New to the Forum. Advice Please

D

demar002

Joined
May 18, 2021
Messages
6
Hello and thank you for taking the time to provide thoughts/recommendations.

I am trying to narrow my search down for what I want.

I do a lot of skinning out of hogs. (Hunting - Feral)

Would like to purchase a folding knife. Would like 3+ inch blade , Elmax or M390.

Have been thinking about this knife but am not sold on it yet

LionSteel ROK Aluminum-Black ROKABS, 3.27" M390 Stain Blade, Aluminum Handle​


Very much appreciate your thoughts and recommendations.

Thank you
F
 
Get a fixed blade, I would go stainless but with decent toughness (since you'd probably hit some bone and stuff). Elmax would work, I was leaning towards 154CM, CPM154, 3V/4V is great but will rust a little easier. Budget option would be Sandvik 12c27 or 14c28n.

You would want a blade with some curves (like a nice girl) and belly to skin and carve better.

Try a Bark River. Actually the new Civivi elementum fixed blade could be worth a look too, it has a good stainless 10Cr15Mov.

Good luck!
 
I'd also recommend a fixed blade for hunting / skinning. Also, almost every ROK I've seen (including mine) has had a nasty bur around the detent hole on the blade the ruins the action...
 
Hey! Welcome to BF.

I would also recommend going with a fixed blade with a carbon steel blade for skinning purposes...something with a decent belly too.
M390 will probably work most excellently, however it would be more difficult to sharpen in the field if need be.
Good luck with your search!
 
Bad Rattle said:
I'd also recommend a fixed blade for hunting / skinning. Also, almost every ROK I've seen (including mine) has had a nasty bur around the detent hole on the blade the ruins the action...
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Here is a knife I am seriously considering. Based on some reseach, reading the forums, budget under 225.00, and what I want to use it for primarily - Skinning/hunting Can I please get some opinions.

 
Honestly, you should scoot over to the customs section if your budget is around $225-$250.

You will find some amazing fixed blade knives there. :)
 
D demar002

Check out REK Knives Ember 3.5. I’m sure you can get it in M390. Thin behind the edge, and Josh’s grinds are to die for.

rek-products.myshopify.com

Ember 3.5 (Cruwear w/ Desert Ironwood Scales)

** Free shipping in CONUS ** This is a great little high performance EDC or hunting fixed blade. This is ground thin so it cuts amazing and is easy to sharpen. On some blades in this batch (like this one) I customized the grind. It has a convex edge blended into a flat grind. This allows for...
rek-products.myshopify.com rek-products.myshopify.com

REK Knives REK Knives

Also, RayseM RayseM any others you can think of?
 
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demar002 said:
Here is a knife I am seriously considering. Based on some reseach, reading the forums, budget under 225.00, and what I want to use it for primarily - Skinning/hunting Can I please get some opinions.

Click to expand...
Definitely get a fixed blade but the Lionsteel M4 is quite thick behind the edge, it’s probably more suitable for bushcraft tasks than skinning. I’d recommend a TRC K-1s in Elmax, a white river Firecraft 3.5 pro (S35VN with lots of belly for skinning) maybe even a white river backpacker pro also S35VN. I find I like a smaller blade on a skinner.

Edit: quick and dirty pic
uaYQVqU.jpg
 
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Spikediesel said:
Definitely get a fixed blade but the Lionsteel M4 is quite thick behind the edge, it’s probably more suitable for bushcraft tasks than skinning. I’d recommend a TRC K-1s in Elmax, a white river Firecraft 3.5 pro (S35VN with lots of belly for skinning) maybe even a white river backpacker pro also S35VN. I find I like a smaller blade on a skinner.
Click to expand...
I totally agree with T here. I also use a shorter (3” or under) blade length for all gaming purposes, including skinning. :)

Excellent suggestion.
 
I'll stick to folders with stainless blades, per your original request.

If you want a more traditional design, there is a drop point Buck 110 with 20CV blade, 20CV is the same thing as M390.

For more money you can look at the Spyderco Native Chief with S90V blade. For working on hogs with a lot of grit in the fur/skin, S90V will fare much better than M390 or Elmax.

There are several Spyderco folders with S110V blades, like the Manix 2/Manix 2 lightweight, Para 2. Like S90V, S110V will last a lot longer in abrasive environments.
 
Spikediesel said:
Definitely get a fixed blade but the Lionsteel M4 is quite thick behind the edge, it’s probably more suitable for bushcraft tasks than skinning. I’d recommend a TRC K-1s in Elmax, a white river Firecraft 3.5 pro (S35VN with lots of belly for skinning) maybe even a white river backpacker pro also S35VN. I find I like a smaller blade on a skinner.

Edit: quick and dirty pic
uaYQVqU.jpg
Click to expand...
I really like that TRC k1s. I like it a lot. Cant find it anywhere in the united states
 
lambertiana said:
I'll stick to folders with stainless blades, per your original request.

If you want a more traditional design, there is a drop point Buck 110 with 20CV blade, 20CV is the same thing as M390.

For more money you can look at the Spyderco Native Chief with S90V blade. For working on hogs with a lot of grit in the fur/skin, S90V will fare much better than M390 or Elmax.

There are several Spyderco folders with S110V blades, like the Manix 2/Manix 2 lightweight, Para 2. Like S90V, S110V will last a lot longer in abrasive environments.
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Here is a folder - Not sure about the company. Never heard of them before

www.opticsplanet.com

Wilson Combat ELC Elite, Framelock Folding Knife

Shop Wilson Combat ELC Elite, Framelock Folding Knife | Be The First To Review Wilson Combat ELC Elite, Framelock Folding Knife + Free Shipping over $49.
www.opticsplanet.com www.opticsplanet.com
 
I've NEVER skinned/gutted anything other than fish and, even I know that it would be better to use a fixed blade knife for that than a folder.

Which one depends on a lot of factors but have you ever seen what they use on those Alaska reality shows? No $100-500 fixed blade knives on that show as far as I've seen. Mostly just cheap s/s knives that you could buy at Bass Pro, Target or Walmart.

They gut and part out caribou and MOOSE with those cheap-a$$ knives. LOL! ;)

Personally, I'd choose something that will be easy to grip (despite the blood and guts) with the "proper" blade size and shape for your needs and easy to sharpen on the spot (which eliminates any super hard premium steels). I'd go for D2, VG10, S30V or something like that instead.

And, OBTW, I own an LionSteel ROK and I think it would be a real shame to use it to gut a pig and would be hell to clean if you did.

Just saying . . . ;)
 
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demar002 said:
Here is a folder - Not sure about the company. Never heard of them before

www.opticsplanet.com

Wilson Combat ELC Elite, Framelock Folding Knife

Shop Wilson Combat ELC Elite, Framelock Folding Knife | Be The First To Review Wilson Combat ELC Elite, Framelock Folding Knife + Free Shipping over $49.
www.opticsplanet.com www.opticsplanet.com
Click to expand...

Wilson Combat is an American company famous for producing custom 1911 pistols, as well as other firearms and firearm parts. They have also been producing knives for many years.
 
I had a combat elite from another company and it's a nice EDC but that handle would not be comfortable at all for skinning
 
The old hickory cotton sampler is pretty popular for skinning hogs. You can get it and the sticker and have a nice hog kit for less than $20.

1621494434520.jpeg
 
killgar said:
Wilson Combat is an American company famous for producing custom 1911 pistols, as well as other firearms and firearm parts. They have also been producing knives for many years.
Click to expand...
I don't think they produce them, they partner with other companies. Like that knife referenced was made by Fox in Italy
 
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