knife. i think i need to rethink the knife.

[elky McElkerson]

everytime i pack, i literally dump a pile of knives out to choose which one rides shotgun.

i choose for a myriad of reasons..
sentimental - take an old hand me down so my stepdad\'s memory can hunt with me
lucky charm - the old Buck 112 folder i found
buyer\'s remorse - take the knife that cost the most, so i dont feel stupid spending that kinda money..
etc etc.

i think if i kept notes, the knife that comes with me the most is a $14 Mora Carbon companion. i hit it on a waterstone last night and it is a straight razor. it will ribbon cash register receipt paper. it is in my pack now because it is light..something about climbing steep and endless switchbacks to get to deer \"secret spot\" kinda makes you gravitate to the ounce savers. being such a cheap knife, i even took a sawzall and cut down the sheath to save even more weight.

i think i need to get rid of some knives.

 

[bowhunter]

I used to carry two knives. I had a straight blade hunting knife in a leather sheath and a folding fillet knife in a nylon sheath. I went lighter this year and took a Havalon Piranta Edge in a nylon sheath with extra blades. I used one blade on a whole bull. The blade was duller but still doing the job well. I worried about needing a stronger sturdy knife but in the end......I didn\'t miss it. I also carried a sharpener that I now don\'t need with the Havalon.

Ounces=Pounds........Pounds=Pain :idea:

 

[Zpd307]

watching terry beat up that bull with his havalon, made me a believer! xmas gift!!!!!!

 

[Ucsdryder]

Havalon here too. You can take an elk down to the skeleton with it. And all for a couple ounces. No need to add a knife sharpenerer either. Actually would like to here why someone would bring anything else? Unless for sentimental reasons which I totally get.

 

[cnelk]

Havalon here too. You can take an elk down to the skeleton with it. And all for a couple ounces. No need to add a knife sharpenerer either. Actually would like to here why someone would bring anything else?

I\'ll play

I dont use a Havalon, but have seen it used on elk, deer and pronghorn with great ease...

But,
Why would I bring something else?
Because my straight blade Cutco can do 2-3 elk without re-sharpening or replacing a blade.
I can bust the pelvic bone if I want to.
I can use it to pry against something or even open something i.e. beer bottle [and not carry another utensil or tool] without breaking a blade

Not against the Havalon, I may even get one one day

 

[Ucsdryder]

That\'s a great point Brad. The havalon definitely don\'t get it done if you try to pry! And it\'s hard not to pry. I snapped a brand new blade trying to get an elk head off because I tried to pry. Luckily the blades are cheap and virtually weightless so I carry 3 extras.

 

[elky McElkerson]

i used a Havalon on a rutty hog and it worked great. i did break a blade tho..but i blame me being ham-fisted and inexperienced with the tool.

However, i wont get one. my hunts are still backpack trips. (okay, truck hunts are getting more frequent) if SHTF, i would want a real knife. like i needed to process some wood, heaven forbid, make a broken leg brace, etc..start a fire, make a dead fall trap (<-- i would starve to death, because my deadfall traps suck in my backyard). a real knife for sure.

my knife in a survival situation needs to do more than be slicey and sharp. hell, i carry a ferro rod to strike sparks to make fire. i can use the spine of my knife.

 

[Billy Goat]

I filleted my 5x6 with a Gerber equivalent of the Havalon.

Broke 5 blades, but easy to replace.

got the job done, but no means of cutting ribs was frustrating while gutting. no means of removing head from spine. no means to cut knee joints, either. after 1st pack out, I brought back a hatchet, which did the job.

No complaints on weight.

took me 3.5 hrs to gut, skin, fillet and bag. Couple more hours and use of young, healthy, cousin for pack out.

 

[bowhunter]

I filleted my 5x6 with a Gerber equivalent of the Havalon.

Broke 5 blades, but easy to replace.

got the job done, but no means of cutting ribs was frustrating while gutting. no means of removing head from spine. no means to cut knee joints, either. after 1st pack out, I brought back a hatchet, which did the job.

No complaints on weight.

took me 3.5 hrs to gut, skin, fillet and bag. Couple more hours and use of young, healthy, cousin for pack out.

This is the only thing my Havalon would not do. I did all of the rest with no broken blades. Knowing where to cut. Priceless

 

[Billy Goat]

I did not know where to cut. that poor spine looked like it\'d been operated on by a 7 year old on coffee and uppers, with a butter knife, and two weeks time to do so.

 

[bowhunter]

I did not know where to cut. that poor spine looked like it\'d been operated on by a 7 year old on coffee and uppers, with a butter knife, and two weeks time to do so.

The legs are much easier. That spine can be tricky.