What is a good knife for hunting?

T

tbk

Joined
May 30, 2006
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7
I've pretty much decided to by myself a CS Master Hunter with VG-1 steel. Are there better alternatives out there, with a budget of max $100?
 
I don't care for them myself but, my Deer hunting buddy swears by Bucks 425 mystery metal. He states its the only knife that will do a whole Deer without sharpening. He may be right as the one I had was extremly hard to sharpen & I traded it off.
 
Another vote for Bark River knives. Beat the pants off a Buck knife any day.
...and I'm a hunter.
 
If you are a new hunter and have never gutted and skinned game before I would not recommend a Bark River Knife. They are too sharp for the new or casual user, IMHO.

My Bark River is the "Huntsman" model with the good blade guard. I don't want to take a chance of slipping onto the blade edge when working in the cold and wet of hunting conditions. It is especially nice to have the blade guard when working blind up in the chest cavity.

It only takes one accident and you are in for a world of stitches at the nearest ER (assuming you don't bleed out first).

http://barkriverknives.com/gallery/album68

I think the Spyderco fixed blade models might work well. The famous knifemaker Bill Moran made some nice fixed blade hunting models for Spyderco that I would look at if I were getting a hunting knife.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=42

The Carbon V CS is also very popular.
 
The real question are "what are you hunting?" and "how far do you plan to process your game with your hunting knife?". If you don't plan on hunting anything bigger than a deer you should get a knife with a 3 to 4 inch blade. Bigger than that will just make you clumsy. For that reason a Master Hunter with its 4.5" blade is bigger than you need, but can do a good job on the deer (it would be too big for rabbits). I would suggest something like a Camillus Gran'pa hunter to cover game from squirrels up through deer.
http://www.knivesplus.com/camillus-knife-granpa-cm-gp152.html

If you are hunting game from deer size up through elk I would suggest a knife with a 4 to 5 inch blade for basic field processing (gutting mostly). This is where your Master Hunter would excel. If you actually have to quarter game and skin it you will need a whole series of tools. You would probably want a saw or hatchet and something like an ulu for skinning. You might look for an Uluchet to supplement your knife.
 
First gun, then knife:) Actually, the knife would first of all be an all-purpose-knife when hiking. How about the RAT-3 from Ontario? D-2 any good?
 
DGG said:
If you are a new hunter and have never gutted and skinned game before I would not recommend a Bark River Knife. They are too sharp for the new or casual user, IMHO.

My Bark River is the "Huntsman" model with the good blade guard. I don't want to take a chance of slipping onto the blade edge when working in the cold and wet of hunting conditions. It is especially nice to have the blade guard when working blind up in the chest cavity.

It only takes one accident and you are in for a world of stitches at the nearest ER (assuming you don't bleed out first).

http://barkriverknives.com/gallery/album68

I think the Spyderco fixed blade models might work well. The famous knifemaker Bill Moran made some nice fixed blade hunting models for Spyderco that I would look at if I were getting a hunting knife.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=42

The Carbon V CS is also very popular.
Click to expand...
Knife too sharp huh? That's the silliest thing I've ever heard in my life. An ultrasharp knife will cut with far less pressure than one with a lesser edge, greatly reducing the chances of slippage and accidents to start with. If the knives you're using are so dull that they won't cut YOU, they won't cut what you are trying to use them on either. Every time somebody mentions Bark River, this same old "too sharp too sharp" post comes up, on multiple knife forums. You've convinced me buddy, I want a Bark River BAD now, that Snowy River has been calling out to me for months. I don't whether you're intending to be serious or just using reverse psychology, I hope psychology, otherwise I'd have to recommend visiting a psychiatrist. I don't like a knife without a guard or something there to stop slippage myself. But TOO sharp? <giggle!>:p
 
One of the Bark River models would be a great choice. Also check out one of the Buck Vanguard models. You can get the standard version with 420HC blade, which will be easy to sharpen but also easy to dull. Or you can get the S30V version offered by Cabelas (Alaskan Guide series). Benchmade makes a few nice fixed blades, such as the Griptilian fixed blade or the Outbounder. And the Spyderco Moran fixed blades would be a good choice.

Take any one of those, and they will serve you well. If you are unfamiliar with the different steels used in them, educate yourself. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses, you need to decide which steel characteristics are most important to you. And decide which overall knife design will suit your purposes the best.
 
I kind of like the SOG Field Pup for a small fixed blade that is inexpensive but serves the purpose very well. You have to be careful with a large bladed knife field dressing a deer.... the problem comes in if you don't split the rib cage open (and I don't) and you reach in there to pull the lungs and heart out with the assistance of a knife. You can't see what you are doing, so the big knife gets in the way and you are liable to cut yourself. This fall though I will be using the SOG Hunter Revolver as my primary deer knife with a Remington bullet knife as backup. Frankly the bullet knife is plenty of knife.
 
Don't count out the fallkniven line. Their f1 is under or around 100 and it seems like a great little knife.
 
tbk said:
First gun, then knife:) Actually, the knife would first of all be an all-purpose-knife when hiking. How about the RAT-3 from Ontario? D-2 any good?
Click to expand...

The RAT 3 is a great knife. That D2 steel cuts very aggressively.

rat30pi.jpg
 
I sure love my CS Master Hunter w/carbon v, great blade for skinning. Takes a scary edge, holds an edge well, handle doesn't slip when wet, good balance. Great hunter for the money imo. Just keep it oiled after use and it will serve ya well.
 
Bark River knives are absolutely superb hunting knives. IMO you can't go wrong with the Ontario RAT or TAK knives 1095 or D2 as well. My Bark river experiences are with the Gameskeeper and Highland special and I have a RAT-7 in 1095 and a TAK-1 in D2. The Bark River's are convex edges that are remarkably sharp but some folks new to knife sharpening sometimes have difficulty sharpening them. The RAT/TAK knives have more traditional edges.
 
For hunting deer, small game and birds, nothing could be simpler than the $30 buck 110, you want to spend a little more and get more, either buy the 110 in S30V from Cabela's, the 154CM 110 from BassPro or send your $30 110 in to Buck with $35 and have your blade upgraded to BG-42 steel. Win, Win all the way around. Later, you can mess with premium knives and spend a bit more for exactly your use if you wish. Good luck!:D
 
I have to agree with native justice and go with the buck 110. within reason it will do anything you need done plus it is safer to carry while hunting. the rat 3 is also a dandy. probably one of the best knives out there is also one of the cheapest, the mora line. later, ahgar
 
I love my Carbon V CS Master Hunter. It is a great hunting knife and a good all around camp knife. The VG-1 blade would eliminate, or at least minimize the need for constant care to avoid rust in the field or campsite.

I don't know about the VG-1 blade, but the Carbon V blade eliminates the need for a saw to split the pelbic bone when Deer hunting. The Carbon v Master Hunter cuts through it with no notisable damage to the blade.
 
Chazzy151 said:
I sure love my CS Master Hunter w/carbon v, great blade for skinning. Takes a scary edge, holds an edge well, handle doesn't slip when wet, good balance. Great hunter for the money imo. Just keep it oiled after use and it will serve ya well.
Click to expand...
Similar experience here. Great bang for the buck. I used it to field dress several deer. Never had a problem with it slipping, and it cleaned up easy. Just remember to take care of the blade or the carbon will rust.
Having said that, I have carried a Dozier or Denning fixed blade during the last couple of deer seasons. Worth taking a closer look at those knives IMO.
Jim
 
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