[chad1043]

I was wondering if someone could suggest a good hunting knife for $50. I really mean $50. :)

Thanks,
Chad

[Shadow Shock]

I generally use little cheapo $15 folders, they work great for everything from cutting thorn bushes out of your spot to skinning

[Cosmoline]

I've had great luck with older Case lockblades in the $30-$50 price range. For even cheaper blades the Opinels are fantastic. I use them for fish to avoid getting nicer blades stinky.

[Leadhead]

Mora 2000 is good if you can ge one...$31.00

http://www.ragweedforge.com/2000.jpg

The sheath is pretty basic but you can get a nice one from these guys for $22.00
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel/m2k.jpg

[coelacanth]

Google Kellam Knives Worldwide - on the site menu go to Knife Shop - Then from the menu go to Other lines - then go to S Line - these knives are available in either carbon or stainless steel and come with a functional( if ugly ) sheath. Plenty of blade for most hunting chores and they will generally shave you right out of the box. At less than $20.00 they are an unbeatable value in a stout no nonsense blade and that leaves you a few bucks left over to pick up a nice light weight hatchet for heavier chores around camp. If you call them you will probably speak with Harriet who can tell you about any special offers they might have. I have been buying and selling blades with these folks for nearly 20 years and can recommend them and their products without hesitation.

[Geno]

Cosmoline:

Opinels are excellent! I found one NIB at a local store for $2.99!!! I never thought I would find one that inexpensive though.

Doc2005

[arcticap]

There's the Buck Pathfinder (5 inch), the Buck Special (6 inch) or their most ergonomic handled knife named the Buck Nighthawk. It's very solid, heavy and balanced with a really wonderful grip. The tactical blade doesn't have a lot of curve, but overall it's a great knife, and was made in several different handle color & blade variations in the past. The rubbery handle material does have a slight scent to it. If you want a more curved blade, consider buying one of the other Bucks mentioned from a discount retailer or catalog outlet.

http://www.nextag.com/buck-nighthawk/search-html

http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/239

http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/288/234

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

A Buck 110 can be had pretty much anywhere for $30.

[mp510]

You can get a Buck 105 at Wal-Mart for that price range, and that would be a top notch option. The Nighthawk is a good knife as well. Both are American made. Personally, I would go for the 105 (Pathfinder).

If you want a folder, Buck 110- $29 at Wally.

[arcticap]

I just saw a Buck Special #119 at Walmart for around $35-$40 in a clamshell pack. They had the NightHawk too with a serrated blade.

[10-Ring]

I bought one of those redline Benchmade and so far so good....and it cost me $48 ;)

[hso]

What type of hunting? Elk or Whitetail? Goose or Quail? Big knives won't do much good if you hunt small game like hoppers and bushy tails.

[RyanM]

I never know what someone means when they say "hunting knife." You mean something for actually skinning and dressing the animal? Or more like a camp knife, for splitting firewood, clearing brush, and whatever?

In either case, I'd say a small skinning knife and a small hatchet are more practical, instead of some knife that's supposed to do the functions of both. You can clean and dress the animal (as much as you're going to in the field, anyway) with just a skinner, and the hatchet can be used to split the ribcage or chop through joints, if necessary for some reason. And around camp, a hatchet is way more useful than a big knife.

[eliphalet]

Go to Bucks web site and learn the markings on a 110 then check ebay and buy a pre 1980, they were 440C steel and 420 afterwords. 440 is much better and if ya shop, can be had as or almost as cheap as a current 110. I have used mine on dozens of deer and elk, steelhead and other such stuff, great old knives. Other good knives available but the old Bucks were built tough and can take lots of use and still have a nice tight blade etc. Gut and split the brisket on a couple of deer and still shave the hair off your arm.

[madmike]

A KaBar, Buck, Ontario, Camillus, most of the good American names are in that price range. You can spend more, but you really don't get that much more.

[Leadhead]

Well there ya go Chad....lot's of choices out there! :D

[Run&Shoot]

The knives I like are:

* Cheapest at $12 is a nice utility knife that can be razor sharp and a handy size blade:
- Frost of Sweden army knife (http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=FT760)

- Schrade Bear Paw LB7 lockback (http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_keywords.html?srch=schrade+lb7&SUBMIT2.x=0&SUBMIT2.y=0&SUBMIT2=Search). Aaaack! I see they are now made in CHINA?! Maybe the Buck 110 would be better. I have an older LB7.

