Your thoughts on hunters...

[J. Doyle]

Hey Matt. I think you've pretty much got it down really. Your description of a hunting knife and how you use it is pretty much in line with my way of thinking on it.

I've hunted pretty much all my life from the time I was about 4 or 5, going out with my dad up to now, every chance I get. Hunting knives are near and dear to me. I make and sell quite a few.

Here's some things I like in a hunting knife:

Personally, I like guardless knives for my hunters. It seems that most prefer a single lug guard, and that's okay too. Blade size of 3-3 1/2" is pretty much ideal. I like a gently dropped point, or a clip point with a false edge for a nice piercing tip. Good distal taper for balance is nice. I like rounded spines and to knock all sharp edges on fittings and handles down with a gentle radius. I like the handles to have some subtle curves and/or swells but not drastically contoured. The human hand is pretty adaptable and a more understated shape might allow for a variety of grips that you would use on a smaller knife for hunting and camp chores.

Here's one I made for myself this past season, mainly to experiment with a raised clip, not because it's necessarily my ideal choice. Used to field dress and skin 3 deer and it did just fine. This is 1095 and Claro walnut.


This is probably more my personal ideal hunting knife, only I'd have mine guardless. But for one with a guard, I like this a lot. CruForgeV and Madagascar rosewood:


I also like these and they demonstrate some of the features that I like:






And for size, shape, and handle details, I like this one a lot. It may have a few more embellishments than most, including me, would prefer for a using hunter, but the other stuff is just right for me.

 

[secretsquirrel]

One of my favorites.

 

[AusLoX]

Hunters. I like them bigger than 4". I have some smaller knives for fine work

 

[VCM3]

I like to keep it simple like this one from Rocky Menefee

I think Rocky has gutted & skinned more creatures than he's made knives,but I've been watching and his knives continue to improve,and he's making great knives for hunters who will use them,simple & practical

 

[rwense]

All of these look great!

 

[rwense]

Hey Matt. I think you've pretty much got it down really. Your description of a hunting knife and how you use it is pretty much in line with my way of thinking on it.

I've hunted pretty much all my life from the time I was about 4 or 5, going out with my dad up to now, every chance I get. Hunting knives are near and dear to me. I make and sell quite a few.

Here's some things I like in a hunting knife:

Personally, I like guardless knives for my hunters. It seems that most prefer a single lug guard, and that's okay too. Blade size of 3-3 1/2" is pretty much ideal. I like a gently dropped point, or a clip point with a false edge for a nice piercing tip. Good distal taper for balance is nice. I like rounded spines and to knock all sharp edges on fittings and handles down with a gentle radius. I like the handles to have some subtle curves and/or swells but not drastically contoured. The human hand is pretty adaptable and a more understated shape might allow for a variety of grips that you would use on a smaller knife for hunting and camp chores.

Here's one I made for myself this past season, mainly to experiment with a raised clip, not because it's necessarily my ideal choice. Used to field dress and skin 3 deer and it did just fine. This is 1095 and Claro walnut.


This is probably more my personal ideal hunting knife, only I'd have mine guardless. But for one with a guard, I like this a lot. CruForgeV and Madagascar rosewood:


I also like these and they demonstrate some of the features that I like:






And for size, shape, and handle details, I like this one a lot. It may have a few more embellishments than most, including me, would prefer for a using hunter, but the other stuff is just right for me.

WOW! Who made those knives in your third picture down? I absolutely love them! Any info on them would be great!

 

[J. Doyle]

WOW! Who made those knives in your third picture down? I absolutely love them! Any info on them would be great!

Thanks for the kind words. I made them. Forged from 1075, box elder burl handles, stainless fittings on one and black g-10 on the other. Send me an email if you'd like some more info. jdoyleknives AT gmail DOT com

Thanks again.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I made them.

...you make knives?

Weird.




So many excellent designs! I'm loving this thread. There's a few more folks I'm waiting to hear from, though...


Also, you guys aren't telling me if you butcher or not (well, some of you have, I know), and I want to hear about what you use, if you do!

 

[J. Doyle]

Also, you guys aren't telling me if you butcher or not (well, some of you have, I know), and I want to hear about what you use, if you do!

Rapala 6" fillet knife. $13.99.....Seriously.

I actually just need some time to make some butchering knives. But yeah, for now, a fillet knife works pretty good for the butchering. That doesn't really help us sell expensive handmade knives though does it.

 

[wdtorque]

Rapala?
PIA to sharpen by hand IMHO.
Guard?
"Give me a small custom with a decent handle." A wise man.
Nuff said.
Dozier

 

[JParanee]

Matt



Only kidding


Your description of a knife with a 3 1/2 inch blade with some tip and a little bellie is what I find works best for me

I like a knife with some tip because I am not just skinning animals I am camping them and I like the tip for the detail work

I do not like gut hooks etc

I do all my skinning and camping as well as butchering

I can dismantle an animal in the field or hanging in my garage with a very small knife

If I have access to a saw that is great

I even used a 5 inch Hurak this year to do a Buck I shot



I really prefer a smaller knife

This Knight Jurasic B&T really is a great shape and size



A Foster Darkside really works well for me







The little caper on the right has done a lot of critters



For years this little knife from Blackwood was a favorite



Remember you do not need a big knife to get it done

 

[canineforge]

2 of Sam's hunters above the Hurak. I have a larger hand and like a minimum of 4-inch blade on my hunters. And, I am a big fan of a single hilt. I don't butcher or skin much, but like a comfortable, sharp hunter with a serious tip. And, large enough to do other chores around camp.

