Posts Tagged ‘hunting knife’
Are You Doing a little Big Game Hunting?
Guns and rifles are generally used to kill game, But, it’s the knife that will prove to be a hunter’s best friend for not only dressing the animal, but also cutting chords and opening cans of food. Hunting knives come in all shapes and sizes, and choosing the one that best suits each individual hunter will make big game hunting an even more fulfilling experience.
Fixed blade knives tend to be the best blade for dressing big game. Fixed knives are permanently open, making them tougher and more resilient than folding blades. Fixed blades usually come with a sheath for protection of the blade and you.
There are three main types of fixed blade knives each having it’s own unique purpose-
⢠“Drop Point” Blades – These knives have a defined curve that makes it easier to skin larger animals. This blade can also be used to gut, butcher, and split the animal’s pelvis and rib cage.
⢠“Gut Hook” Blades — “Gut hook” knives have a large grove near the end of the blade that is designed for opening the abdomen of the game. These knives are used by puncturing the animal with the point of the blade before using the hook to precisely open the abdomen exactly where you intended. A good “gut hook” can act like a zipper.
⢠“Clip Point” Blade – These knives can act as an alternative to “gut hook” blades. “Clip point” blades are thinner with a more pointed blade tip. This is useful for opening up an animal without cutting too deep and reaching the intestine.
No matter which knife you decide to use, it is essential that you make sure the knife is as sharp as possible. Because blades can become dull during the dressing process, its important to bring along a knife sharpener. It’s also a good idea to have a clean cloth available to wipe down your knife after each use. This can help prevent corrosion- your knifes worst enemy.
The best part of hunting may be the moment that you are finally able to take the animal home to share with your friends. After hours of waiting for the game to come into your viewfinder, the perfect shot, dressing the animal, and packing it up, there are few greater joys for a hunter than taking the first bite. Without the proper hunting knives, it will be nearly impossible to experience.
The Buck Zipper
I’m going to review the guthook hunting knife by Buck- the Buck Zipper.
I think you’ll like this knife. It’s a simple yet very effective knife created in response to some negative comments by customers in reference to the standard “guthook” knife.
Of course this is a classically well made and handsome knife…as are all knives made by Buck. It comes with a nice quality leather sheath and Bucks “Forever” warranty.
The Sheath: Made of good quality leather, it has a belt loop to allow the knife to hang comfortably and snap to secure the knife. It has heavy stitching and rivets so this sheath can take some abuse and protect the knife well.
The Knife: I’d have to say, this is a handsome knife. The blade is 4 1/4in made of 420 high carbon steel and is hollow ground. There is no skimping on the steel here- the blade has a good, thick spine. The guthook is ground on both sides making it far more effective than the “standard” guthook knives. This knife opens up an animal like a zipper! The handle is made of resin impregnated Birch wood that has been polished smooth and shiny! Both the butt cap and finger guard are brass. With an excellent fit and finish, this handle fits very naturally in the hand.
Knives very often reflect the taste and personality of the owner. This knife says “I have a refined taste” – so if your looking for a classy hunting knife…..
How Do You Remove Rust from Hunting Knives
So…How do you remove rust from hunting knives? Of course this information can be applied to most any outdoor knife. But, today we’re going to focus on hunting knives. With proper care rust should not be a problem on modern hunting knives but we all mistakes and neglect our knives once in a while or leave them in a sheath after being out in the rain.
There are a couple of ways your can remove the rust.
If the rust is just surface rust and has not eaten into the blade of the hunting knife you can use oil and a cloth. Just rub the blade with the oil and cloth until the rust is removed. If the rust has gotten into the metal of your knife blade you can use oil along with steel wool or fine grain sandpaper. The problem with steel wool and sandpaper is you may leave scratch marks on the blade. You will need to balance the need to remove the rust against the damage you may inflict on your hunting knives.
Do not use a power grinder to grind the rust off the blade of your hunting knives. The speed of the wheel will heat up your blade and affect the strength.
Now that you have learned how to remove rust from your Hunting knife….here are simple ways to AVOID getting rust on the blade:
1. Going on a long hunting trip? Bring a soft, clean, dry cloth with you (store it in a plastic ziplock bag) and clean your knife blade every evening. Even if you didn’t actually use your knife- it was exposed to elements that could potentially cause rust.