- Buck Vanguard Kraton handle (http://buckknives.com/catalog/detail/219/222)

All of which can be found for under $50 on the web I believe. Buck makes several other hunters like the Woodsman and Pathfinder. I have not tried it, but the Cold Steel Pendleton (http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/coldsteel/images/36LPSSxyz.jpg) looks good.

Overall the Buck Vanguard seems perfect for me for medium game. Plus, I really like the discontinued Schrade Honesteel for honing all my knives to a very sharp edge. you can find them on eBay for about $10.

[pete f]

A bark river mini canadian, A2 steel, small and nimble, and will dress out anything from a quail to an elk, (just remember that surgeons and medical examiners do all their work with a scalpel.)can be had with black or green handles for just about 50 bucks.

The other choice would be a Grohman canadian special. well made, proven shape and design and good value.

[LanEvo`]

I bought one of those redline Benchmade and so far so good....and it cost me $48I've heard the BM10750 "Vex" (http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BM10750BP) is a great knife. Just ordered one for a friend (only $43). The reviews I've read suggest that it basically combines a thinner BM750 Pinnacle/Mono-Lock style blade with a BM910 Stryker style handle. If that's true, it should be a sweet little knife.

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/bnchmd/images/10750bp.jpg

I'll let you guys know what I think once I get it in my hands. I'm skeptical about fit and finish at this price-point. But I'm reserving judgment until I handle it.

[LanEvo`]

just remember that surgeons and medical examiners do all their work with a scalpelI can't speak for medical examiners, but surgeons only use a scalpel to open the skin. Pretty much everything else is cut with scissors or electrocautery. Some surgeons are even using electrocautery to open the skin, believe it or not.

But you make a good point. A small, thin, sharp blade on a long handle is much easier to control than the large, chunky blades you see on so many "hunting" knives.

[Valkman]

A scalpel design does work great, and I make a small skinner that kinda looks like a "hunting scalpel". It has dressed everything up to black bear and it has a 2 1/4" blade. Mine isn't in the $50 range but that design should work great. I see many hunters with no guard or choil at all, and I'd sure want one or the other so your hand doesn't slip onto the blade.

As to how surgeons use them, I've always been asleep so I missed it. :D

Here's the one I make, just for reference:

http://usera.imagecave.com/Valkman/Knives_Ive_Made/2Orange.jpg

[theken206]

I myself tend to go ahead and spend the $$$$ and get good name brand knives but thats me. 50 and up will usally get you good blade if you dont buy your knives at the mall or the like.

You know anyone in the service?? Consider going to the PX/ having someone pick you up something there. Good, quality name brand knives for a VERY good price.

http://gallery.bcentral.com/GID5139234P4480031-Knives/Beretta/Beretta-Loveless-Skinner.aspx

as good as your gunna get for the price IMO. ungodly sharp, at least mine is :evil:. Will hew flesh and bone alike. I have used it to dress small and big game and it will do the job and then some.

[LanEvo`]

As to how surgeons use them, I've always been asleep so I missed it.Lol. We were taught to place the tip of the index finger along the spine of the "knife" (no one calls them "scalpels") so that the blade tip just protrudes past the tip of your finger. This puts the belly of the blade more or less under the fingertip. Then you just draw your finger straight back as if you're drawing a line in the sand with your index finger. It looks kind of like this, but with the index finger choked-up a little further towards the blade:

http://www.cvm.msu.edu/courses/VM545/surgery/scalpel3.jpg

Very natural and lots of sensitivity/control. I'm not a hunter, but I imagine this is more or less the way you'd use your knife when dressing game. Looks like knives such as yours would be a natural choice.

Emre

[CWL]

Anza knives. Handmade from files using secret heat treatment.

$45 will get you pretty good handmade usin' knife like this. $65 will get you even nicer.

http://store.anzaknivesonline.com/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=44

[Valkman]

Anza knives. Handmade from files using secret heat treatment

With that last sentence you intrigued me, so I had to look all over the site and never saw anything about how they do their HT. I don't know how it can be a secret, as carbon steel is very easy to HT and temper. A propane torch will get it hot enough, actually, but SS is tougher with much higher temps needed. Almost any oil will do for the quench, and again tempering is easy in any toaster oven. Every maker does it almost the exact same way, so changing something and calling it "secret" is a marketing ploy.

