Field Knife and Butchering

[OverInfinite]

A couple years ago I switched from my big heavy buck knife to a havalon Piranta. It was a great little knife, but I hated the blade replacement. I always felt like I was going to stab myself, especially with bloody hands. I also had an incident breaking a blade while I was seperating a joint. Shortly after, I switched to the Outdoor Edge RazorPro. They use larger more conventional blades and are WAY easier to replace. However, The folding part sucks. meat/ fat gets stuck inside all the nooks and crannies and just makes a giant pain to clean when I get home.

I am looking for a fixed blade that is light and does not use the havalon blades. I am contemplating switching to a regular blade with a sharpner, mostly because I typically never have to swap out a blade during a field dressing, I swap when I get home, and typically use the edge for processing/ deboning. Any recommendations or experience making the swap from replacement blades to sharpening

 

[Drenalin]

I went from replaceable blades to nice fixed blades, then to a pair Victorinox paring knives (3.25") with Kydex sheaths from Riley Tool & Machine. I used a Sharpie to write "Hide" on the handle of one knife and "Meat" on the other. Easy to sharpen, fine in the hand, orange handles so I don't misplace them too easily, and if I do lose one it doesn't sting so much. I've field dressed a pile of deer with these, and last year completely butchered a black bear and a whitetail with them (but I'd highly recommend a boning knife over a paring knife for your at home butchering).

 

[Slickhill]

While not really a popular choice I’ll tell you what does and has worked for me for a long time and a bunch of animals.

I like a folder but that’s not really important. The best thing for me was switching from a super steel latest greatest knife to a more traditional knife with a 1095 or 420SS blade. Well heat treated from reputable makers they will hold an edge very well but more importantly they’re easy to sharpen. A simple steeling occasionally during use is normally all that’s needed if starting with a sharp edge of good geometry.

A big knife is not necessary for pretty much any task related to breaking an animal down into packable size pieces. I use a 4” Jumbo Trapper and can easily get through breaking down an elk, to include disjointing and removing the head, without needing to sharpen or wishing I had a Rambo special. I haven’t ever done an animal larger than a bull moose so if you have a brontosaurus tag you may need a bigger blade.

Once home and ready to cut meat for the freezer I use a pair of cheap Old Hickory carbon steel butcher knives, one boner and one 10” butcher knife for cutting steaks and such. They are cheap and it’s easy to put a razor edge on them with a plain old Norton stone, strop, and steel.

In my pack I will have a small stone or diamond steel but it hasn’t been needed on a dressing job in a long time.

 

[J_Fish]

I too am looking to switch from the havalon. I never liked how packed full of gunk it got and also thought I was going to cut myself in the field replacing blades. Looking at a 4" fixed but hoping to find one in my stocking in a few weeks.

 

[OverInfinite]

I have a javalina tag in February, maybe ill grab me a regular fixed blade and a stone and use that as a intro to non replacement.
Any YouTube videos or tricks to get better at sharpening? Ive only ever been shown the basics and have managed to touch up a couple kitchen knives here and there, but ive lost most of my pocket knives before I ever needed to sharpen them.

 

[swavescatter]

I just fully skinned and quartered up a mature cow elk with a bugout and the standard S30V blade. No touch-ups or sharpening at all.

I have been using a mini-bugout (S30V) and hidden canyon (S90V). While this also works fine, the full size bugout made it an easy one and done solution. Maybe just carry a Morakniv back at camp if you're trying to debone?

 

[Alpine4x4]

I did a my whole mule deer this fall with my Hidden Canyon from gut in the field to skinning to break down. I did switch to a filet knife and my Outdoor Edge to deal with the silver skin after I dulled my Hidden Canyon out getting the rear legs, but beyond that it did the job. It stays with me on my bino harness, love that knife.

 

[justinspicher]

I really like my KoA Muskrst for use in the field. So far it’s been great on elk, deer, turkey and a bear.

When I get home and do my butchering, I also use a KoA cleaver and boning knife.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

I have used a few different knives for quartering and boning and come back to the havalon. I have a friend who doesn’t like the blade change and carries a very small pair of pliers, like leather man style. I’ve got to where I might use 2 blades max on and elk, one on deer or antelope.

