Please recommend a stalking knife

09 February 2010, 22:30

As above gentlemen, I would be grateful if you would tell what stalking knife you use and why as I have decided to get myself a decent knife.

At the moment I use a folding buck knife for most of my gralloching, occasionally a frost clipper in carbon steel.

The buck knife is ok but gunk gets into the nooks and crannies, resulting in a smell like long dead, old sheep. The dishwasher gets rid of the smell but not all of the tissue.

The frost knife is also ok but the blade is neither thick enough for heavy stuff, like sawing through the sternum and ribs when you've forgotten a saw, nor is it a "thin" blade for the more delicate bits.

I don't like the steel on the stainless clippers by the way, but the carbon one needs wetnursing if it not to rust.

The budget is reasonably flexible as I intend to buy once and hang on to it.

Ta!

A

09 February 2010, 22:38

Boghossian

quote:

The budget is reasonably flexible as I intend to buy once and hang on to it.

A

09 February 2010, 22:44

Boghossian

quote:
Originally posted by Boghossian:
quote:

The budget is reasonably flexible as I intend to buy once and hang on to it.

I used to think this until I started losing knives (or getting them stolen!) on a biannual basis.

You will know that I'm a (stainless) frost clipper man because it's all I really need for recreational stalking. Easily sharpened and easily replaced - more than strong enough to get through the sternum on most deer smaller than a fallow buck, though most people prefer to tackle the sternum in the larder with a small saw regardless. Mine is sharp enough to larder a 2/3 fallow easily, then a couple pulls through a sharpener and you're all set for more. One criticism - they can pop off your belt sometimes.

Otherwise I would recommend a Gerber Gator - but it's a folder...

09 February 2010, 23:21

Ghubert

Thanks Boggy, I realise what you say about everyday carry but the knife I mean is the sort that stalkers feel compelled to own, without necessarily taking it out to hunt every time.

Sort of like a knife I would take to paid trips, rather than on my own patch where a sharpened spoon would be as good as anything.

I hear what you say about people relieving you of your property at critical moments in your hunting career, oh the number of times I could have used a compact, bright LED torch last year.....

09 February 2010, 23:32

IanF

Amir.

You already have the best compromise on your belt. The Clipper has the best blade architecture I have found when it comes to UK deer species.

Hacking through the sternum?

Why not simply run the blade up through the cartilage to the side of the breast bone?

Technique - you are meant to be learning to be a surgeon, not a butcher!

Rgds

Ian

09 February 2010, 23:46

Ghubert

Thanks Ian, for your troubles you have pm.

10 February 2010, 00:11

londonhunter

ghubert

I have 04 spare handmade knives that i don't use. They have all been given to me by various parties overtime.

I will bring them all to th AR weekend and you can have one for free. Don;t spend a penny unless you have to. How about that?

10 February 2010, 00:15

Honkey

These are great for the money....

http://www.elenhunting.com/Mer...e=RS&Category_Code=K

The Colibri they make it also a realy nice small knife. I have had one for 12 years and it has field dressed everything from buffalo to deer and moose.

Another option is cold steel, maybe not the pretest buy AWESOME tough sharp knives...

http://www.coldsteel.com/

Good Luck....

10 February 2010, 00:16

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by Honkey:
These are great for the money....

http://www.elenhunting.com/Mer...e=RS&Category_Code=K

The Colibri they make it also a realy nice small knife. I have had one for 12 years and it has field dressed everything from buffalo to deer and moose.

Another option is cold steel, maybe not the pretest buy AWESOME tough sharp knives...

http://www.coldsteel.com/

Good Luck....

Hey how are you sir?

Good to hear from you and thanks for the advice, your last bit of advice is still in my sig line!

10 February 2010, 00:17

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by londonhunter:
ghubert

I have 04 spare handmade knives that i don't use. They have all been given to me by various parties overtime.

I will bring them all to th AR weekend and you can have one for free. Don;t spend a penny unless you have to. How about that?

