Knife Shopping

[quackaholic]

I decided to give my son in law my favorite hunting knife. I have field dressed and skinned many a deer with it. I let him use it to field dress his first time and wanted to give it to him for his birthday and have him pass it to my grandson one day.
That being said, I may in the hunt for a new one. I'm looking for one that is made of a good steel and and not one that's hard to sharpen and not terribly hard on the wallet. Please stay in those parameters as I dont wanna sift thru all of the replacement blade suggestions and what not. The Benchmade Hunt Steep Country is pretty much top of my list. I do like the Cold Steel San Mai Master Hunter, but it's a little longer than I prefer.
What do you like and why?

 

[6.5swede]

Well I have had a few "good" knives over the years. My favorite knives are cheap and sharp, either the morakniv companion or companion heavy duty. I also have old hickory hunting knife. All are carbon steel, hold an edge well and easy to sharpen. I rarely have to sharpen them they just need touching up or honing on a steel and strop on blue jeans.

We are in two different levels of knives lol

 

[Griswold]

The buck 112 with finger grooves is my favorite, i have a box full of hunting knives from over the years but the little 112 stays in my pack

 

[Huntaholic]

@Shag

 

[Gravey]

I had a 3-blade from Cabela's my uncle gave me when I was a kid. Had a regular blade, gut hook and saw and used it forever but always difficult to get cleaned up. I still have it 35-40 years later but these days I prefer a good fixed blade. Current one is a sharpfinger made by @Shag and is the pic below. As mentioned above the morakniv is a good one that's cheap. Just make sure you clean and oil it immediately after use or the blade will turn.

 

[MickThompson]

Granted, I can be a bit of a knife snob, but I'd probably go full custom and get exactly what you want

 

[mayberryrick]

@Shag

I was reading down through here and you beat me to it haha.

 

[quackaholic]

I have a full custom knife that I had Scott Herron make for me. I like it a lot, but still want a better grip and steel. And maybe a little longer blade.

 

[gun nut]

I really like the Benchmade 4 inch meat crafter

 

[TNRifleman]

Really hard to beat a Winkler. A little pricy but not much more than the Benchmade you mentioned.

 

[quackaholic]

I really like the Benchmade 4 inch meat crafter

Why? Is it just because you own it? Or is there real qualities behind it? The only. Benchmade I have owned was a folder. I loved it, but it refused to stay sharp. I'm curious if that's a trait. And forgive the way I asked the question about why. I don't mean to offend, but too many people like things just because there in it. That's why the op was put the way it was.

 

[gun nut]

Why? Is it just because you own it? Or is there real qualities behind it? The only. Benchmade I have owned was a folder. I loved it, but it refused to stay sharp. I'm curious if that's a trait. And forgive the way I asked the question about why. I don't mean to offend, but too many people like things just because there in it. That's why the op was put the way it was.

No I actually don't even own it I just think they feel good in the hands and it's the length I prefer and I like the blade shape I do however own 2 benchmade bugouts and they both hold razor sharp edges

 

[gun nut]

I own everything from higher end bark rivers all the way down to old timers

 

[Shag]

I decided to give my son in law my favorite hunting knife. I have field dressed and skinned many a deer with it. I let him use it to field dress his first time and wanted to give it to him for his birthday and have him pass it to my grandson one day.
That being said, I may in the hunt for a new one. I'm looking for one that is made of a good steel and and not one that's hard to sharpen and not terribly hard on the wallet. Please stay in those parameters as I dont wanna sift thru all of the replacement blade suggestions and what not. The Benchmade Hunt Steep Country is pretty much top of my list. I do like the Cold Steel San Mai Master Hunter, but it's a little longer than I prefer.
What do you like and why?

What is it you are wanting? I only use carbon steel but I can make them about any size/shape/design you can dream up. Shoot me a PM.

 

[Kevin Snook]

Not bad for the price.

 

[quackaholic]

View attachment 310699Not bad for the price.

This one has been on my list also. But I'm leaning towards a different metal.

 

[quackaholic]

What is it you are wanting? I only use carbon steel but I can make them about any size/shape/design you can dream up. Shoot me a PM.

I'm leaning towards a hybrid style if I go custom. I want something with a decent point for field dressing and tedious work, but with enough belly for skinning chores. Something that holds its edge well enough that it doesn't need touching up until I'm finished. And it doesn't need a diamond to sharpen. Does that make sense? I also want a blade around 3½". Good scales that are easy to grip when bloody or wet. Micarta and g10 come to mind.

 

[gun nut]

View attachment 310699Not bad for the price.

