Switching knives havalon to fixed??

[fisherman983]

Has anyone made the switch from havalon or any other replaceable blade system to a fixed blade and regretted it?

I've been pretty happy with my havalon for the past 8+ years. Put a benchmade altitude in my pack as an extra just in case knife. And never have used it.

I see for argali carbon is pretty sweet and the new black one looks cooler.

Would I regret ditching the havalon?
I really like not ever having to sharpen a blade

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

I carry both. Either a benchmade steep country or altitude and a Tyto finisher ti. With 3 blades the Tyto doesn’t weight more than an ounce and also doesn’t take up space in my kill kit. I’m opposite from you where I use the Benchmades most of the time, but I use the tyto enough to keep both in my pack.

And yeah the new argali black/orange carbon and serac looks pretty nice.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Another vote for both. I like a havalon or replacable for 95% of game prep and a bigger blade for 95% of everything else I do in the woods. Vavalon stays in my kill kit and to me it is worth the extra weight.

 

[5MilesBack]

I switch back and forth while breaking down an animal.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I carry both. I've lost enough knives throughout the years that I always start out with two on me.

 

[MuleyFever]

I carry a Havalon and an Outdoor Edge. The Havalon is nice but blades break. The Outdoor Edge is very durable. I was carrying a regular folding knife with the Havalon but switched to the Outdoor Edge.

 

[SDHNTR]

Both. Always a place for both.

 

[roosiebull]

Has anyone made the switch from havalon or any other replaceable blade system to a fixed blade and regretted it?

I've been pretty happy with my havalon for the past 8+ years. Put a benchmade altitude in my pack as an extra just in case knife. And never have used it.

I see for argali carbon is pretty sweet and the new black one looks cooler.

Would I regret ditching the havalon?
I really like not ever having to sharpen a blade

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

Havalons (I’m using tyto now) are so small and light you don’t need to ditch it, just try using a fixed only this year and see how you like it

I have tried, I have an altitude, and thought it would be a good solution, but I can’t get through a whole elk with it without sharpening… and if you let it get dull you are screwed, you need to maintain the edge while you work

I have had intentions of switching, but they are just a handy tool. My favorite fixed blade is a Dalstrong shogun series paring knife, the blade steel is incredible, holds an edge really well and comes back much easier… that being said, when meat hits the ground, the tyto is doing the heavy lifting, they just work

 

[roosiebull]

Both. Always a place for both.

I am with you, I carry both.. I actually pack 2 fixed and my tyto

 

[RADunfee]

Both. In my kill kit I have an outdoor edge with blades but I also carry an ESEE AGK for heavier duty stuff.

 

[Adventurfreak]

Both for me as well. I always keep an outdoor edge in my bino harness. I use it for 90% of the cutting and use my bench made grizzly for the rest

 

[Maki35]

I own several hunting knives that I sometimes rotate.
If you like the Argali carbon buy it and try it out. And continue to carry the Benchmade altitude or the havalon as backup.
But if you don't like sharping knives, stick with the havalon.

 

[Super tag]

I ditched the havalon and started carrying the Benchmade Saddle Mt Skinner with gut hook, never really liked the knives with the replaceable blades as well as the fixed blade.

 

[Mike Islander]

I used my Steep Country on two deer in one day last year. Not a conscious "switch" , just what I decided to carry that trip. I was very happy with the knife's performance. Haven't carried the Outdoor Edge again since. It's an excellent knife, so I would not say I won't bring it on a future trip. I always bring my Bugout too, so plenty of redundancy.

 

[Blackdog317]

Switched to a Benchmade Steep Country and have no regrets. The full grip and durability is better for me, especially in cold weather. I will touch it up to keep the edge - half way thru an elk (whether it needs it or not). Gives me a chance to rest and really helps to keep the edge razor sharp. I also upgraded my pocket knife to Benchmade Mini Osborne... just in case.

I like the replaceable blades knives. Used a Havalon for years. But, I don't miss the broken blades, changing to a new blade with bloody, wet hands and packing the used blades out to throw away.

 

[Decker9]

One tiny slip with a havalon can be a big problem, Iv since went full hard knife (customs), no looking back for me.

 

[sndmn11]

One tiny slip with a havalon can be a big problem, Iv since went full hard knife (customs), no looking back for me.

Are your customs not sharp enough to also be a problem when you cut yourself? A sharp edge is a sharp edge regardless of if it's on a $500 custom or from a 50 pack of Milwaukee utility razors.

 

[ThatredneckguyJamie]

both for sure...and for the fixed I also like a gut hook

 

[Decker9]

Are your customs not sharp enough to also be a problem when you cut yourself? A sharp edge is a sharp edge regardless of if it's on a $500 custom or from a 50 pack of Milwaukee utility razors.

No I totally agree, I definitely have better control with full knives though over the havalons.

I think they still have their place, I use them for skinning in trapping season and often have one in base camp if I’m mountain hunting. But as my main knives for diving into a whole animal, I don’t have any regrets about moving from the havalons.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

I've been carrying 2 Havalons, the Piranta & Baracuta. I like this setup minus the how easy the blades break on the piranta. This fall i'm going to try the gerber EBS along with the havalon baracuta. I would like to try a benchmade or argali but can justify spending that much money on something I'm going to loose.