Need help with what knife to get made for field dressing

H

Hunter2163

Joined
Nov 9, 2015
Messages
2
hey everyone, I'm getting a custom knife made for my self. I'm a big time hunter and field dress deer, moose, elk. I need a good metal that will be sharp durable but look nice as well as a nice handle, maybe a hardwood. whats popular and really nice to have. thanks for your help.
 
CPM-154, D2, A2, ATS34, S7 are all good steels for a hard use hunter, but will take longer to touch up in the field due to being tougher. Cpm154 and A2 are about the easiest in that group. I prefer good old tool steels, 1084, O1, W2, 52100, L6, 15N20, these get laser sharp and are a little quicker to touch up if you get a little sloppy and hut bone. But I field quartered an antelope with my 1084 hunter and didn't need to touch up until I had to cut the spine. Caping and everything went well.

-X
 
Take a look at ML knives, he's a great guy to work with and will make you exactly what you want.
 
You might look at Ryan Weeks SPK pattern. Here is one he made for me a while back.

2kogw1.png

210zr7k.jpg

2i0vseb.jpg
 
just about any knife will do in a pinch, but this one really does a fine job. Rick Menefee made it for me, CPM 154 steel. He makes fine knives for processing dead animals. Other makers here that I favor are Gene Ingram, Tim Olt, Lary Rosi, Randall of course as well.
 
I made my own to design preferences that I like in 1/10" Elmax at 61HRc. The flat grind was taken down to 0.010" before sharpening so it slices like crazy. Maroon micarta was chosen so it would be warm to the touch in winter and impervious to moisture, altitude, temperature, chemicals, and blood. Mosaics were there just to spice it up. I have a basic kydex sheath for it when small and light is in order as well as a tooled leather sheath when I want something a little nicer or I expect sub-freezing temperatures. I rounded the spine ever so slightly so I can still feel a flat area when choked up but there are no sharp edges to tear gloves when cleaning pigs. The length is just perfect to judge by the length of my pointer finger. The tip is aligned in the middle of the handle for better control on stabbing into joints and what not. It just works for my needs exceptionally well.

IMG_3917_zpsznlvf7ow.jpg
 
A good drop point blade for gutting a skinning type blade for skinning. There are just sooooo! many good blades to choose from. I've always wanted to try a Randall pathfinder or woodsman myself.
 
Dozier, Crotts and Ingram all make great knives for the field at reasonable prices.

From the Dozier shop:

05_zpsa7e5779f.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top