Just returned from elk hunt; are we over thinking this?

This is a fun topic and I’ve enjoyed reading through the thread.
Overthinking it? I don’t think so.
As an enthusiast or collector of any item you will spend a considerable amount of time thinking about that item, that passion for it is what makes it desirable.
Now, do we “ need “ the biggest, best, newest, sharpest, most high end “ knives to do our particular task, probably not. Human beings have been doing those jobs with napped rocks and sharp sticks since the beginning. Does having better equipment make it easier ? If it didn’t, we wouldn’t have wanted better than sharp rocks, right.
Have we long ago passed the point of good enough or better with modern materials, absolutely. That doesn’t mean that we settle, that’s not human nature for those with a passion for knives, but, the non collector sees no need to advance past what works.

Have I seen much difference in field dressing white tailed deer with a CPK or CRK over my old Benchmade or Glock field knife, yes. Is it enough to justify the price difference? To me, absolutely. The same way I see the value in paying for the upgraded motor in my truck. There is utility in it that is worth the value to those that value such things.
I guess I look at it like this. It’s not that we’re overthinking the knives we use, nor overspending to get them, it’s that we have thought about what they’ll be used for and want to make sure that the tool we have chosen will not be lacking or fail us in some way. It’s like buying insurance.
Of course, we all know the tradesman, mechanic, backpacker ( except the extreme lightweight guys, they consider everything ), or Hunter that uses whatever they can find as long as the job gets done.
Personally I like using a piece of gear that helps bring joy to the doing of the job, it makes the hard days better and the good days more memorable.
 
I tend to pick my hunters based more on the handle and blade shape than the steel used. Most any decent blade will go through a single deer without resharpening. Elk tend to be a little bigger job and it can depend on whether you can get them up off the ground to skin or not. My last three deer were field dressed and skinned with a Lucas Forge Jack Pine Special. I find the handle and blade on this one to be about perfect for the way I use a knife.
I should probably add Lucas Forge uses O1 carbon for most of their knives.
 
jackknife said:
Yes we are over thinking it, and because we are knife nuts, and obsessed with the knife as a cult worship item, the knife magazines know how to shill for the knife industry. They feed us a constant up dating of XYZ steel of the month that maybe fewer than 5% of knife nuts will ever notice a difference, just to sell more knives to people who already have more than they can use in this lifetime.

Knife nuts, are just like car nuts, gun nuts, and cigar nuts in that they mistakenly believe that the more money they spend in their object of obsession, the better object they are getting. Never mind that they will never see circumstances where that object is pushed to the limit, they just absolutely have to have the latest and greatest thing.

It all gets ridiculous after a point. Theres more real work being done in third world countries with a rusty machete than all the CR knives being wielded on weekends by office cubicle workers who spend too much time on knife web sites in search of the 'better' blade.

That ranch hand with his well worn old Kershaw most likely never read a knife magazine and didn't know how much he was under equipped. He just did what he needed to do with that beat up old knife.

Jeff Randall once said in an interview that 99% of the knife market was B.S. I believe him.
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There's some truth in what you said, especially the part about rusty machete seeing more work than 200$ folder from the US. There's also some stuff I disagree with.

The Gerber Gator is mostly used in hunting because of the marketing around it. Communication and price. If you want a hunting folder, what the Gator offers for the price is a very good deal if you don't want to spend more than 40$. Sturdy backlock, decent steel, good blade shape, bulky handle to avoid cramp... It has that hunting design vibe to it. Knife also get lost in the wild, very often. Better to not spend too much on a hunting knife.

It's also made in the US and hunters tend to care about their homelands in general. For years, it's been considered as the de-facto hunter knife in the US. It's clear Gerber marketing hit the right spot with the hunters demographic. The Gator perfectly fits your description of a knife that the industry has been pushed for. With the Gator, Gerber has convinced a whole demographic of people that a hunting folder shouldn't cost more than 40$. I think it's one of the better hunting knife for the price, if not the best imo. The Gator is hard to beat for 40$, but it's still a shit folder overall. You'd get so much more by spending 30 to 40$ more and honestly, hunters don't know much better in general. It's like trying to convince some people that Harley are shit bikes overall. I said that as a boar hunter myself.

Overall, I'd also strongly advise against folders in the wilderness. If the locking mechanism break, you're fucked in the wild without your most useful tool.
 
SALTY said:
whether or not we are over thinking this notion of $500+ hunting knives in super-steels. I do where a Rolex or three that don't tell time as well as my G-Shocks and certainly cost more to acquire and maintain; so I'm in no position to judge.
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Ah, now there's the thing... Many of us follow your example. Certainly, cheaper knives will do the job, but...I like a "nice" car, a nice house, nice tools to work with, and my knives are no different.
I've gifted hundreds of cheap (read economical) knives...SAK's, RATS 1 and 2, etc....
But for myself, I want SurviveKnives, Busse, CPK EDC 1 or 2....and others of similar ilk.
 
