Low-maintenance Deer Knife

[Cpt. Beef]

Whitetail season is coming up, and I'm stuck here without a good field knife. I've got folders aplenty and an old Ka-Bar combat, but I don't want to have to worry about gunking any of them up.
Small enough to get inside a chest cavity but big enough to handle camp stuff [Battoning isn't an issue--I carry a hatchet]. I don't like plastic or rubbery handles, which greatly limits my options....
So far I'm thinking a Condor Kephart or Bushlore, or maybe a Buck Paklite Skinner or three.

No real budget, but the less I spend, the less I have to worry about finding a quick replacement should anything happen.

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[gadunz]

(350B) Drop Point 3 3.4"

(1990NZ2) 4 "

(1990NZS) NZ Stag 4 "

(370BB) Drop Point 4 3/4 "

(UGP2) Utility General Purpose 4 3/4 "

(677BB) Curved Skinner 5 3/4 "

(655B) Curved Skinner/Sticker/Boning 6 "

http://www.svord.com/

 

[Bigfatts]

I'm a big fan of Muela knives. They have several good hunting/skinning models under $100 and they really are great value knives. They use Sandvick steels quite a bit which I am also a fan of. It sharpens easily and takes a very good edge. My go to is a Muela Rhino which is a cery nice knife. They generally come with good sheaths too.

 

[Grateful]

You can get a Buck 102 Woodsman with a wood handle. That would be my suggestion.
Jim

 

[UnseenK1773R]

If you want to go the ultra cheap route get the Paklite, I have one and I love the knife and the blade shape works great for gutting and skinning white tails. There are a few drawbacks though, while the blade itself is made in the USA the sheath is absolute china garbage. I have sent out a couple emails regarding having a kydex sheath made. Also every edge on mine was sharp, I took the dremel to it at low speed and rounded all of them over now it's much easier on the hands.

 

[SBXT]

The Buck Vanguard is an excellent knife for a reasonable price.