Bring sharpener for fixed blade or ditch it for a Havalon?

[6mm Remington]

I like a knife with a 3-4" blade as that seems to be a sweet spot for me. Large enough but not too big. I carry either my Ruana Steelhead knife with the 3 1/2" blade or the 5AD with the 4" blade. In addition I also carry either my Buck 110 or Schrade folders. I just like having two knives. In addition I found ceramic sharpening rods on the internet for just a few dollars each and they work great for touchups should it be needed. The sharpener is shown below with my Benchmade mini-Barrage with it's 2.9" blade.

 

[PathFinder]

I've tried a few different combos, some truck hunting but mostly backpacking:

• Traditional, large hunting knives. A Buck V52 in their 420HC, and a custom in 440c. This worked but was heavy and bulky.
• Havalon/60A replaceable razor blades for several years. Never hated it but changing blades in the dark and cold with slick hands was an unnecessary annoyance. Tended to poke and cut myself a lot more with them. The only reason for this combo was absolute minimum weight. Still have these and use them for detail skinning (paws, turning ears/lips, etc) at home.
• Higher performance UL/small knives. Only tried one, the Iron Will K1. Same weight as the 60A type knives, but no blade changing or breakage. Works well, but it struggles and needs a touch-up at the end of an animal.
  • A2 is a non-ideal choice for this type of knife. CPM-M4 or something even harder would be better. It's short on wear resistance and prioritizes toughness for a knife that really should prioritize the opposite.
  • I'd try another similar knife, but they don't come in the sort of steel I'd like with a reputable heat treat.
• This year I'm going to carry one knife to cut weight, and use it for everything. Going to try a couple of Spyderco Para 3 LW in CPM-M4 and CPM-15V. They weigh 2.4 oz, have excellent ergos, and the steel/heat treat maximizes wear resistance while retaining sufficient toughness. From my initial testing they hold an edge unlike anything I've ever owned, so the theory is that they'll be able to handle a full elk/deer plus any odd chores without needing any kind of edge maintenance during a backpack hunt. Heavier than the UL knives, but vs carrying the small knife, a folder in my pocket, and a small sharpener the weight savings are worthwhile.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I prefer the Outdoor Edge over the Havalon. I have never broke a blade on the OE. I gave my Havalon away.

 

[tombombadilo]

I'm in the "bring both" camp, and I firmly agree about the dangers of trying to swap Havalon blades with bloody hands. I strongly recommend dulling the entire length of a "done" blade on a rock before removing it. I also like bringing multiple pairs of nitrile gloves to keep my hands and the meat clean.