Havalon or Outdoor Edge

[mistertrustee]

Here is my thought, I use these types of knives a lot.
[video=youtube;DtJoeO2Fcjk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtJoeO2Fcjk[/video]

Thanks,
Boswell

Great review! Thanks for being so detailed and demonstrating all the features of each knife. I only have experience with Havalon, however I have had my eye on the OE and Gerber.

Just one quick question...how would you rate these knives when it comes to sharpness? I've heard the OE isn't as sharp as Havalon...would you agree?


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[cowboy300]

Ive used all 3 and the Havalon/Gerber blades are sharper than the OE

 

[Laelkhunter]

The Havalon and Gerber are sharper than the OE, but I think that might be because the blade on the OE is thicker, and I am thinking it can't be honed to the fine edge that Havalon and Gerber can. I have found that since the OE blade is thicker, it will hold the edge longer and won't break as easy. I have not had the blade break on an OE, and I can get through an Elk gutting and skinning job with one blade. For finer trimming (or skinning) the sharper blade of the Gerber makes for quicker work.
I carry the OE on my belt in the pouch daily to use as a utility knife, and replace the blade once a month or so. For hunting the OE is my "go to" knife.

 

[geriggs]

OE, easier to replace blades....new browning speed knives look like a good one too

 

[moeleo]

I'll never be without my havalon. I use it for everything from trout to elk. To boot, I have another one that I keep in the kitchen for when I'm cooking.

 

[couesbitten]

Have used Havalon for years and really like them. However, this year I'm planning to use the Browning Speed Load knife.
Browning Speed Load Knives: ATA 2017 - YouTube

 

[Minnesotamulisha]

Thanks for the video @boudreaux. Very informative and very thorough.

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[Boudreaux]

Great review! Thanks for being so detailed and demonstrating all the features of each knife. I only have experience with Havalon, however I have had my eye on the OE and Gerber.

Just one quick question...how would you rate these knives when it comes to sharpness? I've heard the OE isn't as sharp as Havalon...would you agree?

Thanks for the complement guys!

There is no doubt the OE has the LEAST sharp blades of any of them. I think it appeals to hunter because it looks more and feels more like a more "traditional" knife.

I stopped by the Browning booth at the ATA show and took a look at the new knives as well as talked to them a bit about their knife. I had a few questions of concern for them similar to my issues with the OE. I also asked them about some questions related to disease contamination issues for what I use them for. After handling the knife and talking with them, they are after the same market as the OE, appealing to the more "traditional" knife market. If you have issue with the blades getting stuck on the OE then stay far away from the Browning, they will be just as bad if not worse. The ability to use a box cutter blade is nice, but the knife is pretty big, it would make a good knife for around the house or in the truck. I will say the handle on the ceramic knife was pretty nice, but the replacement ceramic blades will be about 2$ a blade and if you break havalon blades stay away from the ceramic blades.

Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) is coming out with a disposable kit that contains 4 knives (#60 Blade on a ABS plastic handle) that are non replaceable, designed to the thrown away when they get dull, for 20$
Tyto Knives also has a skeleton handle knife that takes the same blades as the havalon and attach the same as a havalon, for those who like skeleton handle knifes.

Thanks,
Boswell

 

[Brodie]

I use a havalon baracuta, never broken a blade and like the fact that I can carry a regular blade, filet blade and saw blade that weigh next to nothing


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[Glendon Mullins]

I have all 3 and prefer the vital over them all, only becuase changing the blade out seems safer than the havalon. both the vital and havalon to me are much sharper than the outdoor edge, dont know why the blades look fine from outdoor edge. i would rate them thre following way:

1. Gerber Vital
2. Havalon
3. Outdoor edge

 

[svivian]

Kershaw also has one called the lonerock I believe similar to the gerber vital.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have been loving the OE and while not as sharp as the Havalon I don't break blades and it is still plenty sharp. Sometimes the Havalon is too sharp and I cut through the hide a lot while skinning in the field.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Still use the Havalon. Never have used anything but my hands to change the blades, and have never broken a blade.

Esse quam videri

 

[5MilesBack]

Sometimes the Havalon is too sharp and I cut through the hide a lot while skinning in the field.

I don't generally have a problem with this on elk, but this year I skinned out two deer and forgot just how thin their hide is compared to an elk. I was slicing through that hide every time I took a swipe. Glad they were does and not trophies.

 

[D_Eightch]

I have had 0 issues with my Outdoor edge, gutted a few white tail this year, and deboned/quarted them out as well.

It takes some maintenance, but keep that groove clean and you should have no issues with the blade.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

It's funny how first impressions really stick in one's mind. I tried an Outdoor Edge knife years ago before they came out with their change a blade system, and they reminded me of Chinese junk with junk steel.

Most of the hunting stuff is 8Cr13MoV which is entry level but not complete garbage, lots of the basic Kershaw knives are in that too (again entry level but not gas station $1 knives). That said there are obviously better knives on the market for sure. I do still use a couple items from outdoor edge though in my hunting: I often have along that zip pro reverse blade folding knife, works slick to make all the skinning slices in a few seconds and then it gets tucked away, very easy to touch back up after that light use. Their folding saw and folding boning knives are still in my kit, nothing special on them versus other brands though. They work for what they are designed for, the boning knife is also easy to touch back up. None of these are must have items, they are convenience pieces.

 

[blackdawg]

I was helping skin a moose with two other guys in September, each one of the knives was represented. I took the opportunity to try each. I felt the havalon was superior for very detailed work, the Gerber was kinda middle of road and the OE was more like the workhorse. I got to evaluate changing of the blades also. I will always carry my Cutco orange handled hunting knife, bombproof fixed blade. When I got Back East I added an OE to my pack, the determining factor for me was ease of blade change. I skinned/quartered parts of 5 whitetails also with only 2 blades. One knife that I carry that also has replaceable blades that really still works great for me is the plastic handled Wyoming knife, I can zip a deer top to bottom, front to back in a split second with that tool.

 

[dotman]

I have both a Havalon Piranha and Outdoor Edge Razor, I prefer the durability of the OE replaceable blades but the changing release button gets packed with meat and fat and won't release the blade without cleaning. While it looks like the OE would be easier to change a blade I found it easier on the Havalon. I found both to be equally sharp and both retain sharpness pretty similarly.

 

[Antlers]

I like the Havalon, especially the Baracuta for moose. BTW - Havalon is now marketing a small, lightweight tool for removing blades.

 

[rayporter]

the weight of the O E means i will leave it out of a pack.

personally i dont find it any easier to change blades on and OE than a havalon, once they are bloody.