Recommend a good value hunting knife

[JohnCrighton]

I have a Buck knife with curved blade, about 3"-3.5" long blade, half of it serrated. I feel like, for hunting small-medium game, I might need something else. Maybe something with a gut-hook, no serration, similar length blade.

What is a good value (i.e. not ultra-cheap, but good quality without breaking the bank) knife out there that would meet these criteria? Or do you have other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[JShirley]

Do you perhaps have a price range you could suggest? That might make things a bit easier.

 

[JohnCrighton]

Hmm, say under $75 - honestly, if I can get a decent one for under $50 that would be even better - I don't plan on using it a lot, but I'd just like to find one that is a good value for the money - sort of like the Victorinox brands of chef's knives - about 1/2 the cost of the Henckels and Wusthoffs, but just as good.

 

[plumberroy]

forget gut hooks they are just for hooking your money. I cleaned a squirrel last night with a victorinox rally (same size as the little classic) just to see if I can. My go to skinning knife for deer/hogs is an old timer sharpfinger that I have had 25 years. As far as cleaning small game , squirrel or rabbit and such I use what ever swiss army knife I happen to be carrying or a old hickory parking knife that I made a pocket sheath for. you might look at the buck 110 for a folder or 119 for a fixed blade 30-35 at wally world .
I don't know if it is true or not But I have read the knife maker who invented the "gut hook" disigned it to for hooking the bail on a coffee pot when it is hot from the camp fire
Roy

 

[Boats]

Buck Zipper, 4 1/8" gut hook, no serrations, ~$60.00



Buck Omni Hunter 4" gut hook, no serrations, about $40.00



Buck Alpha Hunter Rubber handled, 4.25" ATS-34 steel, gut hook, no serrations, ~$60.00



Bear & Son MGC Guthook, ~4.00 mystery stainless blade. ~42.00

Boker Arbolito, 4.25 440A stainless gut hook with no serrations, stag handled, ~$70.00



Case Guthook Hunter, 4.00" mystery stainless, leather washer handle, ~$65.00



If you want some cheap ass Chicom knife suggestion, from Gerber, Cold Steel, "Scherade" or others, you're on your own.

 

[hso]

Look at Outdoor Edge.

 

[Browning]

Try this one.

JohnCrighton : Hmm, say under $75 - honestly, if I can get a decent one for under $50 that would be even better

$60 or less for a good knife (not including shipping) is pretty inexpensive to me.



A.G. Russell Deer Hunter

 

[Al Thompson]

Moras get great reviews here. Cold Steel has seconds on their web site that are great buys too. I really like my "seconds" Master Hunter.

 

[moxie]

What you've got is perfectly fine for hunting small to medium sized game. Hard to beat, although the serrations could be annoying. The Moras recommended above are outstanding knives. Here are some more good ones:
http://www.knifeworks.com/crktkilbuckdroppointbamboohandleplainleathersheath.aspx

http://www.knifesupply.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=KS1029

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Swing Blade

Look at Outdoor Edge.

In a fusion of Swedish and American ideas, the EKA "Kombi" design has been has been licensed by Outdoor Edge to produce the "Swing Blade" (and its orange-handled brother, the "Swing BLaze").

EKA Kombi

And in a wood-handled version

Add in a little American design influence . . .

​

I have one of these (in orange). [post=4807547]Reviewed here[/post].




The Swing Bade & Swing Blaze are priced around $50-$65. I really like mine.

Available at Ragnar's Forge (www.ragweedforge.com) or Sportmans Warehouse (and probably several other sporting goods chains).

Worth considering.

 

[ImARugerFan]

I like most of the knives that Boats suggested above, but they appear to be more for large game in my opinion. For small to medium game I really like this little buck knife I have: http://www.tylertool.com/bu47cakn.html

It dressed out a grouse and a deer this past weekend just fine The gut hook is too small for deer though, and designed for smaller game. Razor sharp out of the package like all buck knives.

 

[snow]

Have you given these a try the cold steel mini pendleton hunter http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-14333.html

Gerber Gator w/guthook
http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Gator-Folding-Gut-Hook-6932.htm

Victorinox skinner
http://www.pearloutdoors.com/skinner

KOA- Muskrat, yukon belt knife, or better yet try out their muskrat&cub bear combo.
http://www.cadcutlery.com/knivesofalaska.htm

 

[alaskanativeson]

forget gut hooks they are just for hooking your money.

I've got to agree here. I don't like using a gut hook, what do some of you think? Do any of you like using them?

I have to agree with snow on the KOA - Knives of Alaska. The Magnum Alaskan, the Alpha Wolf, and the Bush Camp are the ones I like best. The prices on the website are higher, I’ve seen them on ebay for much less.

A place I'd suggest you look is Cutlery Shoppe's hunting and outdoor knives page. They're a good company to deal with and their prices are usually about as low as I've seen.

The Ontario Rat 3 D2 is a great little knife.

 

[TimboKhan]

While not "cheap", one of Valkman's Small Skinners would fit your bill perfectly at $100.00. If that seems expensive, consider that your getting a custom knive, with heat treating by Paul Bos, built just for you. There isn't a gut hook, but for small/medium game you don't really need one. If you do, your better off supplementing your gear by buying an uber cheap Wyoming Knife, at least in my opinion.

Here is Valkmans link: http://www.dlknives.com/Small_Skinners.php

Here is ye old Wyoming knives: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=10460_13737&products_id=98989

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Gut Hooks

forget gut hooks they are just for hooking your money.

See my post #10 for my answer to that. The Swedish answer isn't actually a "hook" but rather a gently concave edge with a blunt tip.


Also, for what it's worth, Buck has actually spent some serious time and effort researching the curve and angle of their gut hook (see Alpha Hunter), and have patented that.

I had a chance to talk with CJ Buck about that, and he said he didn't personally know why that particular curve and grind worked better than others, only that it's important when resharpening to change neither the bevel nor the curve, otherwise stuff tends to hang up and foul the hook.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I don't use a gut hook at all.
I find that I can pinch a piece of belly skin and slice it open with a drop point as quickly as anything. Just don't see the point of the gut hook.

 

[22-rimfire]

Skip the gut hook. Waste of money and steel. Try a SOG Field Pup. It should work perfectly for both small and deer sized game.

 

[nathan]

Mine is a Gerber from Walmart, half of it is blade and other is serrated. The serrated really helps esp if you have to separate the rib cage after cutting the belly .

 

[Exmasonite]

+1 on one of Valkman's skinners.

another good "all around knife" to consider is the Benchmade Fixed Griptilian. Can be found on teh Evilbay/Interweb for $60-70. tough to beat.

But i'd say fork out the extra $ for the Skinner.

 

[bang_bang]

I have been carrying the Buck 110 folder from Wally World for several years now. Keeps a good edge all hunting season, even after the third or fourth deer. This is my field dressing knife, I use another knife, some cheap Pakistani knife to quarter the deer with in case I hack a bone too hard.

I usually sharpen the 110 a week or so prior to season, only washing the blood and fat off when I'm done for the day. Doesn't get another edge put on it until next year. For $30 (I saw the price yesterday) it's hard to beat.