I'm really, really not a knife guy.

I have three "hunting" knives, a Buck Woodsman I bought in 1970, a Buck Skinner I bought in 1980 and a Schrade Sharpfinger that I won in the 1980s. I actually used the Schrade for all my hunting as it sharpens easily and stays sharp enough to do anything.

I'd like to find a nice 4" drop point damascus or stainless damascus blade, stabilized wood or Mammoth ivory scales and I am looking for recommended brand/makers.

I don't need a $500 knife as I wouldn't appreciate the difference as it's only going to do a couple of animals a year and will mostly sit in my North American hunting, storage box.

I do have some Kershaw and Benchmade pocket knives that I use for working on the property and their quality is fine with me.

So are their any brands or knife makers that you guys recommend?

What's your price point?

Good inexpensive knifes are out there The following brands have good steel in them.

Remington, Browning, Kershaw, Buck, Gerber, Cold steel and many others.

I brought a couple of 7 dollar Winchester brand at Wal-Mart for rough work ugly, heavy but they hold an edge really well.

They have become my favorite skinning knifes.

Go to the sportsman guide web site and search knifes hundreds of brands and styles.

Or one of the many knife suppliers out there

One can spend as little or a lot.

It won't be Damascus but I recommend Bark River. I've got several and I love them.

Let's say around $100 - $200. I just want a knife that works and looks good, that's why I was thinking damascus. The stainless damascus was just an idea because since it would be stored more than used and I wouldn't have to worry about it rusting.

Quality damascus will be expensive.

I recommend Bark River too. For you in good stainless steel Elmax: https://www.knivesshipfree.com...-point-hunter-elmax/

This one for example. There are many.



Jiri

For what is worth I will give you my opinion on the matter. As stated above a Damascus blade is very expensive and difficult to make. I don’t think there are any true stainless steel Damascus blades possible, though I bow to someone who knows about steel more than I.
I can recommend two (2) knives of good quality and reasonable price. I have both these knives.

The Helle Harding knife is about the size you want a four (4) inch blade and it’s scary sharp. It’s made in Norway. It has triple laminated stainless steel.

See reviews here:
https://www.youtube.com/result...=helle+harding+knife

The other is the Blackjack 125. Made in USA out of A2 tool steel, this is not stainless. It is a knife that keeps an edge well but not as easy to sharpen due to the hardness of the steel. It’s a much tougher knife than the Helle knife and with a longer blade of five (5) inches. It comes in different types handles.

See review here:
https://www.youtube.com/result..._query=blackjack+125

Good luck in your search. Hope you find something you like, though the knives you have are very good tools.

Helle has a lot of great options and it's in your price range.

Thanks guys

quote:

Originally posted by Jiri:
Quality damascus will be expensive.

I recommend Bark River too. For you in good stainless steel
Jiri

I looked at that exact same knife last night.

quote:

Originally posted by JORGE01:
For what is worth I will give you my opinion on the matter. As stated above a Damascus blade is very expensive and difficult to make. I don’t think there are any true stainless steel Damascus blades possible, though I bow to someone who knows about steel more than I.
I can recommend two (2) knives of good quality and reasonable price. I have both these knives.

The Helle Harding knife is about the size you want a four (4) inch blade and it’s scary sharp. It’s made in Norway. It has triple laminated stainless steel.

Good luck in your search. Hope you find something you like, though the knives you have are very good tools.

I looked at the Helles and liked the Survivorman Temagami

Everyone has a mistake now and then, but I've got a Bark River somewhere that I think is worthless. Won't hold an edge worth a damn. I would not recommend Bark Rivers for that reason, however, as above, many people seem to like them.

If you've got time, I would suggest you "thumb" thru Arizona Custom knives used knives and see if any of them catch your fancy. Often available at very reasonable prices.

I would also suggest you look at Spyderco's line of folders (their fixed blades tend to be above your price point). They make a helluva knife and, if you choose a good steel, you will have a lifetime companion which can be carried daily in your pocket. The "Native" in S30V is hard to beat.

Thanks,

I have Spyderco, Benchmade and a few other good pocket knives since I use them a lot, it's a good hunting knife that I'm lacking. I've cleaned as many animals with pocket folders as I have with fixed blade hunters though.

Well, no hurry I'll just keep looking around.

Who actually makes those Remington and Winchester knives ? Seen em around but am suspicious of the quality.

Grizz

I have 3 Doziers and 1 Bark River, and a few others.


