Old Hickory butcher knife whatcha think?

Mykl Clark

Mykl Clark

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Joined
Feb 19, 2000
Messages
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I read in Backwoodsman magazine that these make excellent camp knives what do all of you think? I found one at Wally World for <$5 so it is at least cheap enough for me to buy one and give it a couple of tests but first I want to know what you think.

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
The one's I've owned hold an edge well, easy to sharpen and will do just about anything you want for a light weight camp knife.

'Kitchen' knives are used with good success as camp knives all over the world. Most of the used ones you see have lost their factory edge profile a long time ago and thinned way back.

Jeff

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Randall's Adventure & Training
jeff@jungletraining.com
 
Did you read the latest Backwoodsman? There is a neat article on putting a brass finger guard on a butcher knife. This should turn your old hickory into the best camp knife in the camp. I always get a laugh in hunting camp when everyone is lugging around so many fancy knives, when it comes to chow time they pick up my carbon steel Chicago Cutlery butcher knife I always bring. This hollow ground butcher knife will slice and dice! But the edge is a little too fragile for much else (I wouldn't go out an chop down a tree with it). The old hickory is a little more stout but I would reprofile the edge a wee bit anyway.

Check out his thread.
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum54/HTML/000869.html



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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
As a matter of fact i just bought the new Backwoodsman Fri. I haven't had much time to read it but I will give that guard thing a try. I might (and I say might)replace the handles as well. Thanks --Mykl

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
My mother-in-law had one of these. I put a good edge on it but it went dull pretty fast. Tough blade but I don't think the steel is very hard, maybe deliberately. If you want a good basic camping knife for under $20 look at Cold Steel's American Hunter, Elk Skinner or Scalper. Carbon V steel, which takes and holds a great edge.
 
Alberta Ed, I agree about them being a bit soft, but they resharpen very fast. I have used the Cold Steel knives you mention, and find them very good. However, I have heard they have quit making them.
 
GLP-1, you can still find the CS Elk Skinner, etc., knives around. I don't know what came of the Red River division of Cold Steel that produced them; maybe it didn't return enough of a profit. They were one of the best knife bargains going, as good as the excellent Mora blades IMHO.
 
My favorites are the French teade pattern and the one that is a sheep skinner pattern. I don't remember what name it was marketed as. They are much better for breaking down game than most modern "hunting" knives. I think that the French trade knife is about as nasty a weapon as you need, for about $10!
 
I saw a CS Red River skinner at a flea market last year. It was mint and they wanted $20. I passed. Was that a decent price?

Mike
 
It is higher than I HAVE paid, but I like em so much I MIGHT have paid that much. For $10, they are a mighty good buy.
 
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