Hunting knife advice

[gobbly]

I am looking for a new hunting knife. I currently have a crappy generic folder, and decided I really want to go for a fixed blade, and get something I will enjoy using for the rest of my life. I'm here looking for advice from those who might have had experience with this type of blade

I've narrowed my choices down, but am having trouble deciding if I want to go with a full production, or something more hand-crafted. On the production end I'm looking at Cold Steels Master Hunter Plus (http://www.coldsteel.com/masterhunter.html). Out of all the less expensive knives these guys seem to have a good reputation, consistently have great reviews, and make impressive promo videos.
On the other end I've been looking at Grohmann Knives (http://www.grohmannknives.com), looking at the deepwoods hunter and the large skinner. My budget maxes out around $250, but I don't mind saving a bit if I don't need to spend more, but I really would like to get a reliable knife I can trust forever. I'd like it to look nice, but I am more interested in functionality and price than exotic materials.

If you have any other suggestions I should look at, by all means, lay them on me!

Also, I'm having a little bit of trouble understanding how the different grinds (like flat grind) might play out in the field... If I end up going with a handmade, there is usually an option to specify the grind type (I hope I have the terminology right here ). So any info that might help me understand the differences would be appreciated as well!

[Snowman]

Here's a few I'd look at...
http://www.boker.de/us/fixed-blade-knif ... BO272.html
http://www.boker.de/us/fixed-blade-knif ... A580H.html
http://www.boker.de/us/fixed-blade-knif ... BO195.html
http://www.eseeknives.com/rc-5.htm
http://www.topsknives.com/product_info. ... 9umrs46gu7

The grinds won't effect you to much. Flater grinds will make it easier to keep a better edge as the knife wears down. You do lose some strength, but unless it's be used to pry, or break open zombie skuls, you'll probably want a flater grind. Have a tops knife, that is .25 in thick. It doesn't slice apples well. But I can use it to make kindling for a fire etc, but I'll be having a hard time puttin a good edge on it in another sharpening or so. now I'm looking for a slicer. But my poket knife is filling the role for now.

[Jesse 8]

My hunting knife might be a little under your budget, but it's been reliable thru 2 hunts a year over the past 4years. Then again I carry a saw to collect firewood and cut bone. So my use doesn't include splitting wood by beating my knife with another block of wood. It sounds like you're looking for a survival knife that can also gut the occasional big critter. In which case I would not recommend the above, it is my untested, unconfirmed OPINION that the kodi Skinner is too weak for that work. It is however, a wonderful hunting knife, one I highly recommend

Totally forgot the link: http://www.outdooredge.com/Kodi-Skinner ... kinner.htm

Shot placement is King, penetration is Queen, but a wide wound channel is the Ace in the hole.

[gobbly]

Thanks a bunch for the info/suggestions!

Outside of a real pinch, I don't see myself hacking wood with it. Would be a nice feature in a pinch, but certainly not what I would be getting it for (I'm really looking more for a skinner than a survival style knife). Usually the people I hunt with have quite nice bushman type knives, double as axes quite well. I am looking for something a little more specialized to carving up beasts.

Saving money isn't bad, a long as the quality isn't dramatically different. I like how that Kodi skinner looks, will have to do a little more research on them (after all, every $20 I save means another box of .45 ACP )

I really like a few of those knives snowman, but they are more survival knives. Though that B.O.B from Tops actually looks really nice, and would probably fit my needs pretty well. Do you have any experience with it? It lacks a gut hook, but that's not a deal breaker for me...

[Snowman]

I haven't had expierience with the bob. I have a mocasin ranger, which is thicker, and longer. It is a very sturdy, nice knife. It sharpens well, cuts well, but it is very, very thick. The bob is a more manegable 3/8 thick. Still very sturdy, but better for cutting, and long term use. Tops uses 1095 carbon steel, which can rust. He does put a textured protective coating on it, which comes off cleanly when sharpening. The edge can rust, but keep it clean and dry, and you'll have zero problems. They're really nice, high quality knives. Every so often, he'll sell seconds at a gun show. Mine is a second. Saved some money that way.

[My Trigger Guard]

I just got a new gutting knife think I want to say I spent 60 on it. Give me a week since I go out on a hog hunt next weekend and I can then post my opionons on it.

[James]

My hunting knife is the same as my constant companion.

