It's time to get a new hunting knife and I am wondering what would be a good all around hunting knife, that won't kill my budget. I have been using a Normark Hunting knife for the past 8 years and it has served me well. If I remember correctly, it wasn't very expensive (cost around $40). What would be a good replacement?
What is a good hunting knife
- Thread starter Deano
- Start date
- Location
- Lloydminster SK
I carry a Swedish Mora from any camping store or Peavy Mart for a bush knife. $8-$10 . It gets the bush chopping, bean can opening, split the brisket with a knife and rock type of jobs. If you lose it, who cares.
Then you can spend whatever you want on a skinning knife. It's guaranteed to still be sharp when you need it the most, and you're not tempted to do terrible things to it.
Pick a budget, and go shopping for your skinner. There are so many different handles and sizes out there now, it's best to find the one that fits your hand the best. There's nothing wrong with the $50 rubber handled Oldtimers from Wally world. They perform very well when wet and slimy with animal goo. For that matter, you could carry two Mora's for a grand total of $20.
Then you can spend whatever you want on a skinning knife. It's guaranteed to still be sharp when you need it the most, and you're not tempted to do terrible things to it.
Pick a budget, and go shopping for your skinner. There are so many different handles and sizes out there now, it's best to find the one that fits your hand the best. There's nothing wrong with the $50 rubber handled Oldtimers from Wally world. They perform very well when wet and slimy with animal goo. For that matter, you could carry two Mora's for a grand total of $20.
open-sights
Regular
- Location
- Aldergrove BC
You guys are not going to believe this, but on a trip last season for bear, I stopped in at my local gunshop on my way through to pick up a tag. The guy gave me a smile and said to me, "Hope your knife's sharp!"
It was then i realised that i had forgotten my knife in a different pack, duh! I ended up picking up a cheapo $19 fixed blade knive with a survival orange plastic sheath. This has since replaced my Gerber, my Buck and every other knife I own for skinning. I am in love with it, I can't remember the name but it is Scandinavian made and worth 5 times what i paid for it, takes an edge better than any other knife I have ever owned. Has 1 bear and 3 deer under it's belt as well.
It was then i realised that i had forgotten my knife in a different pack, duh! I ended up picking up a cheapo $19 fixed blade knive with a survival orange plastic sheath. This has since replaced my Gerber, my Buck and every other knife I own for skinning. I am in love with it, I can't remember the name but it is Scandinavian made and worth 5 times what i paid for it, takes an edge better than any other knife I have ever owned. Has 1 bear and 3 deer under it's belt as well.
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
The less expensive the knife, the better you become at putting on an edge
Frank
Frank
- Location
- Lloydminster SK
The Swedish Mora - There are various configurations on this. Generally a red handle means carbon steel blade, good for flint and steel fire starting, and the blue handle indicates a stainless steel blade. Wood, plastic, fighting guard, rubber handle, all sorts of different kinds of handles. The common denominator is the 3.5"-4" blade. I have pounded mine into a tree and used it for a step with no damage to the knife.
I find it real handy to attatch a lanyard and hang the knife around my neck, inside my jacket or skidoo suit.
I find it real handy to attatch a lanyard and hang the knife around my neck, inside my jacket or skidoo suit.
If that Normark is buggered, for some reason, the best advice I can give is to go out and buy another one!...or one of those Moras...there's damn few knives (and I don't care how much you pay) that will get any sharper.
The Swedes make a better knife for $40 than most other people do for $400.
The Swedes make a better knife for $40 than most other people do for $400.
Deano ... if you want a cheapie that you won't have to worry about losing, but which can still skin out a moose, try the winchester knives. They run about $25 and I am amazed at how well that knife has held up for me.
My regular is the Grohman Large Skinner #1 (SIR is where I got mine). It has the blade turned down at the front which facilitates skinning, especially around the stomach area.
PS .... Those two are fixed blades.
My regular is the Grohman Large Skinner #1 (SIR is where I got mine). It has the blade turned down at the front which facilitates skinning, especially around the stomach area.
PS .... Those two are fixed blades.
http://www.knifezone.ca/kershaw/echoonionsemiskinner.htm
I bought this one for my son at X'mas. And I have taken it several times since, leaving my Buck Vanguard at home.
I really like it, feels great in my hand. I think Kershaw is a great deal for the $$.
I bought this one for my son at X'mas. And I have taken it several times since, leaving my Buck Vanguard at home.
I really like it, feels great in my hand. I think Kershaw is a great deal for the $$.
Some carbon steel is harder than stainless and will stay sharper longer, BUT because they are harder it also makes them more difficult to sharpen as well.Rhino said:
Good steel for a field knife is a compromise between being too hard and too soft.
Also, carbon steel knives are a pain in the butt to keep from rusting, and given the damp conditions in the field, this can be a big problem.
I use a Russell #1 Belt Knife and another custom clone. They are awesome!
sc
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257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I have a MORA that my dad used and after some TLC it is back in service.
I sure would like to know where to get another, like the one in bufalobill's post.
I sure would like to know where to get another, like the one in bufalobill's post.
I'm surprised there's so many fans for the Swedish Mora's. That's my favorite gutting and skinning knife. I like them cause it's easy to get a sharp edge and I wouldn't be out too much money if I ever lost it. I also really like the cheap Henckels (sp?) paring knife for skinning the cape.
Favourite Hunting Knife
I usually take a few different knives to the camp. I have a 1958 Russel No1 belt knife, Grohmann R100S Large pelting Knife, Cold Steel Master Hunter, Buck 110 & 112, Gerber Gator, and Kershaw. I have a number of custom knives as well but stick to the Russel. OK I only pick a couple when I go, not all of them.
I am looking for an opinion on the Lansky sharpening system. Are they any good????
Does anyone have one for sale???
I usually take a few different knives to the camp. I have a 1958 Russel No1 belt knife, Grohmann R100S Large pelting Knife, Cold Steel Master Hunter, Buck 110 & 112, Gerber Gator, and Kershaw. I have a number of custom knives as well but stick to the Russel. OK I only pick a couple when I go, not all of them.
I am looking for an opinion on the Lansky sharpening system. Are they any good????
Does anyone have one for sale???
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I am guilty of owning too many knives like some of the other posters here. If I had to pick just one before heading out to hunt, it would be my Browning FDT. It sure isn't pretty but is a heck of a knife. Not exactly cheap either.
I love my Normark that I picked up at Canadian Tire around 12 years ago on sale for $9.00.It has a rubber grip handle blue insert and a cheap plastic sheath.My knife is as new.I should have bought about five of them.My dad prefers it over his $90.00 Buck knife.
