Hunting knives?

[Shotgun]

So I'm over in the maker forum and clicking on every thread that has knife named 'hunter' this or that and noticed something. None of them really have anything similar in common, in fact some of them could be considered a 'bushcraft' blade if they had a scandi put on it. For those guys out there that hunt, are there features that lend to a good hunting knife? Why are hunting knives not skinning knives with big bellies?

 

[midnight flyer]

In my opinion, this is a two part answer.

For mammal processing and cleaning:

A good hunting knife does all the hunting chores it needs to do, but none as well as a specialized blade. It needs to be big enough to break a bone or a joint, and have enough meat on the blade (no pun intended!) to keep it from ruining the edge if you hit a bone.

It has to have enough of a point to be able to cut and pierce the areas around the nether regions. I has to be sturdy enough to NOT flex when using it. You need PRECISE control.

But... it has to have the right geometry to make it a good slicer as well. Not only grind, but shape as well. Enough belly to roll back skin and membrane when needed without too much fear of nicking something or when in deep losing sight of the point. But not so much belly you can't precisely reach in a bit to cut that last piece of membrane from the skin or reach into a tight place.

It must be easy to clean in the field to remove guts, blood, etc.

At the hunting camp:

The traditional hunter must do camp chores as well. This includes meal prep, fire prep, rope cutting, possible branch removal and sapling cutting, and any other chores that crop up when camping. It must be easy to sharpen and maintain in the field.

For me, I have had a few good hunting knives, but don't recall any of them being perfect for everything. I have some I really like, and some I use because they have tremendous sentimental value. To me, the balance was to find one that was good at all the tasks I through at it.

I think a knife is like any other tool and should be matched to the job(s) at hand. With that in mind, it is yet another reason that you need many, many knives.

Robert

 

[sherlockbonez]

There are many different knifes can be used for hunting. Everyone has different requirements.

 

[bigcountry1315]

I use a lot of diffrent knives for hunting.The best so far is a knives Of Alaska Wolverine Hunter.It is made of D2 steel takes a scary edge and holds it. I have used it for many hunting seasons. I have gutted and processed deer and big game with every thing from a 11 inch camp knife to a 2 1/2 inch pen knife. all have gotten the job done but the Wolverine Hunter has been the best secounded by a Buck Vanguard. Just my 2 cents and I have been hunting since 1978.


Mike

 

[sixgunner455]

Depends on the hunting, and the hunting situation. Personally, when I hunt birds, I carry different knives than when I hunt elk, just as I use different guns and ammunition.

Suit the tool to the task. It may make your life easier.

 

[Gossman Knives]

From my experience, I've found the drop point and spear point to be the best blade shapes.
Scott

 

[desmobob]

For mammal processing and cleaning:

A good hunting knife does all the hunting chores it needs to do, but none as well as a specialized blade. It needs to be big enough to break a bone or a joint, and have enough meat on the blade (no pun intended!) to keep it from ruining the edge if you hit a bone.

It has to have enough of a point to be able to cut and pierce the areas around the nether regions. I has to be sturdy enough to NOT flex when using it. You need PRECISE control.

But... it has to have the right geometry to make it a good slicer as well. Not only grind, but shape as well. Enough belly to roll back skin and membrane when needed without too much fear of nicking something or when in deep losing sight of the point. But not so much belly you can't precisely reach in a bit to cut that last piece of membrane from the skin or reach into a tight place.

It must be easy to clean in the field to remove guts, blood, etc.

I think that's pretty well put.

Add to that "personal preference" and you'll see that a LOT of knives can be "hunting knives." I prefer a drop-point blade for hunting, but lots of guys like a clip point or even an upswept point.

To me, "hunting knife" really describes two types of knives: a knife for field dressing deer and a bird/small game knife.

For most of my life, the knife I carried for field dressing deer was on the small side to be a good camp knife (and usually a folder like the old Gerber LST Magnum). Lately, I've moved toward a larger fixed-blade knife.

