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Tell me about good hunting knives

B

bigarm

Joined
Oct 20, 2013
Messages
9
I am not much of a hunter and have not hunted in a few years (since we moved to Montana). However, I am going to retire in 6+ months and want to hunt next fall here in Montana. I like nice things, so I am thinking of getting a custom hunting knife. This won't be for a while as I have a knife due to be done in January and Christmas shopping time is here. I would like to know what people think are important details in a knife for hunting (blade length, blade type, etc.) and maybe custom makers that make nice hunters for reasonable prices. Thanks for your help. If this post should be in a different sub forum let me know.
 
Depends entirely on what you are going to hunt/going to use the knife for on a hunting trip besides skinning?

Are you looking for a dedicated skinning knife and will it be a companion knife to a utility knife or do you want it to be one knife for most purposes?

This season I used this one - my Scheppmann 'Hunter.' A great knife made by a great knifemaker. On top of that, he is nice guy to deal with.





 
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I've always been real fond of bark river knives. They have tons of designs and I'm sure one will speak to you.
 
I do not own one, but from what I've gathered from others' experience, Phil Wilson makes quality skinning/caping/general purpose hunting knives. Just thought I'd mention him for something to look into. Happy retirement!
 
For everything from squirrels to whitetail a 4" blade 440c micarta scales drop point. D.W childress has nice hunters listed in custom knives here. Bought one the other day. Very reasonable. Uses a lot of 440 c. Only thing he seems to like wooden handles which is OK. Probably could PM him and get him to make one in micarta....
 
I suggest a production knife for your reintroduction to hunting. Then after a trip or two you will get a feel for what you want in a hunting knife. A lot will depend on your type of hunting.

I like a blade no longer than 3-inches with a lot of sweep to it. That's just my preference.
 
I like 3 to 4.25" blades. A good one for cold-climate hunting is the Buck Vanguard with the rubber grip. Has a nice 4.25" drop point and holds an edge for deer processing. So many people worry about whether or not the knife will dress multiple deer. All you need is for it to get through field dressing, wash it off and use it to take the hide off a single deer. Touch it up on a steel and start butchering. I like to use several knives but all my standard steels, both carbon and stainless, touch up easily and quickly. If you insist on fancy, I'd go with a rampless Bark River Gunny in A2.

Joe
 
With firearm
677BB-500x.jpg

677BB Curved Skinner 5 3/4 " . Good length blade, not a 3" trinket, avoids bloody hands.

With only bow/spear/dogs
870BB-500x.jpg

870BB General Purpose 6 1/4 "

655B-500x.jpg

655B Curved Skinner/Sticker/Boning 6 "
http://www.svord.com/

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyc2YvfbWzA
 
I think my Buck Vanguard is just about perfect. If you need a custom, look real hard at that design. In my opinion it does a lot of things just right.
 
If you think you want to go the "custom" route, and can wait a until next hunting season, give me a call.

(I've made a few. ;) )









 
Dang Mr. Anderson that's what I'm talking about! Can't buy that at Wal-Mart. Course then again, Buck or Gerber or Boker or whoever will work just fine for most folks. Kinda like driving up in a Camry or a Porsche. Both will get you where you are going.......
 
Ditto on a review. I am in blind right now with 4 does and 3 fawns in front if me. Look up my review of the big chris caper in s90v. That may help
 
RWT said:
Ditto on a review. I am in blind right now with 4 does and 3 fawns in front if me. Look up my review of the big chris caper in s90v. That may help
Click to expand...

4 Does - 3 Fawns = 1 Doe with no fawn that is ready for the cooler.

Good luck.
 
If you start watching virtuovice videos on youtube, by the time you need the knife you'll have a very good understanding of exactly what is required. He has taking the hunting knife analysis to a whole new level. :)

He too is a believer in Bark River, but he has tested darn near every knife on the market.
 
Check the makers section.

bigarm said:
I am not much of a hunter and have not hunted in a few years (since we moved to Montana). However, I am going to retire in 6+ months and want to hunt next fall here in Montana. I like nice things, so I am thinking of getting a custom hunting knife. This won't be for a while as I have a knife due to be done in January and Christmas shopping time is here. I would like to know what people think are important details in a knife for hunting (blade length, blade type, etc.) and maybe custom makers that make nice hunters for reasonable prices. Thanks for your help. If this post should be in a different sub forum let me know.
Click to expand...
 
Hunting knives? You're speaking my language. My tastes go all over the map but here are my favorites so far.
My Phillip Patton. You aren't going to find better workmanship than his.

My Richard J skinner. I don't know how he does it but his heat treat/temper is absolutely amazing and he knows how to get them ridiculously sharp.
rjskinner3.jpg

My JK Galley Wag. 1/16 inch thick 01 that is a dream to cut with.

And lately I have found out just how much a guy can love a Schrade fixed blade. I have always loved their Sharpfingers and Deerslayers but I recently received a 147s and it is nearly perfect.
 
My favorite hunting style is the Loveless 4" Drop Point Hunter. I have a number of them by various makers. The one I've used the most is by WC Davis; mainly because that's one of the first custom ones I've bought. I also have a production model, a Beretta licensed one, that gets used in my kitchen several times a week. Those are my go to blades.
DavisHunter_zps6649d7bc.jpg


I also use a slimmer version, almost a "bird and trout" I had Tim Hartmann from NM make me. It's better for small stuff and caping.
KnifeHunter186LLCaperfinnATS34IronwoodLOGOSDEshth2.jpg
 
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Some production knifes I use for hunting that wont break the bank.Every time I have enough coin for a custom knife I buy another gun
 
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