JVoutilainen
Member
One vote for stropping compound - makes the process much faster. Granted, the result is a bit more "round", but, that is infinitely better than remnants of burr stuck on the edge.
Hunting knife recommendation
- Thread starter dak0ta
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Zeke/PA
Member
Any Case knife is a good choice.
Try Flea Markets or Gun Shows for the Schrade/Old Timer made in U.S.A. stuff.
Oftentimes some of the Schrade /Old Timer stuff can still be found at an off track Mom&Pop hardware store for example.
I haven't made a score in this respect in awhile but last time I bought two Schrade 158 OT Gut Hook Skinners.
I don't think too much of Buck Knives, personal opinion.
Try Flea Markets or Gun Shows for the Schrade/Old Timer made in U.S.A. stuff.
Oftentimes some of the Schrade /Old Timer stuff can still be found at an off track Mom&Pop hardware store for example.
I haven't made a score in this respect in awhile but last time I bought two Schrade 158 OT Gut Hook Skinners.
I don't think too much of Buck Knives, personal opinion.
Marlin60Man
Member
dak0ta,
If you wanna check out a book or DVD on the subject, John Juranitch and Murray Carter both have excellent sharpening guides available. I would personally recommend Carter's video first since it's available on DVD.
You can also try starting off here...
http://www.knifeart.com/sharfaqbyjoe.html
This is also a very good YouTube video series, really takes you through a lot of stuff you might want to know. It's mostly about sharpening kitchen knives, but most of the information is applicable for hunting knives too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwfW_PXWBJs&feature=related
If you wanna check out a book or DVD on the subject, John Juranitch and Murray Carter both have excellent sharpening guides available. I would personally recommend Carter's video first since it's available on DVD.
You can also try starting off here...
http://www.knifeart.com/sharfaqbyjoe.html
This is also a very good YouTube video series, really takes you through a lot of stuff you might want to know. It's mostly about sharpening kitchen knives, but most of the information is applicable for hunting knives too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwfW_PXWBJs&feature=related
Steel Talon
Member
When stropping you must not roll the blade over to go in the opposite direction. You lift the blade turn it lay the blade back down and go the opposite direction.
ApacheCoTodd
member
http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/
They make excellent knives - in the USA. They have a lot of options too. Their knives are convex, which is the edge I prefer. Very, very sharp.
They make excellent knives - in the USA. They have a lot of options too. Their knives are convex, which is the edge I prefer. Very, very sharp.
Marlin60Man
Member
I don't recommend Bark River. There are better knives available, for less money, and from companies that do not have questionable customer service and business ethics.
Wow...Four pages of this...
I can only comment that I have been using a Buck folding Hunter 110 since the early 1970s (I own two) and have had zero issues using it to gut or the more pleasantly appealing term "field dress" deer without any issues.
I start at one calls the solar plexus and make a small incision, I then take the knife, aided by its heavy weight and make a slight right hand turn at the deer's breast bone and pull upwards, using both hands on the knife, easily cutting through the deers rib cartilage, again thank you Buck Knives for making the knife nearly a half pound in weight for making this job MUCH easier, and then I run the cut all the way up to the top area of the throat.
We then start on the gut sack area and using our index finger under the nice sharp point of said 110 Hunter we open up that area where upon the entrails want to start spilling out.
At that point I go back to the wind pipe and cut it loose and start cutting and pulling loose the tissues that hold it to the deer all the way back down to the lower tract.
After removing this and carefully removing the last of the fouling intestinal and urinary tracts I then have gotten this vitally important and few minute job done.
I then get the deer back to camp and hang it up and start the skinning process using the same knife all over again, namely the Buck 110 folder ... A knife that I have performed this same ritual on deer for four decades and counting.
A fixed blade knife will work too but in my opinion the Buck 110 folder does it as well as can be asked for and again the people that thought this design through had to have been experienced hunters with the thoughts that a good field knife to be used on large animals had to be of decent blade length and a weight to help the hunter on those harder cuts, namely getting past the breast bone/rib cartilage.
Your mileage and experience may vary.
I can only comment that I have been using a Buck folding Hunter 110 since the early 1970s (I own two) and have had zero issues using it to gut or the more pleasantly appealing term "field dress" deer without any issues.
I start at one calls the solar plexus and make a small incision, I then take the knife, aided by its heavy weight and make a slight right hand turn at the deer's breast bone and pull upwards, using both hands on the knife, easily cutting through the deers rib cartilage, again thank you Buck Knives for making the knife nearly a half pound in weight for making this job MUCH easier, and then I run the cut all the way up to the top area of the throat.
We then start on the gut sack area and using our index finger under the nice sharp point of said 110 Hunter we open up that area where upon the entrails want to start spilling out.
At that point I go back to the wind pipe and cut it loose and start cutting and pulling loose the tissues that hold it to the deer all the way back down to the lower tract.
After removing this and carefully removing the last of the fouling intestinal and urinary tracts I then have gotten this vitally important and few minute job done.
