Hunting Knife

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bacman99

Joined
Oct 29, 2005
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Same question but different.

I'm looking for a fixed blade hunting knife for field dressing deer. 4" drop point blade, I would prefer carbon steel over stainless. I want somthing that is easy to sharpen. I would also consider suggestions on one currently not made that I would have to find used. I would like to spend $50 or less.

help me out guys!
 
Spend a little more and get a Bark River in A2 tool steel. In the long run, you'll be glad you did! :):)

If $50 is your absolute limit, look at Ontario, Case and KaBar. Pretty low-end, but if you get carbon steel, far better than a Gerber or Buck IMHO.
 
I'll second the Bark River (if you're willing to spend a few more dollars) but I can't agree that Ontario,Case, or Kabar could outshine a Buck....even with carbon steel. Outshine a Gerber? Probably.
 
I usually recommend the knives that I own or have owned (don't we all?). So, I can't recommend this Bark River, but it's a good place to start looking. THey have the new Classic Lite Hunters in: 4" 12C27, 8-1/2" overall, .125 thick, but.....with a guard on the hilt.

http://www.dlttradingcompany.com/index.php?cPath=24_306

If you don;t like that, maybe scroll down to the Bravo-1, Fox River, Northstar, Montana Guide, etc.

Good luck
 
Two good picks, a little closer to your price range, would be a Fallkniven F1 or a Coldsteel master hunter. Based on an Alaska Guide Buck 110 I bought a while back, I could also recommend the Cabelas Alaska Guide Vanguard.
 
Queen makes a drop-point hunter in D2 high carbon steel with Micarta scales for $45. The D2 will be a little harder to sharpen than regular carbon steel, but will stay sharp a L-O-N-G time.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Thanks for replies guys the Queen Drop Point Hunter Micarta 4180-MI looks promising, Ill keep it mind.:)

The bark river knives are almost three times what my price range is why even post them?:confused:
 
There aren't a lot of choices in carbon steel blades right now. One problem is that Camillus has gone out of business. Your most economical choice is to find a simple Swedish knife in the Mora tradition. The best selection and prices come from Ragweed Forge. There are a few knives that are made with laminated carbon steel blades (hard center, softer tough outer layer) but you have a very few choices of design. For a hunting knife I would look at the simple carbon steel models on this page.

http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

One of the things to look for is actually the most secure sheath designs. The molded handle knives have plastic sheaths that are not all secure.
 
Many on this forum would probably rail on me for this recommendation. The Gerber Gator or Freeman Hunters are good knives. The Freeman is a carbon steel. I personally have had no problems with Gerber. There is also the old Schrade knives that are very good as well.
 
Jeff Clark said:
There aren't a lot of choices in carbon steel blades right now. One problem is that Camillus has gone out of business. Your most economical choice is to find a simple Swedish knife in the Mora tradition. The best selection and prices come from Ragweed Forge. There are a few knives that are made with laminated carbon steel blades (hard center, softer tough outer layer) but you have a very few choices of design. For a hunting knife I would look at the simple carbon steel models on this page.

http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html
Click to expand...

Jeff mentioned knives I'm embarassed to have forgotten mentioning and the best value in knives, as far as I'm concerned. I have various Frosts and Erickson models in carbon, laminated, stainless and tri-flex. They are all great tools! The Frosts 740 or 780 are excellent carbon blade knives at a ridiculously low price. Highly recommended by MANY folks on the forums.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
it's not carbon steel but it works really well, the buck vanguard. Also if you can find one schrade made a drop point version of the sharpfinger which was awesome. ahgar
 
Swamp Rat makes carbon blades. If you can find a Howling Rat Little Mischief, you'd be in business, but it would run you more like $200.

HRLM1.jpg


In your price range, maybe an older Schrade Old Timer in 1095? The Sharpfinger comes to mind.

Or, as others mention here, you could double your price range and get a Bark River in A2.
 
Jeff Clark said:
Hey desmobob, What do you think of the triflex blades?
Click to expand...

I just got that one recently and haven't used it (or abused it) much yet, but it sure took a wicked edge after power-stropping it. :thumbup:

It's a slightly thicker (.098" vs. .079") blade than the other models, and it seems like a sturdier knife with a little more heft than the other Moras. I like it a lot so far.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
ahgar said:
...Also if you can find one schrade made a drop point version of the sharpfinger which was awesome...
Click to expand...


I won't bore you again with a bunch of pictures and history of the Sharpfinger, but it is one of the patterns I'll recommend again and again for a field knife, particularly for small game, fish and whitetail deer. I've used one for about thirty years and love them.

They can be had in both carbon steel (1095HC) and stainless (420A). Carbon is my preference, and they are more common. Although Schrade closed in '04, NIB examples can be found for $50 or less. Far less for a good user with no sheath, and replacement sheaths are cheap. IMHO you can spen more and get a prettier knife, or a more modern knife, but not a better knife.

The Sharpfinger is the 152OT. The Drop Point mentioned is the 154OT, and the same knife with guthook (not my favorite) is the 158OT.

Codger
 
"you can spend more and get a prettier knife, or a more modern knife, but not a better knife".
codger 64 said it better than i could. ahgar
 
If I remember right the Sharpfinger 1520 T is not a drop point. I have a 1540T and it's drop point and a great little knife. If you can find one it's worth the search. Buy it.
 
I have hunted and taken a lot of deer over the lst 51 years and used about every size and style of knife made. I like the Gerber Gator, the Buck lite and there is sure nothing wrong with the Mora. Another favorite is the Cold Steel Master Hunter. I also like all the Knives of Alaska knives that I have used. I have had nothing but great service from Gerber Knives.
 
Up your limit to $100 and get one of these babies from mineralmountainhatchetworks....
1/4" 5160 High Carbon Spring steel !
little.jpg
 
You can get a Benchmade Rant for less than $50 bucks at various places on the net. (440C - 4" blade, 8 1/2" OAL)
BEN10500.jpg
 
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