Hunting Knife Opinions

[clfergus]

Looking at my first hunting knife. Main use this year will be field dressing deer if I am lucky enough to get one. Been looking around on the web and have read where a 3-4 inch blade is the best.

Chuckhawks suggests the buck 102 woodsman. I also read more than one guy suggest the buck alpha and mini alpha hunter knives.

ONe knife that caught my eye was the gerber Wallowa stag drop point. I saw those on the web for 30.00.

Any opinions on these I mentioned or another. prob wanting to stay around 50.00 or lower.

 

[cosermann]

The Bucks you mention would fit the bill (as would the 110 folder), are made in the USA, and have a lifetime warranty. I like the Bucks as hunting knives.

The Gerber Wallowa is made in China (at least the ones that Dick's carries) if that matters to you.

But really, as long as the blade profile is conducive to hunting tasks and it will hold a good edge, that's all you need. Hunting isn't an extremely demanding knife application, imo.

What type of hunting are you talking about? An optimal knife for field dressing a deer might be different than an optimal knife for cleaning upland birds.

It's kind of funny how we overanalyze everything nowadays. My grandad just had one basic "huntin' knife" (a Marbles) that he used for everything. Was it the best for every task? No. Did it work? Yup.

Seems to me I even saw him field dress a deer with just a pocket knife once.

Here's an article:
Hunting Knives

 

[Sailor]

I like a schrade old time sharp finger for field dressing. Carbon steel easy to sharpen small comfy fixed blade.

Amazon.com: Schrade Old Timer Sharpfinger Knife Fixed Blade: Sports & Outdoors

 

[longbarrel]

Case xx ss gut-hook fixed blade. You can't go wrong with it.

 

[bigkahunasix]

Honestly, I use my Spyderco Military. Great edge retention and plenty of belly in the blade for skinning.

 

[clt46910]

I like either one of these sets. Both do a great job on small to mid-sized game.

 

[infidel]

Buck 110 folder

 

[ISP 5353]

Lots of good knives out there for the job. I dress several deer every year, and my favorite is the Buck Vanguard. Perfect shape and razor sharp! Good luck!

 

[cubby]

good steel, good grippy handle material, a pronounced guard (to save the dread choke up slip) and a QUALITY sheath. probly in that order.

 

[teddy12b]

Years ago I bought a Case XX Changer that came with a saw, two blades, & a guthook. It's a great little kit that I bought it before ever gutting a deer and I've been very happy with it. The problem with any folding knife is getting all the junk out of all the parts after you've used it.

This year I hope to use a fixed blade knife if I get lucky enough to get a deer just to try something different.

I am also considering buying a Columbia River Ringer guthook, just because it looks like it's got everything I want/need in a small easily cleanable package.