Choices, choices, choices, for deer season. Let's hear from the hunters.

My thoughts are that honestly any of the blades you have pictured would work great. Of those, I would take your two scrapmax and a longer blade as well. If I had to pick one I'd say the drop point 425 and call it good.
 
CABS :thumbup:...drop point, bit o' belly, & slicey...seems to be exactly what you need or did I miss something?

Don't forget the paper mic should be easy to clean and won't harbor bacteria...

but really, you can't go wrong with any you've listed...although I do have a love/hate relationship for some of the choiled models in your pics as far as dressing duties you've listed, especially those with the small, elfish choils...but that's just me
 
resinguy said:
People seem to enjoy these threads, so here we go. Last year was my first as a hunter. I was fortunate to take a doe by bow, and used a SYCO Scrapmax 375 for field dressing and field butchering. As this season approaches, there are many choices, again, for field carry. (For a guy who doesn't really use knives very much, I certainly do have a lot of them :rolleyes: )

Here are 10 possibles. Note that that the knife will not just be used to open up the cavity for simple field dressing, but I will be doing some basic butchering out in the field, as well. The Scrapmax 375 did a fine job. Last year I pulled off 20# of the major cuts. The rest of the carcass was left for the scavengers.





1. SYCO Scrapmax 375
2. SYCO Scrapmax variant
3. Busse Basic 4 LE Anorexic
4. Swamp Rat 1st Gen Vex in D2
5. Busse Elmax Steak Knife
6. Busse CABS LE
7. Busse BAD
8. Busse Cultellus
9. Dozier K-1 Utility
10. Burt Foster Blue Collar Hunter

No doubt that any of these would be adequate to the task. Please tell me, as a hunter, why you think one might be better than another.

Discuss!

(I will be happy to entertain questions, either here or by EMAIL, not PM, but please don't make purchase offers. Thanks)
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3 - awesome blade height and profile with a great handle
7 - very intuitive feel
10 - appears similar to 7
1 - great handle
2 - great handle
6 - similar to 2
4 - utilitarian
9 - utilitarian
5 - handle too slim for me personally for larger game
8 - handle too slim for me personally for larger game

I've used many knives over the years for field dressing and processing. I try to keep two knives with me for such. Some of my favorite Busse-kin for such are the B4LE-A, BAD, Muk, and 460. I've also used the S5LE and War Dog many times because they are with me so often. This year I expect the Hack Warden in Elmax to also become a favorite.
 
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Bob dozers knives are awesome for deer. I've cleaned slot of critters with one of his knives and still cuts great. Just have done minor sharpening with ceramic stones. Second basic 4
 
Andy the Aussie said:
Yeah, I am a bit predictable on some knife related issues... ;) And YES I would love a B4 in SR101..... :D As you would recall I love my RMDs BUT my HRLM gets more time cutting up critters than the RMD (I think the RMD is a better all round "tool" however)... so many great choices makes it all very hard... ;) ;)
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My cousin knocked down a nice big bull elk last year on my dads ranch and I was the guide how could I say no when I didn't draw a tag....I had my Faithful HRLM (its just so easy to carry and performs so well) and my Cuz asked what it was and I let him use it to do some field dressing and when we got back to the ranch he was going over it and pretty impressed with its size and offered to buy it....but I held my ground and gave him nice AMS with a Buy Brown Sheath....I no longer have a B4 and yeah no regrets but I do regret moving it along......A B4 in INFI or SR101 I'd be in for that!
 
My AD goes with me on every hunt and has cleaned tons of meat. That being said I have used the elmax steak knife more in the last few years. They just never seem to quit.

Garth
 
If the B4 had a hack choil mod it would be my first pick. Otherwise it is a tie between Scrapmax variant and the BAD.
 
I'd take the Scrapmax 425 drop point and the D2 Vex for deer. The Basic 4 would aslo be a great choice if it weeren't for the Talon hole. A HACK variant of the B4 would be perfect!
 
I would pick the vex, ease of sharpening the D2 in the field. that knife has been my go to so many times!
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
..although I do have a love/hate relationship for some of the choiled models in your pics as far as dressing duties you've listed, especially those with the small, elfish choils...but that's just me
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Well, with my vast experience of one deer, the elf choil didn't seem to be a problem that I can recall. But others here certainly feel as you do.


BillyJoeBobJim said:
3 - awesome blade height and profile with a great handle
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So you like a broad/tall blade. That's interesting, as most smaller hunting knives are not as tall as the B4. How does the height help?


stricknine said:
I would pick the vex, ease of sharpening the D2 in the field. that knife has been my go to so many times!
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All I can say is that the Scrapmax did not need any touchup while field dressing and butchering.
 
Got my Blacktail today, used the MBC exclusively. Worked better than expected for gutting and skinning. Looks like I have a new deer knife,,, :)
 
I used the scrapmax 460 last week for first time on a deer and it was amazing. First time in a long time I only used one blade. It was all in the field to the cooler with no water to wash up with til I got home. It wasnt overtly cold so I was able to scrape the fat off on nearby tree limbs.

That drop pt seems to be a 460 ish . It will do wonders.
 
Thinking on this one some more, I'd probably just use that CABS if only just to make sure nothing hangs up in the choil during your cuts. Second choice would be the Vex in D2.

The 4" blade length would be appreciated over anything shorter during butcher (not sure how far you will be going with this), heck something 5" like your INFI RMD would actually probably be my pick but you didn't include this.
 
I like a 4" blade. The BAD is excellent but at 3.5" it is a bit more work than it needs to be. So.... I just altered my Meaner Street to suit my needs. It's perfect.
IMG_0078_zps87af87ad.jpg


Another fantastic blade is this Meaner HACK in 4" blade. Works very well...
IMG_0335.jpg


I do need to try out the elmax 460... its done some kitchen duty but I'm sure it's up to larger tasks.

.
 
I'll bet that HACK works great ^. I put some more mileage on the 3.5" steak knife recently. It is really a wonderful little blade. The Elmax cuts forever and cleans up great. The only problem I had was the sharpening choil caught a couple of times. I'm certainly not getting rid of it any time soon, but if I had the option to go choilless on that blade, I would. Still, it's a fine little blade.
 
Third one and sixth one work real well for me for field dressing. I think #2 might be my favorite all around though for your purpose.
 
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