Havalon Baracuta Blaze or Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite

[Hunt'nFish]

Which would you pick and why? I have the Havalon Piranha now, but looking to get a longer version.
For the Baracuta I figured to use the 115XT blades, but don't know what other blade options are avail for it. (blunts, etc.) I know the Piranha has lots of blade options but I don't think the Baracuta does. I suppose I could take blades to the belt sander and blunt them.

I'm really leaning toward the Baracuta, simply because of the weight diff, but was also thinking of nixing the Kershaw folder in my pocket in favor of the Razor and replacing the Piranha in my Kill Kit w/ the Baracuta. But I kinda like the durability of my Kershaw folder (Blackout or Whirlwind) when it comes to knuckling and balling the hip joint. As a mule guy we don't debone completely... more of a modified gutless method where we leave the leg bones meat on.
Thoughts?

Are there other replaceable blade knives I should know about?
Hunt'nFish

 

[Olydog09]

Razor lite looks like a nice option for a bigger skinner.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Havalon is a supporter of Rokslide, so that's something to keep in mind.

Both are great either way.

Which would you pick and why? I have the Havalon Piranha now, but looking to get a longer version.
For the Baracuta I figured to use the 115XT blades, but don't know what other blade options are avail for it. (blunts, etc.) I know the Piranha has lots of blade options but I don't think the Baracuta does. I suppose I could take blades to the belt sander and blunt them.

I'm really leaning toward the Baracuta, simply because of the weight diff, but was also thinking of nixing the Kershaw folder in my pocket in favor of the Razor and replacing the Piranha in my Kill Kit w/ the Baracuta. But I kinda like the durability of my Kershaw folder (Blackout or Whirlwind) when it comes to knuckling and balling the hip joint. As a mule guy we don't debone completely... more of a modified gutless method where we leave the leg bones meat on.
Thoughts?

Are there other replaceable blade knives I should know about?
Hunt'nFish

 

[KMT]

I have only used the havalon, so I can't comment on how it performs compared to the outdoor edge. But I have removed rear legs of elk, separating the ball joint easily with my havalon. I have also removed the bottom part of the front legs at the knee. Again, no problem.

 

[8Crow]

When I was choosing between the two I had a guy at the knife counter at my local Cabela's attempt to remove the blade on a Havalon. He fiddled with it for a while and quickly reached a point where I thought he might slice himself open and stab me in the process, so I asked him to stop. Looking at it with him, I couldn't make out a safer, easier way. Pliers looked like they would help but neither of us had them handy.

They didn't have any of the Razor lites to try, but I ordered one anyway and it really seems to address the things that bothered me about the Havalon...first and foremost, easy, safe blade swaps, and a close second is the channel the blade slides into for rigidity. There is a tiny bit of slop in the blade once it's locked in but not enough that I think it would bother me. Replacement blades are reasonably priced.

On the other hand, I saw where someone else on here said they weren't going to use the Havalons anymore and lots of folks stepped in to defend them. Products without merit generally don't get much of a following, for good reason, so the guys that have figured out how to safely change a blade must really like them. I know they make thicker, stronger blades than they come with if you want to buy something stronger.

Unfortunately I didn't get to use my outdoor edge on an elk this year. It will shave the hair off my arm so it's sharp, but I can't speak for how long it will hold that edge or how easy they'll be to touch up.

 

[MattB]

I have not used the Outdoor Edge product, but really like my Havalon.

It is really easy to safely change blades out on the Havalons by lifting the very back (unsharpened) edge of the blade with the finger nail of your index finger and sliding the blade forward with your other hand. If I could post pics on this site I would, as it would probably cause the light bulb to go on for a lot of guys who are perplexed by this. The only safety-related issue I have had with the Havalons was putting a new blade back on when the knife was gummed up with meat. In a couple of instances it has taken a fair bit of pressure to get the new blade to seat, and I had some concern about snapping the blade.

 

[todd kelly]

When I was choosing between the two I had a guy at the knife counter at my local Cabela's attempt to remove the blade on a Havalon. He fiddled with it for a while and quickly reached a point where I thought he might slice himself open and stab me in the process, so I asked him to stop. Looking at it with him, I couldn't make out a safer, easier way. Pliers looked like they would help but neither of us had them handy.

