Stout hunting knife

P

Poeschel

Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
22
Here's my dillema. My go to hunting knife is a vintage Schrade 150, love that pattern. My go to camping knife is a LT Wright bushcrafter. The LT is a nice stout knife that I feel very comfortable in the woods with. It has handled every task thrown at with ease, but it sucks for use on game with a spear point. I'll be hunting 2016 in some big unfamiliar woods and would like to find a knife to cover both hunting and more outdoor/camp use. Love my deer slayer but it isn't something i would want to beat on. What do you suggest for a hunting/survival (hate to use that word) knife. Thanks.
 
A Mora of course! Plenty of styles available to suit your needs. I'll PM you a website that sells them, but more importantly has all of the differences between models in one place.

Connor
 
Thanks for the response. I'm actually not a fan of mora. I should add some specifics. Prefer flat grind, a2, o1 or similar but no need for super steel and about 4 inch blade length. Thanks.
 
Just a quick idea since you have an LT already, go for the Great Plainsman or GNS (GNS may still be too much of a drop point, but has a little belly). Or check out some of the Battlehorse knives, many different ones.

Did not think of it til now, I forgot about the Maverick Scout by LT, flat ground and in A2. Or even a camp Muk. My reasoning is since you are familiar with LT already, just check out the different styles.
 
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Sounds like a good time to get a TRUE custom; by which I mean put down on paper exactly what you wish the knife looked like, include steel type etc. and have it made for you. I've had a couple done by putting down all the specifics, with a rough (in my case-you may do better) drawing and sending it to the maker; this was, of course after a phone call to talk it over and then a follow up call to go over any questions he might have.
 
Poeschel said:
Thanks for the response. I'm actually not a fan of mora. I should add some specifics. Prefer flat grind, a2, o1 or similar but no need for super steel and about 4 inch blade length. Thanks.
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IMO, your goals are sort of opposing in terms of grinds and tip design. Bushcraft favors a convex (or scandi) grind for better curls and splitting. Hunting (imo) favors a hollow grind. IME, full flat grinds behave more like hollow grinds in terms of curls, which is to say, not so good. I would rather cut meat with a convex grind than work wood with a full flat or hollow grind. I'd go with a convex grind.

Some folks like a pointy tip for hunting. Others like more of drop point (e.g. the Loveless design, among others). A pointy drop point like on the Mora is a compromise.

If you want something nicer than a Mora, I would look at the Bark River line. Perhaps something like the Aurora or Bravo (with out the thumb ramp)
 
Have you considered a BRKT Bravo 1? I have used mine for game processing and general camp chores with no complaints.
 
A bravo 1 is a good choice, I've used mine on plenty of elk hunts, but I use cpm3v, I like to work an elk without resharpening. Or look into a survive gso 4 in 3v. Perfect size, and plenty stout for extended trips in the wilderness. Although I carry a tomahawk paired with one of these.
 
Pinnah said it better than I could. Just last night I was making a fire and preparing feather sticks with a hollow grind bowie, and having a tough time with it. Grabbed the mora and it performed all the splitting, curling, and trimming with ease and a lot less fatigue than the bowie would have. Maybe look into a Becker BK16, the 2 would work but is really too much weight and oversized for most things.

Connor
 
As Rodriguez said, I would look long and hard at Bark River's full tang knives in your steel choices. Knives of Alaska makes a few good choices all in D2.
 
keep your LT Wright Bush knife, and add another blade. A good hunting knife does not need to be 'stout' at all. Thin, good steel, very sharp, small. Carry your dead animal processing knife in your pack, and don't be bashing it around on other stuff.
 
Poeschel said:
Thanks for the response. I'm actually not a fan of mora. I should add some specifics. Prefer flat grind, a2, o1 or similar but no need for super steel and about 4 inch blade length. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you might like the Bark River Gunny - it's plenty stout with a shallow convex grind, but it's still a great slicer and skinner.
 
Thanks for all the responses. To touch on a few....I own the LT Scout and Colt as well. But the handles are a bit thin for my taste. Which is why I like the bush crafter with the broom stick handle.
I've owned many bark rivers over the years including the bravo 1. Nice knives, but they've lost their sex appeal to me. Not sure why.
I understand a hunting knife doesn't have to be stout, it's just what I want, nothing more.
I've thought about the custom route and check out the exchange daily. With so many nice blades coming out of there, how do you choose a maker. And how do you choose one that doesn't have a huge backlog? Thanks
 
katanas said:
Sounds like a good time to get a TRUE custom; by which I mean put down on paper exactly what you wish the knife looked like, include steel type etc. and have it made for you. I've had a couple done by putting down all the specifics, with a rough (in my case-you may do better) drawing and sending it to the maker; this was, of course after a phone call to talk it over and then a follow up call to go over any questions he might have.
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This is exactly what I was going to say. Now, I'm probably a bit biased since I'm a maker, but I think everyone owes it to themselves to have a knife made for them. Especially a good stout fixed blade that will go on these sort of adventures with you. Get one made, you won't regret it!
 
A custom probably would be best. My choices of steel would be cpm3v, z-wear or cts-pd1. I have worked 8 elk in the last few years, and those are my favorite, with an honorable mention for cpms35vn. Those are the best combos I have found for field knives in terms of edge retention, working around bone, resharpen ability, and general camp chores. I'm still wanting to try a custom in vanadis 4e sometime. I've also used those knives butchering a couple hogs a year, full of blood and mud, and they seem corrosive resistant enough. Good luck choosing.
 
link2derek said:
Sounds like you might like the Bark River Gunny - it's plenty stout with a shallow convex grind, but it's still a great slicer and skinner.
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I'll second the Gunny. I have one and love it. I also have a Bravo 1Lt which I feel is a little too much of a good thing for game.
 
Try the White river knives caper. It wont replace both, but it is a nice small package for processing game.

Enzo Trapper might fit the bill for both.

The problem that I think you already know is that if one knife works for both wont excel at either.

You should check out virtuovoice on youtube. He is an avid hunter and likes bushcraft. He has a ton of knives and talks about the advantages for all of them.
 
Sounds like a custom fits the bill, buuuut depending on how soon you want/need it for hunting you may have to compromise with a readily available knife from a maker, rather than putting down precisely what you want, since with custom makers that can take up to a year depending on their backlog.

A2, D2 or O1 - and from the general sound I'd go with a convex grind. Also, it depends alot on how much you want to invest.

I'll admit, I'm Dozier knives all the way, and have alot, so that's where my recommendations comes from. (Although Bark Rivers are good knives too, I just don't have any). From what it sounds like you intend to use the blade on, I'd recommend a T-1 Tactical by Dozier (AG Russell has them), but if you don't want to spend that much cash, I think a KS-7 Wilderness or a KS-3 Pro Guide would be ideal, and alot less costly than the T-1. Or a Buffalo River Skinner. Those are just suggestions though, not sure if that's the blade shape/style you're looking for, but I will say they're great knives ;)

Best of luck, keep us updated too.
 
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I wanted a stout hunting knife recently as well. I ended up buying a cold steel master hunter. 4.5 inch blade, flat grind drop point and 5mm thick. It is a rugged knife that im very pleased with. Good luck in your decision.
 
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