Hunting Knife Recomendation

deathofallthings

deathofallthings

@DeathGripScales
Joined
Jan 3, 2011
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I don't hunt at all, so I'm a little out of my depth here. Basically Christmas is coming, my dad's hunting knife is ancient kabar, a small one, something like a 4inch blade, maybe 5/8 of and inch wide. Anyway, it doesn't hold an edge, I'm always sharpening it for him. My cousin that he always hunts with says they always use his knife because my dad's never wants to cut well. I'm thinking it's time to get him something new for christmas. I'd like to get him something high end, but I can't decide what. I'm really leaning toward the Spyderco Southfork. To me it seems like a good shape, obviously one of the best steels in existence. The only thing that concerns me is it might be too much knife? I'm not sure. It's certainly a lot bigger than the knife he uses, but I feel like that might not be a bad thing... but I wouldn't know. He mainly hunts white tail, so he doesn't exactly need to gut a moose or anything.

Anyway, do any of you have any other recommendations for a high end fixed blade hunting knife? I'd like to not go anymore expensive than the southfork, $250ish. My problem is it seems like every high end fixed blade I look at these days is either geared toward tactical or bushcraft. Thanks
 
I would take a look at my recent thread on a custom caper I had made. Look up big Chris custom caper. I will try to find the link. You can easily have a great custom made to fit that budget.
Thread: Big Chris Custom Caper in S90V
 
Maybe check out the new swamprat vex. I have the old d2 one and it is the best hunting knife I have ever had.
The cabelas Alaskan guide vanguard in s30v maybe a good option as well.
 
Maybe a Bark River Gameskeeper or Drop Point Hunter? Both under $200 and great hunting knives , plenty of blade for gutting a whitetail.
 
A suggestion has been made to get him a custom fixed blade. You can do this...easily for less than $250. Big Chris has been mentioned. Eliot is very good. Bradshaw, BackWoods Blades (Bill Akers), Alan Davis, Larry Withrow...there are so many good knife-makers. Look at this section of the Exchange here, and perhaps contact several of the makers by email or PM. You can likely see examples of their work on this thread... for sale. Many of them would be very pleased to make up a special knife for your dad. But, time is short, so don't delay. They are busy this time of year.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades
I would think that you can get an excellent hunting knife for $150-$250.
I have purchased quite a few from several of these gentlemen above for relatives' gifts. I have purchased a Southfork, and it is an excellent knife with an outstanding blade-steel of S90V. However, a custom maker can also give you a good selection of blade-steels and a great-looking custom wood grip in addition...for about the same price. There are lots of good blade-steels; stainless as well as carbon, or perhaps Damascus...and any of these would be just fine. You're a good "kid" to do this for your dad. (Kids can be "any" age) My kids are in their forties...
 
RWT said:
I would take a look at my recent thread on a custom caper I had made. Look up big Chris custom caper. I will try to find the link. You can easily have a great custom made to fit that budget.
Thread: Big Chris Custom Caper in S90V
Click to expand...

I thought about doing something custom, but I think Christmas is a little too close to get something done. I am going to the New York Custom Knife Show tomorrow though, so I may find something there. And hunting knives seem popular in the knifemaker for sale area, so I might get lucky there too.

Whetstone39 said:
Maybe a Bark River Gameskeeper or Drop Point Hunter? Both under $200 and great hunting knives , plenty of blade for gutting a whitetail.
Click to expand...
I looked at a lot of bark river knives. They definitely have some options I'm considering. I'm not sure how I feel about A2 though. I feel like I'd rather get something more stainless. And I feel like close to 200 dollars is a bit too much to pay to get 154 for bark rivers stainless options.


fargo203 said:
Maybe check out the new swamprat vex. I have the old d2 one and it is the best hunting knife I have ever had.
Click to expand...
This is an interesting option, I am quite a swamprat fan. Doesn't look like they're currently making them though. Prices seem a bit extreme on ebay too.
 
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You should talk about it with him. Say something like your cousin said he needs a new hunting knife and see what his reaction is. He might say something that helps you make up your mind. I don't see the need to spend $250 but that's obviously up to you...
 
There should be a bunch of nice "suitable" hunting knives advertised in the Exchange in the next couple of weeks. Just about every night, I can find one there that I would like... And usually, you don't have to rush too much, as these knives usually take a day or more to sell. The Knife Show tomorrow might also turn out very well for you. I'd suggest about a 4" blade, preferably no thicker a blade than 5/32" or 0.156", or it won't slice well. Also, you don't want a large, wide blade for white-tail deer. I'd prefer to go with a 1/8" thick blade at about 4" long, with total length of 8 1/2" or so, and a nice leather sheath.
Good luck to you, sir.
 
personally for me a buck 119 is the way to go. I alos have to agree with fetzer on the Top BOB, excellent fixed blade
 
(655B) Curved Skinner/Sticker/Boning 6 "
655B-500x.jpg

http://www.svord.com/
 
Hi,
I suggest you ask your cousin what exactly your Dad uses his knife for. If he's skinning deer with it, then design shape is going to be more important, and something that can be easily sharpened in the field is a plus. (Look up Buck Skinning Knife 103 for the general shape. Another very nice one is the Schrade Old Timer 165; look for older pieces which were USA made, not the current Chinese crop.) If he's using it as a camp utility knife, then something else steel-wise and blade shape might be desired.
Also, I would not discount Bark River; they seem to pick their steels fairly carefully for what their intended use is, and they make a number of fixed blades that could be used by a hunter.
 
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Lots of good recommendations here for you....

22-Rimfire echoes my thoughts. Go to the A.G. Russell knife site, and look through the Dozier section.

Custom is definitely in your price wheelhouse, and I would heartily recommend that direction. I have done so many times and loved it each time.

I'd also go with Sacramento's suggestion.... Ask your cousin AND your dad what features they'd like to see.

Have fun with this... giving a great knife to a great person is one of the best feelings there is, IMHO.
 
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