Thank you LH, i'm sure we can rustle up a trade of some sort.

10 February 2010, 00:33

DJM

If you want the best then get a Cutco.

10 February 2010, 00:40

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by DJM:
If you want the best then get a Cutco.

Aah, not heard of them before.

Do you recommend any particular model Dave?

10 February 2010, 00:51

Gerry

Amir,

Good topic for the Weekend.

I'll bring along my favorite as well. We can discuss the finer points

of a Blade and knive's various attributes.

10 February 2010, 01:26

mouse93

I used to carry "Puma weidmesser"

but since it became a reminder of my old man I got myself a couple of Swiss - I have one on my belt, one in backpack and one in my vehicle.

10 February 2010, 01:32

Claret_Dabbler

Amir, I really rate my Fallkniven F1. It has more than enough strength to split the breast bone on a fallow or sika.

Sorry, I missed your call earlier. Try me in the morning.

10 February 2010, 02:30

Arild Iversen

With all respect Gentlemen, I can´t for the best of me understand that a folder with all its bits and pieces is a stalking knife.
Ok... the blade will sertanly do the job as good as any, but what about hygiene, all the blood and gunk getting embedded all over the knife?
How do you get it clean again after use...boil it, put in the dishwasher or what?

For me a hunting/stalking knife is a fixed blade.
If I (God forbid) should end up with only one, it would be the Swedish Fallkniven H1.
The H1 is designed as a hunting/stalking knife from the start, and it works great.
There are sertanly others, many others, but for me only a fixed blade qualifies as a stalking knife.

These are some of my favourites:
From top:

Fallkniven H1, Laminated VG 10 steel
Scrap Yard SF4, INFI steel
Swamp Rat HC, 154 CM steel
Busse, Game Warden, INFI steel

10 February 2010, 04:46

Honkey

Arilid,

They are some nice blades indeed!!!

Check out the Muela Colibri. You will like it, it is small, light and holds a great edge. It is like the blades you have there. Not too expensive and not too big. It never seems to amaze me how guys out on a deer hunt carry such big and useless knives. They look like they are on a Rhino poaching mission in the Sudan with big Rambo knives that are better suited to chop off a Rhino horn or a rival poachers head.

Knives that are unnecessarily big that can't be used for fine cuts inside a body cavity.

Ghubert,

I was 37 years old as of this December.
I am flattered that you like my advice. I don't claim be be an expert in many things but I will always enthusiastically share what I have found out in my life. I always enjoy hearing about others experiences around the world and learning.

Thanks again and take care...

10 February 2010, 10:17

DJM

quote:
Originally posted by Ghubert:
quote:
Originally posted by DJM:
If you want the best then get a Cutco.

Aah, not heard of them before.

Do you recommend any particular model Dave?

I use a Drop Point 5718S I tried the Double D edge and it was just awful to use but it was very sharp.

A good friend gave me the double d version as he could not get on with it either. I rang cutco up and asked if I could exchange it for a staight edged one rather than get it re-sharpened, and that was not a problem.

Mine also has the orange handle which makes it easier to find when you have put it down it the dark.

Cutco Website

10 February 2010, 10:43

mouse93

quote:
Originally posted by Arild Iversen:but what about hygiene, all the blood and gunk getting embedded all over the knife?
How do you get it clean again after use...boil it, put in the dishwasher or what?

I just leave it to wifey to deal with it - beyond me

10 February 2010, 10:51

Trapper Dave

I've tried a few knives ranging from stainless, through hss to carbon steel.
My preference is for carbon steel and a good technique.
By that I mean that you dress everything that doesn't require contact with bone first.
So gralloch the whole digestive tract from throat to anus first and draw through the rib cage.
Then split the sternum if you still think you need to.
Then head, then feet.
Once the edge has been in contact with bone then it rapidly loses sharpness, so anything involving bone contact comes towards then end.

In terms of design, I do like a knife with a thumb stop on the top of the blade.

