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

[mtnbound]

I really think the Outdoor Edge is the answer here. Cuts like a Havalon, just a touch heavier, but still robust. I'm not great at the knee joints and the skulls and I tend to pry a bit and I've never broken a blade.

The only downside I see on them is sometimes they gum up and replacing a blade isn't as straight forward as a new or clean knife.

I have one of these, and they do work better than the Havalon style, but cleaning them is a pain.

 

[Legend]

For folks who are saying they get through a whole animal without sharpening their fixed blade, are they talking about quartering or boning out? There's gonna be a dozen miles and at least one mountain pass between me the truck. Thanks y'all

You can de-bone a deer, turn all of it into Jerky strips and still have a sharp knife. Meat doesn't really dull a blade much.

Cutting hair (always cut the skin side not hair side), taking knuckles apart, and removing skull are hard on blades.

Sure you can bring a sharpener but I am always in too much of a hurry to stop and sharpen especially when it's still cutting.

If you are new at this DO NOT bring a havalon type blade....damn things are dangerous to the user.

 

[Mojave]

I do no like exchangeable razor blade knives.

I have absolutely mangled my hands.

 

[Macintosh]

Those moraknives are pretty darn soft steel. They sharpen easily, but they do dull fast if you are new to cutting out backstraps, knuckles, etc, so I might want to touch it up midway if you are cutting out ribs, etc. will you be alone? Your partner might also have a knife. If not, A super light fine stone or one of those credit-card thickness diamond hones might come in handy. Heck, just wear a leather belt and use it as a strop and that’ll probably do it.
I pack a havalon as a backup knife, its light and sharp. Thats more for loss of knife when camping than it is for using it though. Agree with those who dont like them, they are fragile enough they sort of terrify me.

 

[Kurts86]

I used havalon’s for the better part of a decade but with SV30 and SV90 knives I have switched back to fixed blades in the field. I use a havalon for things like cleaning skulls at home. I usually have a Benchmade bugout mini or a Leatherman skeletool as a backup knife when solo. Mora steel as mentioned is soft by modern standards and needs more frequent sharpening.

 

[SirFellowShrimp]

Why are you going to go 12 miles in?

I'm not sharpening a knife to get through a deer, quarters or boned. If I'm using an outdoor edge, it's the same blade for the entire animal. Don't saw on bones and you're fine.

A lightweight sharpener is a better idea than walking twenty miles to shoot a deer.

Maybe I'm weird but when given the option to hunt from home by hiking over the mountains I prefer that to spending half a day in the car to get into my zone. I enjoy being in the mountains. I know it'll be a pretty crushing hike out but I want to hunt from my side, so no getting around it.

 

[SirFellowShrimp]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Cool to see the systems everyone prefers and I really appreciate the recommendations that were tailored to my specific needs and experience level.

 

[Maverick1]

It's not like an elk caked in mud and pine sap.

I dealt with that once. It was horrible! Shot a nice bull with clay dried and hardened onto his hide. It was heavy, thick, and very hard to cut through. I started by using an expensive, fancy steel, lightweight knife. After only a short while I switched to a leatherman (!!!) and finished the job. It seemingly took forever and I had to stop multiple times to resharpen it. The letterman actually worked better in that situation!

 

[Lawnboi]

You don’t need a sharpener to bone out a mule deer. Good edge with a decent knife should make it through that without issues.

 

[butcherboy]

Here’s my elk from this past September 8/1.

 

[Bluumoon]

Hey y'all,

Thanks for any input. I'm hoping for advice for a backcountry kit for boning out a mule deer. I want to go very lightweight as I'm hunting far out there but don't want to sacrifice my ability to do a good, thorough job. It will be my first time butchering a deer and I want to do it well.

The question is, if I buy a sharpener for my Morakniv Companion that I already own is that a decent setup? Or would I really benefit from having something like a Havalon Piranta? Would anyone make an argument that I should really be bringing both?

Thanks Much,
-S

Used a cheap Morakniv last year (4 elk and a domestic pig) and was more than pleased with it, it was/is preferred over a nice custom tool steel knife/outdoor edge replaceable/ SV30 Bugout/ multiple different buck knives/etc that I've used in the past. I did carry and use a 1.5 oz fine grit stone to keep it sharp while breaking down elk, very easy and forgiving to sharpen. This year it has a challenger in the $12 Cold Steel Canadian belt knife, have only used it on a couple deer and a bear, but I think I like it more.

Get a light little sharpening stone and go forth.

 

[rclouse79]

I think I have only broken one havalon blade on dozens of animals, and I that was when I was abusing it trying to get a head off when I was tired. The only downside I can see would be if the knife handle somehow failed. Might be worth carrying a backup if you were worried about that unlikely event. Can’t beat the sharpness, the weight and being able to replace the blade and go back to scary sharp in seconds. Just be careful or you will cut a finger off.

 

[Antares]

I’m surprised how many people are saying you push through a whole animal and sharpen at home. I touch up my blade probably 6-8 times when I’m taking apart an animal. Only takes a few seconds, just a few quick swipes with a steel or similar. I like working with a reasonably sharp blade. I use one of these currently.

 

[jenkinsd]

Keeping an edge on a blade at the proper angled is a skill that takes time and practice. Some guys can never use a stone or steel. They just can't hold the angle in both directions. Depending on your experience on sharping is what you will use. Over time you will get comfortable with a method to process your game. You just need to find it. I'm old school with Buck fixed blades. They have worked for me for decades. I also carry a Wyoming saw. Good luck and Happy Trails.

 

[Boarmaster]

That work sharp field sharpener weighs about a oz, not sure why you wouldn’t bring it?

This.

 

[Boarmaster]

After using a havalon and trying a outdoor edge. I found I was more comfortable with my fixed blade knives. I use the worksharp field sharpener in the woods, camp and at home for keeping an edge. I’m in the touch up as you go along crowd.

 

[Loper]

That work sharp field sharpener weighs about a oz, not sure why you wouldn’t bring it?

This.

Is this the one you guys are talking about? It weighs 4.6oz. At that weight, it seems easier to just bring a second fixed blade.

Guided Field Sharpener

The ultimate companion for those seeking razor-sharp edges in the great outdoors. Engineered with precision and packed with features, this sharpener ensures optimal blade performance wherever you roam. Angle guides create a consistent 20° edge on coarse and fine grit diamond plates, with 25°...

www.worksharptools.com

 

[MallardSX2]

I like the havalons and have several but this outdoor edge is 1000% my favorite.

https://a.co/d/0obb7Eo

 

[Bugger]

Is this the one you guys are talking about? It weighs 4.6oz. At that weight, it seems easier to just bring a second fixed blade.

Guided Field Sharpener

The ultimate companion for those seeking razor-sharp edges in the great outdoors. Engineered with precision and packed with features, this sharpener ensures optimal blade performance wherever you roam. Angle guides create a consistent 20° edge on coarse and fine grit diamond plates, with 25°...

www.worksharptools.com

I take the metal plate off and just keep that in my kill kit. Not sure what that weighs but it’s all you need to touch up the blade edge in the field to finish a job.

 

[EdP]

I use a SV30 knife and should not need to touch up the blade. In case I do want to touch up, for example to cape out a head, I made a small strop. It is about 1" by 6" leather glued on 1/4" plywood and treated with diamond slurry. Small and light but will dress even a blade of the tougher to sharpen steels.