2. When you return from your hunting trip- clean and oil the blade before storing it away.
3. Store your knife in a dry place – be sure to keep the blade sheathed for protection.
4. If you live in a climate with summer humidity- oil and dry your knife periodically.
Good Hunting!
Idun Hunting Knife
Introducing one of the world’s most advanced hunting knives. Mod. NL5cx Idun, with a blade in Cowry X Damascus steel from Fallkniven. This is probably the world’s best edge steel, all categories, and definitely one of the most exclusive blades ever made.
The edge comprises a powder steel with the following extreme content: C 3%, Cr 20%, Mo 1%, V 0.3% and iron to 100%. Its hardness is no less than 64 HRC! The sides consist of stainless, 120-layer Damascus steel with an edge of powdered steel. This forms a blade which in its beauty and strength is world class, no less. The fittings are of solid nickel silver, while the rest of the handle is stacked leather and fiber washers.
The knife is manufactured in strictly limited numbers, but it should be available for at least a few more years. The knife is an excellent utility hunting knife, but in all probability, most customers will acquire it for its exclusive collectability. Whichever, demand will probably outstrip supply.
Uncle Henry’s Golden Spike
One of Schrade’s most popular knives, this skinning knife is a beauty. It features a razor sharp skinning blade, solid brass guard and butt piece. This is a must have for the hunter that appreciates quality and value.
The Schrade Uncle Henry Golden Spike bowie knife features a 4 7/16 inch clip blade constructed from stainless steel with a multi colored wood handle. Includes leather sheath with a pocket to hold a sharpening stone. Overall length is 9 7/16 inches.
After the Schrade company closed its doors in 2005, Taylor Cutlery, famous for its Smith & Wesson knives, acquired the brand name and began supplying a complete import line of the Schrade Knives. You’ll be impressed with the fit, finish and value of the new Schrade product line. Today Schrade Knives are made with the same quality and care that goes into making world’s finest pocket knives, lock backs, fixed blades, cutlery for the outdoor and hunting markets and multi-tools.
SOG Seal Pup Elite
S.O.G. manufactures the SEAL Pup Elite and it is a great military survival knife. It has a little thicker steel than some of S.O.G.’s other models.
This knife comes with a blade that has a beautiful satin finish or the tiger striped blade. It also has a little longer cutting edge. The new longer handle has deeper more comfortable finger grooves which you may prefer. Some people may a little heavier knife, this knife is actually fairly light but it has good balance.
These blades are used quite a bit by the military as combat knives and they are exactly what you would want if what was stalking you for two days wasn’t a bear but an insurgent! But even if you’re a knife hunter you’ll love this knife.
This SOG Seal Pup Elite knife comes with or without the black TiNi blade (or with the tiger stripe as pictured above) and as a serrated knife or a straight fixed blade knife. These knives are made in Lynnwood, USA.
You can find more detailed information such as technical specs and styles on other SOG Knives here.
Taking Care of Your Buck Knife
BUCK KNIVES ARE DESIGNED FOR CUTTING
Please don’t throw, pound, pry or chop with a Buck knife. It’s not safe and if you damage the knife using it that way, it may void the warranty. Strong impact or twisting can also damage your knife or worse, cause an injury. If you have a lockback blade, always check that the locking mechanism is in working order before you use it.
A SHARP KNIFE IS SAFER THAN A DULL ONE
Buck knives are built to last. Take good care of your Buck and it will serve you well.
Keep your knife dry; that means the entire knife, not just the blade.
Keep your knife clean, particularly moving parts and locking device.
Keep your knife oiled; especially pivot points and the blade.
Keep your knife sharp; a sharp blade is safer than a dull one.
Don’t try to repair a damaged knife yourself. Send it to Buck and they’ll do their best to make it good as new.
KNIFE CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Store your knife in a dry place, out of the sheath. Lightly wipe the blade with clean oil two to three times a year to keep rust from starting. You may need to oil more often if you live near water.
At Buck, they use stainless steel for the blade. They use other components that minimize the weathering effects of liquids and oxidation, because they want your knife to last. Cleaning and caring for your knife will maintain performance and enhance the life your knife.
