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

[Halfdozen Hunter]

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.

 

[droptine818]

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

 

[huntingislife]

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

 

[eaglemountainman]

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.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

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.

 

[TheLastFrontier]

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.

 

[MtnsWinAgain]

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.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

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.

 

[KyleR1985]

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.

 

[peterk123]

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.

 

[go_deep]

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.

 

[eaglemountainman]

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....

 

[Jethro]

They're a solution to a problem that never existed.

I’m not offended, but a knife blade that gets dull from use is a problem that never existed?

 

[Goafterit]

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

 

[justin davis]

Use a knife like a bark river that will butcher a whole animal and not need to resharpen. Still sharp when you’re done. A Little touch up when you get home ready for the next one.

 

[eaglemountainman]

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.

 

[eaglemountainman]

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.

 

[bpitcher]

I wanted to try out the removable blades last year. I cleaned 3 Cow Elk, 2 Whitetail, and 2 Mule Deer with the Outdoor Edge over the course of the season.

Maybe it's just me, but I found that I'd have to change blades 1-2x for most animals. The knife itself is difficult to clean and gets gunked up easily with meat and fat. This can make blade changes more difficult. I will say that the blades I kept resharpened well.

I think I will keep the Outdoor Edge for certain situations but I will be returning to fixed blades for most jobs. My wife bought me an ESEE AGK for Christmas. Hopefully I'll get to test it on some Aoudad soon.

 

[eaglemountainman]

So you don’t butcher in the field? Quartering isn’t butchering unless you’re cooking the whole quarter? And if you don’t want your cape to spoil on a long hunt you best believe you should take care of the head in the field.

It’s ok you have a lot to learn, should of known when you said you take your meat to a butcher

Scalpel > any knife for all around use on an animal .

Reread my post. You either responded to the wrong post, or have a comprehension issue.
I'm 68 y/o and admit that I'm always learning. But there's nothing you could teach me.

EDIT
What I said was that I've never seen a professional butcher with a scalpel in his hand. I did NOT say that I have a butcher process my game animals. Again, a comprehension issue. Try harder.

 

[makersmark32]

Fixed for tough parts and having for delicate parts, 3 blades max