Newbie needs new hunting knife!

M

mtntrekker

Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
5
Hi folks, I'm new to the forums and am looking for a new hunting knife. This will be my first venture into the world of deer hunting and I need a tool for field dressing.

Thus far, I have decided that I definitely want a fixed blade knife and something under $60-70 preferably in the $40-50 range. I Think that a knife with a gut hook would be handy but have never dressed game before and don't know if it might actually get in the way.

Anyway, thus far in my search I have looked at Buck's Omni (the smaller one), Zipper and the Alpha. In addition, I have considered the Gerber Freeman. Although, I will probably steer away from this one due to all the bad Gerber reviews.

I'm looking for any suggestions that you might have. Please recommend knives only within my budget. Thanks!!! :D
 
In the $40-50 range I would suggest looking into the Buck 110 folding knife.
Good all around knife and, probably more deer have been field dressed with the 110 than any other knife out there. However, be aware that folders can be a real pita to clean up after using it for this task.

In the $60-70 range, the Cold Steel Master Hunter seems like it would be a good fit. I do not own one, but have handled the knife and it does have a loyal following of users.

As for the guthook, I would drop that notion. IMO they look slick but really are unwieldy, just get in the way, and are difficult to sharpen. If you have a decent knife edge there should be no need for this feature.

Good luck in your search.
 
Thanks for the opinion, colonel. Do you have any experience with any of the knives that I mentioned? I'm really not interested in a folder.
 
I agree, lose the guthook. I use a Bark River Highlander myself. Cuts like a freakin' demon with that nice convex edge.
 
The Benchmade Pardue Rant is a solid hunting knife made with 440C steel.
($43.95) I also agree with the naysayers on the guthook - they just get in the way.
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4731

bm10505.jpg
 
Hey Guys...

mnt..
Another one for skipping the Gut hook. They don't work as well as they look they would...

Idon't much like the bucks Alphas..Kind of a short ugly knife...

I'd agree with the Rant bowie..Decent enough knife,,should get the job done..

You may also want to look at the Grohmann seris of knives

www.grohmannknives.com

The R1,R3,R4 are my favorites, and a classic hunting knives...

The Spyderco Moran's in either the Swept or Drop point are good knives..Maybe a little out of your range though...

Since this is your first introduction to hunting and a decent knife, I will make you this offer...

If you buy a knife that I have, I will send you a sheath for it, N/C ,No strings attached.
Even if I don't have it,, I'll sheath it for you, but you have to send it to me...

So with that said, Hello and Welcome to the Mighty BF.com

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
+1 for the Spyderco Moran. In simple terms, a very very good hunting knife. One you'll most assuredly grow into with your experience and time.

Eric, you rock man! Very nice gesture. If more of us made these kinds of "acts of kindness", we might have more new and better prepared hunters and outdoorsman in the field.

Pay it forward gents.

NJ
 
Buy it cheap-but it twice. Get one you really like in high quality {not necessarily price}. The
Master Hunter by Cold Steel is fine. The Alpha Wolf by Knives of Alaska for 59.99 would be hard to beat.
 
The Buck 102 woodsman is a good chioce imho and if you didn't lose it you would probley never have to buy another. My 2 cents.
 
Mtntrekker,

I have experience with Buck hunting knives in the form of a Buck Vanguard which I own and have used. It's a pretty good knife and I really like the ergonomics and blade geometry. I don't use it anymore because despite my efforts it doesn't take or hold an edge the way I would like. That having been said, people have there own standards for what is acceptable for sharpness, and if the use of the knife is limited to the annual one/two use deer hunt then I think this and the other Buck hunting knives you are considering would be perfectly fine.

My own suggestion would be to improvise a little bit and look for a higher quality knife on sale at or near your budget. For example Bark River produces such a variety of knives with variations in handle material that you can sometimes pick one up at a great bargain. Cumberland Knifeworks has a traditonal hunting style BRKT Big Mountain Skinner they are clearing out in stacked leather for $81. It is not a drop point, but I would buy this knife for deer hunting over the Buck models you mention (and many others of higher price btw) any day. Take whatever funds that you might have or will have to set aside for a sharpener and put it towards a knife like this. Get a piece of very fine grit sandpaper and a mousepad and read one of the many posts that are here and on the web about sharpening a convex edge with this fairly simple method.

Also, at the risk of stating the obvious but since you are new to deer hunting-
don't ever use your blade to try and cut or pry the pelvic bone when field dressing. I see frustrated hunters do it every year; and there is no quicker way to badly booger up a hunting knife regardless of the maker.
 
Thanks for all the advice thus far. I will certainly look into all the suggestions. I'm also picking up on the theme that not many people like the gut-hook idea...maybe I will rethink that one.

Eric, what a generous offer! Thanks man, I may take you up on the offer.

Keep the suggestions coming everyone...I love having options!
 
