OK folks, help me pick out a knife for $250 or less-probably want D-2 or aus-8 steel drop point

Looked at the Dozier knives, they look a little thick in the handle...but might go that way anyhow

looked at the Knives of Alaska and just not real sure about them either...

Want something that has a nice handle-not the plastic or synthetic stuff but wood, bone, antler-something nice. The knife will be used almost 95% of the time on Texas whitetail deer and the occasional Hog. I like knives that are easy to carry-I like to carry as little as possible when hunting and will hike back a couple of miles when hunting. Right now I have a Puma earl that needs to be re-sharpened half way through a Texas whitetail, so I probably need to practice sharpening some also, but I'd like a Kinfe for a lifetime++

Thanks

Dave

Dave, it looks like your original post and some replies got scattered about here. As a follow up I have my first Gene Ingram knife on it's way to me now, and have a couple of others ordered. I don't know which way you decided to go, but I really can vote for Gene's knives now!

Regards--
Don

Dozier is considered the expert in heat treating D2.You'll never be dissappointed with his knives.Sometimes www.agrussell.com has Doziers with nicer wood handles. AUS 8 is not as good a steel as D2.In addition to D2 also excellent are 154 CM,ATS 34 and S30V.

Ended up with a Gene Ingram--should be here by May or there abouts!!