mcseal2
WKR
- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 2,672
I see there have been a lot of knife posts on lately. I figured I had some time I might as well add one more. I had my favorites out today making sure they didn't have any rust, and that they were all in good shape before a lot of them go in the safe until fall. I like to oil them and make sure the edges are perfect, make sure nothing needs to go to the factory this time of year.
These are my favorites top to bottom, and why I like them.
Blind Horse Pathfinder Scout in O1 steel (currently made as Battle Horse Scout Platoon):
This is a bigger knife with a blade a little over 5" that just feels smaller and handier than it's size in use. I can do finer tasks with it pretty well and it skins great with it's big belly. It just fits my hand well for the small jobs while being plenty big for large ones. It's not a knife I carry a lot hunting but I carry it some on scouting or camping trips. If I want to have one tool I can abuse it's a good one. It weighs about 19oz with the kydex/leather sheath and a firesteel. Heavy, but a good knife.
Benchmade Bushcrafter in S30V: I really don't love the feel of this knife. It made the picture because it is in the canvas sheath with my GB small forest axe and folding bow saw I always have in the UTV or truck on hunting trips.
Bark River Bravo Hunter LT in 3V:
This knife has held up to all the abuse I've been able to put it through and is a handy size. I find my favorite knives tend to have blades around 4.5". It's not my favorite knife to process game with, but it is certainly capable. It works pretty well just not quite as well as a couple of the others. The Convex edge really slices well for a knife this thick. It goes on a lot of fishing and scouting trips when I don't want to pack the bigger Pathfinder knife.
Bob Dozier Pro Guides knife in D2:
This knife has been growing on me the more I use it. In October I liked it but didn't love it processing a couple muleys. Since I got the edge a little smoother and less "toothy" and I've liked it a lot more. It has a great sheath and holds an edge really well. It's my second favorite game knife and not far behind the first.
Bark River Classic Clip Point Hunter in 3V:
My current favorite. I haven't found much I don't like about it. The Convex edge slices awesome and it holds an edge really well. One of us was always using it cutting up the 2 moose and it did great. My only hold-up on it is that I don't know that I can sharpen it long term on the ceramic rod I use in the field without screwing up the convex edge. I sharpen it at home on a strop with some Bark River compound, but in the field when it's all bloody I like to just use the ceramic rod. I might have to send it to the factory every so often if I keep doing that to get the edge convexed again. So far it's been fine.
Benchmade Altitude:
It isn't my favorite for anything but caping. It's a darn good little knife capable of doing big jobs, and light enough it goes along as my back-up a lot. I'm getting new scales for the handle that hopefully fit my hand better and make me like it more.
Not pictured is the ZT 452CF folder that I carry a lot for work or on trips and also like. As more of the pants I wear hunting have built in belts it gets more use. I'll put up a pic with it below. It's a nice knife, light for it's size and with good S35VN steel.
These are my favorites top to bottom, and why I like them.
Blind Horse Pathfinder Scout in O1 steel (currently made as Battle Horse Scout Platoon):
This is a bigger knife with a blade a little over 5" that just feels smaller and handier than it's size in use. I can do finer tasks with it pretty well and it skins great with it's big belly. It just fits my hand well for the small jobs while being plenty big for large ones. It's not a knife I carry a lot hunting but I carry it some on scouting or camping trips. If I want to have one tool I can abuse it's a good one. It weighs about 19oz with the kydex/leather sheath and a firesteel. Heavy, but a good knife.
Benchmade Bushcrafter in S30V: I really don't love the feel of this knife. It made the picture because it is in the canvas sheath with my GB small forest axe and folding bow saw I always have in the UTV or truck on hunting trips.
Bark River Bravo Hunter LT in 3V:
This knife has held up to all the abuse I've been able to put it through and is a handy size. I find my favorite knives tend to have blades around 4.5". It's not my favorite knife to process game with, but it is certainly capable. It works pretty well just not quite as well as a couple of the others. The Convex edge really slices well for a knife this thick. It goes on a lot of fishing and scouting trips when I don't want to pack the bigger Pathfinder knife.
Bob Dozier Pro Guides knife in D2:
This knife has been growing on me the more I use it. In October I liked it but didn't love it processing a couple muleys. Since I got the edge a little smoother and less "toothy" and I've liked it a lot more. It has a great sheath and holds an edge really well. It's my second favorite game knife and not far behind the first.
Bark River Classic Clip Point Hunter in 3V:
My current favorite. I haven't found much I don't like about it. The Convex edge slices awesome and it holds an edge really well. One of us was always using it cutting up the 2 moose and it did great. My only hold-up on it is that I don't know that I can sharpen it long term on the ceramic rod I use in the field without screwing up the convex edge. I sharpen it at home on a strop with some Bark River compound, but in the field when it's all bloody I like to just use the ceramic rod. I might have to send it to the factory every so often if I keep doing that to get the edge convexed again. So far it's been fine.
Benchmade Altitude:
It isn't my favorite for anything but caping. It's a darn good little knife capable of doing big jobs, and light enough it goes along as my back-up a lot. I'm getting new scales for the handle that hopefully fit my hand better and make me like it more.
Not pictured is the ZT 452CF folder that I carry a lot for work or on trips and also like. As more of the pants I wear hunting have built in belts it gets more use. I'll put up a pic with it below. It's a nice knife, light for it's size and with good S35VN steel.
knives. 
