Good fixed blade knife for backcountry hunts

[banded_drake]

I have a Montana Knife Co speedgoat. It's pretty lightweight and holds its edge very well. They also have a speedgoat mini that I will be trying to get my hands on when they do another drop of them. Their knives go fast, they do drops of different styles throughout the year, and the drops usually sellout within about 5 minutes.

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[STAxel]

I will toss out a vote for ESEE. Not elegant or particularly expensive but solid knives For camp chores and the heavier aspects of butchery. I own a few from the izula to the junglas. My4 & 6 see the most use. The only one I don’t care for is the 5 survival version (thick and heavy due to a military spec).

my personal favorite belt knife is a Dan Winkler blade, but those start to get spendy and it’s a lot about preference beyond a point.

In your experience, how’s the Izula been for field dress game? Trying to decide between the Izula and the 3 for just the purpose of field dressing.

 

[Desk Jockey]

In your experience, how’s the Izula been for field dress game? Trying to decide between the Izula and the 3 for just the purpose of field dressing.

I have used it along with a havalon to skin and gut a couple of deer. I don’t care for using a skeletonized handle for that purpose. I tried a paracord wrap and don’t like them for working in blood. I gave up and moved to other knives With more traditional handles - my ESEE 4 and my Winkler.

 

[STAxel]

I have used it along with a havalon to skin and gut a couple of deer. I don’t care for using a skeletonized handle for that purpose. I tried a paracord wrap and don’t like them for working in blood. I gave up and moved to other knives With more traditional handles

Blade-wise though did it perform well?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Gets a little subjective, but it cuts. mine is carbon steel so it needs a dab of oil or it will discolor. It held an edge OK but my havalon did nearly all the work. It served the purpose of breaking a few hip and leg joints down that tend to break or dismount my havalon blades.

really a point of preference but I prefer a slightly longer blade for animal work and general use and, as I mentioned i don’t like the handle. plenty of folks think they are great. I believe the great and powerful snyder rolled an izula for a while.

 

[camelcluch]

I had the altitude and sold it. That knife didn’t make through one leg on a moose. The Rainer Fastpak is a nice knife with elmax steel and about $100. I think I have settled on an argali carbon. The knife did extremely well on moose and sharpens very easy.

 

[bronco_buster]

Another vote for Argali carbon, can't go wrong with that option.

 

[pattimusprime22]

I picked up a Bradford guardian 3 in magnacut. With the sheath it's a bit heavier than I would like for packing, but I'm hoping to not have to also bring a replaceable blade knife if the edge retention is as good as everyone says.

 

[Shraggs]

Very true. I found the S90V of the Altitude to chip out. Unfortunately I need stainless, so the carbon steels are off the table. Waiting for some MagnaCut options, like a CRK Inyoni (if I can ever find one).

S35vn is a stainless that performs like carbon while processing game. It will dent and roll and unlikely to chip.

Two others I’m gaining confidence in is cpm d2 (not d2) and cpm 154 (not 154 cm) - they are newer powdered versions.

All three have such a fine grain carbide structure that in hard use chips would be extremely small snd field touch up very doable. All are hard to sharpen of course.

My experience on these steels has all been bark river knives.

 

[Mpw20]

I’ve tried a lot of different knives over the years. Best I found for dressing deer is 3v and Magnacut as far as edge retention goes. I also find a toothy edge is best for me as I think it cuts down on the amount of hair it cuts. No longer into the mirror polished edges.

 

[Flaboy]

I recently picked up a blade from a fella from Instagram named Rob McKibbin that does custom work. The model I picked up is his Backcountry model in S30V. The few steels I know he offers is 20cv, s30v and s90v. They’re pricey but well worth it for his work. Don’t hesitate to message him because he's more than happy to talk and answer any questions. https://www.instagram.com/robmniche

Wonder what happened with the Benchmade Altitude. No longer available. I like mine and the S90V seems to hold an edge very well.

They’re still some out there. BladeHQ and Scheels has some left.

Benchmade 15200ORG Altitude Knife

Designed for backcountry adventure; for the hunter who counts every ounce. The ultimate lightweight hunting knife features the incredible ed SCHEELS

www.scheels.com

Benchmade Altitude Knife Orange + CF 15200ORG - Blade HQ

The Altitude by Benchmade is a minimalist hunting knife with tons of pros and nearly zero cons. This one is orange with carbon fiber micro scales.

www.bladehq.com

I’m really interested in the new Benchmade Flyway.

 

[arlenmyles]

For cutting in joints you probably want thin and narrow from spine to belly. A tough steel would be ideal in a fixed blade to avoid chipping against bone and any torquing motion.

This is a great read.

Knife Steels Rated by a Metallurgist - Toughness, Edge Retention, and Corrosion Resistance - Knife Steel Nerds

Steel Metallurgist Larrin Thomas uses tests of knife steels to rate the steels and explains the factors that control performance.

knifesteelnerds.com

3v would be the toughest, 4v, M4, Cruwear would be better cutters.

Bradford Guardian4 - Fixed Blade Knife | 3V/OD Green Micarta/Stonewash

This Guardian4 model features a stonewashed CPM-3V blade with a saber grind and an od green micarta handle.

www.bladehq.com

LionSteel M1 Fixed Blade Knife Tan Micarta SW M4 - Blade HQ

This LionSteel M1 has a Blade HQ exclusive CPM M4 steel blade! It has a stonewash finish and a natural tan micarta handle. Made in Italy!

www.bladehq.com

I do the opposite; my fixed blade does most of the work processing. My replaceable blade is used for the exterior cuts, blade swapped and then for any joints.

Larrin is the king of knife steels right now! A good knife will be defined by the cornerstone of the steel and it's heat treat!

 

[TheHammer]

I have an Argali carbon, wouldn’t hesitate to purchase another one if needed.

 

[Pony Soldier]

For detail work, I like a small blade about three inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide. My best are Solingen steel. For skinning and cleanup I like Montana made Ruana. I have a RMEF presentation knife that is a little large but it works well and holds a edge.

For touchup work I have a diamond impregnated touchup steel that comes in its own scabbard. I'm not a huge fan of stones but I have 3 or 4. Unless you never carry a pocket knife, it's probably good to learn how to sharpen your knives. It will buy you favor if you can keep the kitchen knives sharp.

 

[Bucsfan69]

Another vote for ESEE 4 for a general purpose camp/hunt knife. I have a Bark river gunny in Elmax I did an elk in the field and was still sharp, but it’s not what I’d consider a heavier duty camp knife