I then get the deer back to camp and hang it up and start the skinning process using the same knife all over again, namely the Buck 110 folder ... A knife that I have performed this same ritual on deer for four decades and counting.
A fixed blade knife will work too but in my opinion the Buck 110 folder does it as well as can be asked for and again the people that thought this design through had to have been experienced hunters with the thoughts that a good field knife to be used on large animals had to be of decent blade length and a weight to help the hunter on those harder cuts, namely getting past the breast bone/rib cartilage.
Your mileage and experience may vary.
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I really want to know where I can find knives on par with Bark River, for cheaper, and that offer a lifetime warranty. Can you list a few?
Also, I didn't come across any thing during my knife research that would suggest they had questionable customer service and business ethics - can you elaborate? I only own one of their knives, but had planned on picking up more for myself and others as gifts.
Any of these Grohmann knives are absolute excellent all around designs.
The Canadian belt knife design, the top one, has been around since the 50's, it actually makes an excellent kitchen knife. The skinning knife has so much blade sweep that it is not as much of an all around pattern as the Canadian belt knife, but it is excellent for its intended purpose.
The Canadian belt knife design, the top one, has been around since the 50's, it actually makes an excellent kitchen knife. The skinning knife has so much blade sweep that it is not as much of an all around pattern as the Canadian belt knife, but it is excellent for its intended purpose.
ApacheCoTodd
member
I'm with ya Slamfire... I love my old Guttman "Canadian Trapper" version and normally it has a blue "tool dip" handle. Easy to hold and find when I set it down. The other is a funky little trapper that I bought off a drunken Russian custom maker in Tucson. Very good feel there on that handle!
Attachments
Expensive though. I handled one, fits nicely in the hand.wheelgunslinger
Member
Yeah, great. I find that what is issued to military personnel in various countries means very little to the average person who controls his own destiny, as well as married men.
Procurement is a dirty business where the best seldom rise to the top.
So, I take "x military guys use this" with a grain or two of salt. I'm much more inclined to listen to a tradesman who uses something daily or an avid hobbyist's choices.
Procurement is a dirty business where the best seldom rise to the top.
So, I take "x military guys use this" with a grain or two of salt. I'm much more inclined to listen to a tradesman who uses something daily or an avid hobbyist's choices.
ApacheCoTodd
member
The main difference between the Grohmann military and it's civil counterpart is the sheath. I'm waiting for one to hit their clearance bin to get the over the top flap on it. If you look at the Grohmann site... http://www.grohmannknives.com/ you'll see they're reasonably priced when purchased directly.
Maple_City_Woodsman
Member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2011
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Honestly, I feel that the vast majority of purpose built "hunting knives" are excessively clumsy and bulky for both gutting and skinning.
A good fillet knife works well on deer for the same reasons it works well on fish - they cut very well and they give you excellent control.
A Rapala or Martini 6" fillet knife would be my first choice for a combined utility gutting / skinning knife. Would work well for most of the meat processing as well.
A good fillet knife works well on deer for the same reasons it works well on fish - they cut very well and they give you excellent control.
A Rapala or Martini 6" fillet knife would be my first choice for a combined utility gutting / skinning knife. Would work well for most of the meat processing as well.
Cabela's has got the Knifes of Alaska series that are awesome. I got the caper/skinner set for my dad a few seasons ago and for cleaning and skinning. They are worth their weight in gold. For quartering or deboning a fish filet knife works great. Also invest in a decent steel and ceramic combo knife sharpener for in the field use. Steel for taking the burrs and knicks out and the ceramic to put a nice edge on it!
lobo9er
Member
I bought an Ozark Mountain Fixed blade from wal-mart when they 1st opened near me for 8 bucks. Full Tang stainless steel, pretty wood handle. After a little wet stone and stropping its razor, hair shaving sharp, and holds an edge well. It field dressed a deer with the quickness before sun down today. To be honest all of a sudden I dont feel the need to buy a busse I've thinking I needed anytime soon.
Steel Talon
Member
Why not make the sheath your self? It's easy enough.Or, have a custom sheath made for your knife.
The knife with the leather and wood handle, that is a great looking knife!
If imitation is an indication of a successful pattern, the Grohmann Candian Belt knife has been copied a number of times and is copied to day.
It is a good little knife.
ApacheCoTodd
member
The blade shape (being a favorite of mine) is what stopped me in the aisle but it was that stabilized Russian birch bark handle that sealed the deal - well, that and the fact that the poor drunk bastard was having a seriously T.U. day at a gem show of all places.
The photo doesn't show that he built them with stock near 3/16" thick that waits till very near the tip to taper. With the blade and handle shape, it really presents as a sharpened extension to your index finger. Very nice.
The photo doesn't show that he built them with stock near 3/16" thick that waits till very near the tip to taper. With the blade and handle shape, it really presents as a sharpened extension to your index finger. Very nice.
lobo9er
Member
the deer was already melted?
check out www.knifekits.com tons of options there
ApacheCoTodd
member
Thanks for the link ultra-. great site!
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