Good Knife for field dressing

citylivin · 03-10-2008, 02:09 PM

My two sons and I took the hunter safety course this weekend. We are in California so it was good to see a full class. We have been target shooters for a long time, but never hunted much other than squirrels. My youngest really wants to pig hunt, which there are an abundance, my question is that I would like to get them a good knife. I was searching BassPro, mainly because I have some gift cards. Any suggestions for a good field knife? Thanks in advance.

SwedeSteve · 03-10-2008, 02:31 PM

There's plenty to choose from! I've got about 20! Schrade makes nice knives.

samuel · 03-10-2008, 03:14 PM

I have a guthook and a 3" lock blade. sam.

Nathan123 · 03-10-2008, 06:18 PM

May i suggest taking a look here High Country Knives

Sure there are any number of knives out there that will do the job, but if you were to have a knife built by Romey, you know you are getting only quality materials, and many many hours spent working on your knife and anything less than perfect will not be given to you. Romey's knives are of the quality that your kids will be able to pass it their kids. And they look a million bucks.

There is a thread over in the knife forum with pictures and explanations on how he makes his knives.

rdale501 · 03-10-2008, 10:40 PM

I use an Alaska Blade Trader. I think it's made by Kershaw. It has a regular blade, a large curved skinning blade with a gut hook and a saw, all in a leather sheath. I'm pretty happy with it. It holds an edge for a long time.

MOD 70 · 03-10-2008, 11:07 PM

I like the Gerber Gator. I carry two smaller folders for the scent glands and the more delicate stuff.

Pumpkinheaver · 03-10-2008, 11:09 PM

Here are the 2 I use most of the time. The one on top is a buck with a 4" fixed blade. The bottom one is a gerber guthook, what I love about this thing is that it takes utility knife blades and you don't have to resharpen it just change the blade and it will open a deer up like unzipping a zipper.

OkieHenry · 03-10-2008, 11:46 PM

SOG make a whale of a knife. I like their Field Pup for skinning

MOD 70 · 03-10-2008, 11:55 PM

Pumpkinheaver.thanks for the info on the Gerber guthook. I think I`ll have a look at one. Sounds good!

wirehunt · 03-11-2008, 01:10 AM

Those High country knives look bloody good Nathan. I've used knives with gut hooks a couple of times and personally can't stand them, they always seem to be hooking up on thing's. I'd go for any of those High country ones as that's about the style I've found best for general skinning /gutting.

Nathan123 · 03-11-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirehunt

Those High country knives look bloody good Nathan. I've used knives with gut hooks a couple of times and personally can't stand them, they always seem to be hooking up on thing's. I'd go for any of those High country ones as that's about the style I've found best for general skinning /gutting.

They are mate, top quality. Romey is actually making me a knife now, that thread in the knife forum i spoke of earlier is called 'Making of a blade' have a look at it and you can see the time and effort he puts into his knives. I was actually going to buy a Svord but chose to get one made instead.

felix cortinas · 03-12-2008, 10:22 PM

just like guns, so many to choose from, they all work, find one that does the job and go with it. like anything else, you get what you pay for. Schrade, Buck, Kershaw, Puma are sold everywhere and are all proven.

texnmidwest · 03-12-2008, 10:31 PM

Lots of great knives around. I love good steel. Of the production knives for the budget minded Gerber, Case and Schrade make good knives. I have been very happy with my Camillius folder as well. I am surprised how well it takes an edge and keeps the edge. I like a blade about 3 inches long and heavy like the high country knives. I have a fixed blade Colt that I consider perfect. Profile is alot like the high country knives but a 10th of the price.

Darn purdy knives though. But for 400 dollars I could buy almost 6 to 8 Mosins!!!

Wingwiper · 03-13-2008, 03:54 PM

I use a Buck Jackknife with a 2" blade.

I carry a Bayonet, only for cutting small trees to make my Traverse with. I use a short, small blade so I do NOT cut into intestines and other organs. I need only cut the Skin and then life up and cut some tissue to allow the organs to fall out. I do have to cut the wind pipe and I cut around the rectum, but the small blade has served me well and I usually do not have a bloody, shi-y, smelly mess after.
I had used an OLD TIMER for years but can't find one any more.

Lng Rng · 03-13-2008, 04:17 PM

I use a Cutco hunting knife for larger game. It has a 6 inch serrated blade, and will cut through just about anything. For skinning, I have a little 4 inch Kershaw that I bought when I was in Alaska, got a great deal on it.

Also, I really like using game shears, they can be very helpful.

JAKEtheSNAKE · 03-13-2008, 06:51 PM

if u want a knife that will last forever get a SPYDERCO they are in my opinion the best knives money can buy

rdale501 · 03-14-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lng Rng

I use a Cutco hunting knife for larger game. It has a 6 inch serrated blade, and will cut through just about anything. For skinning, I have a little 4 inch Kershaw that I bought when I was in Alaska, got a great deal on it.

Also, I really like using game shears, they can be very helpful.