I'd own another Bark in a heart beat.

Give David Winston a call and talk to him about making you a good knife. Excellent work at a fair price. You will thank me later. ph# 662 418-4932.

I would give the same recommendation about Lee Baumgart. Quality work at a reasonable price.

Another vote for Lee here on AR.

I have a bag full of knives I have collected for the past 40+ years. Some
fancy & expensive. Some not so much.
Today, I would buy a Baumgart. Nice, well made, working knife. (I have (3)).

I have both Baumgart and Winston knives, plus a shitload from other makers. I will second what other writers have said: These two make wonderful knives at a very reasonable price. Guaranteed, you won’t be dissatisfied with either. Nice guys too

If you looking for art work, then their are many fine knife makers out there, with all manor of black magic steel that will slice thru two elk and a dozen deer, BS deer and elk hair and bone dull the best of steel and in a hurry....

My favorite across the counter knife is the PUMA, its not so hard it can't be sharpened pretty quick in the field, Same for Buck, Case, and others..

A knife is just a tool to me...I make some custom knives and have a few custom knives but I don't use them..Actually I like the old Green River knives and the knives that butchers use, they are cheap and easy to sharpen.

Benchmade Hidden Canyon

Mike

Just in case you are interested I came across this knife:

https://www.knivesshipfree.com...ountain-hunter-g-10/

It’s on a special discount. Whether it’s worth it or not I don’t know but it seems to come close to what you are seeking. It can’t be returned. So buyer be were. I don’t have anything to do with the seller.

Thanks guys, I stumbled across an Amazon deal for a Bark River drop point for $49 (Regularly $150 - $200) and ordered one. Amazon says that they are out of stock but will notify me when it ships.

I think that it's a typo but I'll wait to see if they honor it.

You should really treat yourself to a good custom knife sometime in your life. I guided elk hunters for many years using regular production knives like Gerber, Browning, Puma, and lots of others. I got along fine not knowing about really good knives. Two years ago I started using a couple custom knives and can't believe the difference, particularly how sharp they are and good they cut. Also how long they stay sharp. I wish I would have had these knives when I was doing it for a living.

What Ray said. I like custom knives. They are pretty. I like having one on my belt. They look good in photos. Then I use my Havalon for general gutting. And the old Green River knives can't be beat for run of the mill butchering.

Lavaca, couldn’t agree with you more. The fact is, commercially made knives will do pretty much everything you would want a knife to do.

But it’s pride of ownership. These custom makers are making these knives at a very high level. It’s pretty cool to be wearing a knife that represents the pinnacle of knives. You are sitting on a high rock pinnacle glassing, the sun is warm and you sit back, pull your knife and admire the perfect lines. I find that way cool. I probably don’t have much poetry in my soul and this is as close as I can get. You can’t do that with a Buck.

CAt,
I can't and won't argue that post..I do exactly the same with my rifle, knowing full well my old mod. 70 that's been so many miles in a saddle scabbard that it looks like a combination of stainless steel in color (no blue left) and the stock is custom drift wood, and I know it will do anything that one of my custom rifles will do and usually do it better, but such is life..

I don't have that same warm and cozy feeling about a knife so hard that it takes me 2 hours to sharpen it in the field once its dull, and it will become dull in camp for sure as the elk and deer come in....I do however have a number of such high dollar knives on display and in draws in my house..

So there ya go.

I used a pocket knife this weekend working calves.

I get it Ray. Sounds crazy as a loon, but a few rifles have souls. I’ve had many rifles, by some very fine makers, but an old pre-64, featherweight of mine is special. My first big-game gun it just has that “gunny” feel and feeds cartridges so smoothly that you can barely hear them slide into the chamber. The other thing is that even with that clubby stock and fat grip, they balance beautifully—at least to my hands.

I know what you are talking about.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Everyone has a mistake now and then, but I've got a Bark River somewhere that I think is worthless. Won't hold an edge worth a damn. I would not recommend Bark Rivers for that reason, however, as above, many people seem to like them.

If you've got time, I would suggest you "thumb" thru Arizona Custom knives used knives and see if any of them catch your fancy. Often available at very reasonable prices.

I would also suggest you look at Spyderco's line of folders (their fixed blades tend to be above your price point). They make a helluva knife and, if you choose a good steel, you will have a lifetime companion which can be carried daily in your pocket. The "Native" in S30V is hard to beat.

Bark River from what steel? That is the point . . .