Hunting Knife Recommendations

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  • illini40

    Sharpshooter
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    1   0   0
    Nov 28, 2010
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    Hi INGO

    What recommendations can you provide on hunting knives?

    - Primary focus would be for deer hunting
    - Prefer fixed blade over folding
    - Would like a sheath with it
    - Open to two knives if a larger fixed blade paired with a smaller skinning knife is suggested
    - More of a traditional knife style/design preferred
    - Would like to stay under $50/knife
    - Gut hook is intriguing

    Outside of folders, I only currently have a cheaper Buck fixed blade (I believe the Bucklite brand).

    Appreciate your thoughts.
     

    dak109

    Expert
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    5   0   0
    Jun 26, 2009
    1,184
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    Brown County
    If you're not looking for an heirloom, check out Morakniv. I got a Companion last year and it is quickly becoming my go to for field dressing. Super sharp from the factory. Fit and finish leaves a lot to the imagination. $10-15 on Amazon I think.
    For skinning I still prefer a Buck. I don't remember the model off the top of my head. It sucks for field dressing but really shines for skinning.
    if you are wanting something to pass down, disregard the above.
     

    bdybdall

    Expert
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    0   0   0
    Jun 11, 2012
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    Buck 102, 105, or 118 are all good knives appropriately sized for use on deer sized game. Also, they are American made.
     

    illini40

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    Nov 28, 2010
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    If you're not looking for an heirloom, check out Morakniv. I got a Companion last year and it is quickly becoming my go to for field dressing. Super sharp from the factory. Fit and finish leaves a lot to the imagination. $10-15 on Amazon I think.
    For skinning I still prefer a Buck. I don't remember the model off the top of my head. It sucks for field dressing but really shines for skinning.
    if you are wanting something to pass down, disregard the above.

    Thanks for the reminder in Moras. I have one somewhere, but had not considered it for hunting.

    For skinning, how large/small of a knife do you recommend?
     

    chezuki

    Human
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    48   0   0
    Mar 18, 2009
    34,151
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    Behind Bars
    ESEE Ashley Game Knife

    ESEE-AGK.jpg
     

    Jaybird1980

    Grandmaster
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    Jan 22, 2016
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    North Central
    From a price standpoint, the Schrade skinner (1520) is a decent buy. For the money its a competitor!!


    IMG-20201110-085323048-HDR.jpg


    I've had this one over 20 years but I bet they are still under 20 bucks. The tip is a little sharp and I was gonna reshape it some, but I just learned to be careful gutting. The gut hook definitely didn't work good on the one I tried
     
    Rating - 100%
    28   0   0
    Oct 3, 2008
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    On a hill in Perry C
    Mora is a good choice for a cheap but good knife. Not real durable but for as little as they cost, who cares if they break if you're doing something you shouldn't with one. If you don't mind spending a few more $ take a look at J. Marttiini knives. I use their Condor drop point as a general use hunting knife and the Martef skinning knife as my field dressing/skinner.
    You don't need a Bowie to field dress or skin a deer, both Marttiinis I mention above are less than 4.5" long, and the skinning knife would work fine, maybe even better, even if it was an inch shorter.
     

    sugarcreekbrass

    Expert
    Industry Partner
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    26   0   0
    Mar 29, 2015
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    West central
    I used to use a Schrade with a gut hook. It works but doesn't keep an edge very long. I have used a Gerber Gator folder for 20 years and it does well. My brother has the fixed version. Outdoor Edge also makes good stuff. I have their processing kit and also haved a skinner/caper combo that comes with a sheath.
     

    dak109

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    Jun 26, 2009
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    Brown County
    Thanks for the reminder in Moras. I have one somewhere, but had not considered it for hunting.

    For skinning, how large/small of a knife do you recommend?
    I use a Buck 673 for skinning. 3" blade 7" overall length.
    I had skinned with my 110 for years. I picked up the 673 wanting to try a fixed blade with a different shape. Field dressed one deer with the 673 and went back to the 110. Tried a 112 once and found it a little too small.
    Tried the Mora last year and think I might keep the 110 in reserve. The carbon companion just works that well for me.
     

    dak109

    Expert
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    Jun 26, 2009
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    Brown County
    Mora is a good choice for a cheap but good knife. Not real durable but for as little as they cost, who cares if they break if you're doing something you shouldn't with one. If you don't mind spending a few more $ take a look at J. Marttiini knives. I use their Condor drop point as a general use hunting knife and the Martef skinning knife as my field dressing/skinner.
    You don't need a Bowie to field dress or skin a deer, both Marttiinis I mention above are less than 4.5" long, and the skinning knife would work fine, maybe even better, even if it was an inch shorter.
    As inexpensive as the Mora's are it might not even be worth sharpening them.
     

    PatriotX

    Marksman
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    6   0   0
    Apr 6, 2014
    146
    28
    Michiana
    My skinning experience is nowhere near what many here have, but I’ve found a gut hook to be more useful for anything but the guts. ;)

    Taking into account your budget, you may wish to consider an older, used Schrade Old Timer as pictured above. The new ones are made overseas.

    Paired with a Green River-patterned larger knife for the rest of camp duties, vintage or newer, and you have 2 USA-made knives within budget.
     
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