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.

 

[TN2shot07]

I have the buck 110 my dad gave me when I was a kid but once I went to a fixed blade I never went back. It’s been back to buck for a new blade, they do stand behind the warranty.

I have one from NDGuy that has a really nice maple handle that sees some field time, a Benchmade steep country that I’ve probably used more than anything, and an MKC mini stone goat that lives in my bino harness.

I’ve tried all the usual scalpel blade knives, I prefer a real one.

 

[Dave N]

Would Buck repair/replace a model that isn't made anymore?

 

[Dakotakid]

I carry a Newberg gerber that I have replacement blades for.
I carried my deceased father’s buck 118 for years until I lost it one trip.
Since then I have resolved to take only knives that I wouldn’t regret loosing.

 

[Rugern01]

My uncle got me a Buck 102 Woodsman for my 12th birthday. It's seen a lot of use and it shows, but it's one of my favorite knives. In the '80's my uncles and hunting buds all had a Buck General 120. I got mine in the early '90's. It dressed a few deer, but we all came to the realization it was too damned big for that, but another prized knife. I have a good many knives, fixed & folders, for past 4 or 5 years I've been using a Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter with a FO scales and guthook. It's been a great knife. I have most of the Buck fixed blades with the black phenolic handles along with a few 110's & 112's. Lots of case pocket knives in different patterns and a couple of fixed blades with the leather handles. I also have a full set of the Case Native American Series Fixed Blade knives - Arapaho, Choctaw, Kiowa, Pawnee. Beautiful knives. Lots of others, but these are the most interesting.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Im a big fan of the 5 dollar folders in the plastic tub on the cou ter at the hardware store. Nothing against high quality. I just break them or lose them too often

 

[Redmt]

Would Buck repair/replace a model that isn't made anymore?

They would probably replace it with a similar model. I have Schrade pocket knives. I sent one in for repair and they replaced it with a made in China POS.

 

[17remhunter]

My Kershaw folding hunter it my all time favorite super sharp and not made anymore

 

[belshawelk]

I am boring. Benchmade Steep Country.

 

[17remhunter]

I am boring. Benchmade Steep Country.

Nothing boring about thst