Hunting knife for field dressing game?

T

txgolfer45

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Aug 29, 2002
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Primarily to field dress deer, hogs and also breast out wild turkey. I have a Buck 110 folder. The blade seems to be well suited for field dressing game. The 420HC steel doesn't hold an edge very well after cutting through hair/fur. It sharpens up easily. I've tried some of my more tactical folders (e.g. Benchmade 420 Snody). But, the blades tend to be wider and not as easy to maneuver around when field dressing.

Any other recommendations?
 
Take a look at the Spyderco Moran. The blade is thin and it is a handy length. However, I always liked a Case Trapper for field dressing purposes. That is what I use most of the time even though I'll usually have a fixed blade available when I'm hunting. Yes, I have the Spydie Moran, but have not used it for much.
 
case knives like a trapper has sorta a straight razor blade and a pointy blade ha and good steel ats-34 or it might be 154cm same thing small diffrence great steel either way not terribly expensive
 
Does it have to be a folder, or is a fixed blade ok?

I have a Gerber Freeman in s30v with stag handles that field dressed, skinned, and quartered 3 deer before it needed to be resharpened.

The Benchmade 201 Activator+ is a good one, as is Cabela's Alaskan Guide series of Buck knives, with their Vanguard in s30v. Knives of Alaska has good knives in D2. I've never even held a Bark River knife, but from the comments on here and the other knife forum I frequent, they seem to be top notch.

If it has to be a folder, then a Buck Alpha folder might work for you. If you can find a Benchmade 610/615 Rukus/mini-Rukus, that might work as well.
 
CS Voyager or Recon 1.

A fixed blade would be better though. :)

One of CS's PENDLETON Hunter is tough to beat for the money.

If a folder, get one of the Voyagers while you still can at around $50, they won't last long at those prices, there is a new model coming out next month and it will be more.

The Voyagers are tough to beat, I have had one of the 4" Plain edge clip points for awhile and it's one tough folder and VG-1 Steel is no joke believe me.
 
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FYI, I said custom shop 110 because you can get one in S30V that way which will hold an edge a lot longer than 420HC. In case I was vague.
 
Fallkniven and Bark River have several that would work well. The Fallknivens are available in VG10 or 3G (SGPS), both of which hold a great edge. Bark River uses different steels, but many are A2, which again holds a great edge.

Here is a video comparing a couple of the Fallknivens. I think it is the same fellow in the video above. The accent sounds the same.

NOTE: Video shows the backstraps being cut out of some deer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4jNCxVDoY

Kevin
 
Dag-nabit said:
...Bark River have several that would work well.

Bark River uses different steels, but many are A2, which again holds a great edge.
Click to expand...


I agree, an A2 Bark River like the Woodland Special (3" blade), or the slightly larger Highland Special or Fox River are Ideal for field dressing.



Woodland Special.


Big Mike
 
Damn Big Mike. Another sweet looking Bark River. :thumbup:

You have some of the best.

Kevin
 
mustangfootball said:
case knives like a trapper has sorta a straight razor blade and a pointy blade ha and good steel ats-34 or it might be 154cm same thing small diffrence great steel either way not terribly expensive
Click to expand...
I love my Case knives, and the Trapper is my favorite pattern but Case stainless is nothing like as good as ATS-34 or 154CM. It sharpens easily and takes a decent edge, but it does not have anything like the edge holding or toughness of ATS-34 or 154CM. They have made a few limited edition knives in 154CM, they are not regular production models however and tend to sell for premium prices. The last 154CM Trapper I saw was selling for around $180US or around three times the cost of the same knife in regular Case "tru-sharp" stainless.

The Case chrome vanadium (carbon steel) is better than their stainless, in those respects, but is still not up to the level of currently available premium steels like A-2, O-1 or even properly tempered 1095.

Unless he is willing to search out a LE Case in premium steel (and pay a premium price), Case is probably not the place to look, if he wants a tougher and longer lasting edge than Buck 420HC
 
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Dag thanks for that vid!!!

I'm gonna reccomend the F1 as well. I picked one up in a trade recently and it has become a favorite. Really great knife.
 
Check out some 0f Bob Doziers knives. Some of the best hunting knives made IMO.
I also like Charles May and Gene Ingram alot also.


Most any knife with a good steel/heat treat, and some belly in the blade will do fine though.
 
You ever consider making your own? A2, D2, 154CM, 440C, ATS-34, S30V, CPM 154, and others are all available on line at reasonable prices in sizes that suit a one time makers needs. Shape with a hacksaw, dremel, angle grinder, files, and polish with sandpaper. Off to a heat treater and order the handle material of your choice. Attach with bolts, pins, rivets, and epoxy, shape and polish, and voila, a knife made to order for your needs. It doesnt have to be pretty, but if you take your time it can be. Many custom makers got their start by having to make their own knives with features they couldn't get anywhere else. All the above steels are excellent, and are air hardening, so will offer more choices for heat treating. Texas Knife Maker Supply and Paul Bos come to mind.

My second knife was a 3.5" O1 blade hunter for a friend. Full flat ground from 1/8" thick stock, torch hardened, and handled with a cherry/mahogany hidden tang handle. Ugly as sin, but the edge would ring like a straight razor when tested for sharpness with my thumb. I had access to a hardness tester and proofed my hardening process before attempting. Aimed for 58, got 57.5. Close enough for gov't work. Took me about 5 hours to shape the blade using a little Harbor Freight belt grinder and starting with 80 grit belts. The second best knife I've made to date. Hope to change that tomorrow.:D
 
If you're looking for a folder and like the Buck 110, Cabela's has a version in S30V. A Queen Mountain Man lockback in D2 might work for you as well.
 
I prefer this Bark River Canadian Special for field dressing deer. This pattern is useful any time you are out in the wild.
 
I would never use a folder for dressing game unless there wasn't a fixed blade available. Too much gunk gets into every nook and cranny.

I recommend a Beretta Loveless dropped point hunter---it's a faithful and authorized implementation of the absolute zenith of hunting knife design. With the zytel handle you can pick one up for around $40 on the bay.
 
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