I would highly recommend looking at something like an Esee Izula or Izula 2.
https://www.bladehq.com/cat--ESEE-Izula--880#/sort:price_sort_asc:asc
The Izula II is designed to be the perfect lightweight survival kit or concealed carry knife, and you can get yours at Blade HQ.
www.bladehq.com
They are cerakoted, so totally rust resistant. The 1095 steel is strong and won't chip, but still holds a great edge and is easy to sharpen in the field. And they are super lightweight (I carry mine as a neck knife), and cheap enough that you won't be totally heartbroken if you accidentally leave it at a carcass.
Sorry for my longwinded reply...
Funny, the Esee Izula is the fixed blade I currently have, haha. Different strokes for different folks I guess. I think maybe its the shape of the blade for me more than anything. I like it for a knife, camp knife, edc knife, etc, I've just never really liked it once I'm working inside an animal. And I felt like it dulled too fast? But, I'm hard on everything and certainly not the best blade sharpener either - so it totally could be user error.
Appreciate the feedback on the altitude. I'm surprised it is that brittle and chips? Everyone raves about Benchmade products so i guess i'm surprised to hear they would put something out like that. I'd been leaning towards that one originally but that Kestrel has had my eye for the past year.
Maybe the Kestrel's the way to go. It uses S90V so hardness and price point both fall between the Izula and the Altitude....
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Oh man now I feel bad haha! My bad! I'm not surprised you felt like it dulled fast, it's a softer steel which is why the blade doesn't chip. Instead, it rolls, so you should be able to touch it up super fast!
The chipping thing isn't as much a Benchmade problem (though, in the knife community, Benchmade is known for having inconsistent heat treats from time to time and iffy quality control relative to other brands) as it is a steel issue. S90V is just way too hard for an application where it will potentially come into contact with other hard surfaces. If you NEVER touch it to anything but fat and hide, it'll most likely last an elk and a couple of mule deer before it needs sharpening. But if it ever comes in contact with a bone, it could be a bad day. It's just so hard that it breaks instead of rolling or flattening. Additionally, if you're not a great sharpener, S90V will take you sooooooooooooooo long to sharpen effectively, especially if there's a chip in the blade. Not ideal on the mountain!
Esee makes a few of their larger fixed blades (not giant, but the next size up from the Izula) in S35VN blade steel. S35VN is much improved over S30V or even S90V as far as toughness. It'll be easier to sharpen, and it'll be much more stable in the off chance you come into contact with some bone. It should roll and not break. One of my main everyday carry knives (Spyderco PM2) is S35VN, and I touch the edge up in about 10 seconds roughly every 6 weeks. I've used it on elk, food, and everything in between, and it's a great steel!
https://www.bladehq.com/?search=esee+s35vn
I honestly may be crazy, I have a different view of these things because of the fact that I am in the knife world. So I tend to potentially make a bigger deal of things than they actually are. But, from a knife guy's perspective, knowing what I know about heat treats and blade steel makeup, S90V is one of the few steels I wouldn't want in the elk woods. I've seen tips break easily and edges chip out to the point where the knife needs to go back for warranty work. If that happens in the dark on the hill, doesn't matter how great the warranty is if you can't finish cutting up the elk!
