Knife combo for upcoming elk hunt
- Thread starter Boattale
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Buzznrose
Member
Since you have a guide, I doubt you’ll need much more than a decent folder, but if you were to do this on your own, I’d strongly suggest that in addition to the several knives you being, throw a good steel or diamond sharpener in your pack. Make sure you know how to use it before you need to sharpen a knife in the field.
Buzznrose
Member
And my choice of a pairing would be a hybrid…Buck 110 and the Randall
Gordon
Member
In my Elk Hunting years I reserved these two for the guided hunts and indeed they were perfect and being Stainless kept clean.They are 4" and 5" of blade surface. The little integral knife for those things that needed cutting quickly and the curved skinner for just that and BOTH at handing actually field dressing the game. Elk are larger animals and a longer than 4" and less than 6" blade is handy in field dressing and hide work.
Eventually I went with two somewhat similar Mad Dog knives (a 4.5 Pack Rat and a 5.5" Baby Rhino) as optimum because they did not need resharpening or touching up between multiple animals, but they are pricey !
For what you have your Buck 110 and the Randall #7 would be excellent.
Mad Dog Baby Rhino with Arizona elk bone , Ideal Knife for the purpose IMHO but $2500
Eventually I went with two somewhat similar Mad Dog knives (a 4.5 Pack Rat and a 5.5" Baby Rhino) as optimum because they did not need resharpening or touching up between multiple animals, but they are pricey !
For what you have your Buck 110 and the Randall #7 would be excellent.
Mad Dog Baby Rhino with Arizona elk bone , Ideal Knife for the purpose IMHO but $2500
I like the way you think. That's the decision. Thanks for the input.I'll place my vote on that last minute entry.
The Schrade/Case combo has a weathered and BTDT look to it that deserves to go elk hunting.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
We will. There's three other guys going too, one of the three is bringing a son along just to let him have some fun. I'm really looking forward to this. We have access to 85,000 acres of private ranchland.Well shucks, Thank You.
And I hope the three of you have a great hunt.
Just be glad I didn't bring up that other pair of non-firearm weapons (boots). 
Why not go "Old School"? I mean really old school, like 300,000 years ago, old school:
The hand axe:
this is the french chef knife version, picture from here: https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/35520559/images/ If it worked for cave man, surely it will work today.
A bud of mine, he was given this Case Canoe in 1964, and at a rifle match pulled it out and let me take a picture.
he had field dressed a deer the weekend before with it, and had not cleaned the knife. (Yuck) It is not as if animals require super special tools to disassemble. A folding saw might help though.
The hand axe:
this is the french chef knife version, picture from here: https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/35520559/images/ If it worked for cave man, surely it will work today.
A bud of mine, he was given this Case Canoe in 1964, and at a rifle match pulled it out and let me take a picture.
he had field dressed a deer the weekend before with it, and had not cleaned the knife. (Yuck) It is not as if animals require super special tools to disassemble. A folding saw might help though.
If I may make a suggestion. If I was to go after ElkYou better believe my Top of of the list cutlery item would be-
My GransforsBruk Small Forest Axe. Paper cutting sharp. An essential for sure.
Just an idea and worth the money.
And ….The Alaskan knives Bush Camp I took to Africa, just because.
JFrank
Member
Nice set ups fellas, here in Montana we like the folding knifes with replacement blades.
They are just too easy and no sharpening required, a short handle Gerber Ax hangs on my belt to split a pelvic bone or chop kindling
They are just too easy and no sharpening required, a short handle Gerber Ax hangs on my belt to split a pelvic bone or chop kindling
chickasaw_hunter
Member
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Kingcreek
Member
Buck 110 covers everything you need.
My old wilderness hunts involved no guides or support staff. I used a custom 2 knife set, 4.5” semi skinner and a 3” caping/boning knife. Both fixed blades. D2 steel. Also had my grandfors hunter axe.
My old wilderness hunts involved no guides or support staff. I used a custom 2 knife set, 4.5” semi skinner and a 3” caping/boning knife. Both fixed blades. D2 steel. Also had my grandfors hunter axe.
Kingcreek
Member
If the handles seem big it’s because they were designed to fit my big paws.
Are the scales desert ironwood?
Talked to a Montana Guide last year. Smaller Axes are a primary item requirement for Elk. He stated, “Without-That would be a Very difficult job”.
I think a good Quality Axe- A Medium Quality fixed blade and someone young to Haul out the Meat would be best…. Oh I’ll carry the Knife/Axe and firearm for D Bears.