CLEAN THE ENTIRE KNIFE REGULARLY
That includes the blade, pivot points and locking mechanism. It’s best not to immerse the knife in liquid. But if you do, be sure to dry your knife thoroughly. Spray cleaners are a good alternative. Clean and oil your knife regularly to avoid sticky residues, light surface oxidation and the beginnings of rust.
DISCOLORATION IS A SIGN OF OXIDATION
If you find the metal has a blue, grey or black color, it is a sign of oxidation and a precursor of rust.
Stainless steel, which is what Buck uses, does not discolor easily. If you do notice a change in the color of the metal, clean it immediately. It’s a sign of rust waiting to happen.
Discoloration is common to non-stainless steel. But regular cleaning will keep the metal from rusting.
NIP RUST IN THE BUTT
Rust is reddish-brown in color and will eat pits into your blade and contaminate what you cut. Light rust can be cleaned and removed with oil. Heavier rust requires more abrasive action.
Remember: Proper knife care is important to maintain the quality of your knife.
The Straight Stuff
Hunting knives are made in two basic configurations- fixed-blade and folding. The forte of the fixed-blade or sheath knife design (because it needs a sheath or outer cover to prevent accidental injury) is manifest in its inherent strength and easy access. No folding knife can ever equal the structural integrity of a fixed-blade.
They come in all sizes, but its most important to find one that fits you. You should know specifically what kind of materials went into the manufacture of the knife. Buzz words like “surgical” steel (surgical instruments are generally made out of the cheapest stainless steel possible), “high-carbon” steel, or “rust-free” steel are generally meaningless. What you want to know is the type (carbon or stainless) and number indicator (440A, 440C,154CM, ATS-34 etc.) of steel. Then you can know the composition of the steel formulation.
Don’t just consider the blade. Knife handle shape is another plus for the fixed-blade design. No matter how a folding knife handle is designed, there is always going to be a certain amount of angularity present. A fixed-blade knife handle configured in the preferred oval shape easily fits the grip-pocket of the hand.
What will you pay for a fixed-blade hunting knife? The sky’s the limit. I would suggest a quality factory fixed-blade can be purchased for less than $100. It won’t be fancy but it will offer quality materials and craftsmanship.
On the Belt
Far too many really good hunting knives
have been lost because of really bad sheaths.
If there is a failure in the cutlery industry, it’s that knife sheaths and carrying cases are often nothing more than afterthoughts. It’s a shame to see a champagne quality knife in a beer budget sheath. Made the right way and with the right stuff, as much time and expense should go into the design, materials and construction of a sheath, as that of the knife for which it is intended. Made any other way, the sheath or carrying case fails to be an integral part of a larger paradigm.
Whatever material sheathed the blades of early man, you can bet it offered protection to both man and blade alike. It probably didn’t take too many generations of lost and damaged blades…not to mention lacerated body parts to make sure of that.
Leather has many features that make it a superior knife sheath material- not the least of which is its traditional use. Leather is available in many types and grades. And here’s the rub—some manufacturers go for the bottom line when selecting sheath leather. The bottom line being profit and the cost of sheath leather is one place where they can pinch pennies.
The best leather sheath material feels, smells and looks like what it is. A quality leather sheath, can provide many years of protection for both knife and it’s owner. In all candor, leather does have its share of problems. Over time it can stretch, stain, and rot if subjected to moisture. Even with the best care, leather can age and sometimes not too gracefully.
Obviously, there are good sheaths—and bad! Likewise, there are many ways to build a knife sheath. Whatever construction method is used, the sheath should not just hold and protect, it should also enhance your knife.
All knives need a good quality sheath. But hunting knives, because of the nature of their use require superior quality sheaths to protect them and you.
Knives and Primitive Skills
The most essential piece of camping gear that you can take out into the woods is a good knife. With a knife most of your survival skills are well at hand. A knife can make shelter building a breeze with a basic level of land knowledge. A knife can b valuable in each of these activities: cutting dead branches for firewood, filleting food so that the edible parts are uncovered, defending against wild animals. The applications of a good knife are endless. For those that are going to spend time nature, it is imperative that a sharp knife be present during your journey.
Investment in a good outdoor survival knife is just as important as those that we prize in our kitchens, and in terms of your comfort and survival in the woods, it is more important. The rigors of nature definitely certainly call to most of us, but do not make the mistake of venturing off unprepared.