Kestrel Knives - any thoughts?

• Oct 1, 2014

• #1

PintsOfCraft

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These look pretty nice, thinking of ordering one to see one in person. Does anyone have one?

http://www.kestrelknives.com/

 

• Oct 1, 2014

• #2

D

DaveC

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I had a ti Ultralighter. Very well made, and certainly effective within the limits of a ti knife. I passed it along because the limits on how you cut and the flex didn't appeal to me in a fixed blade. Great for processing game; definitely not suitable for splitting kindling.

 

• Oct 2, 2014

• #3

chiefhoyt

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I have the ultra lighter and used it side by side the havalon this year on my buck. I much preferred the Kestrel to the havalon. I like a little more backbone when butchering an animal.

I have used it on 3 animals so far and have been very impressed. Its coming to oregon with me for my next hunt this weekend.

 

• Oct 7, 2014

• #4

BlackWidowTackle

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They are great knifes, I can't rave about them enough! You cant go wrong with them.

 

• Oct 28, 2014

• #5

AK Troutbum

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Copied from a post I made a couple weeks ago.

Earlier this year I purchased two knives from Kestrel. I got a titanium skinner and a stainless steel caper. I used both of these for the first time last week on a goat hunt, and cleaned two goats with them. We skinned both with the skinner and then broke both down with the caper. I also used the caper to split lips, and turn the ears and nose. I am totally sold on these knives, they feel good in the hand, are unbelievably light, and stayed super sharp through both animals. I'm sure I will be able to clean more game before they will need to be resharpened. Anyone in the market for a super high quality, light weight knife, I'm sure would be extremely happy with Kestrel.

 

• Oct 29, 2014

• #6

A

alukban

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How do you go about sharpening a Ti knife?

If they can process multiple animals, are they super hard?

I thought Ti was soft.

I am missing something...

 

• Oct 29, 2014

• #7

M

mtswampfox

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not sure of this either. have the ti with carbide edge. different for sure. been edc for a while and like it.

 

• Oct 29, 2014

• #8

AK Troutbum

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alukban said:

How do you go about sharpening a Ti knife?

If they can process multiple animals, are they super hard?

I thought Ti was soft.

I am missing something...

Click to expand...

Titanium is softer then stainless steel, and from my understanding, the way that you sharpen the ti knives is with fine grade sandpaper. Somebody told me once how to do it, and I can't remember how it was explained to me. If you have a Kestrel knife that needs to be resharpen, Nathan will do it free of charge, or he'll explain how to do it if you don't want to send it back. I think it's a pretty easy process though.

 

• Oct 29, 2014

• #9

tipsntails7

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I still have one of his early ones around somewhere, I rember on the carbide impregnated ones you are only suppose to sharpen one side, and it is suppose to sand away the TI and reveal more carbide. Really really easy to field sharpen. I never liked not getting it to feel really sharp, even though it broke down game fine. I replaced it with a havalon so it has not seen the field in a while. The owner is a Stand up guy though and is really really friendly and helpful.

 

• Oct 30, 2014

• #10

A

alukban

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tipsntails7 said:

I still have one of his early ones around somewhere, I rember on the carbide impregnated ones you are only suppose to sharpen one side, and it is suppose to sand away the TI and reveal more carbide. Really really easy to field sharpen. I never liked not getting it to feel really sharp, even though it broke down game fine. I replaced it with a havalon so it has not seen the field in a while. The owner is a Stand up guy though and is really really friendly and helpful.

Click to expand...

Interesting!

I may have to get one just to play with

 

• Oct 30, 2014

• #11

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camelcluch

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I have the Ti and I believe you only sharpen the one side. I just used it on a whitetail and it cut through like butter. So far a I like the knife but we will see about the resharpening aspect. Very good knife for the money.

 

• Oct 30, 2014

• #12

AK Troutbum

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camelcluch said:

I have the Ti and I believe you only sharpen the one side. I just used it on a whitetail and it cut through like butter. So far a I like the knife but we will see about the resharpening aspect. Very good knife for the money.

Click to expand...

This is true, you only resharpen the titanium side of the blade. If at any point in time the impregnated carbide deteriorates for any reason, you can send it back to Kestrel and Nathan will re-impregnate the carbide side.

 

• Dec 11, 2014

• #13

jherald

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Kestrel Ti Knife Sharpening by Nathan Creech here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DpuRyVRlBk&index=1&list=FLbPkmUB4xpQsWjNvMyLcq6A

I think a super fine grit diamond flat stone would work as well on a backpacking trip, like what you would use for broadheads. It would be lightweight and fit in a pocket easy. Like this http://www.dmtsharp.com/sharpeners/pocket-models/dia-sharp/

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2014

• Dec 11, 2014

• #14

AK Troutbum

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Cool. Thanks for posting this Jerry.