Hunting Knife

As a supplement to this thread and others, you should check out virtuovice on youtube. He tests and gives feedback on several Bark Rivers and many others. Few people have the opportunity to harvest 80+ deer annually as he does, so his feedback is pretty solid.

Many of the videos are testing 2-4 knives on the same deer or same day then a talk back at home.

I would personally choose Blind Horse if going over $70 as they are local to me and I like the squared spines, sheaths, blade shapes, etc.
 
You could also go cheaper & save some some money. I have used everything from an $8 Old Hickory, $28 Gerber Metolius to my $75 BK&T's. They all work just fine for deer. The BK16 would excel at this task. As would any smaller sharp knife.
 
Buck 102 Woodsman (40 to 50 bucks - maybe less from some dealers)

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A Buck 110 or Buck 112 will do the job nicely too.
 
The modest little Becker BK11 is about perfect, in my opinion. Mine has opened whitetails, bushytails and so on and manages to ride in my pocket most every day. For your budget, you could get one, micarta scales to go with it, an fancy sheath and have enough money left over to do it again - two or three times.

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The size is convenient for small game and absolutely perfect for large. The blade is just right so that I can lay my index finger along the spine for when I'm up to my elbow in a deer's chest cavity. Reminds me where the blade is and helps keep the rest of my dainty flesh safe.

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Beckerhead #42
 
SpartanSaint said:
Yes, but not all of those are well suited for field dressing white tail.

I'm currently sifting through bark river's. Might have found one I like
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Plenty of Bark River Knives to meet your needs.

I like the Drop Point Hunter, and the Fox River.

But my Favorite Field Dressings Barkie is the 3" Woodland Special.


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Bark River Woodland Special.




Big Mike
 
I've lost track of the number of deer I have dressed with a Busse AD I picked up used off the exchange. At a 2.5" blade it is definitely shorter than your requested 4", but I have found it is all I need. Much more blade than that gets in the way, for deer anyway. My EDC for almost 7 years now is an Endura (3.5" blade), so the functionality of larger blades is not lost on me.
 
I'm REALLY leaning towards the brkt Little Caper. I love the blade shape and I know they make a wonderful knife. I kind of eye balled the 3v northstar and fox river but for $100 more than the little caper I'm not convinced its worth the price difference.

I'm not sure why but that little guy just speaks to me. Thank you everyone for your input!
 
I recommend this if you don't have a problem with lower RC! I prefer a lower RC on a hunting knife so it's easier to touch up in the field even if I happen to remember to bring one of my diamond hones!
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http://petesknives.com/
 
My whitetail knife. I got it this year, and it was also on my knife list, so, scratch-scratch.

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Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
My whitetail knife. I got it this year, and it was also on my knife list, so, scratch-scratch.

2012-06-10141744.jpg


Moose
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I love the simplicity of the Dozier knives, have been eye'ing the K2 General Utility for nearly a decade but another knife has always jumped in front of it. I keep hearing that Dozier's D2 blades with their coarse finish cut aggressively for a very long time. Someday...
 
chiral.grolim said:
I love the simplicity of the Dozier knives, have been eye'ing the K2 General Utility for nearly a decade but another knife has always jumped in front of it. I keep hearing that Dozier's D2 blades with their coarse finish cut aggressively for a very long time. Someday...
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You heard right. Not a rough use knife, by any means, but that thin edge cuts skin, flesh and fur unlike any other I've owned. Great blade, my K11 has the African Blackwood handles, and has been on my list for a long time. Been off my list since June.

Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
... Not a rough use knife, by any means, but that thin edge cuts skin, flesh and fur unlike any other I've owned. Great blade, my K11 has the African Blackwood handles, and has been on my list for a long time. ...

Moose
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A Dozier Straight Hunter was my go to deer knife for years.

It was only because my hunting buddy who had the chance to use it would not give it back that I had to replace it.

That knife still sees a handful of deer every year, much more use then I ever gave it.




Big Mike
 
That's an easy choice. Decide on whether you want an upswept or drop point, then get it! Nice to have clear choices.
 
I would buy a Dozier..Period.

I have an H1 Fallkniven.. It's ok.. It's no Dozier!

The H1 has a thick blade..


K2, K19, K9 take your pick..these are my favorites..

I edc the K9. It is a clip point, and a wonderful knife.

But for hunting, and I could only have one Dozier, it would be the K19.

The Crotts model one handled 6 deer (field dressing one day) it was tired after 6, and needed a touch up.
Crotts knives are on par with Doziers and that model one is a winner.
There's lots of great knives in the 200.00 price range..
 
harleyguy02 said:
I would buy a Dozier..Period.

I have an H1 Fallkniven.. It's ok.. It's no Dozier!

The H1 has a thick blade..


K2, K19, K9 take your pick..these are my favorites..

I edc the K9. It is a clip point, and a wonderful knife.

But for hunting, and I could only have one Dozier, it would be the K19.

The Crotts model one handled 6 deer (field dressing one day) it was tired after 6, and needed a touch up.
Crotts knives are on par with Doziers and that model one is a winner.
There's lots of great knives in the 200.00 price range..
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Unfortunately their turn around is 24 months... as wonderful as his knives are I'd like it for next season, if not this one. plus i'd fallen in love with TK's work a long long time ago. I saw him in a magazine at barnes and noble, started sifting through his posts again, and sent him a message more as a pipe dream than an order request.

The man was timely in his response, wonderful in his insight and boom. the order was made. Its a little more than I wanted to spend, but I feel good knowing my money is going to a member of this community and I've got a sebenza I don't carry that I could afford to liquidate. I'm really really excited for this knife!
 
Nice blade. I know that many people go with the drop point design for a hunting knife, but I prefer something more in line with your choice. I am a fan of the Dozier knives. If you like them, keep an eye on the ones he posts monthly for quick sale that I assume were made for folks that for whatever reason the deal fell through or for shows.

With this design, you probably have to be a little more careful during the gutting process, but I prefer the sharper point for detail work.
 
I'd get a Spyderco mule in Cruwear, Halpern Titanium grips and then make my own sheath. That Cruwear at 300-600 grit will go through boar after boar, deer after deer and want more. It's almost unknown, or slated for not being stainless but it will cut like a demon and stay that way for a long time.

The size and shape is well made for skinning, gutting and caping even.

Not many left at Spyderco's factory outlet.

Joe
 
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