My wife just bought a set of Cutco kitchen knives. Holy cow those things are expenvive, sharp but danged expensive. Then I found out our grandson was selling them, I guess grandma just couldn't refuse, but dang that set was expensive.

doc44 · 03-15-2008, 09:33 PM

Gut hooks on knives works great on hogs but you really need a gut hook as a sepperate tool for the very harry and a fixed blade to do the pelvis split etc. Doc

andrew cochran · 03-16-2008, 02:47 PM

May I suggest a Havalon Piranta. I mine all the time. Never sharpen a blade again!
Havalon Knives Pro Trophy Skinner, Piranta hunting knives, Fred Carter

minkowski1552 · 03-18-2008, 09:50 PM

I use a K-Bar fixed blade. It does the job.

03-10-2008, 02:09 PM	#1
citylivin Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 30	Good Knife for field dressing My two sons and I took the hunter safety course this weekend. We are in California so it was good to see a full class. We have been target shooters for a long time, but never hunted much other than squirrels. My youngest really wants to pig hunt, which there are an abundance, my question is that I would like to get them a good knife. I was searching BassPro, mainly because I have some gift cards. Any suggestions for a good field knife? Thanks in advance.

03-10-2008, 02:31 PM	#2
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,393 Images: 1	There's plenty to choose from! I've got about 20! Schrade makes nice knives. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-10-2008, 11:07 PM	#6
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 162	I like the Gerber Gator. I carry two smaller folders for the scent glands and the more delicate stuff. __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

03-10-2008, 11:09 PM	#7
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,340	Here are the 2 I use most of the time. The one on top is a buck with a 4" fixed blade. The bottom one is a gerber guthook, what I love about this thing is that it takes utility knife blades and you don't have to resharpen it just change the blade and it will open a deer up like unzipping a zipper. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

03-10-2008, 11:55 PM	#9
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 162	Pumpkinheaver.thanks for the info on the Gerber guthook. I think I`ll have a look at one. Sounds good! __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

03-10-2008, 03:14 PM	#3
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	I have a guthook and a 3" lock blade. sam.

03-10-2008, 06:18 PM	#4
Nathan123 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Newcastle, N.S.W, Australia Posts: 355	May i suggest taking a look here High Country Knives Sure there are any number of knives out there that will do the job, but if you were to have a knife built by Romey, you know you are getting only quality materials, and many many hours spent working on your knife and anything less than perfect will not be given to you. Romey's knives are of the quality that your kids will be able to pass it their kids. And they look a million bucks. There is a thread over in the knife forum with pictures and explanations on how he makes his knives.

03-10-2008, 10:40 PM	#5
rdale501 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 398	I use an Alaska Blade Trader. I think it's made by Kershaw. It has a regular blade, a large curved skinning blade with a gut hook and a saw, all in a leather sheath. I'm pretty happy with it. It holds an edge for a long time.

03-10-2008, 11:46 PM	#8
OkieHenry Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tahlequah, Oklahoma Posts: 78	SOG make a whale of a knife. I like their Field Pup for skinning

03-11-2008, 01:10 AM	#10
wirehunt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Otago New Zealand Posts: 656	Those High country knives look bloody good Nathan. I've used knives with gut hooks a couple of times and personally can't stand them, they always seem to be hooking up on thing's. I'd go for any of those High country ones as that's about the style I've found best for general skinning /gutting. __________________ Happy Hunting

03-12-2008, 10:22 PM	#12
felix cortinas Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 144	knives just like guns, so many to choose from, they all work, find one that does the job and go with it. like anything else, you get what you pay for. Schrade, Buck, Kershaw, Puma are sold everywhere and are all proven.

03-12-2008, 10:31 PM	#13
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,459	Lots of great knives around. I love good steel. Of the production knives for the budget minded Gerber, Case and Schrade make good knives. I have been very happy with my Camillius folder as well. I am surprised how well it takes an edge and keeps the edge. I like a blade about 3 inches long and heavy like the high country knives. I have a fixed blade Colt that I consider perfect. Profile is alot like the high country knives but a 10th of the price. Darn purdy knives though. But for 400 dollars I could buy almost 6 to 8 Mosins!!! __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-13-2008, 03:54 PM	#14
Wingwiper Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 789	I use a Buck Jackknife with a 2" blade. I carry a Bayonet, only for cutting small trees to make my Traverse with. I use a short, small blade so I do NOT cut into intestines and other organs. I need only cut the Skin and then life up and cut some tissue to allow the organs to fall out. I do have to cut the wind pipe and I cut around the rectum, but the small blade has served me well and I usually do not have a bloody, shi-y, smelly mess after. I had used an OLD TIMER for years but can't find one any more.

03-13-2008, 04:17 PM	#15
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	I use a Cutco hunting knife for larger game. It has a 6 inch serrated blade, and will cut through just about anything. For skinning, I have a little 4 inch Kershaw that I bought when I was in Alaska, got a great deal on it. Also, I really like using game shears, they can be very helpful.

03-13-2008, 06:51 PM	#16
JAKEtheSNAKE Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 16	if u want a knife that will last forever get a SPYDERCO they are in my opinion the best knives money can buy

03-15-2008, 09:33 PM	#18
doc44 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6	Gut hooks on knives works great on hogs but you really need a gut hook as a sepperate tool for the very harry and a fixed blade to do the pelvis split etc. Doc

03-16-2008, 02:47 PM	#19
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,157	May I suggest a Havalon Piranta. I mine all the time. Never sharpen a blade again! Havalon Knives Pro Trophy Skinner, Piranta hunting knives, Fred Carter __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

03-18-2008, 09:50 PM	#20
minkowski1552 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 41	I use a K-Bar fixed blade. It does the job.