Photos Then and Now. Your Hunting Knives

[Hale Storm]

THEN:I've been hunting all my life (40+ years). Back when I was young, uneducated about knives and steels, and not afflicted with aichmomania, I just carried what ever dad gave me or bought me for cleaning and skinning animals. He used an old Imperial fixed blade with the Elk molded into the plastic handle. Later, when he upgraded, he bought a "nicer" Imperial with a solid handle. Pic 1 and 2.
Both of those knives were made and purchased in the 60's, and were carried and used up until the 80's when I bought him his first "high end" knife, a Buck 110.
He used that until he was so old he finally gave up hunting.
Around 14 or so my Uncle gave me my first hunting knife. A Schrade Walden like the one in pic 3. I eventually lost that one somewhere in the wilderness (Colorado I think), and replaced it with a Buck 110 just like Dad's.
I used that one (or one of a few 110 variants) for a couple decades. I wasn't a fan of the fact that you had to stop mid animal and touch up the blade multiple times to get a deer or hog skinned and processed. I tried all the big box brands. None were much better.
Then I started making knives and sheaths (amateur hobbyist only) and suddenly became educated about steel.
NOW: My go to hunting blade is now a Lionsteel M4, in Boehler/Uddeholm M390. Around camp I use a Bradford Gatsby, also in M390, or a Spyderco,ZT, or Benchmade in S30V/S35VN/M390/20CV for camp tasks, food prep, etc. Rough work in the field, fire making, or shelter building is left to ESEE knives or a machete. No more need of touch ups in the field with the super steel M390 or 20CV.

So, what is your THEN and NOW story? I'd love to hear them. I'd especially love to see the pics of those old and new knives.

 

[blades&wrenches]

Nice group there, Ronnie!
I was just thinking about enlisting your services for a Kydex sheath for a Lionsteel M4 in G10. Looks like you’ve already had some practice making one for the model!

As for the thread topic:
When I was young, for the longest time it was a Schrade Uncle Henry fixed blade that I no longer have.

Now it’s a LionSteel M4.

 

[Andy the Aussie]

For a couple of decades it was this....



Now mostly this....

 

[sv4]

THEN:I've been hunting all my life (40+ years). Back when I was young, uneducated about knives and steels, and not afflicted with aichmomania, I just carried what ever dad gave me or bought me for cleaning and skinning animals. He used an old Imperial fixed blade with the Elk molded into the plastic handle. Later, when he upgraded, he bought a "nicer" Imperial with a solid handle. Pic 1 and 2.
Both of those knives were made and purchased in the 60's, and were carried and used up until the 80's when I bought him his first "high end" knife, a Buck 110.
He used that until he was so old he finally gave up hunting.
Around 14 or so my Uncle gave me my first hunting knife. A Schrade Walden like the one in pic 3. I eventually lost that one somewhere in the wilderness (Colorado I think), and replaced it with a Buck 110 just like Dad's.
I used that one (or one of a few 110 variants) for a couple decades. I wasn't a fan of the fact that you had to stop mid animal and touch up the blade multiple times to get a deer or hog skinned and processed. I tried all the big box brands. None were much better.
Then I started making knives and sheaths (amateur hobbyist only) and suddenly became educated about steel.
NOW: My go to hunting blade is now a Lionsteel M4, in Boehler/Uddeholm M390. Around camp I use a Bradford Gatsby, also in M390, or a Spyderco,ZT, or Benchmade in S30V/S35VN/M390/20CV for camp tasks, food prep, etc. Rough work in the field, fire making, or shelter building is left to ESEE knives or a machete. No more need of touch ups in the field with the super steel M390 or 20CV.

So, what is your THEN and NOW story? I'd love to hear them. I'd especially love to see the pics of those old and new knives.

View attachment 1219126 View attachment 1219127 View attachment 1219128

View attachment 1219126 View attachment 1219127 View attachment 1219128 View attachment 1219130

Nice collection you've got there

 

[Hard Knocks]

I started off as a kid with anything I could scrounge. That usually left me with some version of a 3-blade stockman that I could trade for. I couldn't afford the high end Uncle Henry's but could get my hands on the Old Timers. I've gutted a lot of whitetail with an Old Timer and then skidded them off the hill and home. Later I got my hands on one with a liner lock, a 14OT I think. It had enough life in it to get the critter cleaned out and not close on my fingers in the process.

When I got old enough to drive and not just walk out of the house and into the hills, my old man dug around in his pack and gave me a large folding trapper. It was also an Old Timer from Schrade, but a new (at the time) version and it had a belt sheath. It was also big enough to be useful on elk, and I began adding those to the table fare. He kept his well-used Schrade-Walden model in his pack and still uses it today.

Eventually I started making a little money and moved 'up' to a Buck 110. I still love a good 110 and the drop point models with newer steel still have a place in my pocket or on my belt. I picked up a version from silverknights recently that is drop-pointed and in 154cm that is very nice, light and comfortable.

Today I usually have a Queen 19 with D2 in my pocket, accompanied by either a Swamprat drop point Rodent Trail (SR101), a CPK FK1 or FK2 (Delta 3V), or a TRC K1 (M390). The Swamprat is my favorite size/shape/fits me best; whereas the CPK is in my favorite steel with top notch ergos and blade geometry. Good thread Ronnie. Cheers.

cpk fk1 left Swamprat right

queen 19

cpk fk1

trc k1

cpk fk2 (point looks a little blunted in first pic because of angle of picture?? Both pictures, same knife)

 

[Ripcord 82]

Then and still now,the Sharpfinger but I'll be trying out the Bark River Bob Cat Hunter this year.

