My brother wants to borrow a knife for pig sticking...

Macchina

Macchina

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Apr 7, 2006
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Note: Please don't reply here about the danger of hunting a pig with a knife. There is a reason why my brother is doing it and I am not. My served a tour as a .50 cal gunner in Iraq, he's tough but his skin is just as tasty as any other guys, I warned him about the dangers and he still wants to go for it.

As eluded to in the above warning, my brother is going to hunt a pig (not a boar) with a knife. He has a Commemorative Army KaBar (full size) but doesn't want to bloody that up. He has asked to borrow one of my knives for the task. Below is a picture of all my decent sized blades. Which should I loan him, or should I get him to buy a knife specifically for pig hunting? I know blade length is important, and I am a little worried that some of them don't have a guard (he will be wearing leather gloves). I don't know if the RTAK-II would be a good knife because of blade length, or a horrible knife because of blade length. Any input is appreciated, and if I have posted this in the wrong forum, please let me know or move it.
Thanks,
Michaelmcgo

From left to right:
Landi camp knife
O1 Fighter I made
O1 Camp knife I made
Buck/Strider Solution
Falkniven S1
Bark River Bravo-1
Ontario RTAK-II
DSC02213.jpg
 
I would go with the S1 from the knives pictured. It has a full tang so it should not bend/snap and the tip looks more suited to penetraion then the other knives pictures.
My second pick would be your homemade 01 Fighting knife.(great looking knife by the way).

If you are looking to buy a knife for him maybe something low buck like a cold steel Recon Tanto wouldet the job done.
 
I'm going to say the 01 fighter (#2 from the left), I like the size of the RTAKII but you will need a tip to punch thru the tough hide ! ;)
 
I'd try to talk him into the KaBar - Mine is sharp on both edges - and he'll need that for thrusting/stabbing.
 
bravo 1 with thumb ramp

should help with the stabbin part and hopefully will prevent slippage.
 
It can be dangerous but it really isn't as death defying as it sounds. Of what you have pictured I'd opt for the RTAK. Mostly because of it's length. You want a knife that will easily reach the vitals. Any of the knives pictured will pierce the flesh plenty easy enough.

I would recommend a sharpened back edge so the knife can cut on the upstroke as well as the downstroke. You want to cut the vitals as quickly as possible. I'd also suggest a lanyard, but one that can be released quickly. I usually loop mu thumb through mine with the knife hanging down the back of my hand. I then roll my hand down and grasp the handle. This makes is it relatively easy to release the knife quickly if necessary.

Below is the knife I have used. It's overkill (no pun intended) but it is what I made for this purpose.

SDS

DSC00089.jpg
 
Dogging hunting feral pigs on foot with dogs is a very popular sport in Australia. Mainly young blokes, I don't do it anymore ( either too fat/slow or just smarter now, take your pick)
I have used all of these from time to time. By far my favorite is the Swedish bayonet on the far right. Personally I think the Rtak is to thick and heavy. I really wouldn't use anything less than 5inches in blade length. The most popular brought knife for sticking would be the F Dick sticker
http://www.pigdogsupplies.com/images/knife&belt.gif
Followed by the Swdish one mentioned we sell the Swedish Bayonet by the dozens to Doggers here in Sth East Queensland.
100_0957.jpg

Carl
 
Of the blades you have on-hand, Michael, I would give him the Falknivven or the Bravo-1. Both are stout and relatively pointy, as your blades go. The RTAK might not be bad if he just wants to hack away at the pig a few times...you know, piss him off a little before the pig gets revenge.
 
The real old pig sticking knives were double edge Old Hickory's 6 inch blade.
 
take some diamond stones and put a penetrator tip on that RTAK.

A guy in Australia lent out his Swamp Rat Ratwieler to some commercial Pig hunters, and they were impressed by the wound channel from the wide blade, the pig bled out in a couple breaths.
 
I would have to say none of yours are really suited, you need a strong blade for sure but you also need enough length to reach the heart which is somewhat protected by the shoulders. The heart sits low in the middle and unless you want to try to come up from the bottom you will need to come in from behind the shoulders. There is a reason the Germans used hunting sabers..lol...

Here is a pic showing the area that needs to be attacked. As you can see it is a long reach from there to the heart and to penetrate will take more of a point than your big Ontario has. I would vote for something with at least a 10 inch blade and at least a semi sharpened false edge.

Chance.jpg
 
Out of the knives shown, I'd go for the Falkniven S1. It has a slimmer profile and appears to be better at penetration. The handle type is also a plus, I doubt your brother will slip or lose grip on the S1.
 
A simple Marine Kabar will work better than any of the knives you have and they are relatively cheap.

I recommend a 7-9 inch blade and a sharp swedge or better yet a doulbe edge. A big hog can be a tough stick. Make sure you have a good double guard on the blade as it IS going to be a bloody mess.

Tom
 
Just sharpen a 10" screwdriver...it'll drain em quick and cheap

The ideal pig knife is between 6 and 8 inches depending on who you ask. I have friends that use the stiff wide forschner boning knives, schrade deerslayers, bayonets, sharpened machetes, screwdrivers, kabars....All it takes is a small nick to the heart and most blades are capable of it.

I had a friend that bladed a few boars with an rtak...used it more as a machete but it got the job done. I would use the second knife from the last if I had to choose.
 
Of the ones shown, the S-1 or Bravo-1.
Really, though, if he likes Ka-Bars, I'd have him use one of them, even if you just go buy a new one (non-commemorative) for him. Get one of the ones with the kraton handle -less slippage.

Tell him good hunting.
 
Nice work on those two knives you made. That spear point one looks really good.
 
I have only shot pigs, never stuck them. However, I have quite a few buddies who do such things. The majority of them use KaBar's or the larger old school bayonets like the Swedish one pictured above. One friend uses his folding knife and slits/sticks their throat as opposed to sticking them in the heart.
 
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