Both these knives are about the same price, but which one is the better quality? I am very new to knives and don't know the terminology yet. I am also not real sure what to look for when buying a quality knife. I want to buy one knife to use over the next 30+ years to gut/clean what will hopfully be 1-4 deer and the occasional hog each year...maybe one day a Moose or elk.

Thanks

Dave

One thing you look for is the type of steel. D2 is a fine stainless steel and Dozier is the expert in heat treating it properly,you'd never be dissappointed in his knives.The stainless steel version of the Master Hunter has like it's carbon steel companion has gotten lots of praise .The stainless is AUS-8,while not as good as D-2 is very good.I've used it as my major hunting knife and find it very practical,the steel holds it's edge well and the Kraton grip and blade have very good shape and the checkered Kraton is slip proof when wet.

IMO for about the same or less money a Cold Steel "Master Hunter" is a far better knife and would last you a lifetime. The Buck knives I've had experience (it's been a while) had OK but not great steel. A lot of the Puma's are made in Argentina of so-so steel. The Carbon V used in the Master Hunter is extremely strong, not too hard to sharpen and takes an excellent edge.

http://store.yahoo.com/emergencyoptions/36jsk.html

If you don't mind spending a little more I think the Fallkniven F-1 is about a perfect size general hunting knife. It's VG-10 Steel is stainless and of very high quality - last year mine skinned an Elk and would still shave hair.

http://knifedealer.net/fallkniven-knives.shtml

If you want to spend enough to buy something truly superior check out some of the Bob Dozier knives at this link....

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/a_through_d/dozier_knives.html

The Dozier knives are simply superior cutting tools. They are not however pry bars and might not survive abuse as well as a Master Hunter, thoughy they will cut better than just about anything else.

The links I posted here are just for examples, it usually pays to shop around for the best price when you find the knife you like best.

The only problem with just one knife is that IMHO knives are way too cool to have just one to last 30 years!........DJ