Inexpensive Hunter?

G

Greg G

Joined
Mar 22, 1999
Messages
245
Hello All:

Have a bunch of folders in my collection, (along with a Lucie hunter), but what I'm looking for is an inexpensive (+/-$100) USING hunter. Going deer hunting for the first time this year and looking for a good, smaller, blade to actually be used. Looks not important, functionality is. Any suggestions as to factory/Low end custom pieces will be appreciated.

TIA,

Greg
 
I don't have a link handy but you should check out Michael Coopers blades. He goes by 'L6Steel' here and if you do a search you'll see some examples. He has a site and it may be in his profile. His stuff is awesome in design and function and his recent stuff with precious woodgrains is incredible! Check him out!

Shawn

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"I didn't do it! Nobody saw
me do it! You can't prove a
thing!"

-Bart Simpson
 
Busse Combat #3, anything by Bob Dozier, Fallkniven, or how about the Marbles Sport 99 with the Loveless blade? All are good, solid 3-4 inch hunters.
 
Why don't you order one of the BladeForums Talons coming out in 154cm. Should be a dandy little hunter. $99, if I remember right. I haven't heard lately but I would suppose there are some left. Can't wait to get mine.

You also might want to check out GenO Denning and Bob Dozier. And one of my favorites: a Marbles sport99.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
My cold steel master hunter has been an excellent user. The carbon V steel has to be cleaned after it is covered with blood 'n' stuff but you can easily field dress several deer before it needs resharpening. I also received a Spyderco Moran drop point at Christmas but it was too late to take on this years hunt anyway so I don't know how it will work out.
 
I have not had any complaints from anything and everything related to my CS Master Hunter. It is a great knife, and I love to use it. Other then the Kydex rig being a little dinky, I would highly rek'mnd this piece. For its size, I would only compare it to the more expensive Busse Basic line.


S in NYC

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What we do today in life...echoes in eternity...
Every man dies...not every man lives...
 
I have a Buck Vangard that I have been using on my deer for several years now. I like it very well for the price.
 
Check out the custom options from Buck. Go to www.buckknives.com and click on the Pete's Custom Shop link. If you like the classic Buck 110, you'll LOVE a custom 110 with top-grade steel, your choice of handle material, etc.
 
Greg,

Starting with production:

I REALLY Like the KaBar "Lil Finn"

http://www.kabar.com/cgi-bin/product_detail.cgi?product_id=31&cat=5

Lists for a whopping $29 - Dad has used one for deer sized game for YEARS, and I have borrowed it so often that I ended up buying my own.

I find the Buck Personal a bit too thick. I have a discontinued Marples that is OK. I hated using my Buck 110

Last year, I decided to get a custom made

http://www.thegallos.com/images/smknife.jpg[img]

Without the engraving it was $150 Made by Richard Sunderland


 
All good suggestions so far. I always say go custom, but that is just me. There are many excellent offerings out there for custom hunters. From inexpensive to ungodly pricey. I would have to add the Allen Blade MEUK to the list. Fantastic piece for not much cash. I don't have his site handy, but a quick search should turn it up.

By a long shot, I think the most underrated production hunting knife out there is the Schrade Sharpfinger. Extremely inexpensive, skins like a meat eating demon, and found just about anywhere. I second the motion of getting a sheath made by Normark. The stock sheath flat out sux.
 
Marbles are great deer knives but have a very thin edge that is not that durable. Don't even think about trying to split a pelvis with it. I have one and like it. They are sharp, good looking and cut through pepperoni at eh card game like nobody's business.

Buck knives have been with me on countless hunts and have always performed well, for the money. For your budget you could get the Skinner and Pathfinder and have money left over. They are great bang for the Buck, (sorry).

Fallkniven is a great choice for a versital knife in many styles. Remember, much of what you do with a "hunting" knive is not always gutting, cutting and skinning game.

Puma, if you can take the 440a makes a White Hunter and White Hunter II that you should check out. The one with the rubber handle is more affordable and they are a great design.
 
You would be hard pressed to find a better hunter than the Spyderco Wegner. One of the best designs I have seen. I got one for a friend that is an avid hunter. He loves the knife.

It is endorsed by the Alaska Fish and Game commission:
akfgletter.gif


go to www.blade-tech.com and look under testimonials.

Another good choice would be a Spyderco Moran or one of Fallkniven's offerings.

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Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif


[This message has been edited by shootist16 (edited 02-12-2001).]

[This message has been edited by shootist16 (edited 02-12-2001).]
 
A deer is not hard to field dress so practically any knife can work. You do not need to split the pelvis of a deer to field dress it. In my opinion, a blade longer than your finger isn't necessary. A knife I had and lost is the Victorinox Hunter with a locking main blade, saw blade (if you just have to split the pelvis), and a short blunt tip serrated "gutting blade". It also has a nice drawing of a buck deer on the handle that I think looks like Bambi
smile.gif


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It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness.
 
If going on the cheap, the Schrade Sharpfinger which has served me quite well, will do. Its continous belly will open up any animal you may encounter. Its needle pointy tip can handle delicate chores. The carbon steel (Old Timer line) version will hold an edge unlike any other $25 fix blade I' ve ever used! The + steel (Uncle Henry line) version with staglon handles will provide a slightly better grip. And its stainless blade will resist corosion much better than the carbon version. Our own Normark- Eric Noeldechen from On-Scene Tactical makes a great multi positional concealex sheath. Costs the same if not more than the Schrade. But total package is still at around $50!

The Fallkniven will work quite well. A plus for those who prefer a checkered rubber handle. Its VG10 is quite stainless and will hold an edge just as well. You can them on these forums for about $65 +. Not bad.

But noone knows hunting/ utility knives like Bob Dozier. Handles are just so comfortable to use. And its D2 tool steel really holds an edge. Average expected price is about $135 and up. That includes a top quality kydex belt sheath. But often times one may find a lightly used one in great shape on these forums for about $100. Go with the Dozier if you can.


Nakano
 
In addition to all the excellant ones that have been mentioned, check out Remington. They have a new fixed drop point with 4" ATS-34 blade. The Knife Professional has them pretty cheap. Good hunting(knife & deer). RKBA!
 
Hey Charles Gallo nice to see someone else likes the old lil finn! I've had three so far. Just wished it has better steel.
 
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