New Member Introduction

GSO1962

GSO1962

Joined
Nov 16, 2013
Messages
1,659
I didn't see a sticky for new member intro, so here goes....

I am currently Becker-less (which sounds really bad....), but looking to purchase a few. I'm a big fan of Benchmade for regular carry (is that heresy?), but started looking at the BK2 and BK16 for butchering hogs in the field. I just started hog hunting with some friends from church a few weeks ago, and none of the Benchmades are really suitable for that kind of work. I've used my Buck 121 (Guide) so far, but looking for other options. My good friend "Weaponeer" recommended this forum as a great source of info.

Greg
 
Welcome!! You'll find a great resource, awesome folks and plenty of info on the best life necessary blades on the planet!
 
Welcome to the world of Becker. As in beekeeping, if you ask 10 knife knuts a question, you will get 11 answers. Here in Beckerland, many of the answers will lean to the becker line. I have not used any Beckers for hog work, but I would agree that the 2 or 16 would work well field dressing them.
 
Welcome! In my opinion a 2 would be quite hefty so I'd go with a 16.
 
Zzyzzogeton, whereabouts in Central Texas are you? I'm in Copperas Cove near Fort Hood. GSO1962 is up nearer Waco. He's another 300 BLK fan.
 
Until five or six years ago I hunted hogs extensively and have processed more in the field that I can count. For skinning, quartering and removal of the tenderloins I'd give careful consideration to the BK-15 and/or BK-16. You'll still need a saw, hatchet or something more substantial to easily remove the head but there are plenty of other Beckers to choose from that would be suitable for that task.
 
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Mojo^ said:
Until five or six years ago I hunted hogs extensively and have processed more in the field that I can count. For skinning, quartering and removal of the tenderloins I'd give careful consideration to the BK-15 and/or BK-16. You'll still need a saw, hatchet or something more substantial to easily remove the head but there are plenty of other Beckers to choose from that would be suitable for that task.
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I'm new to the group, which started out shooting them and leaving them for the buzzards and coyotes, since critters have to eat too. The owner's son runs cattle and has deer feeders, which confirms the "pest" status of the hogs. Then they decided to start taking the backstraps and hams and leave the rest to the scavengers. One of the regulars cleaned the one I shot on my first hunt, so I cleaned the one shot by another guy on the second trip. Mine was a left shoulder, spine, and out the right lung shot with a 300BLK, so it wasn't so bad. The guy who shot the one on the second trip gut shot his (twice) with a .458 SOCOM, which did not smell particularly good during the processing.

The procedure we use is to lay the hog on its stomach with legs out in four directions to stabilize it. Split along the spine right down the back from shoulder to hip. Then make an "I" by cutting horizontally behind the shoulder blades and in front of the hip bones. Then skin it just above the meat, leaving most of the fat on the skin. After that, remove the backstraps similar to filleting a fish. We then flip it onto a side to skin one of the hams down below the hock and cut off the foot with a saw. Slice down to the hip ball joint and then pop it out. Repeat for the other ham.

I also have to confess that I was talking about this with Weaponeer yesterday while having lunch at a local Korean restaurant...until a couple of ladies eating nearby requested that we change the subject. Apparently some people prefer not to know where meat comes from....

Compared to the hams, the shoulders don't have a lot of meat, not to mention that one of them is probably messed up if it's been shot properly. I know a lot a people talk about "ear-holing" them, but I can only see that working from a ground blind near a feeder...not at night while you are stalking and they are moving.

I still have much to learn about hogs and knives, but am looking forward to sharing ideas.
 
GSO - I think I am finally gonna have to start hog hunting here. My cousin has taken out several in the last couple of weeks just a 1/4 mile from our lower farm. We haven't had crop damage yet, but the damage reports have been moving 5 or 6 miles closer every year for the last decade. The most LynnRoy has seen was 12 - 15 at one time at his deer blind. I'm sure that's gonna increase.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
GSO - I think I am finally gonna have to start hog hunting here. My cousin has taken out several in the last couple of weeks just a 1/4 mile from our lower farm. We haven't had crop damage yet, but the damage reports have been moving 5 or 6 miles closer every year for the last decade. The most LynnRoy has seen was 12 - 15 at one time at his deer blind. I'm sure that's gonna increase.
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This place is over near Oglesby, with Space-X in McGregor being a little bit east. One member of the group had a neighbor (who sadly was reassigned) who is a Blackhawk pilot. He did some night training missions and was able to fly over the ranch using his night vision. He has typically spotted 30-40 each time on the 500 acres. Got another church member who farms the black land out north of Buckholts, east of Zabcikville. He has problem planting corn in the spring sometimes, with the hogs going in at night and rooting up several rows that he's just put in. I think it's too early to tell if the hogs are winning, or we are....
 
Welcome to the forum, GSO. I told you that you could learn a lot of fieldcraft here. I think the BK16 will work fine for what you want to do with it, but I'll let you borrow my BK2 for awhile also so you can compare them side-by-side. Maybe the BK5 also, if I can sneak it out of the wife's knife drawer. :)
 
GSO1962 said:
Mine was a left shoulder, spine, and out the right lung shot with a 300BLK, so it wasn't so bad. The guy who shot the one on the second trip gut shot his (twice) with a .458 SOCOM, which did not smell particularly good during the processing.
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Since you don't have Becker pics to share, the least you can do is show us the weapons. :D Dang that sounds like a lot of fun.
 
I don't have a photo of the guy with the .458 SOCOM, but this is me, my 300BLK that I built and my first hog.



Without the large distracting person in the background...
 
My vote...

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Welcome. You are sick. You must have a fever if you are Beckerless. It hurts me to even say that word-Beckerless. Ahhh. How can this be ? Well, no matter, Dr TwinStick has the cure. It is just a phone call away. May i suggest a 1-2 punch for those feral hogs ? A BK5/BK15 combo would be great. You could stick one with the 5, then use them both to butcher it up properly. But as always, get what YOU like. It is your money after all. :D
 
Welcome sir! Nice 300.... I'd go with the 5/15 also--slice, dice, skin and chop, they can do it all....
 
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