What knife

maverick351

Lil-Rokslider
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Jul 16, 2014
Messages
268
I'm looking for an all purpose hunting, camp, and everything back country knife. I'm not interested in a Havalon. What do you guy's use and what would your recommend?
 
The Benchmade Skinner looks like a winner to me. Made in USA of good stuff. Well designed, light, and plenty big for most tasks.

http://hunt.benchmade.com/product.aspx

I really like that knife and would get one but am happy with what I have. I use an old Schrade lock-blade folding knife and a Ruana Steelhead model. It is a fixed blade with about a 3.5" blade.
 
I know you said your not interested in a Havalon but maybe you haven't seen the new Titan. Its a double blade folder with a flick lock blade on one end and the replaceable surgical blade on the other. Also has a removable pocket clip. I haven't tried one but looks perfect for an all around knife.
 
Have spent way too much money on knives :)
In prolly the 100+ I have ran in to:

Favorite hunting - Bark River Rising Wolf or Bark river Gunny
Favorite all around - Bark river Gunny/ESEE 4
Favorite woods knife - Bark River Camp and Trail
Favorite "Survival" knife - ESEE 6
Best buy - Mora

Would not feel bad if I was hunting with any one of them.

So many blades... so little time :(

With what you stated as your requirements, I would recommend the Gunny. If it seems too small then the camp and trail... great knife and super light for size. Still hard to go wrong with a Mora tho :)
 
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Check out some of the battle horse knives. They are sweet,handmade in the U.S., and usually have some kind of monthly specials. I'm not a big fan of the Havalon and Outdoor edge stuff myself. Different strokes for different folks🏻
 
I like my customs but my EDC is a Gossman. He doesn't take orders so it's kind of hit or miss waiting for him to churn out something that you want in the right steel. He seems to prefer thicker knives while I prefer thinner blades so sometimes it's a wait.
 
Bark river knife and tool.

Semi custom knives made in Michigan. Convex ground blades in all kinds of great steel. I myself prefer their a2 steel for a field knife, as it's easy to touch up. Sharpening a convex grind is a little different, but I find it easier to get a very sharp knife with the convex grind.

Scary sharp blades, hair shaving sharp. Many styles to choose from in a variety of steel. Worth a look.

I own a number of their kitchen knives. A small blade, bird and trout knife and I just acquired a more do it all knife for the field.


I'm not a havalon fan either. My bark river knives are just as scary sharp as my havalon knives though :)

If you want to save a little bit. I usually order from dlt trading, if you call and haggle they will give you another 10% off.
 
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Best non havalon I have is a Cutco drop point. Can't re-sharpen it yourself but Cutco does it for 6 bucks or something and forever warranty on them. I've done at least 6 deer and a bear with mine and it's still as sharp as when I got it. The moras are really nice for the money. My brother uses them for constuction/electrical and swears by them.
 
I know you said your not interested in a Havalon but maybe you haven't seen the new Titan. Its a double blade folder with a flick lock blade on one end and the replaceable surgical blade on the other. Also has a removable pocket clip. I haven't tried one but looks perfect for an all around knife.

I saw it in person over the weekend, its double or triple the size of a piranta
 
I consider myself a knife connoisseur. As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure I have a knife fetish. I own lots of knives, some customer, some quality production, and others that I just plain liked. This year I bought my first of the disposable blade knives, and it wasn't easy. I actually felt bad about it. I will be using the Piranta by Havalon for my elk season this year. I just couldn't argue with the weight reduction and ability to have a razor sharp edge all the time. Hope it works out. We will see.
 
I consider myself a knife connoisseur. As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure I have a knife fetish. I own lots of knives, some customer, some quality production, and others that I just plain liked. This year I bought my first of the disposable blade knives, and it wasn't easy. I actually felt bad about it. I will be using the Piranta by Havalon for my elk season this year. I just couldn't argue with the weight reduction and ability to have a razor sharp edge all the time. Hope it works out. We will see.

Another one bites the dust... My knife brethren are leaving me:(

Whats your knife kit weight?
 
I recently purchased a Kershaw Skinning Knife when Camofire had them on a sale for around $20. I got the orange handled one as I've lost a knife or two after setting them down and forgetting them... It may be a little on the small side for some camp chores but for all around purposes it's a great little knife. Kershaw offers free lifetime sharpening (you pay shipping to them, they pay shipping back to you) with their knives, although I haven't yet used that service. It came very sharp out of the box and I've just touched it up a few times. Again, I haven't cut up an animal with it yet so I can't speak to how well it works there but I think it should work pretty well. I made a kydex sheath for mine so I can hang it from the shoulder strap of my pack and it works great. If I don't have it on a pack I can wear it as a neck knife. Weighs in at 2.45 Oz. without the sheath, I haven't weighed it yet with the new kydex sheath. I'm sure some of the other knives mentioned above are probably higher quality, but for the price I'm really impressed with this thing.
 
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Another one bites the dust... My knife brethren are leaving me:(

Whats your knife kit weight?

I haven't weighed it yet, but it's light. What I failed to mention is that I'm leaving all/any sharpening devises at the truck and replacing that weight with the Piranta. I'm still going to bring another "real" knife. I have always been brought up to always have a decent knife in the wilderness, and always will.
 
I haven't weighed it yet, but it's light. What I failed to mention is that I'm leaving all/any sharpening devises at the truck and replacing that weight with the Piranta. I'm still going to bring another "real" knife. I have always been brought up to always have a decent knife in the wilderness, and always will.

Ok I can see that making more sense... I agree... always will have a decent knife with me. Never know when you may have to make a fire, quick shelter etc.

I carry a flexxx pocket strop... very lightweight for sharpening... a couple sheets of sandpaper weigh next to nothing as well.
 
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