Chapp said:
There's some truth in what you said, especially the part about rusty machete seeing more work than 200$ folder from the US. There's also some stuff I disagree with.

The Gerber Gator is mostly used in hunting because of the marketing around it. Communication and price. If you want a hunting folder, what the Gator offers for the price is a very good deal if you don't want to spend more than 40$. Sturdy backlock, decent steel, good blade shape, bulky handle to avoid cramp... It has that hunting design vibe to it. Knife also get lost in the wild, very often. Better to not spend too much on a hunting knife.

It's also made in the US and hunters tend to care about their homelands in general. For years, it's been considered as the de-facto hunter knife in the US. It's clear Gerber marketing hit the right spot with the hunters demographic. The Gator perfectly fits your description of a knife that the industry has been pushed for. With the Gator, Gerber has convinced a whole demographic of people that a hunting folder shouldn't cost more than 40$. I think it's one of the better hunting knife for the price, if not the best imo. The Gator is hard to beat for 40$, but it's still a shit folder overall. You'd get so much more by spending 30 to 40$ more and honestly, hunters don't know much better in general. It's like trying to convince some people that Harley are shit bikes overall. I said that as a boar hunter myself.

Overall, I'd also strongly advise against folders in the wilderness. If the locking mechanism break, you're fucked in the wild without your most useful tool.
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When I went to Africa a few years ago I took along a half dozen Gerber Gators to hand out to the trackers and skinners. They all use really low end stuff so I thought something like the Gator would be a real step up without going overboard. Everybody was very happy to get the knives but my PH told me "first weekend in town they will trade those for beer and female companionship!" :) Everyone has their own priorities in life I guess.
 
Sidehill Gouger said:
When I went to Africa a few years ago I took along a half dozen Gerber Gators to hand out to the trackers and skinners. They all use really low end stuff so I thought something like the Gator would be a real step up without going overboard. Everybody was very happy to get the knives but my PH told me "first weekend in town they will trade those for beer and female companionship!" :) Everyone has their own priorities in life I guess.
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Maybe thats just it. Being this interested in a certain piece of gear is a luxury. Being able to acquire other things relatively easily has allowed many of us to make this a hobby on finding the "best" we can for something like knives while there are still thousands that are in the field using what they have at the ready. That doesn't necessarily mean that the differences and improvements that we notice aren't there, and it also doesn't mean that the people that are using more rudimentary cutting tools are fools, it just means that we have the time and the resources available to put the time, thought, and finances towards specific preferences and performance upgrades.
 
I think most people do. When I leave the house I sometimes struggle with what knife to take..... Sometimes having more isn’t a good thing. And then sometimes I think,we’ll I don’t want to use it in that way...... recently I returned back to sub 200$ knives. While I still have a crk that my wife bought me, I have been carrying an s30v PM2 or an s30vbugout. And they have been doing everything I want and more. As far as processing game, I use a Chinese made schrade 152OT that my one son bought me and another old Ontario knife that my grandfather used to do the same when I was a young kid.
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Can't it be both??

There are a LOT of people using absolute crap knives, that are definitely inadequate for their profession. And most of us WAY over buy in terms of build quality and steel for anything we actually use knives for. We have more than we need, and many people use far less than they should. I think both of those things are true. There is a huge jump in quality from say $25 to $125. But in terms of performance there are pretty incremental gains from $125 to say $400. That's where we're probably looking at over-thinking. Pro guides using gas station knives is pretty sad, and they would absolutely be happier with the performance and durability of a better knife, but those advantages will start start to shrink at given price point, maybe $100 or something. At the same time, most of us will never use our knives (by virtue of quality and quantity) to their full potential. But, it is a hobby and something we like, so I don't think it's wrong to buy some things you like if it doesn't create problems in your life. I could almost certainly get by the rest of my life with my Delica and Leatherman tool, as they are all the quality and performance I will ever need for my purposes, but I sure do enjoy using my Sebenzas and Microtechs, and they bring me a lot of joy.
 
nbp said:
Can't it be both??

