Knife Setup

[Ridge Ghost]

I also used to carry a Havalon. It was lightweight and did the job, but I wanted something more durable for popping ivories out and leg joints.

I used an Iron Will knife this year and it did a great job. It is light weight and held an edge long enough to break down an elk without resharpening. I couldn't get used to the thin grip of a skeleton knife so I wrapped the handle in paracord and it feels pretty good.

 

[Mrvrsick]

Then you should get the Benchmade Bugout. I reprofiled mine to a shallower grind this summer. I boned out an entire bull elk this fall with it and it still rough shaved hair on my arm when I was done.
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I tried looking around at your posts, but couldn't see what cartridge you use. Please tell me more.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I tried looking around at your posts, but couldn't see what cartridge you use. Please tell me more.

That's just a 30-06AI, loaded with 168 gr Barnes TTSX.

 

[Billy Goat]

I tried that Buck, and it wouldn't hold an edge for me. I wanted to like it though.

I found that it held an edge pretty decent for the price. It's not as good as others, but works well big you stay off of bone. Also easy to just carry a lightweight swipe sharpener if you have it profiled for it.

I do prefer my bugout tho.

 

[gexpro]

Kestrel mountain scalpel. Caped and boned out my mule on one single blade, very comfortable and I wear it around my neck. So light I don’t even know it’s there..

 

[Cahunter805]

This season I used the Outdoor edge razor lite 3.5 and liked it much more than my havalon especially on elk. Touched up the blade on my sharpener after use and it cleaned up very well.

 

[Elkfitness]

I carry the “free” outdoor edge one you get on occasion from eastmans and also a bark river 4” knife.


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[TX_Diver]

I went to the Iron Will K1 knife. It is LIGHT!!!

At home I love my outdoor edge swingblaze for the zipper function but the K1 knife did great on an elk and will continue to ride in my pack for hunts I think.

 

[Rwillis87]

I will be the first to admit I am over attached to expensive knives, but there are some reasonable options out there. I know someone mentioned boning an elk with a bench made dugout. That is pretty hardcore. However, their hunt series is a great option. Ultimately you will need to balance the steel with your sharpening ability. S110V will hold an edge for ages, but once it goes dull you are up a creek unless you packed your water stones. Something like S30V will give you great sharpness and edge retention, but if it goes dull you can put a sharp edge back on with a ceramic rod. It will be a micro bevel and not as sharp as the edge that was on it, but if you use it at a sensible angle you will still have a hair shaving edge. Check out a Benchmade Steep Country.

 

[Z71&Gun]

What are you lightweight guys and gals using for knifes? I think everyone is packing a havalon these days. I don't personally like the havalon for everything, it gets caught too easy on bones when trimming the rib meat off the ribs or taking the backstraps.

I'd like to carry a knife as well without adding a bunch of weight. I love my Buck 110, Outdoor Edge Swingblade, and some others but they each weigh about half a pound.

Show me your setups! Thanks

I usually carry a kershaw leek everywhere. Dressed a buck with it in October. I actually prefer it to my buck 110 eliye s30v for field dressing. Weighs about 2 oz. It is sharp, the blade is perfectly shaped for precise work, it doesn't cut while skinning like a replaceable blade. I lost it on a duck hunt recently.

For a bigger knife, like for chopping and camp work, I just took the plastic handle pieces off a schrade old timer sharp finger knife. Cut the belt part off the sheath so it's just a blade cover. Now I have a full frame, tried and true hunting knife with leather sheath that weighs about 4 0z. I really really like this setup.

I simetimes also carry a multitool with archery bits, plyers, knife and saw. I'm just not sold on adding it to my kit because it is like 14 oz. with case. I would love to get lighter but this is the lightest plyers, allen, saw combo I know of that actually functions well. Would love some alternate suggestions.

Will eventually replace my leek for the pocket and keep an eye out for a kydex sheeth for the okd timer. The leather is as heavy as the knife.

 

[Z71&Gun]

I made my paring knife sheath out of gorilla tape,cheap and lite.

Careful. That onky protects the edge, won't keep it from puncturing things.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

It’s like three lams of tape folded over with a top section as well,its actually pretty tough.

 

[Beendare]

Oh man, I ran a buck 110 for 2 decades and must have done 200 animals with that thing when doing hog depredation. Its crap steel compared to whats out there now.

I didnt like the Havalon style for multiple reasons....3 to 6 blade changes for an elk...no thanks.

I like a fixed blade over a folder.

My current Benchmade Altitude checks a lot of boxes. I wasnt sure I would like the skeletonized handle but Ive come around to liking it.
Its not as good a feel in your hand....but its so easy to clean and bulletproof.

That S90 v steel is unbelievable. Im on my 3rd or 4th animal since summer and I. A fanatic about a sharp knife....its still super sharp no need for touch up.

The S90v is much better steel than my S30v blades or D2....a little better than Elmax, Maximet

 

[mtwarden]

I agree on the SV90 steel- it’s really (really) good

I’d love to see something along the lines of the Altitude with about 3/4-1” longer blade, wouldn’t add much weight and would be handier for boning larger animals

 

[Western_hunter87]

im rocking benchmade altitude and havalon. I used alitude to skin and quarter 3 pigs without sharpending. Its an incredible knife

 

[bushpilot]

I this year I ran a knives of Alaska featherlite hunter. Did my whole bear, bone out this spring. I also keep my Becker bk14 for a little heavier work in larger critters, weighs 5oz with the sheath. Havalons are good, but I hate the idea of a disposable knife. Both of these knives can do multiple animals on an edge but a 30 second strop is all is needed to bring them back to scary sharpness.

 

[Mulga]

I have just bought a couple of these. They weigh 70 grams without a sheath have a 10cm blade, 22cm overall with a 56HRC blade. What I like about them is they have a full size handle, I find I cramp up with small diameter or skeletonised handled blades.

Victory Knives drop point

 

[mtwarden]

that should do the trick; funny they offer several of their knives in orange, but not this one- I'm sure I'm not the only who has lost a knife at a kill site

 

[sektr]

Second the Izula, I have the stainless version and love it. A bit tougher to sharpen up than 1095 but good edge retention and it’s a sturdy little thing.

 

[Shraggs]

If you can find one of these spyderco bill moran’s pretty light at 3 oz and 4” blade.



a few bark rivers. Second from the left is a great skinner and bone out and caper at 3.25” blade and 2.5 oz. the drop point is 3.25” and 3.3 oz. last on right is great general use, for me boning out or fishing. 3.4” 2.8 oz.