Am I the only one that carries a honing steel with me? Maybe you should too
- Thread starter Big_red_truck
- Start date
I use a Smith's too. I'll often touch up my skinners as needed while skinning out a big moose. That hair can take just enough edge off to be annoying.
Never use my skinners for everyday work.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Nope. I carry a small stone and an extra knife. We broke down my bison (and skinned it for a shoulder mount) with 4 knives and one guy sharpening full time.
We used to carry a full sized butchers steel as a coyote skinning tool. Didnt use it for sharpening knives but it worked great for pulling skins when you get to the front legs.
Soft steels like butcher knives respond to a conventional steel by straightening a turned edge, or chasing a burr back and forth. I've found that on soft knives like that I'd just as soon use one of the carbide sharpening tools. On hard steels like my custom knives they teeter on useless.Knives like that should be good for a season if they aren't, then they weren't all that good were they? They get sharpened on a 2 x72 grinder once in a while and laugh at steels.
That leaves me working between two extremes. Either be super easy to sharpen, or super hard to get dull. In between there's a whole lot of frustrating junk.
Soft steels like butcher knives respond to a conventional steel by straightening a turned edge, or chasing a burr back and forth. I've found that on soft knives like that I'd just as soon use one of the carbide sharpening tools. On hard steels like my custom knives they teeter on useless.Knives like that should be good for a season if they aren't, then they weren't all that good were they? They get sharpened on a 2 x72 grinder once in a while and laugh at steels.
That leaves me working between two extremes. Either be super easy to sharpen, or super hard to get dull. In between there's a whole lot of frustrating junk.
hillbros_96
Regular
- Location
- Nowhere BC
I carry one because it came as part of my knife set, and I am glad it it is there because it does come in handy
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
I carry a large Havalon with 2-3 spare blades and a fixed blade SOG field pup... I've never yet wanted for a sharp knife while working on deer/elk/moose/bison/cow in the field... I keep a nice wet stone in my camper and a bunch of assorted cheap and expensive knives... Never seen the point in carting a pound or two of stone into the field on my back, at most I'll take a small carbide/ceramic draw sharpener if I'm packing something other than my field pup... That Havalon has spoiled me I guess...
Lots of knives used to come with a coarse stone built into the sheath that was about as useful as a creek boulder, wouldent give a fine edge that's for sure, the knives were also so soft that any bushcraft would dull them instantly and then when you tried to sharpen em you ended up with a real mess... Guess that's why hunting stores used to carry fine/med pocket stones... Nowadays they just try selling you another knife... Sigh.
Lots of knives used to come with a coarse stone built into the sheath that was about as useful as a creek boulder, wouldent give a fine edge that's for sure, the knives were also so soft that any bushcraft would dull them instantly and then when you tried to sharpen em you ended up with a real mess... Guess that's why hunting stores used to carry fine/med pocket stones... Nowadays they just try selling you another knife... Sigh.
My and 2 of my hunting partners ended up cutting up a bull and cow moose with a pocket knife (3" blade) and a leatherman multi-tool (using of course the knife and saw) because SOMEONE forgot to take the doctor's bag with all the hunting knives and other accoutrements. (he owned the boat so I didn't complain. It was a 4 hour boat ride back to my truck and I can't swim...............) Anyhow, since that time, I never leave home without my own knives in my own backpack PLUS A SHARPENER, because the only one you can count on is yourself.
Nothing more annoying than getting 1/4 of the way through skinning and dressing the animal/s and finding your blade duller than a butterknife.
Nothing more annoying than getting 1/4 of the way through skinning and dressing the animal/s and finding your blade duller than a butterknife.
small, light, $8 at CT on sale, and it dubs as a vehicle extraction tool or glass cutter if need be
Big_red_truck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Labrador , the big land
I may be upgrading my butchers steel to a ceramic or diamond rod. Instead of re-aligning the edge it does both , re-aligns and makes a new one. Seems like the way to go.