There are a LOT of people using absolute crap knives, that are definitely inadequate for their profession. And most of us WAY over buy in terms of build quality and steel for anything we actually use knives for. We have more than we need, and many people use far less than they should. I think both of those things are true. There is a huge jump in quality from say $25 to $125. But in terms of performance there are pretty incremental gains from $125 to say $400. That's where we're probably looking at over-thinking. Pro guides using gas station knives is pretty sad, and they would absolutely be happier with the performance and durability of a better knife, but those advantages will start start to shrink at given price point, maybe $100 or something. At the same time, most of us will never use our knives (by virtue of quality and quantity) to their full potential. But, it is a hobby and something we like, so I don't think it's wrong to buy some things you like if it doesn't create problems in your life. I could almost certainly get by the rest of my life with my Delica and Leatherman tool, as they are all the quality and performance I will ever need for my purposes, but I sure do enjoy using my Sebenzas and Microtechs, and they bring me a lot of joy.
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Pretty much what I was driving at. The vast majority of people using any product are not going to be using the highest end. That goes for cars, knives, firearms, computers, headphones, watches and the list goes on. We call all get by with our cutting tasks with a Rat2 or a Delica in all likelihood the same as people can probably get by fine with a basic sedan and a Casio G shock. There is nothing wrong with the functionality of that gear, but there are always going to be aficionados that are looking for variety and the best their money can buy. Nothing wrong with either approach.
 
Sidehill Gouger said:
When I went to Africa a few years ago I took along a half dozen Gerber Gators to hand out to the trackers and skinners. They all use really low end stuff so I thought something like the Gator would be a real step up without going overboard. Everybody was very happy to get the knives but my PH told me "first weekend in town they will trade those for beer and female companionship!" :) Everyone has their own priorities in life I guess.
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I like my Gerber Gator but ... wait, hold on ... I can trade it for beer and female companionship?
I cannot imagine what I could get one of my Sebenzas!
 
SALTY said:
I like my Gerber Gator but ... wait, hold on ... I can trade it for beer and female companionship?
I cannot imagine what I could get one of my Sebenzas!
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Probably about the same amount of beer and quality of companionship. I'm guessing the name Sebenza wouldn't impress them that much down at their local house of joy and juice.
 
strategy9 said:
Absolutely we're overthinking it...
We're knife knuts...
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You are quite correct; in fact NO WHERE in the world is there a lady saying, "How much beer and companionship must I trade for a Gerber Gator!"
 
I've mostly been an upland hunter, basically because it's a longer season and I could take the dog for a really long walk. I've got a deer, and antelope, etc. But lots of Dove, Ducks, Quail, Pheasants, rabbits, etc. Cleaned most of those with a Stockman or similar folding knife. Kept a Rapala in my fishing gear. Settled on a 4" Loveless pattern drop point by WC Davis as my main field knife many years ago when I could afford a custom blade.

Over the years I've found that something that works for you is better than that super whatever you think you need.
 
MolokaiRider said:
But the performance upgrades are definitely tangible and worth it to those in the know.
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I'd change this to "worth it to those concerned about it ". There's zero chance that cleaning animals (the skill of the user is 99% of it as soon as you get to anything that is even saw temper hard) changes in results or time with a standard buck knife vs anything that costs $500.

The skill in use and efficiency sharpening is all that matters. Fancy steels are akin to complicated watch movements. They're interesting to users, but that's about it.

I'm not devoid of super steels, either, but in cutting something with a knife or woodworking, spending time on sharpening efficiency and getting familiar with a knife is far more important than how long the knife lasts.
 
This is a fun topic and thread. Unlike the OP, I do not hunt but something I am discovering is the concept of “good enough.” I know that I just picked up a CRK Mnandi for my EDC when my older Queen slipjoint would do just as good of a job and I replaced a Timex watch with a watch from Seko but I have been moving towards the “good enough” philosophy with my firearms. I am not so enamored with the thought of a rifle or two that can shoot sub-MOA groups. As long as the rifle is good enough in the accuracy and precision department then I will spend the money on more ammo. Another example is with pocket flashlights; I have been considering a Surefire Titan Plus at about $100. I now realize that the Maglite Solitare currently in my pocket is really “good enough” for my flashlight needs.
It is easy to get all wrapped up in new stuff with new features.
 
D-weaver said:
I'd change this to "worth it to those concerned about it ". There's zero chance that cleaning animals (the skill of the user is 99% of it as soon as you get to anything that is even saw temper hard) changes in results or time with a standard buck knife vs anything that costs $500.

The skill in use and efficiency sharpening is all that matters. Fancy steels are akin to complicated watch movements. They're interesting to users, but that's about it.

I'm not devoid of super steels, either, but in cutting something with a knife or woodworking, spending time on sharpening efficiency and getting familiar with a knife is far more important than how long the knife lasts.
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While I agree with what you said, I also disagree. I have no issue using 440c, 1095, etc. for a hunting.

What I have found however, that when it’s getting dark and you still have three animals to process and hike out, the less time fiddling around sharpening means more time cutting.

Touching up a blade with CPM-3V does not take any longer than 1095 with a small diamond stone.

It kinda reminds me of hunting with a black powder rifle vs. an AR10. Both get the job done, and both require a different level of attention.

I all boils down to the user and what they value the most.

I imagine we align with a lot of things on how we use, appreciate, and maintain our equipment.

For me though, personally, having a tool that can work for me more efficiently is a metric I value.
 
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