I have field dressed many animals with nothing more. I do not like the fixed blade knives for carrying on my belt while hunting. Big and awkward. I do have plenty of such knives for use for whatever activity I need a knife for, but just do not like to pack them on a belt. A couple of times when I have done that, I have lost the knife because it somehow came out of the holster. A good stout lock-back folding knife seems a better option if you don't like the standard folding type pocket knives. This one has a carry holster and it is not so long and bulky as a fixed blade knife. Affordable too. I have one of these. Its a nice knife.

Buying Guide

If you feel like chopping bone or wood, toss in a hatchet. Works much better anyway.

[Cinhil]

I am not familiar with Kodi however, I do know the quality of Cold Steel and it is very good. The Cold Steel master Hunters you are looking at are a good knife whether with or without the gut hook. I deal and could get you either one for an excellent price. I could probably get either of them shipped directly to you for about $120 - $125 depending on which you may choose. If you would like to go this route, or even to explore other options you are welcome to pm me. The price I gave includes shipping, handling and tax.

[gobbly]

I actually ended up getting a coldsteel. Decided I should hold off on spending a large chunk till I had a better idea of what I wanted and a bit more hands on experience to back it up. I really like it, but as was just mentioned I found some unexpected drawbacks to the fixed blade. It's a lot harder to carry than I expected, especially when I might have to sit down, which I do quite a bit when hunting. I certainly will take it hunting, it's a great blade for field dressing, can't wait to try it out on some large game, but it will stay in my pack or vest instead of on my hip as I had intended.

So I'm actually in the market for a folder that I can keep a little more handy. I am not a big fan of folders. The ones I have had experience with are not as comfortable in the hand as the fixed that I have used, and I've always been suspect of the locking mechanisms, and the hinge being a point of weakness. The ones I have used also tend to have lighter blades, so the balance wasn't exactly to my liking. But after carrying this fixed blade through the forest in search of turkeys I am seeing the benefits to a folder.

So if anyone has any specifics I should be looking for, keeping in mind my past complaints with them, the info would be much appreciated!

[Havik]

I have hunted all my life, and have carried pretty much every type of knife out there (i.e. fixed blade Bowie, small fixed blade skinners, Wyoming knife, and everything else). What I have settled on, and have used it to process a spike elk and cow elk this last season, a deer the previous season, and two deer the season before (mine and my daughters), and 3 white tail deer in Missouri the year prior. The system worked amazingly.
http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Edge-SZP-1-SwingBlaze-Pak-Rotating/dp/B003SZ2J7G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362545990&sr=8-3&keywords=outdoor+edge+swingblade
What I have decided for me is that a fixed blade on my belt is way too uncomfortable, and a smaller folder like a leatherman charge with a saw for cutting the pelvic bone, gut hook for skinning, and a flat ground blade for processing and quartering is too small to handle an elk sized animal.
What I have started doing is carrying a small camo camel back pack for game bags, water, food, limited survival supplies, etc, and of course the Swing blade and saw combo. I carry my leatherman charge on my belt for utility work while camping/hunting, but if I bag my elk, this system is broken out. Works better than anything I've used previously!!!

[Korben88]

What about a good old buck knife, I have one like this http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t104320080 would that make a good hunting knife?

[Hawk87]

What about a good old buck knife, I have one like this http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t104320080 would that make a good hunting knife?

Ha ha that's the one I use. Has always worked good for me.

[Havik]

What about a good old buck knife, I have one like this http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t104320080 would that make a good hunting knife?

HAHAHAHAHA, I used one of those myself, still own it in fact...I suppose it comes down to preference. I don't like a fixed blade hanging from my belt, and I like gut hooks for opening the cape - seen too many guys nick a finger holding the gut sack back from the blade while opening the cape (hand under the cape following the knife as the cape is cut open), or nicking the gut sack while gutting. The swing blade really opens the cape like a zipper, and I have run it really fast to see if it would bind up on the gut sack or hide, and it never has...just unzips that cape like a sweater and the skinning blade really does a great job at fine detail work, and heavy deboning work...IMHO of course!!!

[dewittdj]

What??? Do they really call those things knives???
Anything less than a USMC K-Bar is just a fancy, chrome plated toothpick.

[Havik]

HAHAHAHAHA! I love it...tooth pick, HAHAHAHAHA!