hunting knife

bradpierson26

bradpierson26

Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
803
So my boss just invited me to go elk hunting with him and HIS boss in november. he said Colorado has too many elk and i can just get an over the counter tag. I have never been hunting before, dont even have my hunters safety yet
too bad qualifying with an M16 doesnt count:jerkit:
Soooooo, im looking for a skinning knife, good enough for elk. i have some fixed blades but im not sure if they are good for skinning.
i have a RAT RC-4 and izula, kabar, BM nimravus, and cold steel GI tanto.

Now im not opposed to buying a new knife. hint hint hint:D
maybe a bark river? i like muela's but they are over priced for average steel. stag isnt my favorite handle material tho. mid to high end woods or natural color micarta is great by me. gimme some suggestions for under $150-200
thanks
 
You'll likely get responses ranging from a scalpel blade up to a short machete being recommended. In my limited experience in field dressing elk I have used a smaller (4") skinning blade along with a small chopper/camp type knife of about 6". The skinner was used for finer tasks and the larger knife was used for chopping through joints and "popping" holes in the hide to be able to pull it off easier.

My recommendation would be to search around in the makers section, check the gallery, and find a maker whose work you like and contact him about making you something specifically for this task. Factory knives are certainly capable but to me they lack the heart and soul of a handmade knife. If you order a custom you get to have input so it is EXACTLY what you want.

SDS
 
I'm curious. What blade shape do you prefer? Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is the Loveless-style drop point hunter, but it it really the best for processing game?
 
Not being a hunter, I have always wondered "What makes a knife a hunting knife?" And more to the point here, what characteristics make a knife more suited to hunting. And are some knife characteristics better for some aspects of processing game and other characteristics better for other aspects (of the same game). In other words, might one knife be better for skinning and another better for quartering an animal?

And are knives that are good for deer and elk different than ones for small game like rabbits?
 
Swedge said:
And are some knife characteristics better for some aspects of processing game and other characteristics better for other aspects (of the same game). In other words, might one knife be better for skinning and another better for quartering an animal?

And are knives that are good for deer and elk different than ones for small game like rabbits?
Click to expand...

Yes. :)

It gets trickier if the term "hunting Knife" includes being a "hunting camp" knife with general utility chores to be included along with the field processing of game.

I also would like Dannyboy to tell us more about what he has experienced especially with the larger game.
 
I've had good results with my Puma Skinner. It's has seen 30+ whitetails over the years and one nilgai. The 440C holds a decent edge and for a knife that sees a lot of use the ease of sharpening is a big plus.

I would recommend either the Puma or something of similar size and blade shape.

puma5L.jpg
 
By the way I don't think there is any way you can purchase an elk permit over the counter in Colorado. You have to enter a drawing way in advance to even get a chance at one, or at least that was my understanding.
 
tjsulli790 said:
I've had good results with my Puma Skinner. It's has seen 30+ whitetails over the years and one nilgai. The 440C holds a decent edge and for a knife that sees a lot of use the ease of sharpening is a big plus.
Click to expand...



I have a soft spot for old Pumasteel Puma's.

PumaCollection.jpg


But a little Dozier goes a long way.

DozierGentsIvory4.jpg
 
Believe or not a Kabar will work just fine, I know a couple of folks that use one.
It was after all, a copy of a hunting knife to begin with!:D
 
bradpierson26 said:
I have never been hunting before, dont even have my hunters safety yet
too bad qualifying with an M16 doesnt count
Click to expand...

At Hunters Safety they teach you not to shoot at people...



Either way, just take your RC4. I'm sure there are better blades out there, but it will work just fine, especially since you have never been hunting before, the other guys will probably gut and skin it for you anyway.
 
I've been using a matched pair of Randalls with a 6" and 4" blade lately. But in case you don't feel like taking $1,200 worth of knives into the field, there are an awful lot of good choices. RAT, Dozier, Buck Vanguard, Beretta Loveless - the list is almost infinite, and they'll all do just fine.
 
tjsulli790 said:
By the way I don't think there is any way you can purchase an elk permit over the counter in Colorado. You have to enter a drawing way in advance to even get a chance at one, or at least that was my understanding.
Click to expand...

Ya, you can. There's quite a few available. Just check DOW website or a local office for more info.


For the last 3 years, I've been using a Spyderco Steet Beat to skin,gut and bone out my deer & elk. Last year a friend shot a cow and when I made it over to him to help him out, he revealed that he'd forgotten his knife back at camp. So we did the whole elk, skin, gut and completely bone out, with my streat beat. Even after a warning, he cut himself with it. :p
But after the hunt he promptly went to the Spydie store in Golden and bought one at full price. You can get one for in your 150-200 range.

I think they're small enough to carry, good enough steel to stay sharp thru the whole process and nimble enough to perform what you tell it to. I'll not use another knife, I'm sold. :thumbup:
 
You might want to check the DOW's website before you make your travel plans; I believe that's only for in-state licenses.
 
tjsulli790 said:
By the way I don't think there is any way you can purchase an elk permit over the counter in Colorado. You have to enter a drawing way in advance to even get a chance at one, or at least that was my understanding.
Click to expand...
Last time I heard from the one of the guys here that elk hunt on public land in Colorado. You can buy over the counter either bull or cow tags are available. Just a diff in price.
 
I own WAY more knives than I need, most of very good quality and even a couple that I made myself. Still, the knife that accompanies me hunting every year is a Beretta Loveless dropped point. I love it so much that I bought three spares in case I lose it!

Bob Loveless perfected the hunting knife IMHO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top