Looking

Any of the Bucks you mentioned will be nice.
I am going to use a Kalinga pro tomorrow....if my arrow is true.
 
Have you looked at the Buck Zipper R, it has a gut hook. I think there like 60, 70 bucks from SMKW. A few of my friends have them and they seem to do vary well, the grip is comfortable as well. I have a few PUMA fixed blades, a bowie & skinner I received as gifts. They look vary well made but they have rarely been out of the box. So I cant really vouch for them. You may want to try the RC-4, it would make great field knife. But any of the Bucks would be good.

John ….
 
I like just about any Buck knife, and I'm a sucker for stag or horn, so..... my money's on one of the Vanguard's.
 
hey what do you guys think about this kind of setup. Buy yourself one of those knives mentioned, i would reccomend the buck vanguard stag, drop dead gorgeous knife. And then get a benchmade rescue hook for your guthook blade, light, durable and should do the job. What do you guys think and has anyone ever used a tool like that to open up a deer?
 
Any of the knives you mentioned would serve you well for a long long time. Have you considered any customs? There are several available in that price range. I am a little biased since I also make knives but there is a pride of ownership for me in knowing that my knife is the only one like it. Even if the maker makes that same pattern for others.

Just a thought. If I can help or if you have any questions feel free to pm me. I would post a couple of pictures but I don't want to sound like I'm trying to hijack the thread.

Check the makers section under for sale to get a look at some of what is available.

SDS
 
Go right ahead SDS, for the money maybe that is what I should look into. My only
issue with something custom is getting the blade by Nov 14th when we head out.
 
This is one that I have used for deer for a long time. There are some other pictures with different handle materials listed on my profile along with prices.

Right now I have this a few of this pattern finished. I have one in Bois D'arc, one natural micarta, and one in black micarta that I can have finished within a day or so.

If you haven't already also check the makers for sale section. There are a lot of extremely talented makers here and some incredible deals can be found over there.

SDS

(I am having trouble getting a decent picture to upload. I have pictures of these already loaded up on here but cannot figure out how to link them here.)
 

Attachments

  • DSC00215.jpg
    DSC00215.jpg
    91.9 KB · Views: 28
Here are the K P (#408), K P Folder (#419), and a Christmas Collector's Tin 110 from last year for relative size comparison:

IMG_0456_edited.jpg


The trio ran me right at $200 total last year - plus s/h on the K Ps and s/t on the closeout priced 110. They are really useful sized knives - that S30V in the K P s makes for a pair of long-lasting blade edges, too. Shop the usual b&m knife stores on the web - you can likely still get both of the K Ps for <$200 delivered - maybe save enough to make a trip to Wally World for an everyday 420HC 110 ($25!).

For size comparison, here are the #408 K P with a Puma White Hunter above it - and a Cabela's Alaskan Guide 192 Vanguard in S30V below it.

IMG_0274_edited.jpg



I've used a regular 192 Vanguard for a woods-stomping knife, getting that AG 110 as an 'enhanced' replacement. It didn't work... it is too pretty! I just sharpened the regular 192 and carry it. If I had the stag handled AG192, I know I'd never carry it! Pretty - and useful knives. I don't hunt now, so I cannot speak to which is the better skinner, although I know folks who swear by 'just' the 110 folder! Good luck - and let us know what you get.

Stainz
 
Hey SDS I saw that leather-stag special of yours, awesome looking blade.
Stainz, I'd say you got a deal. Looking around just the 1st two Bucks run 100-110 each.

After a generic field gut hook I use of all things a CRKT m60 tanto for gutting.
t_3685.jpg

For skinning I use a buck alpha.
 
A nice Ahti from Ragnars Forge would do the trick. I can't imagine a better hunting/skinning knife than this.
 

Attachments

  • 1025082307.jpg
    1025082307.jpg
    18.3 KB · Views: 7
http://www.ragweedforge.com/
I found the site, nice, I specially like the Finnish catalog. Very classy stuff, the types I'm looking for, my only
question is what do you know about the durability? They look more for show than possible rough use.
I specially like
4216.jpg

since my dad is also into showing dogs even though the blade isn't exactly what I'm after.

also like
falken.jpg

hunter.jpg


I went from not being able to decide between 4 knives to not deciding between 20! lol
 
SDS said:
This is one that I have used for deer for a long time. There are some other pictures with different handle materials listed on my profile along with prices.

