Fellow Knifenuts I need your help

Darkjedi2

Darkjedi2

Joined
Jun 30, 2001
Messages
542
I am trying to help a friend, Dave, find a knife that will fit his needs. I personally do not go hunting and know little to nothing about skinning and preparing game.
He does not have a computer so he asked me to help him with his next knife purchase. My friend is not new to knives, he is a real life cowboy, but has limited access to the Internet.

Here are his needs:
4 to 6" blade
Will be used for only skinning and preparing game.
He wants to only carry one blade, that will both skin and saw through bone. My friend does not wish to hack through the bones. My friend would prefer plain edge on one side, serrated/scalloped on the back of the blade. However, half and half would be just as good.
Stainless or High Carbon steel.

Any prices or web links would be great.

Darkjedi - May the Force be with you always.
 
Hmm doesn't sound like a BM too bad. Cold steel makes some cool hunting knives also try Dozier custom knives. they both have pictoral web sites.
 
Darkjedi2, since you listed a 4 - 6" blade, I assume Dave is looking for a fixed blade?
If so, I would take a look at these:
- Spyderco Moran Drop point (FB02). This a small thin bladed knife that cuts like crazy, VG10 steel, excellent kydex sheath.

- Cold Steel Master Hunter This a little thicker bladed knife with a kraton grip, choice of Carbon V or Aus 8 steel.

- Buck Vanguard Hollow ground 420HC blade and a choice of rubber(kraton?)or wood handle (both have brass handguards).

Since Dave is a cowboy, if he hunts for horse back a folder may be safer and more convient, here are a few I would check out:

- Benchmade Griptilian

- Buck 110

- Buck Alpha Hunter Folder

- Spyderco Pro-Grip
 
If cost is a concern, a CRKT Bwana. And I would strongly encourage picking up a folding pruning saw for the bone work. My 2cents.
 
Darkjedi, I don't hunt or know much about preparing game, either. But if your friend wants only one blade, both to skin and saw through bone, he may be compromising both functions if he goes for some monster Rambo knife.

How about a Chris Reeve Aviator? It goes for $205, but the quality is excellent and it does have a general-purpose sawtooth back, Although its 4" are at the low end of his range, a shorter blade provides better control. And the Aviator would double as a survival knife (actually its primary function). The hollow handle can hold band-aids for when he finds out how sharp it is :D

There are also multiblade folding knives with clip- or drop-point blade, gut hook, and bone saw. I'm not real familiar with them, but I'm sure someone else here could recommend a reliable one.
 
I forgot about the bone sawing part. I have not seen a hunting knife with a functional bone saw (although the Aviator that Esav suggested may work, I have never seen or used one). Saws on every knife I have tried did not saw vey well and they are dangerous unless you are very careful. I think a saw on the spine of a hunting knife would also cut open the guts making a big mess, when you are opening up the belly, with the edge facing up. I use the knife to seperate bones at the joints. The wood saw form a SAK dose a good job on the pevlic bone. A meat saw is great for butchering, and Wyoming Saw makes a couple of bow saws that take wood and meat saw blades and fold up into a special belt pouch so you can take it into the field with you. A folding pruning saw as Ed suggested would likely work well also.
 
Hey Dark...

You don't want a double edged knife for skinning..
You are asking for problems....

Here is a few that I suggest..

Camillus Cuda Talon 154CM
Cold Steel Master Hunter
Grohmann RI
Spyderco Moran either Drop point or swept blade

I have all of these knives and rotate them as per mood...

If he's going to saw through bone,,then get a saw...

ttyle

Eric...
 
I bought a Cold Steel Master Hunter in Carbon V several years ago and have used it several times to dress whitetail deer. One of the other guys in our hunting camp located a few lightweight folding saws (Husqvarna), and I have been carrying it in the woods. This saw meets my needs for brush trimming around a stand, or similar uses. If I need anything heavier, a bow saw and axe are in the vehicle. This is a very lightweight combination, and the kraton grips of the CS Master Hunter don't slip when wet.
Jim
 
But for a guy who wants to carry ONE knife, I'd suggest one of Bob Dozier's knives. Go here and you will see a good selection.

One of these will completely prepare any animal. Personally, I have never needed a saw to do anything from deer to elk. But if you really think he needs to saw through bone, he needs a saw.
 
Given the requirements you listed, I think I would go for one of those nice Browning lockback folding hunters. They have a nice clip/skinning blade of 440C and a pretty sharp and wicked double cut bone saw. And, you can still get these with pretty nice stag handles. Price is well under $100 with a nice leather snap pouch sheath.
 
If your buddy re-thinks his blade-length limitations, have him check out this <a href="http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?BU180D3">Buck</a>.
 
You guys are great!!!!!!!

All these excellent suggestions, let's me know I came to the right place.

I gave Dave one of my spare Cold Steel catalogs, so he looking through that right now. The Benchmade knives look pretty good, and the Dozier Knives look really sweet.

Danbo could you please post a link to the Browning lockback folding hunters. This knife sounds very promising.

P.S. Fixed or folding. In fact my friend was looking at the Cold Steel Vaquero Grande. Thanks again and please keep the suggestions coming. I feel like I am doing research for Skinning Knives 101:D

Darkjedi - May the Force be with you.
 
Just got this picture off of Browning's website. www.browning.com

Blade is listed as AUS8A, which is good stuff. Easy to sharpen, takes a fine edge and holds it pretty well. Suggested retail price in stag is $119, but nobody pays suggested retail unless they are a moron. :)
 
<a href="http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?BR828">Here's</a> a Browning option. 4.5" closed, saw blade, gut hook blade and trailing point blade, 440C steel, Zytel frames with laminated wood inserts.
 
Here is an example of the pruning saw. Worth the $6.99 at the hardware store. This one has dealt with elk and deer.
 
I'm not a hunter unforunately, but I second Ed T's setup. Seems like the best way to go.
 
If your friend absolutely must have everything in the one package, then the Browning hunter or one of the German made hunters is the only choice I can think of. Patterns with folding saws and other implements are quite popular with German makers, ( and I assume popular with German hunters-or they wouldn't be able to sell 'em ).

There is limited choice from US based sellers, ( there are a lot more patterns available from European dealers ), and I have avoided Puma due to their high cost and variable quality these days. That really only leaves one choice from the German makers.

In the USA you should be able to find a BO-4021 Boker Folding Hunting Knife which has a lockable main blade and saw. It is not cheap at near $200, but looks to be a nice knife.

http://knifedealer.net/boker/hunting-knives.shtml

If your friend is prepared to order from abroad, Diefenthal and Hubertus offer several patterns:

http://213.130.59.22/Toolshop/e/shop/knives.jsp;jsessionid=oi7z88m021

http://www.knifeshop.com/shop/

That said, you can get a Dozier fixed blade from A.G. Russell and a folding saw for the same money as the Boker.

http://www.agrussell.com/dozier/index.html

I havent handled a Dozier myself, but given the reviews I've seen you get a lot of knife for your money.

If your friend wants a less expensive but very high quality production peice he could choose a Fallkniven F1 or S1 instead:

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/fallkniven/

The Fallkniven's I have handled and they are superb knives.

Personally I would go with a fixed blade and a seperate saw-it is both safer and more efficient.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top