Steep Country vs Saddle Mountain, help me decide?

[Igloo]

Really interested in hearing from anyone who has used both. Does one really offer any advantage over the other?

Specifically, does the more expensive Saddle Mountain Skinner really let you do anything or make life easier in some way than the Steep Country?

It certainly looks cooler to me, and we all know that counts but...curious to hear what you think if you've used both!

 

[WeiserBucks]

Don't like either one. Take a look at Argali knives if you want to support a hunting company.

 

[Igloo]

Don't like either one. Take a look at Argali knives if you want to support a hunting company.

Really dont feel like spending $300+ on a knife I can't see and hold in person first but thanks. Believe it or not I wanted to hear thoughts between the two benchmade knives lol

What don't you like about them?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Handles suck, blade shape and steel suck. You can get a good knife for way less than $300.

 

[Igloo]

Handles suck, blade shape and steel suck. You can get a good knife for way less than $300.

You sure can, but its what the Argali Carbon would cost by the time it got here too.

 

[bigunit]

Steep country will do everything you need. I find the saddle mountain skinner to me more of a camp knife then one id want to pack around.

 

[WBT]

I have both of them and prefer the smaller steep country knife.

 

[Igloo]

Steep country will do everything you need. I find the saddle mountain skinner to me more of a camp knife then one id want to pack around.

Right on, thanks. So when it comes to using on actual game...no real advantage?

Its been years since I gutted/field dressed a moose, and either is definitely more than enough for deer. Was curious what you guys would say in terms of bigger animals etc. Was there something it made life easier on or...

Handle shape, blade shape etc seems pretty subjective, but does the steel "suck"?

 

[WeiserBucks]

You sure can, but its what the Argali Carbon would cost by the time it got here too.

Are you paying next day air shipping to Antarctica?

 

[bigunit]

I wouldn't think so. But to be fair Ive never used the saddle mountain on game. I have used the steep country on game up to moose and it's performed quite well. Never felt i wanted a bigger blade.

 

[Igloo]

Are you paying next day air shipping to Antarctica?

Canada

I wouldn't think so. But to be fair Ive never used the saddle mountain on game. I have used the steep country on game up to moose and it's performed quite well. Never felt i wanted a bigger blade.

Right on, thanks!

 

[bigunit]

Right on, thanks. So when it comes to using on actual game...no real advantage?

Its been years since I gutted/field dressed a moose, and either is definitely more than enough for deer. Was curious what you guys would say in terms of bigger animals etc. Was there something it made life easier on or...

Handle shape, blade shape etc seems pretty subjective, but does the steel "suck"?

S30v is a fine steel for a hunting blade. Just try not to touch bone and cut from hide side out and the edge will last. Also not impossible to sharpen.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I'm not familiar with Canada or anything associated with it. Good luck man.

 

[Igloo]

I'm not familiar with Canada or anything associated with it. Good luck man.

The money is worth less and the shipping costs more is what it comes down to haha. I really wish I could go to a big box store like Bass Pro and handle an Argali knife, I would.

Thanks, appreciate the feedback

S30v is a fine steel for a hunting blade. Just try not to touch bone and cut from hide side out and the edge will last. Also not impossible to sharpen.

Thank you!

 

[LaHunter]

Used both on elk. The Saddle Mtn Skinner was better for me. The larger blade seemed to work better. The Steep Country did well also, just maybe not quite as good. I like both. The Steep Country being smaller is easy to work with. Handles on both are fairly thin, which is fine with me. Both being S30V steel sharpen fairly easily and hold an edge well as long as you don’t try cutting a lot of hair.

 

[Igloo]

Used both on elk. The Saddle Mtn Skinner was better for me. The larger blade seemed to work better. The Steep Country did well also, just maybe not quite as good. I like both. The Steep Country being smaller is easy to work with. Handles on both are fairly thin, which is fine with me. Both being S30V steel sharpen fairly easily and hold an edge well as long as you don’t try cutting a lot of hair.

Ah, yes. I take it thats what bigunit was saying about cutting from the hide side out too. If you could only have one then, it would be the Saddle Mtn?

BTW if anyone else prefers the Argali, would like hearing about what you like about it and why too.

 

[Agross]

Never had the SMS but had the steep country for a minute. Never used it on an animal, just didn’t like how narrow the handle was. Didn’t like it so I didn’t use it and sold it.

 

[RADunfee]

Personally not a fan of Benchmade when there are better knives, for way less money. You get what you pay for but you also pay for things you don't get. I like White River and Knives of Alaska for intended hunting and skinning knives.

 

[LaHunter]

Ah, yes. I take it thats what bigunit was saying about cutting from the hide side out too. If you could only have one then, it would be the Saddle Mtn?

BTW if anyone else prefers the Argali, would like hearing about what you like about it and why too.

I guess if I had to pick only 1 of the 2 knives, it would probably be the Saddle Mtn Skinner.
And yes, cutting through hair, especially on elk (at least the few I have been involved with) is about like cutting dirt. There is literally pounds of dirt dried into the hair of a bull elk. It will dull most any blade fairly quickly.

 

[Gmr777]

Ah, yes. I take it thats what bigunit was saying about cutting from the hide side out too. If you could only have one then, it would be the Saddle Mtn?

BTW if anyone else prefers the Argali, would like hearing about what you like about it and why too.

I, like you, was looking at the same Benchmade options a couple years ago until reading about Argali knives on here. Argali is local to me so went that direction after reading all the great reviews and feedback and really glad I did. Went with the serac and it’s been a great knife. Fit, function, weight, edge retention are all really good. The clip they sell for the sheath is very compatible with different setups. I have mine attached right to my bino harness. Only other knife I’d personally look at is the Dixie zipper if I was ever going to add to the collection.