Knifes on a budget

[treehugn]

Looking at buying a new knife this year. Sick of my cheapo ones not making it through one elk.

Any suggestion in the $50 - $100 range?

[Indian Summer]

Buck Pathfinder

[DBLGBL]

Buy a quality knife one time and be done. I like Bark River but they are a little more money. They offer an amazing array of blade styles and sizes in addition to steel types. The older buck knives are quality but some of the newer stuff is junk.

DBLGBL,

Knife whore..

[Lefty]

Knives have gone a long ways over the years
A friend of mine has a number of fixed handle knife labels manufactured in China. Most of his knife lines are sold for industrial-commercial use. Most of those knifes cost under $4.00 to manufacture, While the handle is a cheap tough plastic the blades are of a higher quality.
Price isnt always an indicator of the steel quality

One option is to make the knife you want

[powderhogg01]

One option is to make the knife you want

lefty nailed it, the best knife will be the one you make. With that said the quality of the steel is what to look for. I carry an outdoorsmans edge skinning blade on my belt, and typically carry a larger blade in the pack, as well as my 8"bowie. I expect any blade to dull after handling an elk or deer, so I carry a stone so I can sharpen as I go.
I have held so many knifes over the years, the only one that stands out and screams im better are the spyderco knifes. they are tough as the bulls we persue, and their warranty is unbeatable if something were to happen.

[Lefty]

My hometown has a knife making supply house,.. all sorts of cool stuff
Last year I bought a sweet piece of wood for a goose call,.. only $38.00


Their web site didnt come up for me

Midwest Knifemakers Supply Llc
Machine Knife Supplier
Address: 1350 Lake St, North Mankato, MN 56003
Phone:(507) 720-6063

[Fridaythe13th]

SOG revolver. I like it because it has a blade and a saw all in one. Mostly use for whitetails. It has done fine with elk but I do carry a stone to sharpen.

[Huntrgathr]

Good ? Cheap ? Havalon. Carry 10 blades the first year, 5 the second, and 3 every year thereafter ...

Took some getting used to using way more finesse and way less pressure , and I still love my old bucks , but a Havalon weighs like Two ounces so that's what goes in my pack. You can keep a fixed-blade in the truck and take it in on second trip on the pack out

[oldnovice]

A friend recommended an Outdoor Edge Razor-Blade. Has replaceable blades and comes with 5 extra blades in a folding handle for like $25. You can hit the blades with a stone if needed. Also, bright orange handle so it doesn't get lost in the grass if you drop it. Limited lifetime warranty. Got mine at Cabelas.

[WapitiTalk1]

A friend recommended an Outdoor Edge Razor-Blade. Has replaceable blades and comes with 5 extra blades in a folding handle for like $25. You can hit the blades with a stone if needed. Also, bright orange handle so it doesn't get lost in the grass if you drop it. Limited lifetime warranty. Got mine at Cabelas.

I ordered the same knife a week or so ago. I know a lot of folks like the Havalons but I didn't like it so well when I tried breaking down my elk with it this year. After the third or fourth broken blade (and challenge of removing old blade/putting a new one in), we ended up using two fixed blades to bone out the bull. I do like the idea of having a few exchangeable blades at my disposal so hopefully, the new OE knife fits the bill with the thicker blades and seemingly better/easier blade removal/replacement system. Have you tried yours out yet on a critter oldnovice? I'd be curious to hear what you think of the knife.

[oldnovice]

Just got it earlier this week. It looks plenty sturdy and the blades are SHARP! Spare blades fit into a slot inside the sheath and are in individual plastic sheaths. The book that comes with it shows a lot of other combinations available. Hopefully I get to try it out next week!

[Elkonthebrain]

I have both the outdoor edge and havalon. In my opinion the outdoor edge is a much better knife. I was having the same issues with the havalon breaking. I have done a couple elk and deer with the outdoor edge, no breaks. It's kind of a pain to change the blade with bloody hands and a gummed up blade.

[Ridgernr]

I had the same problem with the havalon , no thanks it just is too flimsy for me I want a blade
That is sturdy . I bought a razor lite and I will see how it goes . It has alot thicker blade which I like already

[Dr_flash]

Although i haven't used the Havalon or Outdoor edge replaceable blade knifes, i think the outdoor edge would be preferred. The outdoor edge has that stiff holder to keep the blade from breaking. I personally have the Elk Hunter series of knives from knives of Alaska and the out door edge cutlery zip pro knife for quick "unzipping" of animals without puncturing the guts (i use the gutless method)... You may also want to look at the raptor razor knives. Do a google search for the gutless method and the raptor razor. Its a "think outside the box" knife, i'm tempted to buy one.

[husky390]

Havalon or Raptor Razor for work on an animal and Morakniv knives is what's on my belt for general camp chores.

[wapitibowman]

Cutco drop point hunter. I think it is $80 or so. One of the sharpest knives from manufacturer I have seen. Lifetime warranty and sharpening service. I used one on a 5point bull this year, it did dull some, but I didn't have to sharpen it during the process. It would probably still shave hair on my arm, but I reaharpen with each animal. My buddy used a buck folder and sharpened 4+ times.

Wapitibowman

[Old school]

x2 on what wapitibowman said. I've been satisfied with the durability and sharp edge that the Cutco holds.

--Mitch

[cohunter14]

I am also an Outdoor Edge fan. Our group has quite a few of their knives and everyone has been happy with them. I recently bought this pack for my father and he loved it this year. The sharpener works awesome and the whole kit is very light: http://www.cabelas.com/product/outdoor-edge-reg-blaze-n-bone-four-piece-combo/1410026.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D1000004213%26Ne%3D1000004213%26No%3D20%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Doutdoor%252Bedge%26Ntx%3Dmode%252Bmatchallpartial%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%252BProducts%26WTz_st%3D%26WTz_stype%3DSP%26form_state%3DsearchForm%26recordsPerPage%3D20%26search%3Doutdoor%252Bedge%26searchTypeByFilter%3DTopRated%26x%3D10%26y%3D6&Ntt=outdoor%2Bedge

[AlexG]

Outdoor edge incredible knifes! Last year I did 3mule deer 1 cow and half way through another cow before I had to switch blades on the razorblaze! But my average is 2 animals a blade!

[BRazz]

For Christmas I got the swing-blade by Outdoor Edge, and finally got to use it on elk this October. I was honestly SO IMPRESSED. If I were looking for a new knife, I'd buy this one over and over and over again. Check it out. Seriously.

[hornart]

Take a look at the revelation knife by real avid, I was able to completely skin and section my bull without having to stop and sharpen, for the money its the best option that I have found, walmart has them listed at $28.00

[redtop]

Make your own. Go to Jantz supply and you can buy an American made 1095, D2 or S30V blade for under $45. They make a Jantz blade model 41 that you can wrap the handle in paracord or leave the way it is. Great little knife. Cheap too. They also sell sheaths. You'll like hunting with a knife you made yourself.

[GobbleFarmer]

I am making some knives, if they turn out well then I'll share the process/materials, etc.