Looking for a fixed blade hunting and skinning knife...

N

NEOkie

Joined
Apr 5, 2015
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So I want a good hunting and skinning knife.

I have an ESEE 4 and my Izula will be here tomorrow, and a Kabar USMC knife, but while high carbon blades are great for survival and bushcraft they are less than ideal for blood and guts.

I also have a Leatherman Hunter folder with an S30V blade which I love for the blade, but the handle is less than comfortable and a folder can get nasty after use on an animal. Same mess issue with my havalon, plus the replaceable blades don't hold an edge too well and I have broken many blades.

So what I have learned is that I want a fixed blade knife made with a quality steel that will hold an edge well (like S30V, D2, ect.). I want a good curve to the blade for skinning. As for the sheath, leather is okay, but kydex is easier to clean after the fact. I like the micara handles but am not set on them. A blade length of 3-4" is my target size. As for price range, about $150 or less. However I want a knife that I can pass down to my grandkids in 40 years or so, so quality is my number 1.

Ok, what do you recommend?
 
The Buck 119 and Buck 103 might be some affordable ones well under your upper limit, though they are not in a sexy supersteel.

If you want S30V still well within your price range, you could also check out the Benchmade Hunt line of knives. Now that it seems Benchmade has quietly killed off the Lone Wolf brand, they have launched a similar line of hunting knives under the Benchmade brand. I've not used one, but they look like good designs for hunting and skinning to me. Full tang, functional blade shape, plenty of jimping for a variety of finger positions.
 
I am biased but I just bought a Benchmade Hunt Series Saddle Mountain Skinner, haven't got to hunt with it, but it has S30V and either wood or G10 handles Leather sheath for wood, kydex for G10 can get the G10 with a gut hook on it as well. Right at $150 seen them for $130 on certain sites as well.

Playing around with it and handling it I am in love with it can't wait to get to use it.
 
+1 on the Benchmade Saddle Mtn. Skinner. 4.17", S-30V blade and your choice of G-10 or Dymondwood handles for under $135 bucks.

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Ok so this is great.

First to Abbydaddy, I have a Buck 119 I didn't mention that I bought as a boy. It's a good knife but lacking in the steel quality, plus the handle get relly slippery.

To Fish Boy, the Nayala looks like a great knife but What makes it worth the extra $100 over the Benchmade? Is S35V that much better than S30V?

What's funny is that I was seriously considering the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner but didn't want to narrow the field for everyone else! I'm still open to other suggestions, but if you were to get the Benchmade would you get G10 or wood scales? G10 will last forever, but wood has a feel to it. Also leather or kydex? Kydex will last forever, but again there is something about the look and feel of leather. Leather is quieter but also harder to clean the inside of after sheathing a dirty knife (you can mostly clean it in the field, but not completely, and you think about that back at camp when you pull the knife from your sheath to chop the onions)

Thanks everyone.
 
NEOkie said:
So what I have learned is that I want a fixed blade knife made with a quality steel that will hold an edge well (like S30V, D2, ect.). I want a good curve to the blade for skinning. As for the sheath, leather is okay, but kydex is easier to clean after the fact. I like the micara handles but am not set on them. A blade length of 3-4" is my target size. As for price range, about $150 or less. However I want a knife that I can pass down to my grandkids in 40 years or so, so quality is my number 1.

Ok, what do you recommend?
Click to expand...

Bark River, something like the Fox River or Gunny depending on your tastes. The Fox River is smallish, but big enough to do just about anything.

Even the synthetic material (G10, micarta) handled BRKT knives have character, and 100 years from now they should still be in great shape so long as they are properly cared for.
 
Id definitely take a look at the Bradford Guardian 3 or Guardian 4. At $159 Usd you're getting a 3 inch fixed blade with m390 steel, highly grippy g10 handle scales in a lot of different color options, and a great warranty. I would have no problem passing that on to my kids.
 
NEOkie said:
To Fish Boy, the Nayala looks like a great knife but What makes it worth the extra $100 over the Benchmade? Is S35V that much better than S30V?
Click to expand...

The precision, craftsmanship, materials, warranty, and just overall quality of Chris Reeve products makes them more than worth the extra $100. Ask anyone with a Sebenza why they didn't just buy a Spyderco or Kershaw and they'll give you the same answer.

As for S35VN versus S30V, that debate could last hours. S35VN is more corrosion resistant and is easier to sharpen than S30V. Crucible also claims S35VN holds the same edge as S30V, although I'm not fully convinced of that particular claim.

They're both great steels, great for all-around utility. In practice you're going to see almost no difference.
 
I suggest Fallkniven knives. The f1,a1, & h1 are all great knives and vg 10 is a solid steel.
 
