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BuglingBull
Guest
I'm looking to buy a new knife / skinner set. Would like to hear what and what not to buy. I thought about the Raptor Razor... ?
sagebrush
Very Active Member
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For years I've used Buck Alpha Hunters and then a buddy gave me a Havalon Piranta Bolt. Pretty hard to beat the Bolt. It comes with 60A blades which are thicker than the 60XT blades on the regular Piranta. I also bought a box of size 60 blades which are even thicker and the Bolt will accept them as well. My meat kit for the field now consists of a Piranta Bolt, 6 spare blades, a small pliers to make changing the blades easy and less dangerous and a Gerber Gator Pack Saw. That pack saw has been everywhere and sawed through everything.
Unfortunately Gator Pack Saw is no longer in production. The closest thing I've been able to find is the Camillus Hunting Bone Saw. I have two Gerber saws and they will be passed on to my son I'm sure.
You can cape and bone out an elk with 4 blades but I carry two additional spares. You can't twist a Piranta or the blade will snap.
This set up is way light and easy to carry in a day pack.
"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
Unfortunately Gator Pack Saw is no longer in production. The closest thing I've been able to find is the Camillus Hunting Bone Saw. I have two Gerber saws and they will be passed on to my son I'm sure.
You can cape and bone out an elk with 4 blades but I carry two additional spares. You can't twist a Piranta or the blade will snap.
This set up is way light and easy to carry in a day pack.
"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
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BuglingBull
Guest
Thank you two for the insight! I too, bone everything out from the kill sight. I'm tired of packing a sharpener and several knifes. Again, thanks!
LAST EDITED ON Aug-03-15 AT 02:00PM (MST)[p]I use a Cutco Drop point double D edge. I found I can cut up 5-6 elk with a new one, from beginning to freezer. They have a lifetime sharpening, but the ones that I have shipped back don't stay as sharp as the brand new ones. I was given a Havalon as a gift and used it some, not my favorite.
DZ
DZ
cmbbulldog
Very Active Member
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>I pack a Havalon nothing else.
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This
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This
nfh
Long Time Member
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- 7,657
I use my buck 105 c for everything. I can do a whole elk and handles those tough bones when I pop the knee joints.
I have had it for 14 years and still a trucking with no signs of weakness.
Now I use a buck packlite skinner kit for skinning now.
I don't like knives where you have to change blades. It one more thing to deal with and one more thing to forget in your pack.
I know several guys dig but I don't.
Also go with something with comfort. I don't like knives that don't fit my hands well then you get careless and cut yourself.
I have had it for 14 years and still a trucking with no signs of weakness.
Now I use a buck packlite skinner kit for skinning now.
I don't like knives where you have to change blades. It one more thing to deal with and one more thing to forget in your pack.
I know several guys dig but I don't.
Also go with something with comfort. I don't like knives that don't fit my hands well then you get careless and cut yourself.
sagebrush
Very Active Member
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Saw is for antlers. I don't want to carry a skull if I don't need to.
"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
stillwaitin
Active Member
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- 361
Another vote for Havalon!
tailchasers
Long Time Member
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I'll stick with my old fixed blade buck knife from the 80's. Knife has lots of stories behind it and stays flipping sharp. Unfortunately you don't find steel of this quality around much anymore.
"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."
"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."
COLOelkman
Very Active Member
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- 1,037
I'm with DZ on this as my knives are a Cutco serrated blade and a Piranha. I usually break at least 2 piranhas and my Cutco can go thru at least 8 animals without sharpening. The Piranha is so light it's hard not to take.
I highly recommend the Wyoming saw. This makes quick work of sawing off legs and antlers. When I cut up my elk at the kill site, I take the rear hams off whole -- I don't debone them. This is a bit heavier carrying out, but it also keeps the meat in better shape -- you don't have that inner meat exposed to air or dirt, and the outer meat is generally fairly well protected by membranes. I saw off the hoof then cut off the ham. I do the same with the front shoulder. The Wyoming saw looks like a hacksaw. It comes apart and packs into a fairly compact carrying case. The hacksaw form makes the saw very easy to use.
As far as a knife for skinning and cutting off the major pieces of meat, I like a Schrade "Old Timer 11430T Blade Runner Gut hook knife. I don't particularly like the gut hook feature. But the knife itself cuts well. I seem to be able to cut up a whole elk (skin and take off hams, shoulders, backstraps, tenderloins, rib meat) without having to resharpen or at least not resharpen too much. I use a different knife to gut and field dress my elk: an old Marble Knife from Gladstone, Michigan. I do the field dressing honors with this knife for sentimental reasons: it was my deceased father's hunting knife. Having said that, it does a fine job field dressing the elk.
As far as a knife for skinning and cutting off the major pieces of meat, I like a Schrade "Old Timer 11430T Blade Runner Gut hook knife. I don't particularly like the gut hook feature. But the knife itself cuts well. I seem to be able to cut up a whole elk (skin and take off hams, shoulders, backstraps, tenderloins, rib meat) without having to resharpen or at least not resharpen too much. I use a different knife to gut and field dress my elk: an old Marble Knife from Gladstone, Michigan. I do the field dressing honors with this knife for sentimental reasons: it was my deceased father's hunting knife. Having said that, it does a fine job field dressing the elk.
BuglingBadger
New Member
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- 0
Havalon just came out with a new knife that is double sided and will except all the Havalon blades.
Mine is on order! Can't wait!
Mine is on order! Can't wait!
crownroyal
Active Member
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- 150
Ordered my double sided havalon as well.. I think it will be the ultimate.. Might be the only knife I pack if its holds up like they claim it will...
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BuglingBull
Guest
Thank you for the advise and suggestions! I have purchased a Havalon. Hopefully, I will be able to tell you all how it worked after this years hunts!
Wiszard
Long Time Member
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I bought a Havalon this spring and am waiting for my son to kill his bull elk in Utah to try it out. I can't wait.
Used to use a Gerber Gator (the $35 knife). I'm on my second one of those in the last 8 years. I like them because they fit your hand nicely and hold an edge decently. Hear Havalon made a really good product so I am trying it out.
Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.
Used to use a Gerber Gator (the $35 knife). I'm on my second one of those in the last 8 years. I like them because they fit your hand nicely and hold an edge decently. Hear Havalon made a really good product so I am trying it out.
Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.
