Knives

[MNElkNut]

Most of us probably have multiple hunting knives. If you have went to a few RMEF, PF, DU, etc banquets, you have knives. I have a bunch but I always come back to my Buck 118. My dad gave it to me in 1982 for my 12th birthday. Over the years, I have tried lots of knives, but come elk season, that will get the ride along in my backpack.

I am 13 years old and deer hunting. I used to never wear a belt, but of course I wanted to wear one deer hunting so I could have my Buck 118 on my side. Took a leak out in the woods and went about my merry way. Crossed a plowed cornfield. Felt something flapping around and discovered I forgot to fasten my belt. Instant panic. My prized knife was gone. Tears start forming. Only one way to get my knife back and that was to backtrack myself. About 300 yards across that plowed field most of it on hands and knees, I found my knife. Since then, it has been a part of a lot of wild game work. Certainly one of my most prized possessions.

Do you have a favorite knife? Tales of lost and found?

 

[Ben Lamb]

As a kid, my dad gave me an old Finn style hunting knife. It had been sharpened enough to whittle the blade down significantly. I carried that thing throughout my pre-teen and teen years until it disappeared sometime around 1992 or so. Not sure where it went. I miss that thing. It had a scent to it that reminded me of spending time with dad and my grandfather. That knife holds the fondest spot in my heart for any that I've had.

Hunting Knives: I've had the same Gerber Gator for a decade. It replaced an older model Gator that I lost. There's nothing inherently special about that knife other than it's ridiculously reliable and dependable. It holds an edge and it takes a critter apart nicely while still being a folding blade. High dollar confidence in a reasonably priced package. My wife got me a lovely little Damascus bird and trout knife a couple of Christmas' ago. It's not a top-end model and was made overseas but it holds a sharp edge and you can take a grouse apart with it lickety-split. It lives in the bird vest, but will get loaded into the fishing bag this weekend.

Kitchen Knives: Zhen 8" Chinese Cleaver. Damascus steel, incredibly sharp and can slice paper-thin tomatoes and tuna. Not a meat cleaver by any stretch, but a slicing and chopping knife that can do 90% of what you need is a kitchen and provide a handy scoop as well. I fell in love with the Chinese Cleaver when I was working in food service. No finer implement for cooking.

My daily driver is a Case stockman 3 blade. Bone handle, classic styling and a timeless pocket knife. Best Christmas gift a guy can get from his Father in Law. It can handle any household task and it can gut a fish or bird if that's what's on hand. Versatile, classy and discrete.

 

[Dave N]

Most of us probably have multiple hunting knives. If you have went to a few RMEF, PF, DU, etc banquets, you have knives. I have a bunch but I always come back to my Buck 118. My dad gave it to me in 1982 for my 12th birthday. Over the years, I have tried lots of knives, but come elk season, that will get the ride along in my backpack.

I am 13 years old and deer hunting. I used to never wear a belt, but of course I wanted to wear one deer hunting so I could have my Buck 118 on my side. Took a leak out in the woods and went about my merry way. Crossed a plowed cornfield. Felt something flapping around and discovered I forgot to fasten my belt. Instant panic. My prized knife was gone. Tears start forming. Only one way to get my knife back and that was to backtrack myself. About 300 yards across that plowed field most of it on hands and knees, I found my knife. Since then, it has been a part of a lot of wild game work. Certainly one of my most prized possessions.

Do you have a favorite knife? Tales of lost and found?

That was my first Buck knife, too. I still have it but broke part of the blade off years ago being a dumbass getting mad about something and throwing it.

 

[MNElkNut]

That was my first Buck knife, too. I still have it but broke part of the blade off years ago being a dumbass getting mad about something and throwing it.

I believe they are warrantied for life.

 

[Dave N]

I believe they are warrantied for life.

I've thought about it many times but never got past the thinking part!

 

[gouch]

My dad gave me my first huntin' knife back in 1966 on my 12th birthday. A Case with a 5" fixed blade. That knife has been a part of field dressing every big game animal I have ever killed. Along with plenty of small game and birds and several critters other people have killed. The leather handle is stained black from blood and dirt, it's been sharpened down to much smaller than its original size and has gone through many sheaths, but it is still the favorite of all my possessions.

I thought I lost it five years ago in the big fire. I even bought a replacement. But when I moved into my new house, I found it in the bottom of the duffle I had thrown clothes in when I evacuated. I don't even know how it got in there.