Right now I have this a few of this pattern finished. I have one in Bois D'arc, one natural micarta, and one in black micarta that I can have finished within a day or so.

If you haven't already also check the makers for sale section. There are a lot of extremely talented makers here and some incredible deals can be found over there.

SDS

(I am having trouble getting a decent picture to upload. I have pictures of these already loaded up on here but cannot figure out how to link them here.)
Click to expand...

Great knife! :)

Anyone seriously looking for a great working skinner would be wise to take a a second look at this type of knife.

Well thought out larger handle to blade ratio, spine grooves for choking up on close work, palm swell and hard use micarta handle.

I would take a custom of this quality over a production every time. :thumbup:

Imo, gut hooks are unnecessary, can get in the way, and tough to sharpen.
 
bakdahelup said:
http://www.ragweedforge.com/
I found the site, nice, I specially like the Finnish catalog. Very classy stuff, the types I'm looking for, my only
question is what do you know about the durability? They look more for show than possible rough use.
I specially like
4216.jpg

since my dad is also into showing dogs even though the blade isn't exactly what I'm after.

also like
falken.jpg

hunter.jpg


I went from not being able to decide between 4 knives to not deciding between 20! lol
Click to expand...

These scandi knives are meant to be used. They are rugged, and stand up to use in the field very well. The Ahti Rame knife has a nice thick blade and for $40 is a winner.
 
Thanks for the comments on the knife I posted. It is what has worked for me and I like the blade style for the type of hunting I do. It's certainly not the answer to everyones search though. If one knife did it all there would only be one design out there.

Those Finnish knives are some nice knives and they have been in use for a very very long time and serve their owners well.

Whatever you choose be sure it is a quality knife. You can get by with mid grade materials in a well made knife but even the best materials won't do you any good in a knife that was produced poorly.

Let us know what you decide.
SDS
 
If you could find one I would recommend a Gerber Flayer but they are getting hard to locate. Mine has dressed and skinned deer, elk, antelope, coyote, etc and stays sharp longer than any other knife I have owned.

flayer1.jpg


The other one I think highly of is the Helle Safari available at http://www.ragweedforge.com. it has a 4 3/4" blade laminated carbon steel blade that comes wicked sharp and is easy to keep that way.

hellesafari600.jpg
 
I've found the 419 for $90 BIN several places, and the fb 408 for $95-$100 BIN, too, on evil-bay. A Buck 110 is as low as $25 at a discount house. The 'collector tin' model shown - from last year - was initially $30, but as low as $11 on closeout - Wally World. There won't be any this year, according to Buck. So, ignoring s/h & s/t, the trio could be had for awfully near that $200.

A more frugal approach - for something marketed as a proper skinner - is the US-made Buck GEN-5 3" Skinner, available in two forms this year. The 005GYS is a charcoal/birch handled & 420HC bladed version with a horizontal belt carry/vertical strap carry nylon sheath. I use mine for a woods-stomping/hiking, aka bushcraft-lite, uses. Still shaver sharp, I know it's an easy to re-edge steel on my Sharpmaker.

The other variant, 005RWS, has rosewood handle/brass finger guard/CPM154 blade and comes with a nice leather vertical sheath. I find the other sheath more user-friendly - and I am not fond of the rosewood's knurled grip, although I bet it would be a better grip if wetted with something. I haven't used it as much - it is almost too pretty to use. The blade has BOS heat treat symbol and CPM154 on the backside, while Buck's catalog lists the steel as 154CM.

Expect to find the 005GYS for <$50 and the 005RWS for <$80 off the 'net/MO. They are based on the LE first GEN-5 from last year - $310 MSRP. Functionally, the 005RWS differs in rosewood vs snakewood for the handle.

IMG_0542.jpg

IMG_0541.jpg


Stainz
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top