As above. A birthday present.
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As above. A birthday present.
Mercator.
The mercator is a cool old school knife. Plenty of more modern options:
Ontario RAT I in D2 steel (or the RAT II for a smaller knife)
Gerber Gator is a classic hunting folder
Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter
Check out the benchmade hunter series folders if you have plenty of coin.
I have used the RAT I and the Gerber as a hunting knife both are great. Currently running a small benchmade fixed blade which is nice knife. I use to use the mercator a lot but wouldn't bother with one now, but that is just me.
I use one of these
Attachment 215932
Always in my pocket but only does the "deer thing" once or twice a year when the freezer is MT.
Holds a good edge, does surprisingly well at field dressing but you wouldn't want to breakdown a deer with only it unless you had no choice
Havalon
https://outdoorshop.nz/products/hava...smart_campaign
Ie comes with a belt pouch and a bunch of spare blades.
Be VERY careful changing blades with cold slippery fingers. (use the plastic tool not your bare hands.
Plus other versions come with a bone saw and scalpel blade or gut hook blade.
Not the be all and end all, but one alternative to the main stream options.
I have one but also use other knives.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/27...g?v=1623901042
I like the Gerber Gators in drop point. Edge retention is OK, but not great, however, they are very easy to get razor sharp.
I use an Opinel. I really like them
Anyone run a honey badger folder? What do they go like?
This subject has been done to death before. If you’ve got money to burn there’s plenty of options out there. If you want a knife that gets the job done with no fuss get a Mercator carbon steel blade, fuck stainless steel.
Big variety to choose from.
This may help give you an idea or two...
https://www.blademaster.co.nz/shop/K...NG+KNIVES.html
Yeap I have one. Good wee knives. I find them a bit hard to sharpen but once they're sharp they hold a good edge. We shot 6 deer one evening a couple months ago and heads off, gutted and took the hocks off all of them without giving it a touch up, I thought that was a pretty good wee test for it.
Thanks. Yes, I have had a good look on the web. Too many options:)
I had a look at @mikee's Benchmade Bugout yesterday and was very impressed. Only weighs 52 grams but feels really solid. But they are not cheap. Buy once cry once maybe?
I also like the look of this.
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SOG...ue-grn-handles
I have owned a SOG Twitch (and lost it) and it was a great little knife.
If you can find a Cold Steel Broken Skull you are onto a winner.
I use one. Only used it on small stuff like rabbit and possum
Well made knife. Holds edge well. No play in blade. Excellent handel for grip. Locks secure.
Think could have better tip angle for intial cut to get under skin.
Sheath leaves bit to be desired.
Best knife I've ever had for skinning was something called the little skinner. Shaped like this but with more ergonomic handle.
Haven't been able to find one again since lost it. Attachment 216060
Re Honey Badger folders, I think they come in two types of steel. My one is really easy to sharpen, but probably doesn't hold on quite as long between sharpens. I can deal with a couple of animals as long as I dont touch it on the bone too much. I really like it. Mine is 8Cr13Mov, sounds like yours might be the harder steel version @Ryan_Songhurst ?
Recently treated myself to one of these.
https://www.completeoutdoors.co.nz/c...ng-knife-16175
Yeah. I have owned Mercators before and currently still have a knock off one in my small game kit which is a great knife. Couldn't see them on the Farmlands website but other places sell them for around $90 so not really a cheap option anymore. Looking at something a bit "special" to mark the occasion.
90 pingers for a mercator that can fold back on you if you arent careful is a bit rich.
Don't get me wrong, great little knives but that is a fecking lot for a very basic knife.
Pressed tin sides etc. Paying heaps for the blade
Svord 3" EDC looks like quite a nifty knife
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Sounds like my lovely wife has it sorted:)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5611178193.jpg
These are good
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Havalon but one with two fold out blades, scapel for arse, normal blade for head, take your pick for the guts. Just have to be careful with scalpel, so sharp easy to nick yourself. Reasonable priced and well made.
My biggest concern is folders will do just that. And I have done it. When you're reaching up inside an animal, the last thing you want to happen is to trip the folding lever.
You could be a long way from home.
I like folders and have several. But I wouldn't use one on an animal if I had a full knife to hand.
@Bushline, It seems to be well put together and I'll let you know if i ever break it.
Even local H&F only charge $60 from memory. Been using Mercator knives for 48 years and never had one play up apart from disappearing on me. I might be a bit cynical but people rabbit on about them folding back on them yet they’re probably happy to buy an Opinel or Peasant knife ffs.
Have to say I have had a few Mercator's, got a couple of brass bodied ones a while back for my sons. Do take a good edge and I remember my dad having a few in the 70's and 80's.
If you are after something a bit special how about a Buck 110 folder.
https://images.zeald.com/ic/blademas...669/110BRS.jpg
I m using one of these at the moment:
https://www.top-gear.co.nz/shop/SHOP...e+-+20NPJ.html
But I am going to grind the back of the tip of the blade into a slight drop point .
What I like about it is the scandi grind. You just have to lay the edge flat against a stone and you never get your angle wrong.
Svord peasant knives are pretty good bang for buck, plus they come in fluro colors, lost a few black or wood knives over the years or left on a rock.
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As much as I have zero love for the 110 you can't fault American service. I saw a post on another site where someone sent his grandfather's 110 back to buck and they cleaned and serviced it till it looked near new and return it free of charge. A lot like Leupold stories you hear.
Buck appear to have turned a corner on quality and there are actually some better 110 knives being recently released.
I have just started using my 110 that has been sitting in cupboard years after winning it in a comp, it has replaces my mercator for gutting roos and goats as it has a sharp point and makes it quicker, when you are doing 50 plus a night a few seconds here and there can make a difference. Cant fault the thing yet.
the cheap as chips chinese knockoffs of the buck110 are great if plurry heavy..the yhave been around forever and dont give issues if you keep the locking notch clean,same for any locking folder really.
svord peasant is a good knife,the larger version is easier for serious work but I have dressed out a sheep just because I could and a deer because I had no other option,with the smaller version.
My old mate was a great welder...and we worked with a guy who was a blacksmith by trade (he made ornamental gates too. All nicely 'hammer welded' of course).
Plus he made a few Damascus pattern steel knives.
So, me old mate took a cheap Chinese 'Buck', removed the blade and 'attacked' it with an angle grinder.
Put in lots of deep cuts, swirls, etc (you can see where this is going?).
Then Tigged the ground out bits to fill them in again.
A nice flat grind all over then a polish. Voila...instant 'Damascus' pattern.
Put the knife together again and brought it to work. Showed our blacksmith mate who said that was a lovely job for a first ever go at making Damascus steel blades.
He was finally (eventually) told the true story.
Somehow he thought me old mate had cheated!
It did look lovely though.