Here is how I change the blades.


[video=youtube;Eq9sXt9DJRk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq9sXt9DJRk[/video]

 

[MattB]

Thanks for posting that video. That is basically how I do it, although I only use my nail to apply side pressure (I cannot tell if you use the nail or the tip of the index). Either way, it obviously works.

 

[luke moffat]

Nice video Todd. I agree pliers are not needed. Though I use my thumb to push up on the bottom part of the blade in the same location. Whatever works and leaves ya cut free. Never had an incident changing blades...just doesn't seem that hard to me. That said I have been knicked a time or two while skinning...them are sharp little devils!

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

Nice video Todd. I agree pliers are not needed. Though I use my thumb to push up on the bottom part of the blade in the same location. Whatever works and leaves ya cut free. Never had an incident changing blades...just doesn't seem that hard to me. That said I have been knicked a time or two while skinning...them are sharp little devils!

I know of a guy who cut through his thumb nail with a Havalon!

 

[luke moffat]

I know of a guy who cut through his thumb nail with a Havalon!

Doubles as a nail trimmer you say?

Mistakes happen I realize, but I feel the scariness of the havalon is sometimes nearly as blown out of proportion as the scariness of being in grizzly country.

 

[dotman]

OMG Todd you are a dare devil messing with those dangerous Havalon's . I too change my blades that way and never had an issue.

 

[8Crow]

Todd are you a rep for Havalon? I thought maybe I was watching a demo at an outdoors show.

Just kidding. You do make it look stupid easy and I figured there must be a decent way or there wouldn't be so many folks using them. At this point I don't regret buying my razor lite, but I will certainly be less critical of the Havalons going forward.

 

[O'Really]

Doubles as a nail trimmer you say?

Mistakes happen I realize, but I feel the scariness of the havalon is sometimes nearly as blown out of proportion as the scariness of being in grizzly country.

Amen to both, good analogy!!

 

[Aron Snyder]

I do the same thing as Todd shows, but if it's covered in fat/blood/meat, than I'll sometimes use a stick to push the blade up (held between thumb and index finger when doing this), but that's not needed very often.

 

[TRIPLE]

Bear fat is by far the worst. That said, I've used a havalon exclusively on dozens of bears and never had a problem switching blades in the field. (If boning out and saving the cape, I usually use 2 blades per bear)

 

[Buster]

Bear fat is by far the worst. That said, I've used a havalon exclusively on dozens of bears and never had a problem switching blades in the field. (If boning out and saving the cape, I usually use 2 blades per bear)

Followed by coyotes in a close second.

 

[mtswampfox]

love the you tube and like videos. a picture or video is worth a thousand words. you guys make it sound and look so easy. wonder if the same technique is used on the havalon fillet?? to me this looks to be the perfect pan fish knife ie.: bluegills- perch

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Yeah, changing blades on the Piranha has never been an issue for me either. (Nice video though Todd!)

So back to my question about which to put in my Kill Kit........
Between the Baracuta & Razor, I feel the major deciding factor is the weight difference.
So I have to go w/ the lighter of the two, Baracuta make's the grade for the kill kit.

But, I think I'm going to have give the Razor a try as well as general purpose pocket folder.
Thanks, Hunt'nFish

 

[mtnkid85]

Yeah, changing blades on the Piranha has never been an issue for me either. (Nice video though Todd!)

So back to my question about which to put in my Kill Kit........
Between the Baracuta & Razor, I feel the major deciding factor is the weight difference.
So I have to go w/ the lighter of the two, Baracuta make's the grade for the kill kit.

But, I think I'm going to have give the Razor a try as well as general purpose pocket folder.
Thanks, Hunt'nFish

Huntnfish, or any one else reading. Did you ever pickup the Outdoor Edge Razor lite. Compare it to the Barracuda? I see Eastmans is offering the knife for $10 with a Subscription renewal. Its got to be worth 10 dollars eh?