Recommendation? Need help buying the right knife.

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Liam Fourie

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Nov 23, 2019
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I’m looking to buy a friend a hunting knife. I have a budget of $50 but I want to get the best quality for my price range. I know there are some experts here that could help me out. Please recommend a hunting knife suitable for my situation.
 
Liam Fourie said:
I’m looking to buy a friend a hunting knife. I have a budget of $50 but I want to get the best quality for my price range. I know there are some experts here that could help me out. Please recommend a hunting knife suitable for my situation.
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What kind of hunting does your friend intend to use this knife for?
 
Buck 118 is ready for almost anything and in your budget. Buck 110 folding hunter is a solid choice too.
 
Buck, Becker, Ontario, ESSE, Mora, Opinel. "Hunting" covers a lot of activity, as 'capo implied. These companies make knives that are usually associated with hunting activities.

I would suggest Condor, but their knives have gotten pretty expensive.

I usually tag FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades in threads like this. He has a lot of offerings that could be what you want.
 
Shorttime said:
Buck, Becker, Ontario, ESSE, Mora, Opinel. "Hunting" covers a lot of activity, as 'capo implied. These companies make knives that are usually associated with hunting activities.

I would suggest Condor, but their knives have gotten pretty expensive.

I usually tag FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades in threads like this. He has a lot of offerings that could be what you want.
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Thanks! Another major mention for a good economical model is Dexter Russell's Green River line.
 
I've had a Buck 105 for, oh, about 36 years. It's sliced up everything from fish to sheep to white-tail and mule deer. It's not the latest/greatest/coolest, but back when I bought it, it was the best thing I could find, and I haven't replaced it.
 
Fixed or folding?

I'm with eveled eveled on this one ... a Buck is a great choice and a classic hunting knife.

Folder : Buck 110.
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Buck-110-Rosewood-Manual--2657

Fixed :
The Selkirks have some of the better handles then some of the other Buck fixed blades.
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Buck-Selkirk-Fixed-Blade-Knife--27469

Folder + fixed combo
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Buck-110-Slim-Select-Lockback--88707
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Morakniv-Companion-Fixed-Blade--48015
 
the standard buck 110 is down to $40 at knifecenter - you really can't go wrong, it's a classic for a reason

if he prefers fixed blades, the buck pathfinder 5" is about $50
 
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A BK14 with the zytel scales will skin anything this side of an elephant.

Pocket, neck, scout carry, etc all possible.
 
Bucklite Max (either size), Buck 102 (a bit pricier).
Russell Green River if you want carbon - either the 2212 or the other ^^. They also have various lengths of stiff boning knives.
Some brand of a "lamb skinner" if that's the pattern you need for the job. FortyTwoBlades FortyTwoBlades has the F. Dick lamb skinner.
Cold Steel has several patterns of inexpensive knives that may be suited for "hunting". Canadian belt knife, Pendleton Lite Hunter, Finn Hawk, etc. Morakniv is always a good value for everyday fixed blades.

Most of these are very inexpensive, like $10-20 if you shop, sometimes less. Buy a couple different shapes. What the heck?
 
Buck 102. 110 if you want to give him a folder. Both are excellent knives.
 
I always forget about the Buck Selkirk.

TmdOgGk.jpg
 
Mora #1 or if you want a guard the 611.
You'll have enough left over for a couple large pizza.
The Decter Russel Green River and the Ontario Old Hickory lines are also both winners.
Note the Mora's give you a choice of stainless steel or carbon steel. The Dexter Russel Green River and Old Hickory are only available in carbon steel - at least the ones worth having are.
On the carbon steel knives you can force a patina with vinegar or clean and lightly oil after each use if you want a shinny blade.
(why you'd want that I have no idea.)
A patina helps prevent rust.
 
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Folks have beaten me to recommending the Selkirk. I like the looks of the CRKT Mossback Hunter, too.
 
number9 said:
Folks have beaten me to recommending the Selkirk. I like the looks of the CRKT Mossback Hunter, too.
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I wish I could recommend CRKT. It's been a while since I bought one, and my Batum is an amazing knife, considering what I paid. If I work at it, I can get that 0.187" piece of steel to shave hair, just by touching up the existing bevel.

BUT

My experience with Columbia River is that, if you buy ten random knives from them (across all styles and prices ranges), one will not hold an edge worth anything sharper than a pair of kitchen scissors. I guess these are the ones farthest from the coils in the heat treat oven, and their quality control department is... permissive... with the hardness testing process.

If you don't mind rolling the dice, or you want a knife that you're not afraid to get dirty, CRKT is an option. But I usually don't recommend them, unless the OP leads me to believe that this kind of quality control problem is something they don't mind. In this case? As a knife you're going to give to a friend? No.
 
I like buck also.

A similar mention to the dexter russell, and assuming your friend is okay with sharpening as these can cime with a bur, ia the Sheffield green river knife. It's inexpensuve but a great slicer. The yandle could use some light sanding to fit his hand better but once it's personalized a little, it's a great knife fir the money.
 
The
bikerector said:
I like buck also.

A similar mention to the dexter russell, and assuming your friend is okay with sharpening as these can cime with a bur, ia the Sheffield green river knife. It's inexpensuve but a great slicer. The yandle could use some light sanding to fit his hand better but once it's personalized a little, it's a great knife fir the money.
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I was binging on Green River knives the other day, and came across the Sheffield for the first time. There was already enough in my cart for one day, but I may have to revisit it.

Meanwhile, my earworm for the day goes “the pump don’t work ‘cause the vandal took the yandle”.
 
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