One of my favorite all-around knives that has the size and shape I like for deer is the Fallkniven F1. This one has dressed some whitetails and a couple of caribou:

The Busse BAD is another knife that I find perfect for whitetails. I used a BAD on two deer the season before last:

I also like the old-school Blackjack Woodsman:

I've used this spear-point Joel Bolden custom, too:

The bird/small game knife needs to be small and precise. I have a lot of knives, but the one I always reach for during the waterfowl season is this inexpensive A.G. Russell Bird and Trout.

This Jim Rehrer custom should be getting some more use this season, too:

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[ratamahatta]

I use a breeden pathfinder to cut the meat, and a landi utility to make the incision......

 

[dipbait]

Sharpfingers are nice. Great for bunnies and deer.I loved mine.

 

[udtjim]

When we leave for deer camp next month, we will take out meat processing knives and a good saw. We will field dress our animals one day and cut and wrap the meat the next day before if freezes solid. A perfect setup would be a four inch hunter/skinner, a boning knife and a dedicated slicing knife. Last year that was the Mora SS Clipper and a couple of Victorinox kitchen knives. A six inch boner and a eight inch slicer. For one hunting knife, The Buck Vanguard would be hard to beat in the production knife field. This year I have a Dozier Hunting knife in D2 to try out. Can't wait. Also a couple small Busse's.

 

[milani74]

I have heard good things about these for skinning http://www.havalon.com/xt60-edge.html They are inexpensive and have replaceable blades. I have never used them personnaly so I cant vouch for them.

 

[MikeH]

I have several knives I consider "hunting" knives, but in reality my old beater Spyderco Native will field dress a Whitetail as well as any of them. Too me, one of the prime requirements of a hunting knife is that it not have too long a blade, and if I decide to carry a fixed blade with me it is usually the Busse Active Duty. The skinning knife is in my truck, as in Alabama true wilderness hunting is just not available.

If I were going on a remote hunting trip, where the knife I carry has to do all of the game-rendering chores, I would procure a Dozier #2.

 

[Kismet]

I have a bias for Fiddleback's up-and-coming Practical Hunter...for reasons too long to go into, but

in truth, from chipped rocks to sharpened shells, from surgical steel to ground files, from Schrade Old Timers to RAMBO ver. 76, the meat doesn't care.

Ain't no "one-knife" for everyone, I reckon.

 

[koyote]

I guess I'll address this from my point of view-

I make a few different hunting styles on a regular basis. (well, regular for me)- all very different.

I make a sorta nessmuk-like spearpoitn style with a very obtuse tip profile, which is great for processing large mammal- it's completely different from the standard US drop point hunter design.

I do some modified caping/sharpfinger designs from time to time, it's a different style for a different type of hunter.

for small game, I do the shortfinger style more and more- a little, wicked sharp 2 to 3 inch blade with a straight spine and deep belly- and a big handle.

None of these are classic US knife company style hunters, but all of them work.

Thing is, if you learn the knife, most anything will serve. There's always a trade off- like that needle pointed caping style blade when you are trying not to pierce offal and organs!

As far as bushcraft goes, I intend any bushcraft knife I make to be capable of handling game duties. That's just part of the deal.

 

[mtwarden]

I have heard good things about these for skinning http://www.havalon.com/xt60-edge.html They are inexpensive and have replaceable blades. I have never used them personnaly so I cant vouch for them.

I use these for work to necropsy various critters, I now keep one in my hunting kit

for the fine stuff, tough to beat- you still need a stouter knife in addition to this scalpel for ribs, joints, etc

get the orange one so you don't lose it-also use extra caution w/ this knife (scalpel really)- just looking at it wrong can result in a cut

 

[Mack]

From my experience, I've found the drop point and spear point to be the best blade shapes.
Scott

I've often looked at your Nessmuk blades and imagined them to be good skinner/butcher knives. Am I wrong?

 

[Gossman Knives]

I've often looked at your Nessmuk blades and imagined them to be good skinner/butcher knives. Am I wrong?

The Nessmuk is an awesome hunting knife. My hunting buddy uses one I made for him a few years ago and it works great for gutting and skinning. Especially skinning.
Scott

 

[Mack]

The Nessmuk is an awesome hunting knife. My hunting buddy uses one I made for him a few years ago and it works great for gutting and skinning. Especially skinning.
Scott

That is what I thought.
Thanks Scott!:thumbup: