best hunting steel?? anyone? anyone?

I

Ilikeshinythings

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Jul 31, 2009
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Yup I'm in the market for a good piece of hunting steel. I'm lookin for high quality but don't want something that is impossible to sharpen. I've been looking at knives in the range of Gerber freeman fixed s30v, Yari II, or Benchmade 140 Nimravus, Griptilian. I know I'd like something in the blade length of 4"-5" and like a combo edge. Just a matter of determining the better steel 154cm?, s30v? anyone have any suggestions for me? I also realize that I haven't searched much outside of the mainstream. are there any fine blades I should lookin into for around the $100-$200 mark? Also-- what is the best sharpening system for these harder steels and for someone who has a hard time maintaining a steady angle with a normal stone? Thanks for anyone who takes a moment to read all this....


I wanna skin me some elk!
 
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CPM M4, CPM D2, or (for stainless) CPM 154. I like Crucible's particle steels a lot. Fine edges, and great retention.

For $200, you ought to be able to get a custom blade done and get exactly what you want. I'd probably nix the serrations, though. They'll likely only get in the way.

Get a Sharpmaker if you have trouble holding a consistent angle. There are also some more expensive options like the EdgePro.

Phillip
 
Any of the steels that Mr. Dobson listed. I'd also add ATS-34.

As important as blade steel will be length and shape of blade and quality of the heat treat.

Of course, you should match all of the foregoing to the game that it will be used on.
 
there are a lot of custom makers here on the forum that can make you one for well in that price range, I would check them out, look in the W&SS section you'll find plenty, as for mainstream you can't go wrong with bark river, they make great hunting knives, and rat cutlery should do you fine as well!!!!!! JMO.......
 
S30V is my favorite steel for the 4" to 5" range (or less) and the Lansky Diamond system is perfect for me, angle and edge look factory when I'm done.

Jonathan
 
For fixed blade hunters I like O1 or A2 tool steels. They take an insane edge, hold it well, but sharpen fairly easily. D2 is also good steel especially from Bob Dozier but his prices are higher than what you specified.
 
Any half reasonable steel will suffice so long as it is not too hard (you really do not want to have to resharpen hard steel when you are up to your wrists in guts and flies), pair this with a Spyderco 8" profile in fine and you are on your way.

Concentrate more on the knife shape and utility and remember that it will be scratched, ignored and generally taken for granted once the new wears off, so you may not want to throw away too much coin.....save that for that pretty little pocketknife that you really want (and will carry every day).


Oh, and don't believe that hoary old line that hard steel lasts longer between sharpening... as you will forget to do so, you will drop it on a rock, or the miserable so-and-so (that you let use your knife) will royally stuff the edge.

(You know the bloke, he is the fellow that should not be allowed to touch anything mechanical, or be in the general vicinity of anything that you own).

Regards.
 
I would never get a combo edge on a hunting knife. You don't want to rip up the various animal tissues, you want to neatly separate them. It is also a real hassle to sharpen the serrations. You might look at a Cabela's Alaskan Guide Vanguard hunting knife by Buck. It is Buck's most popular hunting knife model made with a premium S30V blade heat treated by Paul Bos.

Go to www.cabelas.com and enter XK-516493 (the item number) in the FIND box.

PS. I would always sharpen a factory new blade before expecting the edge to last. Often the methods used by the factory produce a weak edge. For S30V I would get a DMT Diasharp fine/extra-fine combination diamond hone. It will put a crisp edge on the blade. With a hollow-ground blade like this you should not have much trouble honing.
 
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Well, I like carbon steels for fixed blades, so Ill throw in 01, 1095, 5160. Not that I hold anything against stainless, I like s30v and VG-10, but on smaller things. If you like stainless, check out fallkniven!

Keep in mind, heat-treat and blade shape are both probably more important than steel type.

For the price your willing to pay, I would seriously get a custom. Maybe do some research, make your own shape, and ask a custom knife-maker to make it.
 
If you don't mind high-tech plastic and a somewhat thin handle you could save a lot of money by getting an AG Russell Deer Hunter with either a D2 tool steel, or VG10 cutlery stainless alloy blade: http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-deer-hunter/p/AGDHhhhD2/ The D2 is not quite stainless, but it will hold an edge an extremely long time. The carbides that help it hold that edge also makes it difficult to get the finest razor edge (this is a problem you can also see with S30V). Diamond hones help to minimize the differences, but you can get a finer edge on VG10 (which also holds an edge a long time). This is a lighter weight knife that is optimized as a hunting knife rather than as something to use to split logs.
 
With all of my experience in field dressing, skinning and meat work I really really like D2. Its a great steel and holds an edge. I use other knives alot but I keep my D2 Gossman in my hunting bag always. Another fantastic piece of D2 comes from Bob Dozier I have a few blades from him and its fantastic. A2 is a good steel also and you cant go wrong with that. I use my Busse AD Custom on alot of small game like rabbits an such and its seen its share of deer. I have had no problems with it either. D2 just has that toothy edge that I really like when field dressing a critter.
 
Another vote for the Buck Vanguard here. I think if you ask hunters what we use, you'll find that an awful lot of us reach for the Vanguard. The regular, 420HC knife isn't awful, but I'd definitely spend the extra bucks and get the Alaskan Guide in S30V from Cabela's. Oh, wait - I did spend the extra money to buy that one. Don't regret it either.
 
im gonna go with Dozier D@ im not a hunter but when i think of a hunting knife its adozier that pops into my head. infi is a great steel but i dont thnk they make any hunting knives perse mor elike knives that could be used to hunt with :D
 
IMO, D2 is the best steel for game prep. Next on my list would be 154CM or CPM 154. If you prefer carbon tool steel, A2 or O1 are good choices. If I had to pick only one, D2 is it.
Scott
 
hell yeah!! now that's some proper feedback. Glad all you folks have some strong opinions this gives me alot of good insight, gonna check out Dozier's steel, and some of the other options suggested, I think I'll probably pick up the lansky diamond system, seems to get good reveiw. the blade is definately gonna take some more consideration. Thanks to all!!!
 
So many times in the pre-season, we fixate on blade steels and configurations. But, in the hunting fields, you notice that the knife in your pocket is the same one you carry year round, for sharpening pencils and opening bills-- the humble SAK.
 
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