State Record Python Dispatched With Knife (Florida)

Fred Fuller · May 24, 2013

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/excursions/post/enormous-python-killed-in-florida-is-a-state-record/
Enormous python killed in Florida is a state record
Invasive reptile, which was dispatched with a knife, measures 18 feet, 8 inches, and weighs 128 pounds
May 20, 2013 by Pete Thomas

I can imagine the look on his face when he was dragging the snake out of the brush and it just kept coming and coming... Pythons are an invasive species in FL and the wildlife folks were glad to have this one gone.

I haven't seen anything about what kind of knife was used however - but I would imagine this gentleman was happy he had a sturdy blade at hand when the 18+ foot long python began wrapping itself around his legs.

hso · May 25, 2013

Doesn't sound like any discussion of the knife used is out there on the net, but I'd be interested in knowing if a common pocket knife was used or something more like a sharpened prybar.

JohnKSa · May 25, 2013

A snake that big is strong enough to be very dangerous. It could certainly kill a grown man if the victim were careless. I wouldn't care to take one on if I were armed only with a knife. Maybe if I had a sword or a machete...

That said, it's not particularly hard to dispatch a snake that size with even a relatively small knife if you have control of the snake. Getting and maintaining control would be the trick.

Stainz · May 25, 2013

In the NBCMiami.com run video shot of the encounter, his girlfriend hands him a rather large fixed blade knife - something between a Junglas and a machete. He came prepared. He handled the snake by it''s neck, it's huge mouth wide open. He obviously had some experience with large snakes. They need to make the alligators develop a taste for pythons...

Stainz

Piraticalbob · May 25, 2013

Stainz said:
In the NBCMiami.com run video shot of the encounter, his girlfriend hands him a rather large fixed blade knife - something between a Junglas and a machete. He came prepared. He handled the snake by it''s neck, it's huge mouth wide open. He obviously had some experience with large snakes. They need to make the alligators develop a taste for pythons...

Stainz

In practice, the pythons have developed a taste for alligator.

HILLBILLY-06 · May 25, 2013

I have seen video's on nature shows of alligator's eating pythons, but for a reason I can't remember, the alligator could not digest it. The python became so foul and gasious that the alligator's stomache popped, killing the alligator.
I don't know why that happened, I cant remember...

22-rimfire · May 25, 2013

I'd also be interested in what knife was used or at least the size of the knife. Guess they will have to set up a new type of record book... snakes killed with a knife.

ugaarguy · May 25, 2013

I'd be interested in knowing if a common pocket knife was used or something more like a sharpened prybar.

In the NBCMiami.com run video shot of the encounter, his girlfriend hands him a rather large fixed blade knife - something between a Junglas and a machete.

Sounds like it was something akin to Mr. Becker's sharpened prybar theory of a knife.

He obviously had some experience with large snakes.

Per the article linked in the OP, the gentleman had previously owned Burmese Pythons and was experienced in handling them. Florida FWC was also quite happy that he both dispatched the snake, and then reported it / turned it over to them.

Methinks that a large Becker, ESEE, or the like would become part of my EDC if I lived in area where such snakes were common.

Double Naught Spy · May 25, 2013

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/05/21/longest-burmese-python-captured-in-florida/

It may have been killed with a knife, but the really the cool part of the story is that the guy first captured it by hand first, drug it some distance, and it wasn't until the snake started to wrap up on him (his leg) that it was dispatched.

Of course, he was experienced in handling pythons and had some idea what he was doing.

hso · May 25, 2013

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/South-...thon-in-Everglades-Goes-Global-208628971.html

Looks like a large butchering or game fish knife instead of a tactikewl knife.

Gallstones · May 25, 2013

HILLBILLY-06 said:
I have seen video's on nature shows of alligator's eating pythons, but for a reason I can't remember, the alligator could not digest it. The python became so foul and gasious that the alligator's stomache popped, killing the alligator.
I don't know why that happened, I cant remember...

It was the other way round, a large python ate a large alligator and the decomp and rigor of the alligator carcass breached the abdominal walls of the python.
I expect that alligator hide is very difficult to digest.

Dframe · May 25, 2013

Generally I just let snakes go their way and I go mine. But THESE invasive reptiles are wreaking havoc with the local fauna.
So any Python that doesn't say Colt on it will get some negative attention from me.

JohnKSa · May 25, 2013

It was the other way round, a large python ate a large alligator and the decomp and rigor of the alligator carcass breached the abdominal walls of the python.
I expect that alligator hide is very difficult to digest.

There's another possible factor to consider. Snakes that are from tropical areas may not be able to deal with lower temperatures when digesting food. If the temperature gets too cold after a large meal, the snake essentially shuts down and the digestive process can stall. The meal then decomposes which is not good for the snake.

ugaarguy · May 25, 2013

Looks like a large butchering or game fish knife instead of a tactikewl knife.

Thanks for the link. That does indeed look like what a chef acquaintance uses for filleting large/long fish. It does look very similar to what restaurant supply companies catalog as a "curved breaking knife" - http://www.knifemerchant.com/products.asp?categoryID=255

hso · May 25, 2013

Yep

That's exactly what it looks like.

xjsnake · May 25, 2013

Nice looking snake. Really sad that irresponsible owners have created this ecological nightmare

ugaarguy · May 26, 2013

The curved breaking knives are essentially the contemporary version of an old style meat cutter's knife. They're not as robust as a butcher's knife / cleaver that would be used for separating joints and / or cutting lighter bones, but are significantly more robust than the modern fillet knife used on smaller freshwater fishes. As hso surmised, it's the type of knife still used on larger game fishes, and for much of the meat cutting on larger animals like cows and pigs.

It's nice to see one being used in the field as was undoubtedly more common in the past.

hso · May 26, 2013

Interesting that they were carrying it with them, but if they were involved with sport fishing it wouldn't be that unusual.

Double Naught Spy · May 26, 2013

Nice looking snake. Really sad that irresponsible owners have created this ecological nightmare

Florida hosts a bounty of non-native species, especially tropical species, and not just because of irresponsible owners. A lot of animals have been released as a result of medical labs, pets, zoo/sanctuary destruction via hurricanes and tropical storms. A bunch have come in unintentionally. They have something like over 1000 invertebrate non-native species, 200 vertebrate non-natives, and a whole lot more non-native plants.

Collectors and pet owners are a problem, but not the only problem.

DNS · May 26, 2013

Snakes are icky and they make buckshot for a reason.
That's a pretty large reason.

Vonderek · May 26, 2013

Here is a link to a video/story that I had involvement with when the "Python Challenge" was officially launched:

http://www.comcastnewsmakers.com/video/python-challenge/

State Record Python Dispatched With Knife (Florida)

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