Looking for small fixed blade squirrel knife

M

mobenzowner

Joined
Oct 17, 2010
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Looking for a small, economical, fixed blade squirrel knife. So far it looks like a Mora clipper in carbon steel, or a Buck ErgoHunter would be my choice. The blade is a bit longer than I would like however. What else is out there that's pretty good and around $40 or less?
 
Cold Steel bird & trout
ESEE Izula (just over $40)
Becker BK14 Eskabar
Becker Remora
Buck packlite
 
I like the BK14 and the Izula, but dont know how comfortable in the hand those knives would be without a traditional type handle, after cleaning 10 or 15 squirrels. I have an ESEE 4 I really like. If you put the handles on the Izula you at about $75.
 
I like my BK11 for big game but honestly, it seems a bit big for squirrels. I'd be more likely to use the small blade on my Vic Huntsman.

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Beckerhead #42
 
if you have access to a belt sander, scales are pretty easy to make - took me about 30 minutes to put scales on my Eskabar.
my Izula 2 with kit was less than $75.
 
There is also the AG Russell Bird and Trout available in a few different steels or the smaller Hunter Scalpel. Queen makes some fixed blades that can be had for around $40 with D2, but they are probably bigger than what you're looking for.
 
The A.G. Russell's look promising, and they can be had in vg-10, D2, or Ats-34. Which steel would you guys recommend? I like both vg-10 and d2, but have no experience with the ats-34.
 
VG-10 is easier to keep sharp. I've used A G R's stuff for years and you wont be disappointed with them.
Dan
 
is the a.g. russell website th best place to buy either the scalpel or the B & T? I have decided to get one or both of those.
 
An original Izula (not the Izula II) won't set you back more than 50 bucks, and it will also double as a great skinning knife for larger game as well (I have for the past couple years skinned my deer solely with an Izula).
 
mobenzowner said:
is the a.g. russell website th best place to buy either the scalpel or the B & T? I have decided to get one or both of those.
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I think it's the only place you can get them from. I've never seen them anywhere else and a quick search didn't turn up anything. As far as which steel, ATS-34 is the easiest to sharpen, D2 will hold the edge longer, and VG-10 is probably somewhere in between. I don't have any experience with the AUS-10 in the Hunter Scalpel so I'm not sure about that. For the price I'm tempted to try one out for myself though. It's hard to believe it only weighs half an ounce.
 
dannyp said:
I think it's the only place you can get them from. I've never seen them anywhere else and a quick search didn't turn up anything. As far as which steel, ATS-34 is the easiest to sharpen, D2 will hold the edge longer, and VG-10 is probably somewhere in between. I don't have any experience with the AUS-10 in the Hunter Scalpel so I'm not sure about that. For the price I'm tempted to try one out for myself though. It's hard to believe it only weighs half an ounce.
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Danny,
The only reason I havent already pt the order in is due to the moderately high shipping cost($8.95). I wonder if they would discount a group oder if there was enough interest in either the scalpel or B & T?
Kevin
 
Don't worry about the shipping costs. There is no better place to buy from than AG Russell, IMO.

Look at it this way...

To get similar quality knives in the same steels from another manufacturer is going to cost WAY more than the total you're going to spend on the two plus shipping from AG Russell. ;)
 
cramsey3006 said:
Don't worry about the shipping costs. There is no better place to buy from than AG Russell, IMO.

Look at it this way...

To get similar quality knives in the same steels from another manufacturer is going to cost WAY more than the total you're going to spend on the two plus shipping from AG Russell. ;)
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Well I guess you convinced me:). I just ordered both the scalpel & the B&T from their website. Thank you all for the suggestions.
 
mobenzowner said:
Looking for a small, economical, fixed blade squirrel knife. So far it looks like a Mora clipper in carbon steel, or a Buck ErgoHunter would be my choice. The blade is a bit longer than I would like however. What else is out there that's pretty good and around $40 or less?
Click to expand...

Scalpels work well for most game - $5 for the handle, $15 for 100 blades.

I work for a taxidermist during the fall. My lot of the work is usually about 10 DEER per day, which I skin and cape entirely with a scalpel... I generally use one blade per deer, and it takes me about 15 minutes.

On a squirrel, you could probably go 2 seasons before dulling out the blade.
 
mobenzowner said:
Looking for a small, economical, fixed blade squirrel knife. So far it looks like a Mora clipper in carbon steel....
Click to expand...

i think you answered your own question fairly well.

if it's 'economical' you're after, then you'd be a fool to look further an either Mora or Opinel.
 
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