View attachment 310699Not bad for the price.

great knives for the money

 

[Shag]

I'm leaning towards a hybrid style if I go custom. I want something with a decent point for field dressing and tedious work, but with enough belly for skinning chores. Something that holds its edge well enough that it doesn't need touching up until I'm finished. And it doesn't need a diamond to sharpen. Does that make sense? I also want a blade around 3½". Good scales that are easy to grip when bloody or wet. Micarta and g10 come to mind.

In regards to one of your previous posts, I do agree with you on the Benchmade's. I have several. They are a SOB to sharpen! Which, I initially thought, would make them hold an edge forever. To say that I've been disappointed would be an understatement! Then, they are a SOB to get sharp again.

1084 and 1075 are my favorite steels to use. Simple to heat treat. Holds an edge really well. And easy to sharpen when it needs it. @Huntaholic has one of the very first knives I ever made. It's made from 1075. He's carried it hunting all over North America. About 3 deer size critters and the edge needs touching up to get back to shaving sharp.

As to the handle materials, for esthetics, I prefer G10 because it's SO much easier to buff and polish to a high gloss finish. But, it's not as grippy as micarta when polished and it gets wet/bloody.

Edit: That Benchmade Steep Country is a good looking knife! I couldn't make you anything comparable for that price tag.

 

[MickThompson]

This one has been on my list also. But I'm leaning towards a different metal.

I have one and like it. Very easy to keep sharp.

 

[Kevin Snook]

This one has been on my list also. But I'm leaning towards a different metal.

I'm thinking they offer it in S35VN now.

 

[quackaholic]

In regards to one of your previous posts, I do agree with you on the Benchmade's. I have several. They are a SOB to sharpen! Which, I initially thought, would make them hold an edge forever. To say that I've been disappointed would be an understatement! Then, they are a SOB to get sharp again.

1084 and 1075 are my favorite steels to use. Simple to heat treat. Holds an edge really well. And easy to sharpen when it needs it. @Huntaholic has one of the very first knives I ever made. It's made from 1075. He's carried it hunting all over North America. About 3 deer size critters and the edge needs touching up to get back to shaving sharp.

As to the handle materials, for esthetics, I prefer G10 because it's SO much easier to buff and polish to a high gloss finish. But, it's not as grippy as micarta when polished and it gets wet/bloody.

Edit: That Benchmade Steep Country is a good looking knife! I couldn't make you anything comparable for that price tag.

• Thanks for the honest reply. It's not so much a money issue, if I decide to go custom, I will look you up. It's more about easy to not cry when I lose it. Lol.

 

[Shag]

• Thanks for the honest reply. It's not so much a money issue, if I decide to go custom, I will look you up. It's more about easy to not cry when I lose it. Lol.

I'm as up front and honest as I can possibly be, always…especially when it comes to something I make with my own two hands. I don't do anything that other makers can't do with the steel I use. There's only so much that can be done. But I've kinda found a way of fit and finish that I like MY knives to look like. It's not for everybody. But it's how I think knives should look.

 

[yellalinehunter]

I had a 3-blade from Cabela's my uncle gave me when I was a kid. Had a regular blade, gut hook and saw and used it forever but always difficult to get cleaned up. I still have it 35-40 years later but these days I prefer a good fixed blade. Current one is a sharpfinger made by @Shag and is the pic below. As mentioned above the morakniv is a good one that's cheap. Just make sure you clean and oil it immediately after use or the blade will turn.
View attachment 310632

I like that point with a good belly. Would be neat to incorporate a gut hook on that knife

 

[TNRifleman]

This Winkler Blue Ridge Hunter fits your description and can be had with micarta scales

 

[quackaholic]

This Winkler Blue Ridge Hunter fits your description and can be had with micarta scales
View attachment 310715

That does fit the description to a T as far as design. Steel maybe not so much.

 

[Shag]

That does fit the description to a T as far as design. Steel maybe not so much.

80crv2 steel. Winkler makes some cool blades though. Think "Last of the Mohicans".

 

[Gravey]

I also have an ESEE and had a white river. Never used it and put it up here on a raffle board to be donated. This is it.

 

[Shag]

I also have an ESEE and had a white river. Never used it and put it up here on a raffle board to be donated. This is it.

View attachment 310722

I like that little knife! Pretty sure I bought a few spots on that one when it was raffled.

 

[Gravey]

I like that little knife! Pretty sure I bought a few spots on that one when it was raffled.

Yeah it felt great in my hand but never used it and once i got the sharpfinger from you figured I never would. Didn't hurt that the funds raised were for a good cause.