Looking for a deer hunting folder

L

LEE IN VA.

Joined
Jul 3, 2011
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Looking for a good folder for deer field dressing and processing. Been considering one of these, and would like opinions on them.
http://www.havalon.com/xt60-edge.html
I would consider other types too also never used a gut hook, wondering if they are needed. I would like to keep it under $75 and would like suggestions on a compact sharpener to carry in the field if I wasn't using the Havalon with replaceable blades.

Thanks
 
bucks alpha hunter. $65 on amazon. I prefer their fixed model to a folder but to each their own
buckalpha.jpg
 
so that knife you were looking at is kind of like a folding, hunting, razor blade knife? Its a neat idea but im not sure thin disposable blades would be wise for field dressing. In the woods , whether hunting or camping I prefer a small fixed. The esee izula was a hunting knife of mine until i got a custom mini tasker from justin king on here which will be my hunter this year. May i ask why you are looking at a folding option? If your stuck on a folder check out ontarios RAT 1 from knife works dot com. They have a blaze orange model and its the greates knife under 30 bucks EVER
 
I'm just thinking the folder would be more compact and safer carrying in the field, but would still consider a fixed blade. Yeah with the Havalon knives I was thinking splitting open a rib cage on a whitetail might be an issue, they tend to refer to them as skinning knives.
 
Before I got into knives, I used a Buck Alpha folder for years. Gutted/skinned well over 100 deer with it. Its an excellent folder and never failed me. I still have it and a spare.
 
LEE IN VA. said:
Looking for a good folder for deer field dressing and processing.
Click to expand...

Where I come from, "field dressing" and "processing" are two different ballgames.

If you want a folder for field dressing, just about any decent mid to large folder should do, a Buck 110 is a classic choice that is more than capable.

I used an Outdoor Edge Grip Blaze for deer last year, and it did just fine.

LINK

"Processing" to me, is more doing a full butchering job, and I'd lean towards a set of fixed blades intended for that type of work, not a folder.

For a field sharpener, the smaller DMT diamond hones are hard to beat.
 
Having you ever carried a neck knife? I carried the Esee Izula around my neck when I was out hunting. Its such a small profile it also disappears in your pocket, sheath and all. The handle can be cord wrapped for comfort or there are scales out there. The izula 2 comes with micarta installed. I highly recommend this little guy for hunting its big enough to make large slices but small enough to get up and inside where bigger knives slice parts that you dount want sliced.

here was my izula with custom scales
451207289_photobucket_44327_.jpg


The Izula 2 with micarta installed
izula.jpg
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Where I come from, "field dressing" and "processing" are two different ballgames.

If you want a folder for field dressing, just about any decent mid to large folder should do, a Buck 110 is a classic choice that is more than capable.

I used an Outdoor Edge Grip Blaze for deer last year, and it did just fine.

LINK

"Processing" to me, is more doing a full butchering job, and I'd lean towards a set of fixed blades intended for that type of work, not a folder.

For a field sharpener, the smaller DMT diamond hones are hard to beat.
Click to expand...

HOW THE HECK DID I FORGET THE 110!? geez im losing it
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Where I come from, "field dressing" and "processing" are two different ballgames.

If you want a folder for field dressing, just about any decent mid to large folder should do, a Buck 110 is a classic choice that is more than capable.

I used an Outdoor Edge Grip Blaze for deer last year, and it did just fine.

LINK

"Processing" to me, is more doing a full butchering job, and I'd lean towards a set of fixed blades intended for that type of work, not a folder.

For a field sharpener, the smaller DMT diamond hones are hard to beat.
Click to expand...

Well, when I said processing I meant cutting out backstraps de-boning hams on the rack, skinning, not cutting up before freezing. Thanks for all the replies, nice forum.
 
Buck Omni hunter or 110 are specifically made for skinning and dressing. The blade geometry and steel were made with hunters in mind. You could also get a Buck Pak Lite
 
I've always uses a Buck 110 as well. Nice size and good blade shape for skinning as well. A classic for sure.
 
