Pick a Fixed for Hunting for LESS than $75

Opinions vary, but the Sharp Finger is the absolute LAST knife I would want to use for gutting duty. I want a dropped point, not an upswept one when working around the stomach or intestines.

My recommendation would be the Beretta Loveless hunter for fields dressing, but I agree that the Sharp Finger is great as a skinner.
 
elkins45 said:
Opinions vary, but the Sharp Finger is the absolute LAST knife I would want to use for gutting duty. I want a dropped point, not an upswept one when working around the stomach or intestines.

My recommendation would be the Beretta Loveless hunter for fields dressing, but I agree that the Sharp Finger is great as a skinner.
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Different methods for different people. I want my fingertip on the backside of the tip of the blade. Easier to guide and control the knife that way. Much less chance of nicking the stomach, bladder or intestines. And a lot easier cutting around the diaphragm. The latter has to be done by feel (along with cutting the esophagus), and you can't effectively lay your fingertip on a drop point knife and still keep control over it.

Dunno. Maybe I've been doing it wrong for over 40 years, but I've yet to mess one up, and as I mentioned, I'll guess I've field dressed well over 100 deer. All done with a Sharpfinger.
 
Although I'm not a big fan of Sog knives, I've got a Field pup that I love. I've used it on just about everything in the southeast and its worked well. I believe it was under $45 bucks shipped.
 
This is a very nice drop point from Hen & Rooster. Comes with quality leather sheath.
Spanish made, 440C steel with ram horn scales, full tang. 8-3/8" OAL, 3-13/16" tip to plunge.
Perfect size for anything in N. America, and pretty well anywhere else, for that matter. $49.95 shipped ConUS.

drophorn.jpg
 
SPXTrader said:
Dunno. Maybe I've been doing it wrong for over 40 years, but I've yet to mess one up, and as I mentioned, I'll guess I've field dressed well over 100 deer. All done with a Sharpfinger.
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Nothing wrong about it if it works for you, but I suspect you might be in the minority.

Why can't you lay your finger on the spine of a dropped point? I do it all the time. And I don't cut loose the diaphragm by feel:I cut loose the trachea and use it to pull the heart/lungs out then cut around and below.
 
Altough I've jumped on the overpriced premium knife bandwagon for hunting knives, I have to say my best spec'd hog hunting knife is my Buck Pathfinder. Does everything a hunter needs well. It does require a little sharpening in the middle of skinning thick hide though.

* Blade Length: 5" (12.7 cm)
* Blade Material: 420HC Stainless Steel
* Carry System: Black leather sheath
* Fixed Blade: Yes
* Handle Material: Phenolic
* Quantity: Yes
* Weight: 4.5 oz. (128.1 g)
 
elkins45 said:
Nothing wrong about it if it works for you, but I suspect you might be in the minority.

Why can't you lay your finger on the spine of a dropped point? I do it all the time. And I don't cut loose the diaphragm by feel:I cut loose the trachea and use it to pull the heart/lungs out then cut around and below.
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I have to agree with this. I've had a couple of Sharpfingers and with the extreme upward sweep of the tip, how do you lay your finger on the spine of the blade? Are you fingers double jointed? I'm not trying to be funny, I really would like to know. Whenever I tried it, I ended up almost sticking the point of the knife into my finger. A straight blade or drop point is much easier and more comfortble for me.

I also cut the trachea and then pull everything out.
 
check out the kershaw outcast. you can always hold the spine of the blade near the tip for fine skinning work and youll have enough blade length for pig stickin.
 
as mentioned, a sticker and a dressing blade are two very different applications. getting one knife to do both could be interesting.

one that immediatly springs to mind just about any time anyone asks this kind of question is the tried and true Ka-Bar USMC. it's not ideal for field dressing work, but can be pressganged into that duty. on the plus side, it's a great sticker, an awesome blade and is cheap and cheerful. you may wish to pair it with a smaller Mora blade to do dressing duties.

another knife that i've used for both tasks is the Fallkniven S1. the 5" blade is plenty for sticking duties and it is small enough to be used for dressing game. i prefer to use my WM1 for dressing work however.

on a different path, the single best pig sticking blade ever produced, imho, is the Fairbairn-Sykes British commando knife. however, it is utterly useless for field dressing duties.
 
I believe Ka-Bar's Becker Magnum Camp is in that price range. It ought to be perfect for what you specify - mostly. Not sure I'd want to gut anything with it, but that's a job for a tiny knife anyway. For processing or possibly killing the pig though - perfection.
 
I used to hunt with an older gentleman in his 70's who'd been hunting and guiding for 50 years. He had one knife, a very old Case XX Stockman. He pretty much used the spey blade for everything on big, big hogs, deer, turkey, etc. He'd laugh at us when we pulled out our big "new fangled" knives. I still like mine though. :-)
 
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