Which Knife

[Camo]

What type or brand of knife do you use to cape an elk? Which knife do you use to skin and quarter an elk? I have an Alaska Knife but I am looking for a quality smaller knife that is more nimble and easier to handle in tight quarters.

[G Posik]

Check the havalon's. they are super sharp and the blades change easy. Just no prying with them as they are surgical blades and will not take side torque. They will cut like nothing else. When they get dull changes the blade(@30 seconds if you take your time).

Glenn

[Norrec]

My favorite knife for capeing an elk would have to be my old Humvee Recon Knife w/ flat edge blade. I have used it for everything from pheasant to elk to bear. Just have to make sure to clean it good and I usually re-hone the edge after every time I use it but that is not really needed.

[Indian Summer]

I'd highly recommend this small fixed blade Buck Woodsman 102. http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3036

It's a great size for caping. The Havalon is an awesome knife but too sharp for caping. When you get around the eyes and other places where the skin is thinner and the spaces are tight it can cut when you don't want to. Since you can't twist or pry with it it's terrible for getting up under the antler burrs. I do use it for everything else.

When looking for the link to the above knife I saw this lightweight caper from Buck. Looks pretty nice. 2 1/2 inch blade and only 1.1 ounce! Inexpensive too at under $18 on eBay. I might have to try that. http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3700

[G Posik]

I'd highly recommend this small fixed blade Buck Woodsman 102. http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3036

It's a great size for caping. The Havalon is an awesome knife but too sharp for caping. When you get around the eyes and other places where the skin is thinner and the spaces are tight it can cut when you don't want to. Since you can't twist or pry with it it's terrible for getting up under the antler burrs. I do use it for everything else.

When looking for the link to the above knife I saw this lightweight caper from Buck. Looks pretty nice. 2 1/2 inch blade and only 1.1 ounce! Inexpensive too at under $18 on eBay. I might have to try that. http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3700

Since I use to cape a few animals for a taxidermist and all I used was a scale, I find the havalon works perfect for me on all of the camping needs. If you are not use to camping with something this sharp then you might want a different knife.

Glenn

[mtnmutt]

Havalon has a 22 xt blunt tip blade. Not sure if that will help or not. I bought some for my havalon torch. I have not used them yet.

[Camo]

What knife do you guys use for general elk or deer gutting and skinning?

[G Posik]

I use my Havalon for everything. Once you get use to them there is nothing you can not gut, skin, quarter or cape.

Glenn

[kunas]

My havlon worked perfect on my elk last year i do however keep another knife in my pocket the havlons have flimsy blades i used my outdoor edge for removibg ivorys last year i wont go into field anymore without havalon in my pack

[Indian Summer]

What knife do you guys use for general elk or deer gutting and skinning?

http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3041

Have dressed 100s of animals with this knife. Elk, deer, caribou, lions, antelope etc. Use it for caping too when in the field where all I have is that and the Havalon. I leave my caper in camp.

[WindedBowhunter]

I currently use Outdoor Edge, but looking into Lone Wolf Knives

[Broken arrow]

I have an outdoor edge flip n blaze and also use my buck lite caper.

[Solitude]

Havalon works well for all the reasons we have become accustom too, but picked up a Cutco Clip Point and it has served me well.

Carry both with me at all times, and the combo handles an elk very well.

[BrentLaBere]

What knife do you guys use for general elk or deer gutting and skinning?

http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctID=3041

Have dressed 100s of animals with this knife. Elk, deer, caribou, lions, antelope etc. Use it for caping too when in the field where all I have is that and the Havalon. I leave my caper in camp.

x2 on that buck knife. Has been my go to for almost any game. Switched it out of my pack this year trying to save on bulkiness and didn't feel right without it.

[>>>---WW---->]

Make your own. It's not all that hard. And depending on how much time you want to put in on doing it determines how great your own personal touch will be. Just find a good blade to work with and put your own style of handle on it. I really like the Helle blades. They come from the factory sharp enough to shave the whiskers off of a frogs nose and will stay that way for a long time. I love the Scandi grind and that makes it easy to sharpen without any special jigs or tools.

There are lots of other good blades out there as well. Plus, it is a great project to help cure your winter time cabin fever. Here is a picture of my own personal knife that I made. It's been through a whole bunch of elk and deer and outside of a few scratches, it's good as new. I also made one that I had the blade engraved with some curley cue stuff and an elks hoof print on the blade. But it is just for show.