If I were you,I'd get an AG Russell Deer Hunter.
This knife will field gut a deer,good enough so you can drag it back in to a butcher,or whatever.
If you do not like deer hunting,this knife would be great as an all around knife,camp,kitchen,utility,etc.So no loss or wasted purchase
If it turns out you become a real avid deer hunter,I'd get a custom,by like Charlie May or someone,Dozier,Ingram,etc. Those knives will be much better,and be a lifetime investment,at this point,the AG Deer Hunter,in its plastic moulded case,makes a great back up knife ,in a deer hunters pack.
Just my $.02......Good luck.I hope you get one !
-Vince
 
If you want a great traditional hunting/camping knife, look no further than your local Wally World... they carry the Buck 119, with a phenolic handle, for $33.84 - blister-packed or boxed. The 420HC steel is fine - and will take and keep a great edge, far more easily than the hi-tech cutlery steels. It comes with a nylon sheath - perfect for rough outdoors & 'dressing'. It's to dressing deer what the classic .30-30 is to harvesting them... everyone wants the latest hi-tech goodie, but tried and true still gets the majority of the work done.

The Buck Vanguard is a smaller bladed knife, available from many sources - including Cabela's - with a rubber handle/nylon sheath - and a wood handle/leather for $50/$60 - or, in the 'Alaskan Guide' guise, only available from Cabela's, with S30V steel and black Al-Ti-N coated for ~$90. Also, the folding hunter 110 is available in S30V as the 'Alaskan Guide' version from them for $65. I have all of these - they are hard acts to beat - but so is that $34 119! I no longer hunt... but I have a bunch of knives! All of the aforementioned Bucks are made in the USA.

Can't say anything but praise for the various Marbles USA-made knives - they have great, easily re-sharpened carbon steel blades.

Stainz
 
No doubt if $$ is the main issue, the Buck 119 at Wal-mart is the best bang for the buck (LOL) out there. I would still prefer a US Marbles for not much more money.
 
Hey Guys..
mtn...

Not a problem at all..
I hope that you do take me up on that offer..
Just let me know..Feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
i agree with VCM3 re:AG Russell Deer Hunter. a few general points: a big knife is less effective than a smaller knife; blade needs a pointed tip (like a clip blade) for the incision around the anus and it also helps when your arm is deep inside the body cavity to free up gut attachments on posterior wall and diaphragm (i hold my index finger on the spine near the tip to feel my way along); a thin blade cuts tissue better than a thick one; a folder is just as good or better as you can have 2 or more blades. you will cut hair opening the gut and amputating the lower part of the legs. this dulls a blade fast, so a second blade sharp for the other cuts is nice.; wait til you get home to skin it unless you have to debone and pack out; bring along a small folding saw (mine has one edge for bone, other for wood) in case you have to cut in 1/2 or quarter to drag or pack out
i have a couple of hundred knives. i hunt most days of the Fall and i often vacillate on which knife to take. however my Schrade 152OT (SharpFinger) has done at least 20 deer. roland
 
With all due respect to those that have mentioned it, I would not use a Buck 119. Buck knives are great, but that particular knife is a 6" bladed bowie style. To large for deer; a great camp knife or maybe a hunting knife for moose. For basic gutting and field dressing, stay with a blade in the 3 1/2" to 4 1/4" range. I would agree with A. G. Russell deer hunter (realize this is a thin 0.080" blade meant for slicing, not splitting the pelvis or chopping) or the Grohmann #1 also mentioned. The three Buck knives you mentioned would all work very well, (sans the gut hook) just depends on your preference.

The only other suggestion I would make, if you can stretch your budget, would be the Fallkniven F1. Great knife with a very sharp convex edge (as are the Bark River suggestions), but not necessary if you need to stay under $70.
 
I have alot of knives,,,,I MEAN ALOT, and the truth about it is, the one i use the most is a Buck 119 for a sheath knife and a Buck omni hunter folding knife. To me that is the best combination you can own. Both are American made and with a Buck 119 there is nothing you cant do,,,,Its just meat and potatoes, simple as that. Ive cleaned alot of deer with a 119 and it has never failed me.
 
mtntrekker said:
Hi folks, I'm new to the forums and am looking for a new hunting knife. This will be my first venture into the world of deer hunting and I need a tool for field dressing.

Thus far, I have decided that I definitely want a fixed blade knife and something under $60-70 preferably in the $40-50 range. I Think that a knife with a gut hook would be handy but have never dressed game before and don't know if it might actually get in the way.

Anyway, thus far in my search I have looked at Buck's Omni (the smaller one), Zipper and the Alpha. In addition, I have considered the Gerber Freeman. Although, I will probably steer away from this one due to all the bad Gerber reviews.

I'm looking for any suggestions that you might have. Please recommend knives only within my budget. Thanks!!! :D
Click to expand...


Get a Buck 119 but not from Walmart. They sell them with a crappy nylon sheath. Go to your local sporting goods store and pay $10 more for the leather sheath. It's well worth the extra few $.
 
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