Sypderco Chinook as a hunting knife?

BryanH · Jan 16, 2002

Just wondering, for all of you with far more hunting experience than I, would the Spyderco Chinook make a good hunting knife to be used for skinning, cutting, camp chores?

BryanH

Coonskinner · Jan 16, 2002

Sure it would. I favor clip points for all around outdoor/hunting blades. Tha Chinook has plenty of belly for skinning and slicing, and the fine point would be fine for delicate tasks, like skinning down the head. It is big enough to do most cutting chores (not chopping) but not too big to be useful for small tasks.

In short, the Chinook is one of Spydercos best all around outdoor designs, in my opinion.

Jeff/1911 · Jan 16, 2002

I bought one for use as an all around "hard use" camping knife, and as a backup deer dresser/skinner. Man, do I LOVE my large Wegner for game processing chores.

The Chinook is one tough knife.

Jeff/1911.

Carver · Jan 16, 2002

I think you would be better served by a drop point blade.The Chinooks upturned point could cause you some uh...smelly problems.

rdangerer · Jan 16, 2002

Originally posted by BryanH
...would the Spyderco Chinook make a good hunting knife to be used for skinning, cutting, camp chores?
BryanH

Originally posted by Carver
I think you would be better served by a drop point blade.The Chinooks upturned point could cause you some uh...smelly problems.

Yeah, I'm with Carver. When you are unzipping the belly hide, that point is just BOUND to end up poking through an intestine some time, some day. It is just designed backwards for that particularly exacting task.

The upswept or "trailing points" are easily my least favorite for dressing out an animal. All that belly is great for the actual skinning chore, but the upswept point is a big pain for everything leading up to the actually removing of hide. Like cutting around the bung hole, like unzipping the stomach/belly hide, like probing around up in the deer to sever the esophagus, etc.

Almost any other blade style would be easier for me and most hunters to use... my preferences roughly in this order:
1. drop point and semi-skinner
2. straight back with a sharp point and decent belly
3. spear point or drop w/ a swedge
4. clip point
...
...
...
99. upswept tip or "trailing point"

Some fraction of hunters out there tolerate an upswept point...and swear they like them. Why, I honestly can't figure out.

The Chinook is a he11-for-stout knife, very solid lockup. It was really designed for a defensive knife. It would be ok around camp, but no better than the knife that would serve you well in all of the field dressing of an animal.

Next question: what production folders ARE good for field dressing? And therefore plenty good for less demanding chores? IMHO:
1. Spyderco Wegner (semi skinner)
2. Spyderco Starmate (drop w/ swedge, or commonly called a spear point in a slightly incorrect manner)
3. Benchmade 710 (drop w/ swedge again)

Next question: what customfolders ARE good for field dressing?
1. Kit Carson large Model 4 (4" blade) w/ a drop point in 420V or maybe Stellite, second tier steels would be 154CM, D2, 440V, etc.
2. Boguszewski's custom Wegner w/ BG-42
3. Kit Carson large model 4 w/ a clip point in 420V or Stellite.
4. Kit Carson medium model 4 (3.5" blade)... you get the picture.

There are many others in each category, the stuff that is "off the top of my head" may be among the best designed as such.

Mike990 · Jan 16, 2002

Its a great knife, but for field dressing and skinning, I do not think the blade shape is ideal, and I do not like folders for that job. Way too many places for tallow, and blood to collect that's hard to clean out. There are a myriad of nice fixed blades out there just for the task.

rdangerer · Jan 20, 2002

Originally posted by Mike990
... and I do not like folders for that job. Way too many places for tallow, and blood to collect that's hard to clean out. There are a myriad of nice fixed blades out there just for the task.

Ah, indeed ... I would agree, wholeheartedly. Should have expanded my response to mention that.

For me, a folder is a backup tool for this task, not a primary tool, for those very reasons Mike990 mentions above.

RH · Jan 20, 2002

The Chinook was designed by James Keating to be a folding bowie, with an upswept tip allowing for a defensive "back cut". It is a brute of a blade, but purpose built for defense, not skinning.

However, two of the all-time most popular hunting knives have a similiar shape, I wonder how they got so popular if they are ill-equipped for the task:
- Buck 110
- Schrade Sharpfinger