job specific knife use help

[mauidogg]

hey everyone. I have been lurking and reading for quite a while before finally signing up. Tons and tons of info, very helpful and eye opening. I have a few knives that I use for various purposes and was looking into getting a few more and would like some recommendations.

First the stuff I got. all japanese waterstone, bought in Asakusa, Japan. Left is very fine, smooth natural stone (no idea on grit/micron) next over is 1200 King stone, next to the right is my "medium stone" (guessing 200-300 git), black stone xxcoarse (guess 100ish) the knives are top left: knife from middle east with camel bone handle (gifted to me), a buck omni hunter (gift from my wife 2 years ago), buck lite ( i had it ~20 years), top right is a Toyokuni 7" hunting knife wood handle with matching wood and copper case (gift from the wife before we were married, I knew she was a keeper. she bought it from Toyokuni in Japan, she travels a lot), and the last is a survival knife I found in the mountain hunting a long time ago.

 

[mauidogg]

okay so I use the omni hunter as a EDC and general use knife, I use the bucklite for small cutting uses ( I like to keep it very sharp). I havent used the camelbone knife. the toyokuni is an excellent blade, very very sharp convex blade, cuts anything I have thrown at it including hitting the ribs of a few wild boars. the survial knife has been with me for a very long time, and has gone thru many many animals. I don't know much about the survival knife material or where it came from, but the stainless its made of has pitting, and some corrosion possibly on the blade. I mostly hunt, but use a knife on a regular basis.

What I would like a few opinions on is for the following:
1. A good folder 3.75"-5", steel able to hold an edge for general to mild abuse. (sub $200 if possible, maybe up to 300)
2. a smaller folder 3"-4", to replace my bucklite in more long use application. something I can keep razor scary sharp, but hold an adge for longer than my old bucklite. likely to be used for skinning of small game. (sub $200 please)
3. a good sheath for the survival knife, I have one for it now but it does come out on occasion. I hunt in somewhat dense brush and sometimes small branches etc catch the finger gaurd parts of the knife, yanking it out of the sheath. I would like something I can put my belt thru and have a second loop for my thight strap. I run a lot while hunting...

 

[jimnolimit]

1. A good folder 3.75"-5", steel able to hold an edge for general to mild abuse. (sub $200 if possible, maybe up to 300)

2. a smaller folder 3"-4", to replace my bucklite in more long use application. something I can keep razor scary sharp, but hold an adge for longer than my old bucklite. likely to be used for skinning of small game. (sub $200 please)

3. a good sheath for the survival knife, I have one for it now but it does come out on occasion. I hunt in somewhat dense brush and sometimes small branches etc catch the finger gaurd parts of the knife, yanking it out of the sheath. I would like something I can put my belt thru and have a second loop for my thight strap. I run a lot while hunting...

these are only a few suggestions/options available.

1. for a larger folder (3.75"+), give the spyderco military a look

2. for a smaller folder in the 3"-4" range, take a look at the spyderco para2, spyderco endura 4 or the buck vantage pro.

3. you should be able to have a custom kydex sheath made.

 

[mauidogg]

thanks for the suggestion on the 2 spyderco knives, but I have an issue with the bump thing that they all have. Its just kinda annoying.

so I went looking at a bunch of different knives, and considering the steel types available.
for the larger folder, the SOG spec elite II in VG-10 its a 5" blade...maybe some similar knives out there that I havent seen that some one can suggest

then for the smaller folder, i kinda like the following but might need some pros/cons for:
ZT 0400 in S30V
ZT 0350 in S30V
Buck 847 Vantage Force 3.25"
Kershaw Blur in S30V
Buck Kalinga Pro in S30V

 

[Cold Kill]

If you are going for a folder for skinning, I would definitely suggest a Buck folder. Their blade geometry is designed for skinning (and the such). While it is over cliched (can't get the accent), the Buck 110 is a good option for a skinning folder. For a larger folder, I would say something in a higher end Kershaw or SOG. You can get a custom leather or Kydex sheath made for your survival knife, and there are about a million places that can do either or both sheath materials.

 

[jimnolimit]

thanks for the suggestion on the 2 spyderco knives, but I have an issue with the bump thing that they all have. Its just kinda annoying.

the bump thing, what do you mean?

you really can't go wrong with kershaw or buck, so pick a design that suits you.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

If you are looking for a folder for skinning, I suggest a lockback, rather than a more complicated lock. Lockbacks leave the blade channel clear for rinsing out. Linerlocks, for example, have too many tiny places for gunk to get trapped.

For a small sharp knife, look at the Spyderco Native. No bump.

 

[22-rimfire]

The slipjoint Trapper pattern knives are always an excellent choice for skinning small game. I use one for just about all my field dressing chores, and small game skinning. For skinning deer, I like something a bit larger and a fixed blade; but I usually just take them to a butcher these days. Case knives are always good as are ones offered by Queen and Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC).

If you want a small fixed blade perhaps, the Dozier K-20 Canoe is a great custom knife for smaller jobs. I also like the Spyderco Moran for field use. It is a great knife, but I'm not fond of the sheath that comes with it.

The Spyderco Native is an excellent small knife.

For something larger, the Queen Mountain Man knives are very good. They are lock back type knives as I recall similar to the Buck 110. The Queen knives seem to need some work on the edge when you first get them.

You might consider getting yourself a DMT or similar diamond stone for sharpening some of the newer harder steels. I use them in various grits for most of my hand sharpening needs.

 

[mauidogg]

the bump thing, what do you mean?

you really can't go wrong with kershaw or buck, so pick a design that suits you.

the thumb hole, couldnʻt think of the term earlier.

If you are looking for a folder for skinning, I suggest a lockback, rather than a more complicated lock. Lockbacks leave the blade channel clear for rinsing out. Linerlocks, for example, have too many tiny places for gunk to get trapped.

For a small sharp knife, look at the Spyderco Native. No bump.

thanks for the info, and i will take a look at the native

The slipjoint Trapper pattern knives are always an excellent choice for skinning small game. I use one for just about all my field dressing chores, and small game skinning. For skinning deer, I like something a bit larger and a fixed blade; but I usually just take them to a butcher these days. Case knives are always good as are ones offered by Queen and Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC).

If you want a small fixed blade perhaps, the Dozier K-20 Canoe is a great custom knife for smaller jobs. I also like the Spyderco Moran for field use. It is a great knife, but I'm not fond of the sheath that comes with it.

The Spyderco Native is an excellent small knife.

For something larger, the Queen Mountain Man knives are very good. They are lock back type knives as I recall similar to the Buck 110. The Queen knives seem to need some work on the edge when you first get them.

You might consider getting yourself a DMT or similar diamond stone for sharpening some of the newer harder steels. I use them in various grits for most of my hand sharpening needs.

I posted in the maint/tinker section about sharpening stuff, and I will likely get a few DMT stones added to my collection. I am thinking I will have to make my own or have one made for my large game skinner. The style I prefer I have not seen anywhere. The closest I have seen is ulu knife from alaska. What I am wanting for a large skinner will look almost like brass knuckles with a 6" blade where the knuckles would be.

 

[mauidogg]

If you are looking for a folder for skinning, I suggest a lockback, rather than a more complicated lock. Lockbacks leave the blade channel clear for rinsing out. Linerlocks, for example, have too many tiny places for gunk to get trapped.

For a small sharp knife, look at the Spyderco Native. No bump.

thanks a ton for the liner lock info, I wasnʻt even thinking about that and the earlier knives I had listed are all liner locks apparently. I think I will be getting a native for my small knife. I think I might make another thread to get more opinions on the larger folder.