CS Master Hunter. I prefer Carbon V, but it is also available in various stainless steels as well.
 
NEOkie said:
Ok so this is great.

First to Abbydaddy, I have a Buck 119 I didn't mention that I bought as a boy. It's a good knife but lacking in the steel quality, plus the handle get relly slippery.

To Fish Boy, the Nayala looks like a great knife but What makes it worth the extra $100 over the Benchmade? Is S35V that much better than S30V?

What's funny is that I was seriously considering the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner but didn't want to narrow the field for everyone else! I'm still open to other suggestions, but if you were to get the Benchmade would you get G10 or wood scales? G10 will last forever, but wood has a feel to it. Also leather or kydex? Kydex will last forever, but again there is something about the look and feel of leather. Leather is quieter but also harder to clean the inside of after sheathing a dirty knife (you can mostly clean it in the field, but not completely, and you think about that back at camp when you pull the knife from your sheath to chop the onions)

Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

I totally understand on the Buck 119. It was just the first thing that popped into my head when you mentioned passing it on to grandkids. It's a pretty classic knife, though i also feel like there are higher performance options available these days.

I've never owned a Dymondwood handled knife. I do love the feel of a wood handled knife, particularly for hunting type use, but I believe the Dymondwood is actually a composite, and if the handle is going to be composite in any case, I'd probably opt for the G10 myself.

On the Nyala, I think it is a gorgeous knife. I've not used one though. I really like the contoured micarta handle scales. I'm a micarta fan. I find that the rough finish on the canvas micarta can allow the very outer edge of the canvas to absorb a little moisture and get gripper when wet. Whether those details are worth an extra $100 is up to you. Personally I might opt to save the $100, but my hunting knife is the hunting knife my grandfather gave me, and until it breaks or I pass it on to another generation, I'm not going to be shopping for another hunting knife (it's an old K. Tragbar by the way, not a rare or valuable collectible, but special to me).
 
I started a thread like this last summer and got lots of great suggestions. Here is a link to my thread.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ing-for-a-new-hunting-knife-UPDATE-WHAT-I-GOT

I went through several knives looking for the "perfect" hunting knife. After buying and selling several, I've decided that if you spend good money on a hunting knife, it's kinda hard to make a bad choice. And if you do get one you're not crazy about, you can easily sell it at this great place (bladeforums) and lose little to no money.

The two I have decided to keep are a Chris Reeve Nyala and a Bark River Montana Guide.
The pictures below are most of the knives I tried. I only got to use 3 of them on deer, but I know any of them would have done a fine job.
Good luck with your purchase, hopefully you dont get to carried away like I have.






 
A knife that gets overlooked quite a bit is the CS Master Hunter. The blade slices well and holds an edge very well and the grip is roomy yet tractable at the same time. I have more expensive knives but this one rides with men a lot when I go outdoors. Comes with a plastic sheath that works well.
 
Another vote for the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner. I love mine and it works great!

I also love my Cold Steel Master Hunters. Mine are all Carbon V.
 
I would look at the Bark River Bravo 1LT or the Gunny in CPM3V. You can find them on the For Sale forums or Ebay occasionally within your price range. My Bravo 1LT is probably one of my favorite all around knives for skinning, camp chores, and would be fine for a survival situation. It's also very lightweight, if you are looking to lighten your pack a little bit.
 
Bark River really is your best bet by far. People that shoot 75 to 80 deer per year and test every blade made depend on Bark River 3V blades to get them through the day. The Bench made shown above has too many issues to trust. It is a recurve design (not something you want on a hunting knife), the blade is too wide to perform one important task, and in many of the test/reviews the tips have been breaking off. Benchmade considered them abuse and didn't cover them under warranty. It is disappointing, because they had a chance to design something good.
 
wfsltt said:
Bark River really is your best bet by far. People that shoot 75 to 80 deer per year and test every blade made depend on Bark River 3V blades to get them through the day. The Bench made shown above has too many issues to trust. It is a recurve design (not something you want on a hunting knife), the blade is too wide to perform one important task, and in many of the test/reviews the tips have been breaking off. Benchmade considered them abuse and didn't cover them under warranty. It is disappointing, because they had a chance to design something good.
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I dont think there is a best choice by far. They will all get the job done quite nicely.
 
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The benchmade saddle mt skinners are great. The places they put the jimping on there really give great control. HUGE belly for slicing, S30v for east touch ups on sharpening and corrosion resistance and great grip with either handle material. I am not thrilled with the kydex sheath version, but ymmv.

+1 for bark rivers too. Beautiful knives, a little more "pass-downy" in my opinion than the benchmade.
 
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