Let’s talk hunting knives. (Traditional)

JM2

JM2

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Mar 11, 2013
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I’m interested in seeing everyone’s traditional hunting knives. And by that I mean, knives used for skinning and gutting game, not knives used for actually hunting.

I have only harvested two deer so far in my life. For those I used a buck 119 and switched to a schrade 153UH for the first. I switched not because the 119 was bad but because I wanted to see how the Goldenspike handled. I sold the 119 in a moment of weakness.

https://imgur.com/Yt1RCXg

The second I used my buck 110.
https://imgur.com/kwyxyXd

I’ve done squirrel with several knives including my Schrade 34OT. I don’t like cleaning all the nooks and crannies and washing with soap and water that comes with using a folder however.
https://imgur.com/pcbvwo9



I’m thinking about which knives to use on my next deers, and other game that I may take.

Main choices include the Buck 192 Vanguard. Maybe the Remington bullet knife? Or perhaps this 135 Caper that I reworked. And of course, the edge brand 426 soligen.
https://imgur.com/fagZQy1

Anyways, I’d like to hear what others like and why. Stories are always welcome as well as pictures.

Thanks for reading.
 
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Cool thread! I like some folders, such as the Buck 110 (which is great) and Case Trappers (also great) but I do not cleaning all the gunk out. It is no big deal if youre close to home but if you dont have a sink and dish soap handy it becomes an exercise in futility trying to get them clean, and carbon steel will rust like crazy when bloody. I prefer a folder for small game where there is less blood and less heavy, prolonged cutting. They are convenient.
For big game, I prefer a fixed blade. My favorite big game knife is a Blackjack 125 Heavy Hunter, but any 3.5-6" drop point or clip point will do. I also like a finger guard and a big, comfy handle to prevent hand cramping. I do not look for a non slip handle like rubber, but just something that fills the hand. The sheath is important too, it needs to hold the knife securely and quietly when I am walking or climbing etc. My least favorite knife I have ever hunted with was a Mora Classic 4" knife with a red handle. The blade grind sucked for cutting meat and it had a slippery, painted wooden handle that slopes your fingers down the edge (no guard). It was kind of scary to use. Plus the sheath was just friction fit plastic, and when the handle is wet it doesnt work as well.
 
My Marbles Woodcraft and BF 86 Barlow make for great companions to use on whitetails.
20211231_161058.jpg

*flint axe was found but not used, although I'm sure somebody found it useful at one time or another.
 
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I hate to admit it, but when I am actually taking care of game (or domestic animal) these days, I pretty much only use more modern knives. The only traditional hunting knife of mine that I have ever used to process an animal is my old K. Tragbar Solingen knife (rather similar to your old Solingen), and the only time I can really recall using that knife for an animal I hunted was a rabbit when I was like 11.

full
 
One of these days I'm going to count up all my hunting knives (afraid I have a hunting knife addiction). I have cleaned so many deer (not to mention waterfowl, upland birds, turkey, small game, etc.) with so many different hunting knives I can't begin to remember then all, except that for deer (my number one game) I love the Buck 118. I even started a thread in the Buck Sub-Forum just about that one model (linked for your convenience). The perfect size for Whitetail or similar game. We can go through the entire Buck 100 series and talk about what each is best suited for, but you can use any of them satisfactorily. Then there are the Case, Schrade, Camillus, Western, Randall, Kabar, and who knows how many more to talk about. OH


Buck_118_Personal_collection_-_440C.jpg


Buck_118_Personal_Two-Line.jpg
 
The last animal I skinned was a rabbit and I can't remember what knife I used but it was a pocket knife - most likely a Case Trapper - maybe a Stockman. The last deer I skinned was years ago and I'm sure the knife was a fixed blade Case Finn.

There was a rumor going around back in Virginia where I lived for awhile that someone had skinned a deer with a pop-top from a beer can.
 
I use a case muskrat. Skins whatever needs skinnin. Deer, Hogs, rabbits, squirrels, coons. I like the stainless ones.