I know that’s not exactly what you wanted but there it is.

 

[butcherboy]

I don’t like using a Havalon. I’ve used them mostly to see what all the fuss was about. They are sharp but break easily. I prefer a fixed blade. MKC is a popular choice because of marketing. Iron will has a decent little knife, Argali, Kestrel, even Goat. Benchmade isn’t bad either. At work I use Victorinox.

 

[OverInfinite]

I started down the research hole of fixed blade knives. Looked at some mentioned in here.
I am a mechanical engineer by trade- so I went into this thinking I was decently in tune with metallurgy... but the plethora of names and types of material is boggling.
Anyone have a good place to start for a starter blade that is a good mix of hardness and yet easy enough to sharpen for a newb.

 

[PNWGATOR]

The Grohmann Canadian belt knife was the answer for me:

https://www.grohmannknives.com/index.php/products/outdoor/1-original-design-182-detail

 

[Pilarczyk85]

I use the Argali Serac. Three animals that I gutted, skinned and still sharp as ever. Plus they offer free resharpenings if that's something you want done.

 

[loganwayne]

I have a javalina tag in February, maybe ill grab me a regular fixed blade and a stone and use that as a intro to non replacement.
Any YouTube videos or tricks to get better at sharpening? Ive only ever been shown the basics and have managed to touch up a couple kitchen knives here and there, but ive lost most of my pocket knives before I ever needed to sharpen them.

These work damn good. It doesn't take long to get your mind use to the angle to hold it at. Ive got 3 of them. One in my truck, one in the kitchen and one with my hunting stuff.

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener 2.2.1

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener

www.scheels.com

I just touched up my boning knifes this morning before cutting up my deer. 3 knifes shaving sharp in about 5 minutes

 

[Charlie Brown]

I started with a Buck 110 folding hunter great knife and heavy duty. Got a Buck 118 straight blade. Liked it so well I picked up a 2nd one at a garage sale. Decided to go lighter and started using a Browning that I won at a RMEF banquet . Switched to the Havalon,/Outdoor Edge. Light and didn't have to carry sharpener. Went back to the Browning (pictured) and carry Outdoor Edge as a backup. Still use each of these knives depending on the task although the Buck 110 now resides in my wife's pack

 

[BBob]

with Kydex sheaths from Riley Tool & Machine.

Mby Riley Knife and Tool?

Kydex Sheath for Victorinox Paring Knife (3.25″ blade) – Andrew Riley

 

[Drenalin]

Mby Riley Knife and Tool?

Kydex Sheath for Victorinox Paring Knife (3.25″ blade) – Andrew Riley

Yes sir…my memory can be a little wonky.

 

[BBob]

Mby Riley Knife and Tool?

Kydex Sheath for Victorinox Paring Knife (3.25″ blade) – Andrew Riley

If anyone cares he’s got a few back in stock.

 

[JD Jones]

I like the havalon and will occasionally still use it. I've had em break so there's that.

What gets used most often are custom fix blades because I like nice things. Let's be honest.

A Dexter or victor is perfect as they get but in the field I'll grab either one of my fiddleback forge (easy to keep razor sharp) or my @Slalomnorth
deer rock ...this year I used one of his blades in magnacut to skin and gut my 2 bucks and a doe. Stays sharp longer for sure... Touched it up once and hit a boar up for good measure. I'm a fan. He makes fine kitchen knives to boot!

 

[Boarmaster]

These work damn good. It doesn't take long to get your mind use to the angle to hold it at. Ive got 3 of them. One in my truck, one in the kitchen and one with my hunting stuff.

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener 2.2.1

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener

www.scheels.com

I just touched up my boning knifes this morning before cutting up my deer. 3 knifes shaving sharp in about 5 minutes

I have these stashed all over the place. Pack, kitchen, camp kill box. and small gear box in truck. They work great. All my fixed blades for field use are pretty heavy. Even my folders I use in the field would not be considered light weight. So Im no help there.