Is the Kalinga a real "hunting knife"?

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
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I just really like the design of the Kalingas and have both the old version 401 with the burl handle and the 419 folding version.

I find the blade shape very attractive, but I was wondering if it really works well as a skinner. Most of the other Buck hunting types don't have such an upsweep to the blade. I'm not a hunter and have never skinned anything, but I was just wondering if it would work as well or better than the other styles.
 
I've never used one but I'm sure it would make a good skinner. It has a lot of belly to the blade which some folks like. I don't know if it is better than other designs, thats really a personal choice. Just about any knife will work fine if you take your time and are careful.

I have 5 or 6 different knives that I use for hunting, most are more of a drop point style blade, and in general aren't big knives . I prefer the "feel" I get when working with a smaller knife.
 
Read somewhere on this forum where peeps love it for skinning. But all I know is that it is one beautiful tool.

Glad I could add value to answering your question :(

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The shape is very flamboyant for a knife.Which would present challanges during gutting and skinning and care would need to be taken during these procedures if it were the choice.But the long sweeping lines create eye appeal and give it a distictive exotic look.DM
 
Buck, those are a bunch of beautiful knives you have there!:thumbup:

David, that was my impression also. They are almost like a "fantasy" knife. One that attracts more by it's beauty and eye appeal than for it's usefulness.

Before I get jumped on for saying that, I do find them extremely attractive and plan on getting some more specimens just to look at.:D
 
My brother was given one of the Buck Kalinga models by me years ago that I purchased at A.G. Russells store in person and my brother takes hunting very serious bagging several white tail each year among other game animals with an occasional mule deer and elk in the mix. They depend and look forward each year to the meat he kills so its more than just sport hunting for him. He tells me the Kalinga is his favorite skinner and that it goes right through a white tail deer as well as anything he has ever used. He has told me time and again how much he thanks me for that knife even though I've given him some knives much more valuable than that one and of equal value to it besides. As one example, I gave him that three knife set of the Knives of Alaska cleaver, gut hook and small caper knife thinking that would be the cats meow and he prefers the Buck for what its worth.

STR
 
I used the S30V folding Kalinga as a skinner and it was excellent. Stuck with the 110 for gutting. When the personal preference kicked in, I stuck with the 110 due to weight, mostly, and just having used a 110 for the last 35 years or so on my deer.

I liked being able to pull the handles off the Kalinga folder to clean it on the inside.
For some with larger and stronger hands the Kalinga is nice. For just skinning I would take the Kalinga (folder or fixed) over any of the other skinners. Specially if I was skinning out large game like elk, moose.

It gets back to personal preference. I consider it a hunting knife.
 
Plumberdv , I don't have a kalinga:grumpy:, right now.But a friend of mine use to go Elk hunting in Colorado and that was the only knife he would take. There was someone on here who posted a pic of a hog and he was using the new one to skin or clean it with. You can do a search.I think a lot of biker's like to carry them.I wish I had one ,I would use it on a deer and let you know.:D
 
I seem to recall that the Kalinga and the smaller but very similarly shaped Buck Akonua as well as the original Buck Frontiersman Bowie and the Buck Hunters Axe were all designed by hunters. Back when these first hit the market they were considered by many to be top shelf in the industry. I never should have sold my Akonua. I liked it better than the Kalinga which is why I gave that one to my brother. The Akonua is more suitable for smaller game which was more my cup of tea.

STR
 
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STR,Double dittos on the Akonua.I have used it and think its just the right ticket for everything up to a Bull Elk.Al's brother designed the Kalinga (a more flamboyant dresser) and Al countered w/ the Akonua a more sound, useful design.DM
 
For those that may wonder what the Akonua is...here's a pic.
This is one of the newer ones from a couple of years ago (third knife down). While I feel fortunate to have this one, an older one would be too cool for school :cool:

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Goose,Nice set of knives.But it looks like they have changed the Akonua as the older ones are not as upswept.There was another thread which those were posted a month or two ago.DM
 
I have used a Kalinga to gut and skin deer and elk, it's one of my favorite when it come to splitting the brisket and pelvic bone, the hefty feel and weight of the knife makes it easy to get the job done.
 
My very first use for my 419 folding K-P - the very day it arrived - was cleaning hog. Okay, it was trimming fat off a slice of baked ham at a Christmas party '07... and the food was on a paper plate in my lap. It didn't even crease the paper - that S30V was sharp!

Not a hunter, I took it - and it's beautiful 408 fixed K-P sibling - to the yard for some impromptu whittling. They will not likely make many camping or hiking trips. Still, neat knife.

Odd - many folks will tell you how great the new knives are - but watch them take a 105, 119, or even a 110 on their hunting trips! For my camping/hiking, I'll likely have a 110! Still - aren't those K-P's purdy?

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Stainz

PS That's the polished Christmas tin Buck 110 - $18 after Christmas!
 
honesttom said:
I have used a Kalinga to gut and skin deer and elk, it's one of my favorite when it come to splitting the brisket and pelvic bone, the hefty feel and weight of the knife makes it easy to get the job done.
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Hone,Do you use the Kalinga for the first initial cut of opening the abdomen exposing the intestines? DM
 
I dressed alot of game over the years, including bison...and the Kalinga
blade shape is IDEAL for this pursuit. I've use both older 70's models and
the latest ones ... regularly. My first choice is the newer S30V in the linerlock
folder, because the handle is sizable to hold onto when your hands are wet &
slickery from body fluids, and the blade edge can holdup thru skinning, dressing
and parting-up the animal without stopping to resharpen.
Also I like the fact that there is no guard.
Which leads me to my only complaint with the fix blade, ....the guard....it gets
in the way alot and I ground the guard down on my old "user" years ago to
help make access to the "nooks & crannys" easier. If you look at vintage knifes
used by professional meat processors they all favor the upswept blade.
 
Them is some nice huntting knives Goose!
i have only had one Kalinga ..
it was a nice blade with deep black etch on it and i did not want to use it..:(
but i liked its looks real well and it felt good in the hand..
Joe liked it also and showed me some 110's ...i wanted ... so i traded ! :D
 
Buff,Welcome.Glad to see you reading here.Yes,its true Professional meat processors favor that style of blade as I've seen them using that type blade many dozen times.But that does'nt mean it is the correct style to use.Also, their not gutting animals nor are they receiving halves or quarters and having to divide those up into edible cuts.That pratice went out in the 1970's.Which that style blade isn't the best suited for.There are other blade styles much more suitable for these task.That blade style is good for trimming fat and skinning.So, to me its a mystery or a matter of personal preference.
Like much of life.DM
 
Well, I just pulled the trigger on a new 408. I know I won't ever use it skin anything, but I'll bet it will trim the fat off my next tri-tip.:thumbup:
 
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