[morganm01]

Go ahead now...

[JShirley]

If (#1) you aren't worried about not having a guard, and
(#2) keep your knives oiled, I have a great recommendation for you!

http://www.anzaknives.com/

Beautiful, reasonably (some might say bargain) priced knives that are wickedly sharp.

John

[TheeBadOne]

http://www.anzaknives.com/products/images%20products/3_lg.jpg

I found the "Boddington" appealing on that link. Standard $150.

[JShirley]

TBO,

It's a nice looking knife, but not as much a hunting knife as most of the Anza's. A nice #4, with blue, would be one of many that might suit hunting purposes...and is just what I bought for Byron. About half the price of the Boddington, maybe a little less.

John

[ReadyontheRight]

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/37/53/00/0003375300170_215X215.jpg
A nice fixed-blade Buck 119

http://www.bobwards.com/bobwards/servlet/itemimage/Medium/104154-03

or Schrade Sharpfinger works for gutting deer for me.

I also like to have a Glock or Kabar military knife along to cut through the pelvic bone (a hatchet or meat saw works better, but I find I have poor luck if I'm that prepared) or in case I need to bang something else open.

But them I'm a cheap, unenlightened-on-the-virtues-of-a-spendy-knife Northerner and I just don't see spending more than $40 for a knife I'm going to bang around in the woods.

[mete]

I've used a Cold Steel stainless Master Hunter for years - a very rugged , practical knife. For a higher priced one I would suggest one of Bob Doziers knives, also very practical.

[Guyon]

I have tons of recommendations. But check these out:

http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/

[Kingcreek]

Could you be more specific?
What king of hunting? What kind of spending limits? Fixed blade or Folder?

I like the Marble's and Falkniven in the general production line.
I have several favorite customs including knives by Bob Dozier, the late Mel Sorg, and a Wegner design ProHunter by Phil Boguszewski.

I hunt hard and do all my own butchering and I get more than a little use out of my knives, but what suits my needs may not what you are looking for. If I was a one-knife-and-one-knife-only kind of guy it would be a Dozier fixed blade.

[Bruz]

When I go hog huntin I want as long of a knife as I can get so it will reach the vitals...I like my Bagwell Bowie because the blade is long and a great piercer. No I have not stuck a live animal with it yet but have not had any boxes get up after being stuck! It also is well made, good steel that stays sharp all hunt, and some heft to whack some firewood if needed.

[hso]

The Sharpfinger is perfectly fine and has been proven effective for years.

That said, you will find that the Barkrivers are knives you would be proud to hand down to your grandkids after you've used it on hundreds of hunts.

[Guyon]

My top knives and their respective steels:

1. Buck Vanguard (ATS-34 version)

2. Cold Steel Master Hunter (Carbon V version)

3. Buck 110 (BG-42 version, preferably with finger grooves)

4. Spyderco Moran (VG-10)

5. Bark River Highland (A2)

6. Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter (AUS-8)

7. Queen Drop Point Hunter??? I just bought a Queen 4180 Premium drop point hunter in D2 tool steel. Jury's still out on it, but it sure looks and feels like a nice knife. You can take a look at some pics here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=285333

BTW: There's nothing wrong with a Sharpfinger. Fantastic knife for the money and that 1095 carbon steel will cut and cut if you take care of it.

[Charles S]

mete & I think alike.

My first choice will always be a Dozier, but the Cold Steel Hunter is a great hunting knife. I know I have cleaned dozens of deer with mine (I have cleaned more than I have killed). I cannot recomend it enough.

Charles

[Guyon]

How about some pictures? Top to bottom: Cold Steel Master Hunter, Spyderco Moran, Schrade Wolverine, Buck Vanguard, Buck 110, Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter, Queen 4180 Premium Hunter.

http://home.earthlink.net/~lovvorn/FixedBlades2.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~lovvorn/Vanguard.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~lovvorn/Custom110.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~lovvorn/PendletonHunter.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~lovvorn/QueenHunter.JPG

[TheeBadOne]

I have had the opportunity to dress a few deer with a Buck Vanguard and it worked quite well. Held it's edge very well. :cool:

[Quartus]

reasonably (some might say bargain) priced knives that are wickedly sharp.



How sharp a knife is when you buy it is NOT an indicator of quality. I've gotten "FREE WITH PURCHASE" crap that was quite sharp when I got it.


How well it HOLDS an edge is what counts.






Guyon, how's the grip on that Buck Vanguard?

[TheeBadOne]

Guyon, how's the grip on that Buck Vanguard?

