Looking for a general purpose hunting fixed blade

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savage99

Joined
Jan 3, 2014
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I'm looking for a fixed blade knife mostly for hunting and skinning but I would also be using it to prepare small fires in the woods. The key word on that last point would be small I don't need a big chopper to replace an axe just around the 4.5 to 5.5 inch blade. I want it to be fairly lightweight and so nothing with a crazy thick blade stock. I've been looking at the esse 4 or something in a kephart pattern. Price range under $150 please. Tell me what you have or what you have seen on the market. Sorry because I know this topic has been brought up before but nothing I've seen on those old threads really struck my fancy.
 
What didn't you like about what you saw here before? If you don't tell us that, you will just get the same suggestions again: Mora, Fallkniven F1, ESEE, etc.
 
I have this one knife by Frost cutlery I don't know much about it. I don't know how I got but it's called axis deer hunter if this helps any.
 
Check out the Buck Vanguard or the 119.
The Vanguard is more compact , has a drop point blade and has a few handle choices.
 
I second the vanguard with the rubber handle. It is my favorite if I have to grab just one to process a deer. It works fine for camp chores as well. The only thing I do not like is the sheath that came with it. Mine is older, so that may have changed.

It has the zipper model as well. That one has a decent gut hook, but that limits the utility for other things.
 
If you have the time and patience, the Maker's Forum here has some incredible knives for $150 or less. ~4" hunters are probably some of the most common on the forum so you'd have plenty to choose from over the next few days.

Either way, good luck and good hunting!
 
Oh I really like that Ontario sk5 that's a really nice modern take on the kephart the only thing I would say is that sheath looks pretty low quality . I've also bought one knife on the makers exchange it was a bushcraft type knife in o1 but the grind and stock are so thick I can't get a decent edge on it and it is very frustrating, if I could thin it out to a ffg or a good hollow ground it would probably fulfill my needs but I don't have the resources or skill. Also the Scandinavian grind typically suggested on these types of threads doesnt light a fire for me, it sounds like it's extremely good for woodworking but not a whole lot else. My only other fixed blade is a nice grohman bird and trout that I love but the handle is way to thin for any kind of serious work. Hope that this helps you guys know where I'm coming from here thanks for the input already put forward.
 
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TheJeepster said:
So you want something with an almost spear point blade with little or no Ricasso.

There is the Aurora by Bark River but you will not get it for under $150 unless you just luck out.

There is also the Condor Tool and Knife Bushlore

The ESEE 4 is not in the Kephart pattern in my book so you will have to define your wants a little better.

If you are looking for a good hunting knife I also would get a Buck Vanguard but I would get the Cabela's Alaskan Guide Series Buck Vanguard with rubber handles as the steel on it is a S30V with a titanium aluminum nitride coating. Really nice knife for only $99.
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Yeah I know the esse isn't a kephart I didn't mean to say that that's the only blade pattern I'm looking for but it does interested me. I would love to see some knives suggested that I can choke up on. Something with a choil possibly, and no finger guard
 
If you will really be using it for cleaning game, skinning, cooking at camp, get you a Buck traditional knife with a leather sheath. Blade should be 4 to 5 inches. Been using knives for over 50 years, hunting and fishing. You don't need one of these new "survival type knives. My opinion.
 
Highhawk1948 said:
If you will really be using it for cleaning game, skinning, cooking at camp, get you a Buck traditional knife with a leather sheath. Blade should be 4 to 5 inches. Been using knives for over 50 years, hunting and fishing. You don't need one of these new "survival type knives. My opinion.
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Yeah I really appreciate that old school wisdom but I've used my father's buck knives and the handle just didn't feel right as well and the large fighting style finger guard seemed unnecessary. I definitely am trying to avoid some of the gimmicky knives that seem to be prevalent nowadays. That is why I mentioned a not to thick blade stock (sorry to all the becker people out there)
 
Savage99, I have used all types of knives to process deer for the last 35 years. With that being said what I personally think is the perfect hunting knife is the Knives of Alaska magnum Wolverine hunter. It has a D2 blade and a rubber handle. The blade takes and holds a razor edge. When ever some one comes to my house and they want to know what type of knife would be a good hunting knife I pull out my KOA Wolverine. They can never get over how sharp it is. The second choice would be the Cabels S30v Buck Vanguard. That is another great choice.
 
That koa is actually quite interesting I owned the cub bear at one time but traded it, your right about that d2 getting crazy sharp
 
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