[>>>---WW---->]

Here's the one with the engraved blade. I haven't finished the handle off on it yet.

[pointysticks]

i'd like a havalon. so sharp!!

BUT.. if you are out in the woods, and SHTF..how is that thing as a survival knife?

i will still get a Havalon Bolt if i can ever find one in a store to check out first hand. but i think i would carry a bigger knife as well..just in case, the meteor hits while i am away. hahahha.

[WindedBowhunter]

WW - those are some good looking knives!

What type of steel are you using on them?

[>>>---WW---->]

Rudy: I've been using Helle blades from Norway. They run 58-59 on the Rockwell scale. I usually buy mine from dryadbows.com. There are many great blade makers to choose from.

[WindedBowhunter]

WW - Thanks for the information! While I do not make my own knives, I have met a few knife makers at shows that we exhibit at. They get all "geeked out" about the metals!

[>>>---WW---->]

I'm sure no metal expert. All I know is my knife went through a bull elk and three deer in one season before I ever had to sharpen it. And that was right out of the box from the factory. I finally had to do a quick touchup on it when I started on the second elk. That is plenty good enough for me and the main reason I've stuck with the Helle blades. I just get a kick out of putting stuff to use that I have made for myself.

I sure wouldn't go so far as to call myself a knife maker. But I have sold a few and given several away as gifts to my special friends and relatives. Elknut and Bull Elk Down each have one.

I told Buglemaster how I made them and he has done several in his own style. Maybe he'll post some pictures

[MT Beard]

For me the KaBar Little Finn is just about perfect. If only the handle was an inch longer...

[bnsafe]

my cutco did an amazing job on my elk, but it sucks with the hide. the serrated edge is awesome on meat, but not hide. it is super sharp though and I wouldn't have an issue doing another elk with it right now

[WindedBowhunter]

WW as you stated that you put that knife through a lot of hide before having to resharpen!

Thank you for sharing!

[Triplebhunters]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-Roofin ... /100488981
These worked awesome for cutting down the spine and sides.
This was my first elk. BIG differance between elk and the whitetail I am accustomed to butchering.
My go to knife for 30 years has been a Case. Havnt seen anything perform as good as this knife. Even on the elk I did not have to resharpen.
Also like a filet knife, haven't found one that sharpens easily as of yet.
I will be buying a havalon for my wife for Christmas. I've been wanting to try it, has to be awesome trimming silver skin.

[Stefan]

Have you considered helle knives, they are the finest hunting knives I have ever seen and used. They are a dream to use and come in a lot of great sizes for elk and deer. Truly a no BS knife that is razor sharp, functional and has classic good looks.

[elkmtngear]

I have a Browning folding knife with a guthook, the guthook is awesome for skinning up the legs and from belly to brisket.

For the remaining quartering and skinning, I use my Cutco drop point.

I use a Speedy Sharp to keep both knives efficiently sharp.

I hear nothing but good things about the Havalons...but I'm still old school right now. If it ain't broke....

[FemoralArchery]

I recently bought a havalon and I love this thing. Its not a total replacement for my heavier fixed blade knife, but its pretty handy.

For deer or anything else, I will only carry this knife. I'm sure its more than capable of breaking down a whole elk, but I like a knife that I can reef on a little bit. The blades on the havalon are definitely sharp, but not overly sturdy.

[Swede]

For skinning I prefer the Buck Mini Alpha. I got mine when they were made with ATS 34 steel. You can hone them to 17* and they still hold an edge very well. I am not sure what the the mini Alpha is made with now, but I am sure they are excellent. For general work I use a Buck Personal hunting knife. I was just looking at their web page and they are right next to each other of their hunting knife page.

[Mojostylee24]

I have a couple Ahti knives hand forged in Finland. For the price I don't think they can be beat. I have used mine on a couple mule deer, splitting firewood, screwdriver work on the snow-machine etc...


http://www.ragweedforge.com/AhtiCatalog.html

-Mojo

[Migolito]

I'm with WW on this...make your own. It's really not that difficult and you can buy kits with everything you need for pretty reasonable $$. Be careful though, or you'll end up making a Knife Kiln, Knife Belt Grinder, ordering metal off line...it can get out of hand. Seriously though, there's nothing like making a knife and using it in the field.