[Bill M]

Hi to all on the Forum,
Now that I'm getting seriously back into hunting, I'm wondering what all you feel is the best all around hunting knife.  Not for survival or fighting off rabid mastodons but for the specific chore of field dressing big game.  Any thoughts or advice is very welcome.


God bless..............  Bill M

 

[Jeff Tidwell]

Dear Bill,
I've dressed several average size whitetails with a Gerber EZ-OUT folding knife, as well as a serrated blade Gerber Gator.  Both have proven to be enough for the average job.  Keep them sharp and find a small folding saw to do the work of cutting through the pelvic bone and the ribs.  For larger game I'm sure one could use a much larger knife but these two do the job for me.
Jeff

 

[MT Callahan]

Jeff,

For all around field work I like a small fixed blade knife.  In my opinion Bob Dozier is making some of the best knives available. Most models are under &#36200.00 and this is for a hand made knife. He uses mainly D2 steel which is not stainless but is very rust proof. Blades are .25 inches thick and normally under 4 inches in length. Check him out at www.dozierknives.com

 

[Sixgun]

Bill,

I like the Marble brand of knives. They are made of carbon steel and are shaving sharp! They also offer a lifetime guarantee. My favorite is the Trailcraft. Their website is www.marblearms.com. I believe they retail under &#36100.00 for their hunting knives.

Good Luck finding a great knife!

Ray C.

 

[jim lambert]

good ole case xx, folding hunter.

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Bill,

Wow, we could start an entire forum on the subject of hunting knives.  

I do like a good quality knife, and I have a whole top shelf of my gunsafe half-full of quality blades.  Some off the shelf, but most custom made.  While elk hunting, I carry more cutlery of course than when deer hunting, the whole perameters are different, you are generally put to the task of totally dressing and quartering the game where it drops (and it's usually a long way from nowhere!).   A whole new thread in itself!

However, for deer hunting, all I have ever carried is a pocket knife!  I have an old, well used, well cared for Buck muskrat skinner #311, (now discontinued I believe) that was given to me by a very dear Christian hunting friend in 1980 (Peter Thorniley, the creator of the Thorniley Stopping Power Formula).  Prior to that I used an Old-Timer 340T from the time I began hunting.

My grandfather was a hunter extraordinaire, who grew up during the depression.   He taught me how to use nothing more than a pocket knife to do the whole field dressing job on both Blacktail and Mule deer.  Wanted nothing more since then on any deer, pronghorn or black bear.

Yes, I do have ideas for all purpose hunting knives, but for field dressing jobs, travel light and keep it simple!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[blacktail hunter]

The only knives I now use are Morseth 3 1/2 " & 4 1/2" blades, they keep they're edge a long time.

 

[Leanwolf]

I still carry and use an ancient Camillus Stockman pocket knife for fine work caping, etc., and have used it when I was a kid on whitetail deer. I've also cleaned a coule of mule deer, and an antelope with it . I would never be without it.

But for many years, I've preferred a thin blade (1/8"), 3" or 4" fixed blade, for elk, deer, black bear and antelope.
I have a custom four inch forged knife made to my hand and specs, by Bill Buchman, of Bend, Oregon. Got it in late 1983, and have used it extensively, without having to sharpen it while in the field.

I have several larger knives, both custom and factory, but for me, a large knife is very awkward when trying to clean big came.

I also am very fond of Ruana knives, and have two, plus a Ruana hatchet, which comes in handy.

FWIW. L.W.

 

[MikeG]

Very partial to a Camillus double lockback that I have.  It has two blades that lock, one a conventional knife blade about 3" or 3 1/2" long, and the other is a bone saw.  Sorry don't know the model.

Very handy, when your hands are all covered with, uh, "stuff," and you're don't have to dig around in your gear or pockets looking for a saw.

The steel (stainless) is very hard, holds and edge well, and will do two pigs on one sharpening although getting a mite dull by the end of the second one.  That's not bad - pigs dull knives much faster than deer in my experience.

The handle is covered with some sort of rubber or non-slip soft plastic and gives a good grip when you have rubber or latex gloves on.

Agree with Marshall on deer, though - done several deer with an ordinary pocket knive, which works pretty well also.  A locking blade is a must (in my opinion).

 

[Bill M]

Thanks to all for your help.  I am really impressed with your knowledge on this topic.  I plan to research many of your suggestions and "get serious" about a good knife before deer/bear season.  Thanks again.

God bless...............  Bill M