what's your hunting knife

so for the hunters what blade or blades do you use for cleaning and skinning you quarry?

I carry (and only for hunting and camping but not backpacking) a Randall Model 5 with carved stage grips, a 6" blade, and thumb notches. I wish I had ordered it with a 5" blade, but what did I know back then? :cool:

Stitchawl
 
A Buck 105 Pathfinder. For me it is the perfect blade shape for processing a deer. As with all fixed bucks I own, I remove the top portion of the guard, so it is flush with the top of the handle. For me this makes for a much more comfortable grip on a working knife. In the woods I carry a standard 110 as it takes up less room on the belt, and is more than enough for field dressing.
 
for dear hunting i have carried a kershaw folding field knife for the last 25 years, it has dressed a lot of deer. for the elk and moose and caribou i have carried a cold steel master hunter, and i have on occasion used a colt serengeti skinner, the blade shape of the last one is great for skinning. lately for a lot of the big game i have found that the knives of alaska brown bear combo is a great kit to have around, it will do all the game chores and the chopper is capable of building a camp if need be.

when in africa i carried a puma white hunter, just because i read about this knife for a lot of years, and bought one to take on my first safari. it has gone to africa with me on all my trips, a lot of memories go with all these knives.

alex
 
My "hunting" knife is no different that my normal woodsbumming and bushcraft knife. The reason is, my needs are really no different. I want a knife that can do the things I want in the woods.

The most I will do is field dress in the field, and that does not really take any special requirements. Skinning and butchering is always done later, at which time I can take my pick of any knife I want. I don't need to take it into the field with me.

Small game doesn't need a special knife either. Birds, I don't even use a knife. Rabbit and squirrel, I just make a small slice in the fur on the back, and peel the skin off. Sadly, not much knife work needed.

What is funny though, is the last deer I processed, I skinned and quartered with a cheap folder :D and did all the small cutting/packaging with my kitchen knives.
 
I like a very small fixed blade for field dressing. For many years I've used the KOA Cub Bear. I have even used it for the entire butchering without issue; just goes to show you just how valuable even a very small blade can be. It makes me slow down a little and take my time as well as giving me more control to keep from puncturing nasty bits. It has a very good shape, but I believe the steel is AUS-8A, which I find to be it's Achilles heel. It takes an edge extremely well for stainless, but does not hold it for long. I can get through an entire deer with it, but it needs a short touch up on leather loaded with compound after I'm done, which is really no big deal.

I've been on the lookout for a similar custom on here for replacing the duties of this knife. After getting a Farmer Nessie last week, I am seriously thinking of replacing it with one of his Pixie's.

I've always used a very small blade as I remember watching my grandfather skin, dress and even butcher all types of game with a simple Old Timer Stockman.
 
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I mostly use what ever folder I have in my pocket for feild dressing, normaly its a trapper, or two bladed jackknife, maybe a AG russell woods walker. Some times I keep a 5 inch boning knife in my pack. Any one of thoes knives will get me through small game, birds, and deer. Joe
 
to be honest I dont have a fixed blade for hunting I've always used a stockman, be it old timer, buck, or boker. My dad and brother both have a Puma, Hunters Pal, that they swear by. I'm getting a BRKT Bravo 1 for Christmas so that will be my fixed blade for everything.
 
Bill Burke Pronghorn. Great ergonomics and he really learned 52100 well from the master. Sometimes also one of Jeff Morgan's full beavertail skinners in ATS34. Occasionally a Dozier Yukon Skinner in D2.

I keep a Carbon V CS Master Hunter for heavy-duty work and as a loaner. Very sturdy.

DanceswWithKnives
 
It's an old picture and kind of hard to see, but my go-to hunting knives have been my Dozier's Professional Skinner and Spyderco Chinook. The Dozier is D2 and takes a razors edge. It's sliced through a few deer and one hog...by far my favorite hunting knife.

KnifeKit2.jpg


Here is a better picture (center knife):

RIMG0003.jpg


ROCK6
 
In the woods I carry one of my Moras in my waist pack, and my Cara Cara clipped to my pocket. Back at camp, you name it. I usually bring 6 or 7 assorted blades to beat, bang, slice, chop, and yes, process game with. this year my new little skinner will get bloodied. (hopefully):D
 
I used a Buck 110 years ago. Now I take a Dozier professional guide , and a Helle Jubilieum knife(for birds). Both are sharp as a razor. I always carry a couple of differant swiss army knives as well.
 
I started with a Buck 110 for many years. I then switched to a Busse Game Warden. Now that I have a Fiddleback Nessmuk i'm thinking it may take the spot.
 
I forgot, I also use a Marbles Expert II, and My Kullevo model 10 from Kellam Knives, in the field.
 
People who see my knives, while cutting packaging matterial, or cutting game, seem to always comment on how sharp my knife is. Well no kidding. It's a way of life for me. I love to sharpen blades. A dangerous knife is a dull knife. When the blade is extreamly sharp, less force is required to cut. keep em sharp, I always say.
 
Thanks for the picture, I knew the style, but didn't know about Fiddleback making them. Is the other a Koster Bushcraft?
 
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