Deer hunting TRADITIONAL fixed blade suggestions

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Whole nuther thought. How bout what you want? My Sonoran Camp Knife was designed by a professional guide and outfitter. He sent me a cheap $35 (literally) knife and said this is almost my perfect knife. But if we do this and we do that, man that would be it. Then it would be my perfect knife So we did this and we did that, A2 tool steel at 62RC and cocobolo handle and this is what we came up with.



My Sonoran Hunter and Sonoran Skinner were designed by a well know TV personality/international sportsman as his perfect knives. Here in sheep horn and the Pack Pac they go in, as he keeps them in his pack until the animal is down (we also did a Sonoran Belt knife that he wears but thats another story).



But the point of this is I had another experienced hunter come in and say I really like that Sonoran Skinner but if we did this and we did that it'd be perfect. Here it is with a little of this and a little of that looks like and its perfect for him:





So whats perfect for you? Especially if its a generational memory deal. I wanna stress this isn't just me that can do this. In fact I probably couldn't by this hunting season. There's all kinds of guys on this forum that could work with you and make this happen for YOUR knife. I'd really explore that.

 

I'll throw in for the Grohmann #2 "Trout and Bird", and an overlap sheath. From cleaning bluegill to deer, does it all. Light on the belt. Sturdy sheath. Great price. Comes in stainless or carbon. 4" blade, handle. Popular up here.

 

Wow, I like how you do this and that.

 

Randall Denmark Special, check it out!

 

If you got $500 it’s no problem! My neighbor just picked one up and it’s an impressive knife, nice thin blade, beautiful high grade stag and fits the hand like a glove. It screams hunting knife! The only Randall I personally would use for hunting.

 

Absolutely no flies on a Randall. I've used this droppoint #26-4" (picture taken when the knife was new) for skinning and deboning deer and been quite pleased with it. Not sure the steel type, but something like a 1095 based on performance - blade steel does discolor from blood slowly, but eventually. OH

 

There sure are a lot of Buck fans here! My suggestion is a bit different. The bucks are pretty plain looking, and I dont like the square handles, though I like their 420hc steel actually. I suggest getting a Hess. I have 2, one Whitetail (which Id recommend) and a Frontiersman (which is too big for hunting use but it looked cool and I got a good deal lol). They make old school knives and make them really well, for a good price. My Whitetail did a fine job on my last whitetail I shot. My other suggestion would be a Blackjack knife. Theyre made by Bark River but are a bit fancier, more classic looking I think. My favorite is a model 125 Heavy Hunter.

 

I see a lot of great knives here, for the purpose, and a couple that are not. The OP just wants one for field dressing, not skinning or butchering. I could, for that purpose, be completely happy with the diminutive Buck 102. And a little knife like that would get a nod from guides. I could never pay for a guide, but I know three guides. Buck knives have a strong showing here, for good reason. The 121 (one of my favorites) and the 118 and 105 are all top-notch, in my book for all purpose hunting knives. I could list a good many other knives but these are affordable highly functional darlings.

 

I am a knife user that loves Bushcraft and hunting deer. I particularly like hunting knives. I have Dozier’s and other custom, but the truth is that field dressing a deer can be done with any cheap knife. When you butcher a deer that gets a little more complicated, but you do not need anything expensive. If I could only have 1 knife to process a deer it would be a 6” semi stiff Victorinox boning knife.

If you want something traditional that you do not see too often I would get the Case Twin Finn set. It carries well and will do the job.


Geoff

 

Hurry up and show us!

Great work and gracious post.

I was just wondering when we'd get to Grohman.
I don't have the real thing, myself, but the KOA balances at the first rivet, as I believe the original does. (The CS balances at the front of the handle, which is close enough for my kinaesthetic sensibilities.)

I believe Case and China Schrade both still make the thumb-ramp in 5" and 4.5" versions. It surprises me that the market will float two lengths so similar for so long.
I often wonder if a knife curved like the Schrade, or more so, with a point clipped to bring it nearer the center line, would be usefull.

 

First try: (like a 7" Canadian Belt knife in D2)
Too long

Second try: (6" Clip point in D2)
Not enough belly


Third try: (6" Drop point or possibly clip point in AEB-L)
After making three knives in D2 (one was for a friend), I decided to use something that didn't eat diamond stones like candy.

 

Nice! I particularly like that finished clip-point. Interesting offset on the knife to be.

 

The offset is pretty much the same as first one, but the blade is 1" shorter and wider at the heel which makes it look more drastic. I may bring the heel up some, I'm just leaving a lot of steel to play with. The first one was supposed to be more like the third one, but in trying to straighten out the grind line, I lost some of the edge near the heel. There were several OOPS's on the first one where I took too much steel off in places.

The second knife went pretty much as planned, but it was made from an odd shaped leftover piece of D2 from my first two knives, and I didn't have much to work with. I would have liked to make the butt larger, but couldn't. I thought it turned out pretty good though. Just not what I would have made if I had a bigger piece of steel to work with.

 

I think a Bob Dozer knife would be perfect. I have one and it’s awesome for that purpose. His heat treat holds a edge a long time. And makes a lot of traditional designs and modern. Also check out Grohman DH Russel Canadian belt knife. Also a great hunting knife. And proven design.

 

The Randall model 3 is also great one

 

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When I was growing up the sharpfinger was THE quintessential deer hunting knife. Couldn't find a pic of mine by itself but what they heck,ALL of these are good for deer imho. Although personally I feel the 119 is a tad large just for field dressing.
From left to right, Schrade (USA made)152,144,PH1, Browning bushcrafter, Falkniven frej NL4( my 99%EDC fixed blade) Buck 119. The Schrade 158ot was also very popular where I grew up, basically the sharpfinger with a guthook.