Has anyone hunted with a slipjoint hunter ?

J

Jason Cutter

Joined
Oct 9, 2002
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I thought I should ask... Collectors aside, has anyone here used a slipjoint hunter for actual hunting purposes, skinning, cleaning, etc. ?

Thanks in advance. Jason.

Jason Cutter
Knifemaker, Australia
Jason Cutter Bladeart
www.jcbknives.com
 
That's all I use bro. I have a case xx 11031 with a sheepfoot blade that has cleaned and dressed everything from dove and quail to whitetail deer and everything in between. I also use a trapper, a copperhead, and a stockman...all case xx. I do have a new jumbo trapper from Moore Maker that came with a leather sheath that I will be using this year....Jim
 
Me me, I have. I collect folding hunters, both lockers and slipjoints, so that's what I use. Have several from Case, Queen, Buck, and Hen & Rooster. The only drawback is they are not as clean to use as fixed blades, as it takes more than a wipe and slam it back in the sheath cleanup. I still prefer the folders, just drop 'em into my pocket and go, don't have to take them off a belt if I stop at stores on the way in or out hunting, or if I go somewhere to eat.
 
I have used a Schrade stockman to field dress and skin a deer. I have also used my Case trapper to clean and cut up rabbits.
 
I would venture to say that pre 1962 or so a hunter who used a folder was using a slipjoint. A lot of single blade "hunters" (typically a large "coke bottle" or "clasp" knife) and 2 bladed "trappers" (regular and bullet or bullnose patterns (Remington "Bullet" patterns) were and are still seeing use for dressing game and I would bet muskratts and stockmen are/were also used especially on smaller game.
 
Up until I was 25, I used a Case trapper to clean everything under the sun, from deer (rarely) to ducks (lots), to squirrels (tons). Until Case dropped their quality so badly, and I discovered other brands, that was all I ever used.
 
I guess one of my biggest reasons for asking this question was of course, for market research, as I am working on making "using slipjoints."

I have used Schrade Old Timer slipjoints for a range of utility tasks and found them extremely handy. These have carbon steel blades. Over the years, I've collected many antique pocket knives and folders in Australia and most have carbon steel blades that appear to have been very well used, sharpened till the main blade is almost a toothpick. Despite the rust, tarnish and gunk, the blades look like they were used till the day they were sold, so obviously the owners kept using them.

Any views on carbon steel blades, given the issue of cleaning ? Jason.

Jason Cutter
Knifemaker, Australia
Jason Cutter Bladeart
www.jcbknives.com
 
Jim Schmidt (possibly the finest folder maker in creation, IMO (RIP)), once said he wouldn't own anything that didn't age. You're always going to have people that like the traditional carbon steels, and those who like the newest, high-tech super steels. Personally, I like the way carbon steels cut, and if you like your knives, and invest a lot of money into them, you're going to take care of them. There is, and always will be, a market for carbon-steel knives. Stainless knives will probably hold up better, and will look new longer, but again, there is a segment of the knife-buying public who wants knives what rust. I've found from carrying them that as long as you wash and dry them off, and take minimal care of them, they'll give good service, and after a while, will develop a rich patina that actually looks better than new.
 
A buddy of mine has field-dressed multiple deer, antelope, elk and even a moose with a frigging SAK. I should mention that the moose was 50' from the road and he had someone with him who probably had more appropriate tools.

Gordon
 
Yes, used a case yellow trapper in CV for squirrell, deer hunting for many years! Just would strop it on leather and keep going!!
 
The very first knife I ever used to field dress a deer was a Schrade 77OT Muskrat. It used to say improved Muskrat on one of the blades, but that is long gone.

It sharpens up shaving sharp on both blades and as one would go dull, the other one was there to continue on.

I still have it, and also a few of the Western versions in stainless.

Either of them would easily slide through the skin of a deer and then was so easy by being small, to get inside and cut loose all the insides. I still use the Westerns because I bought a closeout lot years and years ago, and still have a few of them in new mint condition. I retired the Old Timer version. It lives in the pullout slide of this desk.

There is a Western version or two in the hunting pack. I wouldn't hesitate to use one to work up a deer. But will admit, doing the actual quartering part, I prefer my 110. I very frequently do the field dressing with the Western Muskrat, and the rest with the 110. The 110 just isn' t quite as easy to work with inside the body cavity of a deer.
 
Ressurection of this oldie but goodie.... (actually is so I have an excuse to post the first "good" photo I have taken of the 2 slippies I use for hunting). :D

Remington "Waterfowl" in 1095 / Delrin (Main small game knife)
Queen 2-blade "Folding Hunter" in D2 / Winterbottom Derlin (Back-up to my fixed blade for med/large game)

Click here for Pic

:cool:
 
Well, since it was resurrected, I'll reply too. I've cleaned more than a few quail and dove and lots of bass and catfish with old Case CV stockmen, and I know that the numbers of quail, fish, and deer that my dad cleaned were beyond counting.
So bring on the carbon steel slipjoints, we'd all love to see them.

James
 
Until the buck 110 came out (first truly successful locking knife, there wasn't really any thing else to use, at least that was comfortable.
 
I've used pocket knives for such duties, as I was influenced by my grandad, who did not believe in "special" knives. He used his stockman for everything.

I've used a Buck 301 stockman, a Victorinox Settler, and a couple of different sodbusters for my trout and bird knives.

I could never get into the Buck 110 even though I had one. Just to darn heavy. By comparison a Buck Woodsman is a feather.
 
jackknife said:
I could never get into the Buck 110 even though I had one. Just to darn heavy. By comparison a Buck Woodsman is a feather.
Click to expand...
Off topic but the Buck woodsman is a hell of a good hunting knife. ;)
 
LFH said:
The very first knife I ever used to field dress a deer was a Schrade 77OT Muskrat. It used to say improved Muskrat on one of the blades, but that is long gone...It sharpens up shaving sharp on both blades and as one would go dull, the other one was there to continue on...
Click to expand...

LFH,
We must be from approximately the same era, cause this is exactly the same knife I used when I first started hunting at the ripe old age of 11 years old. I just picked one up in VG condition at a garage sale about 6 mos ago because of the good ole memories it brought back. I use a small custom fixed blade now for all my gutting, skinning and caping chores, but that is only because I can now afford too..;)
 
I field dressed my first deer with a Boy Scout slipjoint. Over the last 40 some years of running the ridges, slipjoints have done the bulk of the work. For the most part they have been Queen and Case. bruce
 
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