They do have great prices with several models under $50, but I don't get only giving a 1 year guarantee. It must be because of the price. Heck, that $18 one looks pretty good to me. :)

[CWL]

Hey Valkman,
Don't blame Anza Knives. "Secret heat treatment" is my choice of wording, not Charlie Davis' at Anza Knives.

Charlie's been making knives for 25+ years (he originally came from Buck Knives). If you ask him how he heat treats each file blank, he'll just smile at ya. To me that's a secret.

I think that 1-year warranty deal is more his personal assurance that you can bring back any knife within a year if you are dissatisfied in any way. He'll make it right.

These are great knives for a great price, especially in these days of bogus custom knives for ridiculous $$.

[Nematocyst]

V'man, those are pretty knives.

And they look very functional for skinning.

"Skinners" fits as a name.

[Valkman]

Ah, I get it. I'd like to meet anyone who's made knives that long! Interestingly, Buck now has the best heat treater there is in Paul Bos and many of us send our SS to him.

N-870, thanks!

[JShirley]

If you can keep oil on them, Anzas are great.

[hso]

Anzas have been around a long time and I've some given hard use and shrug it off. Great value. Good maker. Nice folks.

[Stainz]

For a folding 'hunter', consider the size. The Buck 110 and 'Alpha' were both available from Wally World for $30-$35. The Kydex 110 holster is better than leather - unless you like discolored brass. I bought 'collector sets' of 110's for $14 closeout there. They are heavy - unless you come across a discontinued 110T (Titanium - check Evil-Bay!). If you want an excellent smaller folder, consider the Ken Dozier designs KaBar has made in Taiwan - a 'Blade' mag choice a few years back - $22!

If you like fixed, there is always the original KaBar survival knife, usually available in one variant or another for less than $50. I like the hunter sizes stag-handled Bear MGC makes - Sportsmans Guide generally has one in the $30-$40 range - made in Alabama! A bit smaller, the Japaneese made KaBar Hunters are a decent value, too - in the $30+ range. My favorite fixed was the Buck Vanguard - wood handle - $65; rubber handle/Cordura sheath - $55. It changed yesterday... I finally got an NRA 'Alaskan Guide' special Vanguard from Cabelas yesterday - S30V steel in place of the 420HC of the original Vanguards - with black nitride coat - very sharp & durable - $60 with wood handle & leather sheath. Bucks are a great USA-made value.

I have everything I've mentioned. I am not a hunter - just a knife-lover - and a wood whittler (Oddly, the KaBar Folding Hunter is the only one I regularly whittle with - it has been resharpened...). Check out local sources first - then mail order. You will likely be quite pleased with what you find locally.

Stainz

[cracked butt]

I bought the cheapest Buck fixed blade from Walmart about 15 years ag0 for around $40 and its served me well. It holds an edge well enough to easily dress out and butcher a deer, and its tough enough to split a deer pelvis.

I';ve also dressed out a few deer with a Spiderco Delica with no problems- people tend to buy knives that are much bigger than needed for a hunting knife.

[Lee Lapin]

Beretta makes a Loveless pattern hunter and a skinner that sell at your price point. I bought one of the hunters recently, so far i have only used it in the kitchen just to get a feel for it though and not taken it afield.

Black checkered Zytel handle, AUS-8 stainless hollow ground blade with a good stiff spine and a nice pouch type leather sheath, I'm very happy with this one.

http://www.discountcutlery.net/en-us/dept_22897.html

lpl/nc

[glockman19]

The last two knives I bought were the Winchester 94 for 19.99 and the S&W for 19.99 check out the wekend adds for Big 5. There was a macheti for $6.00 and a winchester folding exact size as the Buck 110 for $9.99.

[22-rimfire]

The second or third the Buck 110 if you want a folder. A lot of the Remington knives are less than $50. I use one for hunting purposes. I like the SOG Field Pup for a practical usable fixed-blade hunting knife for field dressing, skinning etc. A bigger knife works better for cutting up meat. Meat saw works even better.

[trueg50]

I like leadhead's suggestion, but if you shop around you can get a good mora for a good price:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=78455

or a good CRKT knife, they make plent of flavors for around that price range

[raginrednek]

check out ebay. search "knife" and the select sporting goods from menu. you will see items next to be knocked off. often there are bargains to be had in the last minutes of the auctions.

[Cannonball888]

A KaBar
Best value for under 50 dollars.
Read the reviews

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/DBA800-2188-1292.html