Favorite hunting knife steel

[Alberta Ed]

.308 FMJ, probably 150 grain, if I remember correctly. Wasn't hunting ammo, but it's what I had and the deer apparently couldn't tell the difference.

I also used a vintage Marbles Woodcraft that day on another deer and whatever steel they used back then (probably 1095) did very well.

I can't speak to flint, but I hear good things.



Great point, and I think AEB-L excels in this aspect.

The original Marbles were die forged, I understand, the same process Roselli uses. Not sure what steel they used.

 

[Arathol]

The original Marbles knives used 1095 or something quite similar but it was a bit softer than todays standards.

 

[The True North]

S110V

 

[oldmanwilly]

The original Marbles knives used 1095 or something quite similar but it was a bit softer than todays standards.

Yes, but they absolutely nailed the geometry. That makes all the difference. Most hunters probably use some unknown soft alloy in cheap knives, but they work fine if kept thin and keen.

 

[Maroco]

Nitro- v, AEB-L, 80crV2. I also have a few D2 dozier blades I'll take into the field occasionally

 

[Karl H]

IMO, Magnacut is the current benchmark steel.

Most PM steels are going to need diamond or CBN abrasives for relatively quick sharpening. S90V and S110V and other similar really high carbide stainless steels require that you be pretty careful to avoid chipping. Even with diamonds, you probably will not want to have to sharpen those in the field.

 

[longbow]

Original Carbon V Master Hunter with a modified guard and handle.

 

[Ironbut]

IMO, Magnacut is the current benchmark steel. Most PM steels are going to need diamond or CBN abrasives for relatively quick sharpening.

S90V and S110V and other similar really high carbide steels you have to be pretty careful to avoid chipping. Even with diamonds, you probably will not want to have to sharpen those in the field.

For a while there it seemed like there was a new super-steel-of-the-week, well.....almost every week, and I have a lot of them. Some I like, some not so much. For the last year or so, I've gone back to carrying a Buck knife most of the time, and I don't miss carrying the modern folders one bit. (Although I did buy a Buck 112 Slim with a pocket clip a couple months ago, but don't hold that against me!)

I have really been intrigued by everything I've been hearing Magnacut though. Then last week Buck announced that their Custom Shop will be offering the 110 in Magnacut. I had one ordered within a half hour. I expect them to add a 112 in Magnacut to the custom lineup soon, and I'll be on that one right away too.

 

[joesrx]

D2 isn’t bad.

 

[oldmanwilly]

D2 isn’t bad.

I used to have an Alpha Wolf in D2 made by Knives of Alaska. I reprofiled it once into a convex edge then used it for a couple of years with only light stropping to maintain it. Granted, I only used it on a few deer then primarily in the kitchen, but I recall being impressed by the performance. It was a wicked slicer. The blade and edge were also very thin, which certainly helped. Maybe I should give D2 another try.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

D2 isn’t bad.

It's really good actually....... only thing is it isn't quite as tough as cruwear and magnacut at Very thin/hard edges when hitting bone.
Be careful of chipping
Still pretty darn good though. I think I sharpen mine pretty thin, and I currently have been running it as my edc without issues.
Slicing it shines.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

I’m really liking my n690c the wife bought for my birthday. Keeps a nice edge enough to skin out a whole deer.

Planning on heading out this evening for a hunt, hopefully use it then.

 

[kth]

That makes sense sharpening the AEB-L on lower grit stone for toothy performance but I can not help myself when sharpening and like to finish on Spyderco'a fine ceramic stone.

I was testing some ingot D2 and man with those big chunky carbides it sure was a fierce cutting edge.

I've got KOA knives in D2 and they just plain work. Field dressing isn't pretty work and knives don't always get cleaned and dried promptly, so I have to be aware of this with D2 to avoid corrosion.

 

[Skywalker31]

As mentioned earlier, rolling with M390 this season. How's everyone else doing?

 

[Seedy Lot]

Magnacut on my little skinner/gutter and 10v on the semi trailing point that I use for butchering.

Harvested a yearling cow elk and a whitetail buck so far, not sure if I will get back out again but I still have some tags I could fill.

 

[dmattaponi]

I’ve always used a Buck 110. First with 425M. Gave that knife to my son when he started hunting. Then bought a newer model with 420HC. I don’t skin tthrm, just field dress and drop them off at the local deer processor. They work just fine for this. I’m sure there are better steels, but I like the nostalgia of using the 110.

 

[gadunz]

15n20

Svord Deluxe Curved Skinner​

Rounded upswept point for less hide & gut perforation. From whitetail to wapiti, boar to bison.

 

[jfk1110]

15n20

Svord Deluxe Curved Skinner​

Curved upswept point for less hide & gut perforation. From whitetail to wapiti, boar to bison.

Their knives are appealing for the most part but those sheaths.................Forget ugly......They...are. FUGLY......

 

[gadunz]

Robust, plastic inner strip. An acquired taste.

 

[chevyrulez1]

Most hunters today either us some cheap chinesium gut hook plastic handles piece of garbage named after some camouflage brand, or the havalon replaceable blade things. I despise both of them, but to each his own.
My problem is I have too many and can't decide which one
I used my GEC H110 a week ago and it worked good in 1095, I have also used a Buck 119, an old Western skinner, and a Victorinox hunting knife that works really well but I prefer a fixed blade for easy cleanup. Most of those are some variety of 420hc, and have worked good for me. I have a couple of Buck 110's but oddly enough have never used them while hunting, but I would think they would be excellent.