Hunting knife set?

[riden]

Like Riden and Amphibious I have a Buck Vangaurd, the one with the rubbery handle. It is made out of Bucks 420HC steel. I don't know a whole bunch about steels but it seems to hold an edge about the same as a 440c Kershaw I have, which is prety dam good for the average guy. Buck has a very good reputation for heat treating thier steel properly. I find I can get this knife realy realy sharp with just a sharpening steel, it takes an edge very easily. I would highly recomend this one as a good all rounder. I plan to buy a Buck 110, just because I am so impressed with the Vangaurd.

I have always loved my Vanguard, I also have the rubber grip.

BUT, my son's Kershaw is the cat's ass. It feels like it was made for my hand and was a lot less money.

 

[roadwarrior]

I use to skin with the winchester 4.5 in hunting knife made by The Carolina tool cie (yes it's the same as the non-winchester version that you can find at crappie tire). It has a nice wood handle, an index finger 1/4 loop and a thick blade. Does a good job for a 20-30$ range.

I now use a Smith and Wesson bull's eye knife. It's made with hammer forged surgical steel and has a rubber grip and a gutting hook. It came with a diamond coated sharpening tool and a nice 2 blade folding pocket knife. I use a meat saw to cut off the head and limbs. I also use a small camping axe (10$ on sale at canadian tire) to cut the pelvic bone.

 

[SuperCub]

Buy him a "CLASSIC" Canadian knife that he will use and enjoy for the rest of his life, which is of course the Russel Belt Knife.

I have an original and a larger custom clone.

 

[chrisv8]

I use a Buck Vanguard, too (wooden handle). Incidentally, my dad gave it to me for my birthday long ago. It works great for me.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

I use this Browning.... very functional... :idea:
The gut hook works well on deer... it is suprising how often you need a saw blade... and the skinning knife is incredible for caping and hiding out big game fast and efficiently... and the drop blade is of classic shape and the steel is top drawer 8)
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/knives/detail.asp?value=005G&cat_id=322&type_id=633

I use the exact model too........very handy. However, I also carry a fixed blade in the pack.

 

[BC Bigbore]

I used a Lakota with a 4" blade and rubber handle for years and then switched to a Buck 110 and never looked back. Do him a favor and buy him a good sharpener also. A dull knife has no use other than causing nasty injuries. I keep my knives razor keen with a Lansky...KF

 

[eltorro]

Folding Gerber works for me.
A small one with a partial serated blade and a larger one with plain edge.
Drop point. Soft rubber handle.
In bloody jobs and freezing finger weather, one gets to appreciate these features.

 

[Six Star]

Lots of great ideas and experience here, guys...very much appreciated! A good sharpener will also be included... I do have painful memories of working in the freezing cold and not noticing all the cuts, gashes and gouges in my hands until they thawed out... :shock:
All advice taken.
Thanks!