 

[tiguy7]

View attachment 1219578 View attachment 1219579 The old hunting knife is a custom R.W. Wilson drop point in 440 C. The new hunting knife is a Knives of Alaska drop point in Friction Forged D-2.

 

[Hale Storm]

Nice group there, Ronnie!
I was just thinking about enlisting your services for a Kydex sheath for a Lionsteel M4 in G10. Looks like you’ve already had some practice making one for the model!

Yes sir. I'd love to do it for you. Love that M4 and the M390!

 

[Hale Storm]

I started off as a kid with anything I could scrounge. That usually left me with some version of a 3-blade stockman that I could trade for. I couldn't afford the high end Uncle Henry's but could get my hands on the Old Timers. I've gutted a lot of whitetail with an Old Timer and then skidded them off the hill and home. Later I got my hands on one with a liner lock, a 14OT I think. It had enough life in it to get the critter cleaned out and not close on my fingers in the process.

When I got old enough to drive and not just walk out of the house and into the hills, my old man dug around in his pack and gave me a large folding trapper. It was also an Old Timer from Schrade, but a new (at the time) version and it had a belt sheath. It was also big enough to be useful on elk, and I began adding those to the table fare. He kept his well-used Schrade-Walden model in his pack and still uses it today.

Eventually I started making a little money and moved 'up' to a Buck 110. I still love a good 110 and the drop point models with newer steel still have a place in my pocket or on my belt. I picked up a version from silverknights recently that is drop-pointed and in 154cm that is very nice, light and comfortable.

Today I usually have a Queen 19 with D2 in my pocket, accompanied by either a Swamprat drop point Rodent Trail (SR101), a CPK FK1 or FK2 (Delta 3V), or a TRC K1 (M390). The Swamprat is my favorite size/shape/fits me best; whereas the CPK is in my favorite steel with top notch ergos and blade geometry. Good thread Ronnie. Cheers.

cpk fk1 left Swamprat right

queen 19

cpk fk1

trc k1

cpk fk2 (point looks a little blunted in first pic because of angle of picture?? Both pictures, same knife)

Good to hear from you. Been a while. Thanks for the reply and the awesome pics! That Carothers is awesome!

 

[Hale Storm]

Then and still now,the Sharpfinger but I'll be trying out the Bark River Bob Cat Hunter this year.

Nice! I've seen a few of those Sharpfingers over the past 40 years in deer camp.

 

[Hale Storm]

View attachment 1219578 View attachment 1219579 The old hunting knife is a custom R.W. Wilson drop point in 440 C. The new hunting knife is a Knives of Alaska drop point in Friction Forged D-2.

Thanks for the pics and the reply. I like that KOA drop point. I see the Canadian influence in there (beavertail design). It's a beauty.

 

[l1ranger]

great thread.
im planning to be out after them tomorrow - with any luck, I'll get to use them - and maybe have a picture or two to share

 

[Ripcord 82]

Nice! I've seen a few of those Sharpfingers over the past 40 years in deer camp.

That's about as long as I have been using my Sharpfingers.

 

[Hale Storm]

great thread.
im planning to be out after them tomorrow - with any luck, I'll get to use them - and maybe have a picture or two to share

Please do.

 

[22-rimfire]

I started with a Case Barlow as a kid and hunting during high school. It was the only knife I owned at the time. After that knife was worn out (many many sharpenings), I bought a Case jack knife and used that through my college years for just about everything.

After I started working, hunting was not practical for years as I moved away from the area I grew up in and knew well for hunting. When I got back into it, I used a Schrade 250T (similar to a Buck 110) but better for me. In recent history, I used a Gerber Gator (folder) for a couple years and overall it was okay, not great. Fixed blades only appeared in the last 10 years and then I stopped hunting due to the general hassle of getting permission (or paying) to hunt on private property and developing a red meat allergy. My very first fixed blade was a handmade 4" drop point in 440C in the late 80's.

 

[Cogam87]

I only started hunting bigger game about 4 years ago, but each deer I harvest has been cleaned with my Grohmann #4 stainless with gut hook.

 

[Hale Storm]

I only started hunting bigger game about 4 years ago, but each deer I harvest has been cleaned with my Grohmann #4 stainless with gut hook.

Beautiful knife. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Hale Storm]

Nice group there, Ronnie!
I was just thinking about enlisting your services for a Kydex sheath for a Lionsteel M4 in G10. Looks like you’ve already had some practice making one for the model!

As for the thread topic:
When I was young, for the longest time it was a Schrade Uncle Henry fixed blade that I no longer have.

Now it’s a LionSteel M4.

I'd be happy to do it for you. I'm about 4 weeks out in my shop AND deer season starts this Saturday. LEt me know if you'd like more info.

Thanks,

 

[l1ranger]

finally had a little bit of luck.
its been a rough year, with deer seeming to know just where to come through so I couldn't get to them.
finally connected with a small buck, but still meat in the freezer

I picked up this buck (knife) several years back when I was doing a lot of paracord 'stuff'. since then, its become my main hunting blade. i really like the size and shape and the 420HC does the trick for me. field dressed on saturday, hung over night. skinned and quartered sunday morning and processed sunday afternoon. it needed a touchup after all that, but a few hits on the lansky crock sticks and it was back to cleanly slicing receipt paper.

my old knife, which I didnt break out for this, is a 25OT two bladed with carbon steel that was my fathers before he gave it to me