Author Topic: Best do-all knife for deer/hogs? (Read 1935 times)

Bama76 · « **on:** December 25, 2004, 05:55:08 PM »

I'm in need of a good all-around deer guttin', pig skinnin' hunting knife. I'm thinking a knife with a gut hook would be nice but how hard are they to keep sharp? What type or shape of blade do I need? I don't get many chances to clean big game animals or I would already know what I like. Get me started in the right direction. What type knife might also do well as a small game or big bird (turkey) cleaning knife? I want something under $50 as money is a factor.

Mike

Will52100 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2004, 10:44:33 PM »

I don't know about something like that for 50$, but the best overall shape I've found is the drop point type hunter, like Bob Loveless's original drop point and Ed Fowler's Prong horn hunters. I say like that because the collector market has driven there prices out of the range of users. I think you'll be hard pressed to find a good knife for under a 100$ that will give decent performance, but there are deals out there, just don't go for the hype that many manufactures spew.

I personaly detest gut hooks, IMHO there only good for lifting the coffie pot off the camp fire.

Joel · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2004, 06:24:12 AM »

Will's about right about those guthooks. Actually the guy who first put them on knives years ago, was a western knifemaker by the name, I think, of Seguine...something like that. He put them on the knife to act as coffe pot lifters/pot lid lifters. Some fool sharpened them and a lot of other folks bought them thinking they are a good idea. I only used one knife that had one; a Buck Zipper that my wife bought me years ago. Durned thing worked on one deer, and then quit. Never could(even these days) get it really sharp again, even using split belts on my grinder. Didn't like the idea anyway. Person should be able to use his/her blade to do that work...matter of pride. As far as knives for under $50 goes...good luck. When I first started knifemaking, my first customers were a bunch of Hog hunters down in Florida, Alabama, Virginia etc. Bunch of good ol' boys who all knew eachother. Knife I built for them was the standard Loveless Drop Hunter, except flat ground. First one was in 440C which they didn't care for, because it couldn't hold an edge long. All the others were in ATS-34/154CM and that was fine with them.
Obviously you aren't going to buy a loveless(he overprices them anyway), but the drop point blade shape is always a good one for use on game. I noticed in your post below this one, your looking to spend around $80 on a folder...suggest you focus your money on first one, then save up and get the other. Thing to look for is the steel....stay away from those who just say stainless, or surgical stainless, or 420J2 or 420HC and look for something better. Ats-34/154CM, BG-42, CPM-30V etc are all worth the price IF they have been properly heat treated/tempered. They need to be cryo'd(cryogenically cooled) to be worth the asking price. Also, still some great regular carbon steels out there...1095, 0-1, Carbon V, 52100, 5160 etc come to mind quick like. Take your time and do it right, is my advice.

dougk · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2004, 10:02:09 AM »

I have been very please with the Bark River knives. I have gone with their compact drop point knife2. I understand that Bark River uses a new type of steel. I can tell you its not stainless steel, the bade does tarnish but they will polish it for free. I stumbled on the canvas micarta handle and will not get another type of handle. This material does not slip when wet or drenched in blood.

Also, I would not recommend a blade over 3.5 inches.

Good Luck,
Doug

Bama76 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2004, 01:22:58 PM »

The Tempest run around 50 - $55 and the SOG runs under $35 from Mid-South shooters supply. Maybe I shop around too much but I'm into cheap!

Never the less, I do appreciate the information.

LarryL · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2005, 08:12:23 AM »

I just picked up a Buck Zipper on Ebay for $40 including S&H. How is it for holding an edge (aside from the comments above about the guthook)? Regarding the guthook, Buck does sell a tapered honing stone that is supposed to work on the guthook.

I'm also considering the Cold Steel Master Hunter Plus. That is their Carbon V blade so it should have a great edge. It just isn't very pretty.

thanks!

armory414 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2005, 09:50:11 AM »

Gander Mountain has had a special on a Browning knife. It's a lockback, with drop-point blade, saw blade for bone, and guthook. It comes in a box with a Browning flashlight for $49.99. Comes in black or orange/black camo.

ronbow · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2005, 08:08:40 AM »

Buck Vanguard/Zipper: used it on hogs and deer then used my Lansky diamond to put the razor edge back on the blade. Use a round ceramic stone to touch up the hook. The hook should rarely need resharpeming if you only use it to unzip the cavity. These knives cost in the $50 range and come with a quality sheath.

TimWieneke · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2005, 05:33:15 PM »

Take a look at that Cold Steel All Terrain Hunter and the Master Hunter (Master Hunter needs to be always be cleaned oiled to prevent rust) - check e-bay for your price range. When it comes to commercially-made knives - I just love the models they do in their carbon v steel. The only one I've gotten that I don't particularly care for is the recon tanto.

As far as guthooks, I carry a utility knife (stanley but it really doesn't matter) with one of those carpet blade hooks in it. Looks and workds just like a gut hook and I don't bother to resharpen - I just swap out the razor when it gets dull.

Tim

Joel · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2005, 07:13:32 AM »

My Zipper was one of the older ones with 425M steel and it would hold a pretty good edge. I could completely "do" a buck with one, which means gutting(with the blade), skinning, butchering, cutting it up without messin with the edge. The newer ones are of 420HC steel and I have no idea how they hold up.

buffalobob · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2005, 05:01:00 PM »

I used a Buck folding hunter for about 20 years for gutting deer. It is very heavy and can get slick with blood but is very strong and does not rust. You can work through an elk brisket with it if need be. Cleans up easy. The point is not optimal for gutting as you really don't want a sharp point. but if you need to quarter teh animal it becomes a more useful shape. The new Buck Alpha hunter has about the right shape of blade for gutting. Gutting a deer is not a very difficult task for a knife, it takes about two minutes. The main thing is not to get the point into the entrails. If you are going to open the brisket in the field then the blade and handle need some strength.

You might look at the gerber gator as a reasonable and lighter knife that wil take some abuse in the field.

You need three shapes of blade. One for gutting and field dressing which is essentially a short straight blade with a drop point. For skinning if you are trying to save the hide, you want a very curved blade and never use the point. For butchering you want a long thin blade made for slicing.

For all of the above you want a very good set of sharpening stones.