Last season, I managed to break my Buck Knife (110). It was decades old and I was planning on replacing it anyway. I am looking for suggestions for a new deer hunting knife, maybe with some better steel than a traditional Buck Knife. Folder or fixed blade, it doesn't matter. Just looking for "the best" field Dressing knife. And there's no better group of experienced hunters that Michigan Sportsman members. So give me your ideas. Thanks
Funny you should ask.. I have had a Buck 110 since the early 80's, and it is till in pretty good shape. However, as a gift I did receive a cheap knife (non-folding) with a gut hook that I used a few times. I really liked the the gut hook, so this Christmas I went on a search to find a good folding knife that came with a gut hook. I purchased 3 of them as Christmas presents and one for myself. Seems like a really nice knife for the money... Note that Buck and Kershaw also make some really nice looking gut hook folding knifes as well. These were out of stock last December, but I was happy with the Gerber anyway. Gerber Gator Folding Knife, Fine Edge, Gut Hook <----<<<
I don't personally have one, but I bought my dad a Royal 7 clip point from Rapid River. He really likes both how it fits in his hand & the edge it holds while skinning & butchering. I've tried & failed to steal it from him twice. I do have a couple of Gerber gator folders & have had them for 10 plus years. Not the easiest steel to sharpen, but once you get them there, they work great for gutting & skinning. (& even as a follow-up shot palm saver for your muzzleloader in a pinch)
I like the smaller knives. My go to is a Case Mini Finn: The steel is OK, nothing special. Another I have that is small I like is, a Rapid River Finn and Feather:
Cutco hunting knife. Last knife youll ever need https://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?item=hunting-knife
Here's the Buck (folding gut hook) that I wanted but were out of stock at Christmas. I still might get one though..... https://www.amazon.com/Buck-278BKG-...d=1550580486&s=gateway&sr=8-2&tag=googhydr-20 <----<<<
I have a bad habit of losing knives. Somehow in the excitement I put the knife down and forget to pick it up when the gutting job is done. For the last few years I've carried a Schrade Sharpfinger with the orange handle. Seems to hold a good edge and hard to lose in the leaves.
I have enough knives to open a store of my own. As far as field dressing nothing beats my Buck 110 folder. I find most others to be way to big. I do own a Cutco and it is for sure the sharpest blade I own.
I really like using my Havalon since getting one. Have let a few other use it on their deer and turkey, each and every one of them immediately went and bought one for themselves. Only disadvantage is having to replace the blades, but they are fairly cheap.