- Joe

 

[rickmenefee]

On a skinner 3/16 stock distal taper from both ends. The knife will work for you if you stay around 7.5 with longer end for the handle. 154cm Hollow ground on a big radius wheel around . 008- .010 at the edge and end. It's needs multiple cryo and temper cycles for ease in field sharpening. Hand friendly w/ preference to Micarta . Holster needs whickett leather that's been split from 10 to 12oz for safety. Thong hole w/ short tail used to pull from sheath and to hang. Skin from the inside out. Hair is what roles edges.

 

[canineforge]

I could buy Karl Andersen hunters all day long. The wife might object, though.

- Joe

 

[Jon Brand]

I think Karl could open up an anderson hunter company, He could have a few people work and crank out tons of amazing straight up hunters. He could make a killing.

 

[DEllis]

I'm gonna be the oddball(not an uncommon occurrence) and state my preference for larger blades. I do not deal with the numbers of dead beasts some do, but over the years of hunting and guiding it has amounted to somewhere above 50 head of big game I have personally dressed, skinned and otherwise processed.
I do all my own butchering, and prefer a lightweight 9 inch blade for meat cutting at home.
While hunting I carry a mid sized 7.5" to 9" bowie/fighter style blade and use it for all the field dressing and skinning. I have found the clip point blade with a swedge is far better for piercing through thick hides(especially moose) than a thicker, less pointy design.
With a longer blade I have the leverage needed to split a moose brisket, and removing the head and legs goes much faster and cleaner with a longer blade for me. I would turn a moose shoulder into hamburger with a short blade by the time I got it separated at the joint.:foot:
The only time I use a smaller blade is for caping out trophy's, but that is not very often........I hunt for meat, and for the enjoyment of the outdoors. Most of the hunts I guide are meat hunts as well.

One could make the argument for a smaller knife and axe combo, but the large knife does it all for me personally.

Here're a few of my beasts from the past couple seasons.










My current blade.



And one from a few years ago......with a nice rainbow headed for the fry pan.....and yes, I cleaned that fish with that blade too.


That being said, most of the hunters I sell look more like these.







Darcy

 

[savage99]

I'm gonna be the oddball(not an uncommon occurrence) and state my preference for larger blades. I do not deal with the numbers of dead beasts some do, but over the years of hunting and guiding it has amounted to somewhere above 50 head of big game I have personally dressed, skinned and otherwise processed.
I do all my own butchering, and prefer a lightweight 9 inch blade for meat cutting at home.
While hunting I carry a mid sized 7.5" to 9" bowie/fighter style blade and use it for all the field dressing and skinning. I have found the clip point blade with a swedge is far better for piercing through thick hides(especially moose) than a thicker, less pointy design.
With a longer blade I have the leverage needed to split a moose brisket, and removing the head and legs goes much faster and cleaner with a longer blade for me. I would turn a moose shoulder into hamburger with a short blade by the time I got it separated at the joint.:foot:
The only time I use a smaller blade is for caping out trophy's, but that is not very often........I hunt for meat, and for the enjoyment of the outdoors. Most of the hunts I guide are meat hunts as well.

One could make the argument for a smaller knife and axe combo, but the large knife does it all for me personally.

Here're a few of my beasts from the past couple seasons.










My current blade.



And one from a few years ago......with a nice rainbow headed for the fry pan.....and yes, I cleaned that fish with that blade too.


That being said, most of the hunters I sell look more like these.







Darcy

Wow some more info on that beautiful shingle shot please

 

[DEllis]

Wow some more info on that beautiful shingle shot please

It's a falling block of my own design and manufacture.........45-70 gov. 28"barrel.
Has taken several moose, a bunch of deer, a couple bears, and a mountain caribou for me...........and I nocked the head off a ruffed grouse with it once too!

Darcy

 

[Redmeadow Knives]

Great looking knives DEllis, and that has to be the nicest looking falling block I've ever seen. Nice clean design.

 

[FullyTorque]

I'm really loving this thread. I'll add my humble 2c, though it's hardly worth that. For years I've used my grandfather's Old Timer Sharpfinger for the majority of my dressing and skinning needs (southern whitetail). Last year I also tried out a Becker BK15 and liked the drop point design. I'm hoping to make a few hunters of different designs by next season to try out and this thread is a goldmine of ideas.
So far I've only made one hunter which, unfortunately, I have yet to use in the field. It's probably a little on the large side and I made the handle nice and long thinking that might be a feature I'd really like. I kept it fairly slim and took the bevels down to a near-zero edge.


Comments or critiques are welcome.

For butchering I use an old set of ForgeCraft and Old Hickory knives; butcher, boning, and slicer. They are excellent meat slicers and are easily to keep razor sharp with just a few passes on a steel.