I think a good Quality Axe- A Medium Quality fixed blade and someone young to Haul out the Meat would be best…. Oh I’ll carry the Knife/Axe and firearm for D Bears.
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chickasaw_hunter
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I had a good friend I hunted with for 18 years. He owned a large ranch in Western Colorado. He would break down 8-10 elk a year shot on his ranch. It was kinda his thing, he enjoyed it more than hunting/shooting the elk. Yeah, best hunting buddy a guy could ever have.
Anyway, all he ever used was a small Schrade folding carbon steel knife. Not the big Buck 110 copy, but a smaller version, I think it was called the LB-4. That an a sharpening steel, the kind that screws into a brass tube. I do leather work for a hobby and I would make him a sheath combo for both tools. He was a working rancher and he wore them every day. He could completely quarter and pack and elk just using that little knife. He knew exactly how to pop those front knees just using that knife. Every elk was quartered and hung in the old chicken coop back at the cabin.
The reason for the sharpener was always about half way thru the process he'd declare the knife needed a touch up and he'd sit back take a break and take a few swipes on that sharpener. I don't think the knife needed sharpening as much as Ed needed a little break. I know when I was helping him I did. What I learned from Ed and all those elk over all those years was you can do it with just about any good knife, skill and knowledge count more. I don't think I'll ever get there given the frequency I need to quarter elk these days.
Anyway, all he ever used was a small Schrade folding carbon steel knife. Not the big Buck 110 copy, but a smaller version, I think it was called the LB-4. That an a sharpening steel, the kind that screws into a brass tube. I do leather work for a hobby and I would make him a sheath combo for both tools. He was a working rancher and he wore them every day. He could completely quarter and pack and elk just using that little knife. He knew exactly how to pop those front knees just using that knife. Every elk was quartered and hung in the old chicken coop back at the cabin.
The reason for the sharpener was always about half way thru the process he'd declare the knife needed a touch up and he'd sit back take a break and take a few swipes on that sharpener. I don't think the knife needed sharpening as much as Ed needed a little break. I know when I was helping him I did. What I learned from Ed and all those elk over all those years was you can do it with just about any good knife, skill and knowledge count more. I don't think I'll ever get there given the frequency I need to quarter elk these days.
Certainly experience speaks volume when Doing a task like that.
There is a video of a guy who states he’s done hundreds of Small Elk (Deer) and he does each deer in less than 5 min.
Hanging the Deer… Bucket and cooler on side- The guy Slices like a surgeon and without Gutting said animal, It’s quartered. I tried same technique, Then did the job the same as I watched video, pausing often. Took me 30 min
Just like anything, Usually less is required when more experience is available.
There is a video of a guy who states he’s done hundreds of Small Elk (Deer) and he does each deer in less than 5 min.
Hanging the Deer… Bucket and cooler on side- The guy Slices like a surgeon and without Gutting said animal, It’s quartered. I tried same technique, Then did the job the same as I watched video, pausing often. Took me 30 min
Just like anything, Usually less is required when more experience is available.
Kingcreek
Member
Yes. Mel Sorg jr aka Mad Poet knives made them for me in the 1990s. I’ve posted them before but I like to bring them back once in awhile for new folks.
I bought a wonderful cocobolo 3.5” drop point from him and liked it so much I worked with him on the “camp set”. I have since gifted the drop point to a younger friend new to hunting.
Everything you need and nothing extraneous…..very nice. And a very nice gesture to a new hunter. In time they will realize just how nice, especially if they get to use it.
Skylerbone
Member
Never dressed elk but from a guided moose hunt the blade I found most helpful was the one attached to the Sawzall. Gantry hung from a stripped pine, raise the moose on the come along, and start cutting till the battery is dead.
Butchering deer over the past 3 decades I’d say my favorite knife is a simple Sharpfinger that I’ve eased the tip on to round it off a bit. I can do them guts in or out, under 25 min down to cooler packed. A nice skinner is always helpful though, as is a small hatchet.
Pocket knife, my Uncle Henry Muskrat or a Case of some fashion. Cuts jerky and sandwiches with equal aplomb.
Butchering deer over the past 3 decades I’d say my favorite knife is a simple Sharpfinger that I’ve eased the tip on to round it off a bit. I can do them guts in or out, under 25 min down to cooler packed. A nice skinner is always helpful though, as is a small hatchet.
Pocket knife, my Uncle Henry Muskrat or a Case of some fashion. Cuts jerky and sandwiches with equal aplomb.
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