I have a case Finn and a buck 105 that I use on deer/hogs if I drag ‘‘em back to the house but mostly the muskrat works fine for them.

The muskrat is also my EDC. I like to not have to worry about bringing a “hunting” knife with me. I use the main clip point for general tasks and the secondary clip point is always razor sharp for when something needs skinnin

 
7OT used the most on upland game and whitetails.
Also used a 110, a Old Timer Sharp Finger, and a Western L66.

My hunting days are probably over now, but I've added a few moose pattern, and a couple of the once popular two blade slipjoint folding hunters to the hunting knife arsenal. They're good for more mundane/ boring stuff, too. 😊
 
I want to get one of those schrade sharp finger drop points. I think 158 is the model. I bet that would do well.

Just looked it up. It’s the 154. The 158 is with gut hook.
 
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JM2 said:
Interesting opinions and selections all. Thanks for sharing.

I never would have guess a muskrat to be someones choice. Though I figure the trapper to be popular.
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I’m in Georgia. I’d guess that 80% of guys I know use a yellow handled trapper, 10% use a buck. The other 10% generally use whatever cheap Chinese fixed blade that can be bought at academy.
 
When I go small game hunting, mostly squirrels and rabbits, I use an older Schrade trapper. The few times I downed a deer, a Schrade 153 handled the field dressing and cutting up just fine. Many moons ago when I trapped muskrats, I used a rapalla 4 inch fillet knife for skinning, because it was what I had in my "stash" of outdoors equipment. Of couse it also did double duty as a fillet/fish knife during fishing season. When I joined the Navy, most of my "stash" of outdoor gear went missing that was stored in the folks garage.
 
I’ll use either fixed or folder. 19 years ago I was on a Moose hunt and shot a bull. The guide pulled out a Victorinox Hunter and went to work. I bought one as soon as I got home. I’ve used it on countless deer, then elk, bear, Antelope and even got a little action on a couple of my African critters. But I always carry a fixed blade and will switch back and forth. Here is Grandad’s Western I used on my buddies first Elk last year, the Vic Hunter also got used and the Hunter and a Hess got used on Antelope last year.FD088BD4-2022-4978-BCEA-76DC25E08F33.jpeg42A390FB-15BF-4BCB-90CA-F34277951C6F.jpegA4EA82A1-99CF-46ED-A44B-ECF5497EC0A5.jpeg
 
315 said:
I’ll use either fixed or folder. 19 years ago I was on a Moose hunt and shot a bull. The guide pulled out a Victorinox Hunter and went to work. I bought one as soon as I got home. I’ve used it on countless deer, then elk, bear, Antelope and even got a little action on a couple of my African critters. But I always carry a fixed blade and will switch back and forth. Here is Grandad’s Western I used on my buddies first Elk last year, the Vic Hunter also got used and the Hunter and a Hess got used on Antelope last year.View attachment 1904430View attachment 1904431View attachment 1904432
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Great pics and scenery. Gods creation sure is beautiful. It’s pretty cool you use your grandpas knife.
 
blackhawk249 said:
I use a case muskrat. Skins whatever needs skinnin. Deer, Hogs, rabbits, squirrels, coons. I like the stainless ones.

I have a case Finn and a buck 105 that I use on deer/hogs if I drag ‘‘em back to the house but mostly the muskrat works fine for them.

The muskrat is also my EDC. I like to not have to worry about bringing a “hunting” knife with me. I use the main clip point for general tasks and the secondary clip point is always razor sharp for when something needs skinnin

Click to expand...

I really like the Muskrat pattern. I bought a Chinese Old Timer to try it out and see how I liked it, and I do. Smart to have a blade for everyday stuff and a blade for gettin' dirty.

I really like this as a knife to process birds. Being able to switch to a fresh sharp blade when the one gets a little dull seems nice. Now if we could only shoot enough ducks on a single session to make switching to a fresh blade important....

My hesitation with a slipjoint knife is keeping it clean. When you clean game with a slipjoint, how do you keep it clean and get all the gross stuff out of the nooks and crannies? Or do you just accept the culture of germs and bacteria growing in your liners?
 
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