I often use a pair of branch loppers for head feet and sternum because it saves a lot of effort and a deal of knife re-edging afterwards

10 February 2010, 12:13

Gerry

quote:
I just leave it to wifey to deal with it - beyond me

mousie,

I'm obviously learning challenged here, perhaps a pointer or two ..... ?

10 February 2010, 13:49

DJM

quote:
Originally posted by Trapper Dave:

I often use a pair of branch loppers for head feet and sternum because it saves a lot of effort and a deal of knife re-edging afterwards

I always cringe when I hear those statements.

I dont know how it can be easier, quicker or less effort to use loppers or bolt cutters on heads and feet.

Come to that I dont know why a knife needs re-edging after removing the head and feet if you know where to cut.

10 February 2010, 14:10

Andre Mertens

After trying many knife models over the years, I've defined my needs, based on the work to perform. A stalking knife is called upon to field dress on the spot. Therefore it must :

- have a drop point (to avoid sticking in the guts) ;
- hold an edge and stay sharp (it's a PIAT to have to resharpen a knife when the work is not finished) ;
- have a strong blade to muscle through cartilage ;
- easy to clean (integral knifes are best, folders are worst).

I found all of this in the Ubejane from Chris Reeve's. It is the best edge holding blade I ever had (still sharp after dressing 5 roedeer). It's a sturdy, heavy blade that opens up the carcass from brisket to throat with one, heavy, sustained push).

And the hollow handle is handy for storing some small items. I carry a few latex gloves in it.

10 February 2010, 14:53

Nordic2

If you have to go over the bridge to find water...

Arild use swedish fällkniven f1.
I use a Helle fjellkniven and its the best all around knife i have used stainless with the right shape of the shaft for both skinning and woodcarving. Like Arild i cant tink of a folding knife as a full value hunting knife.

http://www.helle.no/Default.as...=2082&language=en-US

10 February 2010, 15:28

1894mk2

Folders are an accident waiting to happen. It is extremely unwise to use one for deer except in an emergency. At some point the locking mechanism will fail due to foreign matter, wear, not being latched etc. At that point some very nasty injuries can occur.

Rather than give a make/model I would suggest the proposed knife has:-

A good guard, tang and grip to prevent your hand slipping forward onto the blade when wet.

A blade no longer than 4" with 3" better

Narrow enough to remove the anus of your smallest intended species

Decent steel - ATS 34 or somesuch

With no rubbish such as integral gut hook or serrations etc.

Good sheath that holds it securely.

I also suggest that you have a larder knife for removing heads and legs and a knife for your belt that is for gralloching.

The smaller the knife the more useful it is.

10 February 2010, 17:00

onefunzr2

What, none of you blokes bought the official AR stalking knife when it was offered? I got mine in a 'hard to lose' color.
And carry the zip saw for branches and the severing the aitch bone. Not saying it is the best, but both work very well for my purposes on whitetailed deer. No luck on black bears yet.

These photos will self destruct in one week.

10 February 2010, 19:30

Ghubert

Once again I'm embarrassed by the all the help, thank you gentlemen.

Thank you for the photos particularly; it is very difficult to buy hunting type knives in the UK apart from mail order so the photos are very helpful.

1894's comment about the tunneling around the anus is a very valid consideration, noe that I think of it.

10 February 2010, 19:54

Arild Iversen

I can bring a couple of mine over to the AR weekend so you can look them over if you like.

Anus tunneling is an art I have heard, in class with stalking beaver

10 February 2010, 20:07

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
I can bring a couple of mine over to the AR weekend so you can look them over if you like.

Thank you mate, much obliged. Not that we that a group of stalkers need anything extra to argue about, I understand there may at least one of each of .270 and Blaser owners in attendance

, but knives would make a good discussion point.

quote:
Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
Anus tunneling is an art I have heard, in class with stalking beaver

It didn't take long for the thread to degenerate did it?

Is it me?

10 February 2010, 20:14

Honkey

Not a topic for conversation for Sunday tea ... but since someone else brought it up...

