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

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.
 
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.
 
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
Montana Knife Company makes really good knives. Hardly ever have to touch it up.
 
I bring both. I use the scalpel to do some smaller cuts and what not when skinning but that is about it though. Last season I got a nice cut right on my face when my scalpel blade broke and flew past my eye….I’ll be sticking to my knife for most work from now on. Probably was pushing the scalpel a little too hard as far as what it’s meant for I’ll admit but I’d rather avoid any unnecessary mistakes from now on
 
I have a gerber vital I perfer over the havalon because its easier (and safer) to change the blades. i have the regular blades and gut hook blades for it
 
I carry 2 fixed blades in my pack on all hunts. I have yet to need the second blade to finish processing any animal, but it's reassuring to know its there. As far as the extra weight, I can take the second blade out or put it back in the pack and never notice the difference. Even if I did, sometimes the advantage is worth the penalty.
 
I got a havalon when they first came out. While I admit they aren’t perfect for everything or everyone, I continue to use them on multiple animals every year. My sons have outdoor edge replaceable and they like those too.
 
I've been using the Havalon as my primary for the past few years now and I haven't had any of the blades break on me and never had any problems replacing the blades in the field. To pull the blades off I use the tip of my pocket knife and pry the blade up and then push it forward with the side of my knife blade so I'm not using my hands at all. I really like how easy it is to cut with the scalpel blades but you do have to be pretty careful - especially if theres more than one of you cutting up an animal at the same time. I still bring my Benchmade Steep Country as a backup but haven't needed it yet.
 
I'll add a vote for the outdoor edge razors, I cut up several elk each year, typically use 2-3 blades, first blade can dull out with all the dirt and thick hide of the neck on a bull, then swap for a clean blade to cut off quarters, clean blade to bone it out. Bring those blades home, clean them and touch them up, and throw back in the kit for antelope, muleys, whiteys. I've used the 3" for years, but they've since added the 3.5", which has the addition of a filet blade that won't fit on the 3", that looks pretty slick. Way stiffer and safer to change than the havalons and not much heavier.
I've also used the folding zip pro a bunch, we hunt elk in very hot weather and getting the hide off and animal broke down and on ice is super important. These blades really zip the hide without stabbing into meat, and after quartering it out, I'll decompress the gut cavity to pull loins, the zip blade keeps you from accidentally stabbing the gut.
 
I transitioned to just a replaceable blade knife for a while, have used both Havalon, gerber, and outdoor edge. Recently though I found that a solid, high quality fixed blade also has a clear role in my field dressing kit. While the replaceable blade knives are great for some things, it really helps to have a fixed blade. And my fixed blade didn’t get dull as fast as I thought. I make room for both.
 
I haven’t read any replies.

But I’ve taken apart probably 50 animals over the last decade with a scalpel (pick your brand and flavor of “knife” - they’re scalpels.)

I carry a heavy fixed blade knife for heavy fixed blade knife tasks related to safety survival backcountry risk mitigation. It’s a tool.

So is a scalpel.

For taking animals apart, a scalpel has been refined to be surgical for the task. Literally.

I have zero wants or needs when taking apart animals with a scalpel.


I’m sure I could have a similar result using a “real knife”. And then I’d have to maintain that tool differently than I do now when I use that tool in the way I described above.

I sharpen that knife once a year, or after it gets used for any of those other purposes.

My sharpening time of my scalpel consists of sticking another blade on and back to cutting.


My scalpel handle weighs 1.5 ounces and is flat and takes up no space. Neither do the blades.
 
My knife usage spans decades. Like great boots, great knives are a gamechanger.

I used havalon for several years. Deadly sharp but have drawbacks. I would snap them left and right and the ergonomics didn't work for me. Blades would also pop off while using it.

Went to the Gerber which came with the heavy duty blades. Tough blades, held an edge fairly well and better ergos. But I would pop the blade off at times. The attachment system would get gummed up with fat so when it got cold it was difficult to get the blade back on. The location of the release is not good because it didn't allow you to run your index finger down the spine of the blade. Basically, replaceable blades aren't great. They are great for those though that can't or don't want to sharpen a blade though. Everything else about them is a compromise.

Today I use a fixed blade. Great ergo, strong spine and great blade shape. It skins great, works through tendons great, and debone great. It's razor sharp. I carry a stone just in case, but never need it. I'm diligent about touching up the edge though after processing an animal. But I also enjoy sharpening knives.
 
Sharpener and fixed blade.
Never used a disposable blade, don't see a reason why you would, just way to many fail points for me.
They're a solution to a problem that never existed. How did anyone ever process animals without them? Pure marketing for the guys who want to "run" the latest gear.
That might offend some, and we're all free to do what we want, but the whole thought process around hunting and procuring meat has become tedious. It's not rocket science. Spend less time shopping and more time developing woodsman skills and game knowledge.
Just the thoughts of an old, know nothing, boomer....
 
I love the disposable blades for convenience. You can resharpen them just like a standard blade too. Every once seems to really matter once fall hits. Lol
 
I’m not offended, but a knife blade that gets dull from use is a problem that never existed?
That's why guys carry a touch up steel, or carry a second blade, as I do. Both are maintained extremely sharp, and I've yet to pull the backup out to finish processing an animal in the field, including elk.
Both honing steel and back up knives have been fine solutions to keeping a keen edge in the field for decades if not centuries. Hence my comment about a solution to a problem that never existed. I'm not trying to persuade anyone to do as I do. Just offering an opinion. Like I said, we're all free to do as we want.

EDIT:
I've never seen a professional butcher with a scalpel in his hand.
 
you butcher in the field? What about cape work?

Scalpel > knife in any situation in the field. Home? Yeah it gets put away.
While deer hunting in the NE, no. I only field dress and drag back to camp/truck.
When I'm hunting in the west, yes. With few exceptions, I either bone out or quarter in the field, depending on species and the situation. Yes I skin the cape to the base of the skull and cut off the head with the same knife. I skin out the mask back at camp with a KOA Bear Cub. A scalpel type knife might be very useful for that work, but that's not the subject of the thread.
 
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