Felt fine in my hand. Cut quite well, no slipping while dressing. Nice 'heft' to the blade.

[Quartus]

I like the lines and balance of that knife, but haven't had the chance to get my fingers around one with the rubber grip yet. I just can't see a polished wood handle being very practical!


Thanks for the info!

[Rupestris]

Another vote for the Bark River.
I have the Woodland model and its probably the first of several BR's that'll join my collection. If you go to their "dealers" link you can find some pre production models and prototypes too.

[Dr.Rob]

Depends on the kind of game..

Buck Skinner

Buck Hunter

Shrade Old Timer

Ka-Bar

Cold Steel Mini Bushman

Wyoming Knife

Cold Steel Recon Tanto

All will do the job.

[Guyon]

I like the rubber gripped version on the Buck Vanguard. It offers a pretty tacky grip even when wet. I field dressed a deer back at Thanksgiving with the one in the picture. Very effective.

If you're going to go Buck Vanguard, I highly recommend getting the ATS-34 version offered exclusively by Bass Pro Shops. Buck has a deal going with Bass Pro, and they offer several knives in this higher end steel. Surprisingly, the price is comparable to the 420HC version.

[TheeBadOne]

Guyon sounds like a winning combo.

[Al Thompson]

Though I have owned one for years, I'd have to vote against the Master Hunter. The blade thickness is super for a general knife, but a thinner blade cuts better. The MH is just a tad too thick to do well at dressing game, IMHO.

The other half of the equation is to get a good sharpening system. I have a custom ATS-34 fixed blade and a Benchmade that were very frustrating to sharpen until I tried a Spyderco Sharpmaker. :)

[Ohen Cepel]

There have been several great options given and I think most would do the job.

I would also look at custom makers, especially if there are any in your area.

You could get much closer to what you are thinking of with a custom guy. Also, I like a knife that has more character. There just seems to be more satisfaction to using a custom knife.

www.bladeforums.com is a great place to get more knife info.

My 2 cents.

[mguffey]

And then there's the Timber Pig...
http://www.themartialist.com/0803/timberpig.htm

[Hot brass]

Cols Steel Master Hunter in Carbon V. What a knife.

[TrapperReady]

Anyone who hunts should have a Buck Model 110 somewhere... on their belt, in the glove-box, rattling around in the trunk, whatever... It's just something that you have to have. There's a lot of pricier, cooler-looking stuff, but a 110 can do most anything.

Aside from that, my two favorites are my Randall #3 and my dad's old Marbles Woodcraft.

[Quartus]

Aside from that, my two favorites are my Randall #3 and my dad's old Marbles Woodcraft.


:what:


Where's the "drooling" icon around here?



:D

[Skofnung]

I will be in the minority here, but I prefer regular carbon steel blades.

The best hunting knives on the planet, in my experience, are the Russell "Green River" type knives (big) or the Swedish "Mora" or "Brusletto" (from Norway) Laminated steel blades (small).

When you can find either, they are usually hellacheap. I happened upon a new Mora knife the other day with a ghetto plastic sheath and a painted orange handle at an Army Surplus store in amongst the cheap "tainless akistan" knives. Asking price was all of $7.50. I am working on a decent sheath for it now and I have already stripped and grooved the handle. It will make a fine hunting knife for one of my young cousins. I own several others of varying size. Every one of them will hold a fine edge for a long time.

I like pretty, expensive knives just as much as the next guy, but in my experience, Green River and Scandinavian laminated steel knives cut better than any Buck or Gerber that I ever used.

YMMV

[Richard.Howe]

I'd recommend a Dozier Skinner.

[Dave McCracken]

There's more than a few knives at Casa McC. Most are sharp, some are scary sharp. A couple favorites for field dressing are......

A Bucklite, it's the version of the old 110 with Zytel handles.

An old Case 6" GP blade that was my father's. This is one of the scary sharps. Carbon steel with chrome plating on the blade but not the edge. Great for the reaming part, Goes through the brisket like a greased pig.

A Recon Tanto.

My old bringback, a Camillus USMC K-Bar style.

And the best one for field dressing and GP stuff is.....

A Helle. Made in Sweden, its' laminated blade is scary sharp and stays that way. I touch up the edge when conscience nudges. It's gone through 6 MD whitetails and still popped hair off my forearm. This was a gift, from Woody Carpinella, musician, craftsman and humorist. Thanks, Woody.

The Helles are not that expensive.

CJ Winans, the biologist and writer did a deer in about 2 minutes with mine and liked it.