Can't go wrong with the good ol' Buck 110. I take it into the woods pretty often and it does just fine. It's got a good belly and tip for skinning.
 
If you're interested in a fixed blade, one of Queen's models could be worth a look. They are made with D2 and can be found for under $50.

As was mentioned before, any mid size folder of decent quality should be up to the task. Personally I don't like having to clean the gunk out of a folder, plus being out in the woods gives me a chance to carry a fixed blade that I can't in the city.
 
A Buck 110 would be all you need. Go traditional with the standard 420HC (option: Bucklite), Cabella's in S30V or BassPro in CPM 154.
 
If you are stuck on a folder the 110 Buck is a classic and I have gutted well over 50 deer with mine. I prefer my knives of Alaska magnum wolverine hunter. It has a D2 blade takes a scary sharp edge and holds it for a long time.The big problem with folders is all the blood and tallow that you get up inside the handle. If your like me where you may be out for a week and shooting several deer you can not get it clean enough for me to feel safe that the meat I am bringing home has no contamination on it.What ever your choice is remember get the animal field dressed as soon as possible after harvesting it. Venison is the preferred meat in my family. Best of luck,


Mike
 
dannyp said:
If you're interested in a fixed blade, one of Queen's models could be worth a look. They are made with D2 and can be found for under $50.

As was mentioned before, any mid size folder of decent quality should be up to the task. Personally I don't like having to clean the gunk out of a folder, plus being out in the woods gives me a chance to carry a fixed blade that I can't in the city.
Click to expand...

^^^ This

The Queen D2 dropped point hunter is a great knife. So is the Beretta dropped point Loveless Hunter and you can get the zytel handled version for <$50 if you look. I started using a folder for deer because it was the only decent knife I owned, but once I bought a fixed blade for the task I've never looked back. I can tell you that I certainly don't miss scraping all the clotted blood and hardened tallow out of my folder.

I shot a deer that was facing me at a downward angle and I shot it with a 360 grain minie ball from a 50 cal. muzzle loader. That heavy bulled traversed the entire length of the animal's internal cavity and ended up lodged against the femur bone in one of the hams. When I opened her up the stomach and intestinal contents just poured everywhere. I can't even tell you how long it took me to get all that stuff out of my folder!

The voice of my experience says get a fixed blade. I don't worry about the length because I keep it in my pack until I need it and keep a small folder clipped in my pocket. I always prefer to have more than one knife with me in the woods anyway.

Edit to add: I clicked on the link in the original post. That knife might be OK for skinning but I don't think it would be up to the task of opening up a ribcage or splitting the pelvis. I would really advise against it as your only knife.
 
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You *don't* need a guthook. For field dressing a deer, all you absolutely need your knife for is the incision from the breastbone to the crotch, cutting the diaphragm, cutting the windpipe, and dealing with the rectum. All the rest of that stuff in there just sort of comes out (for the most part) once you get in there up to your shoulder and make it happen.

Folders will certainly work but will require extra cleanup afterwards - and there is lots of cleanup - to get fat and tallow and blood, etc. out of all of the nooks and crannies. The one you are looking at seems to have extra nooks and crannies - personally I'd avoid it. If you choose a folder, look for something with clean lines (like the Buck Ranger or Folding Hunter) and shorter than you think you need. Personally, when I'm holding the knife comfortably, I want to be able to lay my index finger along the spine of the blade all the way to the tip. That way, when you have the blade waaaay up in there where you can't see it, you maintain safe control. I'd really avoid slip joints as well - you don't want the blade getting pushed closed when you are elbow deep in the goopy parts.

You may find that a small fixed blade - Becker BK11, BK14 or ESEE Izula - suits your needs much better but folders are just fine as long as you can use them safely and don't mind the cleanup.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
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