Best $50 fixed blade for field dressing??

S

savageman

Joined
May 27, 2005
Messages
149
What is the best $50 fixed blade knife for field dressing deer sized game?? Blade length around 4" give or take. What do you reccomend?? I kinda like the looks of some of the Mora's like the 2000 or Clipper, what are they like for my intended purpose?? Or is there something else that beats it?? Thanks
 
Benchmade Rant.

4 1/2" of 440C goodness, made in the USA.
1sks.com has it for 49.99
(The owner of One Stop Knife Shop also owns BladeForums.)
http://www.1sks.com/store/benchmade-10501-rant-bowie.html


10501-2.jpg
 
I've used a Cold Steel Master Hunter w/carbon v for years to dress deer. If you can find one with carbon v steel, it's a great slicer (flat grind w/distal taper), and gets crazy sharp, holds an edge well, doesn't slip when wet. Bark River also makes fantastic hunting knives for not much more.
 
CS Master Hunter, Buck 119, Schrade Pro Hunter (good luck finding one, no you cannot have mine), Boker's Arbolito in 44C, I could go on forever. The Buck is a little long but it has opened a many whitetails around here. The other three have ample bellies and I know that the CS and the Schrade are substantial enough for skilled bone splitting and joint separation.
 
I like my Buck 103.

There are a lot of knives in that price range that will do the trick. You really do not need a specialized blade to field dress a deer. I would look for something that felt well in my hand.

You are not going to skin it so you do not need a lot of belly. After splitting them open a lot of the job is just cutting things loose so you can get it out.

You need something that will stay sharp for a relatively short job. If you need it to stay sharp for multiple deer or for other jobs then you probably need a more moderately priced blade.
 
I got my brother the drop point Rant for deer hunting and he's been very happy with it.
 
Ag Russell dear hunter in various blade steels, 4 inches in dangler sheath. although I do not think you would use it for splitting bone, etc.
 
ColdSteel Canadian Belt Knife or Roach Belly
Mora Clipper
Buck Mini Omni Hunter
All three of these will cost you less than $50 & will do all you need to & then some ! ;)
 
The Schrade Prohunter is my all time favorite! I bought my first one at WalMart for $20 on closeout. They didn't sell well when introduced.
 
Ed Fowler is a knifemaker who's active on these forums and is probably as knowledgeable about field dressing and skinning as anyone alive. I've been reading his second book (the books are collections of articles from Blade magazine). Ed knows knives, and he has strong opinions. I think I'd ask his opinion.
I'd love to acquire one of Ed's knives someday, even though I don't find the opportunity to hunt anymore.
 
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