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Which one of these would you use this hunting season?

R

rc51kid

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
162
I inherited some knives recently. These are some of the ones that lend themself better to skinning and quartering. I am going to use one this year on my elk hunt, just need to decide which one. I am choosing it more on nostalgia than just practicality. Kind of "in memory" of my family member. One of these will go from "safe queen" to "user". Which one? I know which one I am leaning towards.

Top: Buck 692, Buck 119, DHRussell
Bottom: Buck 120, Randall Model 20 Yukon Skinner
20250814_194615.jpg
 
I'm sorry for your loss, but you've got a real nice selection to cherish. If weight was a factor then I'd vote you use the 692. Otherwise, that Randall sure looks like it's itching to get covered in elk tallow.

You can't really go wrong with any of them, although the Grohmann survival knife would be my last choice. I used to have one. It sharpened up nice and easily but didn't hold an edge worth a fig. Your experience may differ, and it's a good design anyway.

Make sure to snag some pics of your harvest and share them with the class.
 
If you're wanting to only carry one knife I would honestly pick the one that you have the most connection with or memories of and use it as any of those will do the job. It looks to me like the DH Russell and Randall have seen lots of use and I'd lean towards those for a one knife solution.

If I were choosing from the knives pictured ... I personally would use the Buck Vanguard "692" to field dress and switch to the DH Russell or Randall to skin and quarter.
 
oldmanwilly said:
I'm sorry for your loss, but you've got a real nice selection to cherish. If weight was a factor then I'd vote you use the 692. Otherwise, that Randall sure looks like it's itching to get covered in elk tallow.

You can't really go wrong with any of them, although the Grohmann survival knife would be my last choice. I used to have one. It sharpened up nice and easily but didn't hold an edge worth a fig. Your experience may differ, and it's a good design anyway.

Make sure to snag some pics of your harvest and share them with the class.
Click to expand...
I needed a good all round hunting knife. I had been using a old Fallkniven F1 that has sentimental value. But it was time for something different. When I saw the 692 in the pile I grabbed it just to use hunting. It is already storied in my gear.

But the Randall is calling me.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
If you're wanting to only carry one knife I would honestly pick the one that you have the most connection with or memories of and use it as any of those will do the job. It looks to me like the DH Russell and Randall have seen lots of use and I'd lean towards those for a one knife solution.

If I were choosing from the knives pictured ... I personally would use the Buck Vanguard "692" to field dress and switch to the DH Russell or Randall to skin and quarter.
Click to expand...
The DH Russell is well used. But the Randall in like new, never used. It is probably just the picture or smudges on the blade.

But that's a good idea. One for field dressing. A different one for skinning. That is depending on how the hunt goes. Sometimes i can get it out whole after field dressing and hang it in the barn. If that happens then I have the luxury of using different knifes for different tasks. I think the Randall would be great at skinning.

I have been wanting to use this little guy because it is so small and light. Might be too small for field dressing. But it will be nicer to carry in the mountains than some of those bigger knives.20250814_205217.jpg
 
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Buck 692 is right sized but 420HC steel kills that. The rest are big enough for dressing buffalo and nothing else.
 
rc51kid said:
The DH Russell is well used. But the Randall in like new, never used. It is probably just the picture or smudges on the blade.

But that's a good idea. One for field dressing. A different one for skinning. That is depending on how the hunt goes. Sometimes i can get it out whole after field dressing and hang it in the barn. If that happens then I have the luxury of using different knifes for different tasks. I think the Randall would be great at skinning.

I have been wanting to use this little guy because it is so small and light. Might be too small for field dressing. But it will be nicer to carry in the mountains than some of those bigger knives.View attachment 2950565
Click to expand...
After years of hunting and trapping I've found for me a small 3.5" to 3.75" thin stock blade in a flat grind is about perfect for me to field dress whitetail and even elk. I do carry a few knives and have bigger knives to break it down and I use a small White River M1 if I skin in the field because it's so nimble to use.

You don't need a big knife to field dress or even skin game. I know it's a bit smaller yet, but you certainly could use that little LT Wright to field dress a deer especially if you can take it out to hang and process it later when you have bigger blades.
 
rc51kid said:
But the Randall is calling me.
Click to expand...

rc51kid said:
I was leaning towards the 692. But then my wife got the Randall. Its in mint condition and has been a safe queen. My wife thinks that should change. She told me "I want you to use it on your next hunt". How can i argue with that.
Click to expand...

Do you need a guy with a pointy orange flashlight to usher you to the obvious answer here? Blood the Randall and make some new memories for you and your family.

*but really, iit's your life and your pile of knives. Do whatever you want. Heck, have some fun and use them all over time. You can't go wrong.
 
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