I've used the k1, Benchmade Altitude, and the Argali Carbon Knife all on different elk this year, my pick goes to the Argali Carbon Knife.
The k1 as a pure skeleton knife was a bit too draconian, handle edges were 'sharp' or just laser cut. I don't wrap my knives because of the same reason why I don't like folding knives, it just starts filling up with hair, muscle, and fat and it's a pain to clean up. I didn't quite enjoy the length of the belly for skinning either. I'm also pretty harsh on my gear. I didn't have time to clean it for a couple of days backcountry hunting and it tarnished really bad. Scrubbed it down pretty aggressively with some mother's polish to get it back. It's leaving my kit. The A2 tool steel is killer for a broadhead but I think it's application as a knife just wasn't there for me.
The altitude felt awesome in the hand, big step up over the k1. That edge holds amazing, it was just a refined machine when working on an elk. You really have to make sure to stay on the sharpening with it, just some light touch-ups at 1200 grit during butchering. But I like my knife razor-sharp. The handle was also just too skinny for me for an entire animal, I felt secure but not 100% confident with it in my hand. I did manage to chip it on the bone but I'm a little more aggressive than others. Great knife, the hardness down translate to a bit more brittleness if taken too aggressive.
The Argali Carbon Knife then came into play. The hold, jimping points on the back for your palm, front of the handle and on the knife gives such a secure confident connection. The G10 cut out handle gives the perfect amount of extra girth as well. Sharpening is also a breeze with this knife even if you're going a bit past a needed sharpen. You can get the hair cutting edge back really quick. The S35vn in my experience is just the best of all worlds for a skinning knife.
I used a DMT double-sided Fine/Extra Fine stone on all of them
https://www.amazon.com/DMT-FWEF-Diafold-Sharpener-Extra-Fine/dp/B00004WFTV
Some pictures of the Carbon Knife that I kept of the three and some weights. I am getting a custom Kydex sheath for it though, I can't believe it weighs as much as the knife.
