Six patterns - which is best for your hunt?

[redsquid2]

Sorry they are all pointing downward. That is not the way I want the picture to display.

Starting at the left, three are .110” and the other three are .130”.

Blade lengths are from left to right: 2 7/8”, 3 1/8”, 3 1/2”, 3 9/16”, 3 7/8”, and 4 1/8”. I always include a palm swell into the handle shape on the larger knives, and the bevels will be flat grind. Steel is 80crv2 at 61hrc. If you choose more than one knife for more than one hunt just tell me what you are hunting. Thanks for participating.

 

[oldmanwilly]

First of all, they all look like great designs and should work well for hunting and EDC.

Second, I would gladly choose the two on the right for whitetail or similarly sized game. I like the drop point design and prefer longer blades for a little extra reach. Of these two I would favor the second from the right only because the profile of the tang indicates a more versatile grip.

Next, I really like the third from the left as a bird/trout/small game knife. By small game I mean fish, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, ringtails, and so forth. The tang looks to be long enough to provide a good grip. Meanwhile the blade looks narrow enough for detail work while also being long enough to handle most mid sized game processing tasks.

Finally, the two on the left look like good EDC knives but would also work very well for small game or as caping knives.

Please follow up with pics so that we can see the finished products. These look great so far.

 

[pa knifeguy]

I like the one on the far left.
I mostly hunt whitetails but try to get out for turkey when I can.
I like to travel light and have always favored smaller knives.
Please post pictures when they're finished

 

[Grateful]

They all look like good designs to me. If I were choosing one I would take the second one from the left. I think it would make a good all around hunting knife for me. Handling rabbits up to white tail deer nicely.

 

[redsquid2]

I apologize if it takes me forever to finish up this batch of knives. My shop is all full of sawdust right now, so I need to wait until I finish the woodworking project.

The second from the left I have done before. So here is a past example using pecan wood:

The top one pictured here is the same or similar pattern:

 

[kvaughn]

Far left for me. I like a small thin slicer for game..KV

 

[CVamberbonehead]

3rd from the left and the far right knife. The smaller would be a good small game knife and the big one would be good for big game. They all look cool!

 

[hank_rearden]

First, I find that a shorter blade in relation to the handle is "handier." Second, a lowered edge (level or lower to one's knuckles) is not as tactile as one proximal to the edge of the handle. Last, the smallest but not inconvenient one works best for me. Therefore I choose, #1 & 2 on the left.

 

[Taylortat]

Third from the left. I used a knife that size to field dress and quarter out an elk. I think all of you blades are sized well. I like something between 3.5 and 4 inches usually. I find the Rambo knives useless in my hands when it comes to cleaning animals.

 

[Mongo]

No.s 1&2, from left to right, for me.

 

[Shane C.]

3 and 6.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

all would do the job ... personal preference ... the first two on the left for an all around hunting knife for me ... but I always carry two knives for medium to large game ... the fourth from the left could work but would be a better skinner the extra belly than a field dressing knife IMHO

 

[Cereal_killer]

I like #3 for field dressing and gutting deer. I like #5 for processing once back at camp (note I'd carry both, one on my belt one in my bag while out hunting).

On #5 I could use a slightly longer blade but much prefer the handle shape of it over #6 as it'll allow more grip options.
#3 I also chose for the handle shape. I find a less contoured handle / palm swell better for my use as it allows more grip options for when you really need to reach down in a carcass or cut at an odd angle.

I do agree they all look great and any should serve you well. I honestly just got my first dedicated hunting knife last year, my entire life before that I'd just used whatever blade I was liking at the time.

 

[black mamba]

I like the blade shape and size of the 4th one from the left, because of the fuller belly, but would prefer it with the thinner .110" stock for improved slicing.