20 12:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138 |
Get a solid buck 110, or if you can find an original shrade LB7 you’ll never need another knife. This. Don't get "knifeitis". I have way too many and don't have enough boys in the family to give them away to.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7859508
06/03/20 04:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,512
retfuz
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,512 |
Get a solid buck 110, or if you can find an original shrade LB7 you’ll never need another knife. This. Don't get "knifeitis". I have way too many and don't have enough boys in the family to give them away to. 110 will This. The 110 will last a life time and serve your needs 100%.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Hudbone]
#7859740
06/03/20 09:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,986
HornSlayer
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,986 |
I ain't going for the scalpel knives. Seen too many break while being used. leave them for the tacticool generation of hunters. Yes, they are sharp (some say too sharp), easy to switch out blades and such, but seen as too delicate here. You obviously don't know what your talking about. There is nothing cool about having a sharp knife when you need one, it's just being prepared. You can have your opinion no matter how off base it is, but don't put me down because I have more knowledge about scalpel knives than you. Buy a Baracuta and if you don't like it you can always give it to one of your Tacticool friends. I have never broke a Baracuta blade, maybe they are stronger than what you have seen used? Anyway, you could have made your point without being an a$$.
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7859902
06/04/20 01:09 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,168
Tactical Cowboy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,168 |
^^somebody is #triggered
I like my 5.5” victorinox semi-stiff boning knife for just about all disassembly of animals. Keeps an edge pretty well, costs about $15 on Amazon, and is very versatile. No, you aren’t going to smash windows or pry open a car door with it, but it works well for its intended purpose.
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7862931
06/07/20 12:43 AM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 484
howl
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 484 |
^^somebody is #triggered
I like my 5.5” victorinox semi-stiff boning knife for just about all disassembly of animals. Keeps an edge pretty well, costs about $15 on Amazon, and is very versatile. No, you aren’t going to smash windows or pry open a car door with it, but it works well for its intended purpose.
Yup. If you round the tip off you can slip it in between the hide and open them like a zipper. Get a ceramic stick and touch it up as you go keeping it sharp and you don't have to full on sharpen it. If you want something with a sheath look at Morakniv. If you want a folder, Opinel.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7863529
06/07/20 07:36 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,236
Erny
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,236 |
There are so many good knifes out there this is a tough question and one that you will have to decide. My personal preference is a fixed blade about 3 to 4 inches. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good knife. There are plenty in the 30-50 dollar range that are great knives.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7867047
06/11/20 03:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,105
TXHOGSLAYER
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,105 |
I have used a Mike C knife for the past few years and have zero complaints. In fact, I have bought 3, gave 2 away and they have no complaints either. Also have a Jank and one from safdm. I love them all.
LETS GO BRANDON
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: TXHOGSLAYER]
#7867471
06/11/20 04:51 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,395
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,395 |
Start with any 4” fixed blade. Buy another every year or so. Get a bragging knife or 10 or so. Then the disease has set in and you will be hooked for life.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7867510
06/11/20 05:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 570
Papalote
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 570 |
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7867596
06/11/20 07:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129 |
I like the new razor blade knives they have out, like the Havalon. I'd never try to clean a pig with anything else
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7867625
06/11/20 07:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,805
Big_Country01
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,805 |
I have a few Moore Maker knives that i really like. They are out of Matador, TX.
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Re: Help me find a knife
[Re: Tscott]
#7873991
06/18/20 01:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,482
TSU99
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Joined: Mar 2010
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