Dealing with the A hole, and "tunneling around the anus" this is a very useful tool

http://www.hunterspec.com/Upda...D=2144&categoryID=15

I have used it but I don't own one. If I am lucky I kill one whitetail and one bear a year in Maine, and the moose ate on a lotto system so that is not every year either. I have a friend with a big piece of property in Mississippi where there are THOUSANDS of deer and during season you can take about 12 of them. He has this tool and it works very well.

You boys over in the British Isles and the continent where you kill several red deer or roe buck a season might find it useful.

CHEERS!!!

10 February 2010, 20:55

Andre Mertens

Strange object indeed. Never separate it from its users notice because uninformed people might mistake it for a sex toy

10 February 2010, 21:11

Honkey

quote:
Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
Strange object indeed. Never separate it from its users notice because uninformed people might mistake it for a sex toy

OUCH !!!!

10 February 2010, 21:15

Ghubert

Coffee all over the keyboard......

Andre, are you secretly Dutch?!

Great tool Honkey but a British stalker would probably die of sustained personal abuse from his so called friends than actually need that to field gralloch.

It seems a good tool, pardon whatever pun is possible using this combination of words, but a little "special interest".

Anyway as mouse points out, that's what the corkscrew on your swiss army knife is for....

10 February 2010, 22:09

Claret_Dabbler

Amir, I have said tool. Find it very useful.....

10 February 2010, 22:17

lal

All folding knives will gather dirt. An old toothbrush and a toothpick are all thats needed to get all the gunk out. Apply a few drops of oil( i use Ballistol as its not toxic}now and then to the moving parts. I have carried knives of every single type and as it happens it is these that get 'lost' all the time. What I want is a carbon steel folder that is easy to sharpen, able to retain an edge and can be replaced at a reasonably low price. All I can say is that my OPINEL "7 is always in my pocket and has skinned many animals, peeled alot of fruit and as a steak knife, I havent used a better knife. I also have a "9 in the vehicle for when I need a larger blade, but its the "7 that I always use. They cost only about R 140-00 so I usually buy several and store them for future use. If you wont clean your knife, then this knife is not for you. In fact most folders require abit more attention than fixed blades. Try an Opinel "7, Im sure it will satisfy your needs.

10 February 2010, 22:59

Trapper Dave

quote:
Originally posted by DJM:
quote:
Originally posted by Trapper Dave:

I often use a pair of branch loppers for head feet and sternum because it saves a lot of effort and a deal of knife re-edging afterwards

I always cringe when I hear those statements.

I dont know how it can be easier, quicker or less effort to use loppers or bolt cutters on heads and feet.

Come to that I dont know why a knife needs re-edging after removing the head and feet if you know where to cut.

Well, there you are then, cringe no more, you owe it to yourself to give it a try rather than going to your grave not having experienced every last wrinkle of hunting

10 February 2010, 23:35

DJM

quote:
Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:
Amir, I have said tool. Find it very useful.....

I cannot wait to it being used on a Muntjac.

I have only just stopped laughing from the last time I watched someone use one on a munty.

After 20mins of pushing pulling and twisting it snapped off leaving anus complete with butt plug to be tunnelled out.

10 February 2010, 23:49

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by DJM:
quote:
Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:
Amir, I have said tool. Find it very useful.....

I cannot wait to it being used on a Muntjac.

I have only just stopped laughing from the last time I watched someone use one on a munty.

After 20mins of pushing pulling and twisting it snapped off leaving anus complete with butt plug to be tunnelled out.

The phrase "Tunneling" might just have become the code word for the weekend...

11 February 2010, 00:06

Gerry

We're gonna have a good time next week - that's for sure!

11 February 2010, 00:07

Arild Iversen

quote:
Originally posted by DJM:
I cannot wait to it being used on a Muntjac.

I have only just stopped laughing from the last time I watched someone use one on a munty.

After 20mins of pushing pulling and twisting it snapped off leaving anus complete with butt plug to be tunnelled out.

For heavens sake guys, stop it, I´m half dead laughing