knife sharpening

[Retterath]

when you guys go on a backpack hunt what do u guys use for knives or do u just have one and bring a sharpener? Im heading to alaska in sept and wondering what to do about knives i have about every kind of knife out there but should i bring one good knife and sharpener or a couple knives. i have a havalon knife that you can replace blades and if i brought that and one other knife do u think that would be enough. what are your thoughts.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I carry two knives. A Blade Tech as my main work horse and a CKRT as a back up. I keep them both sharp. Usually get it all done with the Blade Tech. I use the Warthog blade sharpener. Works awesome.

 

[Retterath]

is there a good little sharpener a guy could put in his pack without adding a bunch more weight

 

[kesand72]

I carry a well sharpened Buck knife and also a Havalon Piranta with a couple spare blades.

 

[NVBird'n'Big]

Havalon is where it's at, no sharpening and light even with extra blades.

 

[marcusvdk]

Add another person to the Havalon list. can't go wrong with being able to bring light weight replaceable blades. Outdoor Edge also has a knife that has extra blades.

 

[buckwhisperer]

I'm a sucker for american made Buck knives, and i like my Lansky sharpening kit, its small and light.

 

[Dearhunter3450]

I have heard the Havalon blades pop off if you tweet the blade to the side while cutting. Has any of you Havalon guys heard of this or had this happen? I was considering getting one for this season. Thanks

 

[Ikeepitcold]

They break. But I've heard they solved the issue with a thicker blade.

 

[NE69]

Havalons work well but you can break a blade till you get on to using them. With a little experience you won't have any problems. I broke 1 blade this year on an elk but I was boning it out and it was almost frozen solid. They are super sharp. I wouldn't be without one in my pack.
I enjoy sharpening blades but not so much on the side of a mountain.

 

[packer58]

is there a good little sharpener a guy could put in his pack without adding a bunch more weight

I carry a small diamond steel, it's 30 plus years old and still works great and only weighs a few ounces.

 

[Just DIY]

I have to concur with the Havalon. Boned out 2 full deer this season and used 2 blades for each. Awesome for backpacking, extremely sharp and just flat gets the job done.

 

[clacklin009]

I carry one folder and a fixed blade. Never the same knives just what I feel like at the time. No sharpener but I don't down more than an animal at a time before I can re-sharpen at camp or home.
Check out the Benchmade field sharpeners. As you can see on their web page the sharpeners are made by Reddi Edge and you can find Reddi Edge at more places, but the Bechmades are different in specs. IMO I would take two knives, the Havalon and another one with a D2 or S30V steel. Something like the Knives of Alaska Alpha Wolf or Elk Trekker or Benchmade's Saddle Mountain Skinner.

 

[Retterath]

I think I will probably bring my havalon and my kodak pack that has a caper skinner and a saw. My dad will also have a knife too. I will hopefully be packing out two caribou on this trip and plus my dad's one. Thanks guys for ideas.

 

[arwaterfowler]

I carry a small fillet knife sharpener with my Benchmade Mini Griptilian. The sharpener is lightweight and works very well.

I'll start carrying a Havalon this year in addition to the Benchmade. Too many smart people use them to not take good advice.

 

[Hilltop]

I have the outdoor edge version of the replaceable blade knife. The blades are very sharp and actually hold an edge for a decent time. I didn't care for the bright orange handle at first but I can say I never leave my knife behind anymore... I do think these blades would break if you were using them to split the briskett but I use a folding saw so that wasn't a concern for me.

 

[Fink]

I carry a Benchmade Mini Griptillian, and a Havalon with a few extra blades. Big knives are overrated, and the Havalon is way underrated.

 

[JWM]

I like the worksharp field sharpener. It's got great reviews and is small and light. It's got coarse and fine plates as well as a leather strop and ceramic hone.

I carry my dads old Puma Game Warden. The backpacking gear junkie part of me wants to get a Havalon but the Puma is the best knife I've ever used, is easy to sharpen and holds an edge.

 

[Timberstalker]

I bought the Worksharp field sharpener last year, I really like it!

 

[Grantbvfd]

Havalon is all I use. As long as you know it is a blade for cutting only and not a prying tool you will be just fine. Most of the guys breaking blades aren't using them properly. I used mine on 5 bucks and an elk this year and it worked flawlessly. I can bone out a deer with one blade but an elk will usually take 2-3 blades.

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