Hunting knives

[SAR]

I’ve been using a Gerber for the past several years but struggle getting it sharp, grated I’m not the best knife sharpener in the woods. What brands of knives are easy to sharpen? I like the idea of the Havalon but hear the blades break easily.

 

[sjsmallfield]

All I pack anymore is a Havalon and a Kershaw gut hook. If you are concerned about the weak blades you should look into one of their new models that have a thicker blade. For me I've never had a problem with breaking a blade but I do know a few people that have. As long as you don't try to use the blade on the Havalon for prying I don't think you will have any problems. Good luck!

 

[Musket Man]

I have a KA-BAR skinning knife that has done all my skinning for over 10 years. It sharpens pretty easy and holds an edge well too. It will stay sharp longer then my cousins $100+ knives of alaska skinner and I think it cost about $35 when I bought it.

 

[NVbowhnter]

I use benchmade's. They have awesome craftsmanship, and their steel is awesom! I have gutted a deer and have not had to sharpen it! I sharpen it once a season.

 

[nvarcher]

Go to the Havalon, great to always have an extremely sharp blade in seconds. All we use is that and a Gerber bone saw...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I use Blade Tech. They hold a blade very well and not to tough to sharpen. I have a Havalon and don't care for it much. It works great for face capeing.

 

[Old Hunter]

I've used a Buck 110 since the 70's. I can't even remember what I used before that.

I've been thinking of buying the new Outdoor Edge Swingblade. The new one has changeable blades like the Havalon, except they're thick and shouldn't break..

 

[Drhorsepower]

Havalon believer here as well. One knife and 8 extra blades weighs in around 3 oz. or so. Way lighter( and sharper) than any other knife/knife sharpener I used to carry.

You can cape, quarter, and debone a deer with 3-4 blades.

 

[hardstalk]

Ive done several animals with the havalon this season. Every person who viewed the "clean up" had to have one! I carry mine as a pocket knife daily. The blades are not as weak as you imagine once you get a feel for them there actually pretty handy as far as malleable. Last year I carried a damascus blade knife and it was shaving hair on my arm before my kill. I assumed it was plenty sharp and did not take a sharpener. By the end of the job I was using rocks to break bone. Ill never use something other than a havalon. There great.

 

[Old Hunter]

Here's the new knife from Outdoor Edge I mentioned.

http://www.outdooredge.com/Razor-Blaze-p/razor-blaze.htm

 

[Iowahunter]

I've used my Buck 3in blade for about 15 yrs now. It's got a thick blade so you can put enough pressure on it to zip down the legs of big game to cape 'em. After it eventually got dull, I tried using several old sharpening stones and could get it sharp again but took forever. For about the last 8 yrs I've used the Lanske sharpening system. It takes a bit the first time you sharpen a blade on it to get the angle into the blade but once you get that initial angle on it, it takes only a few minutes to get it razor sharp again. Biggest thing with keeping a knife sharp is cut from "inside out". You don't want to cut hair, but split the hide....not only to keep the hair of your meet but to keep from dulling your knife. I've probably gutted and skun out 6-8 deer without hitting it with a steel. Like the Havalon Piranta as well but not for skinning, cause there's not backbone....great knife though.

 

[SAR]

Thank you everyone for your input, all very good and appreciated info.

 

[Catahoula12]

Outdoor edge in my pack. Holds edge nicely and easy to sharpen when needed. Good steel. No problem dealing with an elk.. Nice knife.

 

[lp2506]

Gerber all the way!

 

[Big Sky]

In my pack it's nothing but the havelon torch. I have broke down two elk so far this year without a single blade breaking. If I am at the pickup the buck vanguard normally gets the nod. Had it for years and still going strong.

 

[ssliger]

Used my havalon knife this year on my elk, one blade no problem. Skinned and quartered out the entire elk.

 

[jeffreykooken]

The Havelon Piranta is a great knife, but if you twist or torque while skinning or quartering, the blade might pop off the handle. A few years back, I used an advertisement in the back of EHJ to buy several Z-Blade knives from pfimold.com. It utilizes the same #60 blade and is molded into a plastic handle. It is strong, and super sharp. It is a throw away knife. Just a lot to throw away. Otherwise, it is a very nice blade.

 

[480/277]

Gene Ingram
Have done numerous animals, moose, bou and deer between sharpening.
http://[URL=http://s1003.photobucket.com/user/277-480/media/Camera012.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[jims]

I've always had trouble putting a good edge on a hunting knife. This past fall, I met a guy who builds custom knives. I asked him for his advise on a good sharpener. He said the "Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener" was the best sharpener he knew of. It uses various small sanding belts and allows you to hold the blade at the correct angle. I recently bought one from Northern Tool. I'm anxious to try it. I also have a Havalon and like it.

 

[6mm Remington]

The Lansky system for sharpening knives works and works very well.

http://lansky.com/index.php/products/std-3-stone-system/

http://lansky.com/index.php/products/ultra-fine-hone/

http://lansky.com/index.php/products/coarse-diamond-hone/

http://lansky.com/index.php/products/super-c-clamp/

I have two Lansky set-ups right now. I keep one at home and one in the camper. I would just buy the Standard three hone set and pick up the extra fine stone and a coarse diamond stone to go with it and you would be set for a long long time. The Super C clamp is a MUST HAVE and really makes it a lot easier to sharpen your knives. As one person already stated, it will take a bit with each knife, some more than others to get the proper edge on the knives, but once you do just a few strokes on each side will get the blades razor sharp in no time.

I wish I would have only purchased this darn thing years ago! That is my only complaint. Right now there is not a dull kitchen, hunting, or pocket knife in the house!!

David