Hunting Knives Explained

[@matthewmerritt6844]

I usually carry an Old Timer 150T that my Dad used for years. He gave it to me when I got my first deer at 13 along with a Model 99 in .300 Savage that I carried that day, and it's comforting to have a little piece of him with me in the woods 28 years later, even though he's gone now.

[@danielcurtis1434]

The inanimate objects become windows for that personal relationship!!! Keep it close and give some to others (if it comes up.

[@Svensk7119]

I also have an Old Timer! Dad bought it for me, oh, nearly four decades gone! I still remember cutting my thumb with it! I gutted my one deer with it. I took it sagehen hunting, I took it fishing! Doves.... I still smell the game whenever I use it, either if I get nothing. It's not ten feet from me!

[@lawson9102]

Old Timer was what I had growing up to

[@stevescuba1978]

I found an old timer in 3' of water while trout fishing in the mountains. I took it home, cleaned it up, and used it for several years. Eventually, I returned to fish off the exact same rock at the same lake, where I dropped it in the spot I found it. I could not find it back. I guess I borrowed an old timer for a while...gutted lots of fish with it.

[@cameronmcleod7740]

I have an old sheet metal hammer my dad used his whole career. Every time I use it I think of him, a lifetime of hard work and what it takes to be a father and husband.

[@BushCampingTools]

At 1:39 That Buck looks like it's been sharpened dozens of times over the years and well used.

[@MikeJones-vb1me]

As a full-time custom knife maker it’s great to see this type of content from you!

[@ashmerch2558]

Where can we see your work ? I love looking at knives especially customs

[@unlimitedpotential6573]

Web site?

[@jerichofalls8236]

Got a website?

[@scotthillman7588]

Buck 105 Pathfinder. I've had one for almost 25 years and it's been my big game knofe forever. Glad to see you have one as well- your brother had great taste!

[@RiverRat1953]

I bought a buck 105 knife when I was in the army stationed in Germany in 1972. I carried that knife every day, every where. We wore our shirts untucked, so it was on my belt and with the blade into my back pocket. I still have that knife and it looks like a filet knife from being sharpened so many times.😊

[@markmadsen6828]

My Dad started me off at 6yrs old with a basic Jack knife, a block of wood and an old worn out wet stone. By the time I learned how to carve a wooden knife and a chain from those blocks of wood I was pretty good at sharpening a knife. Sure wish I had that old Jack knife today. I took it to school one day for show and tell,, never got that one back... Too bad.. I came up just after the time when kids would hunt on their way to and from school, stuff their 22's in their locker and all was right in the World.. Wish we had those days back too.. Thanks for the great videos.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

I saw the Knives but i could not take my old eyes off Covey...WOW what a very beautiful Dog you got there Ron....Thank you 👍 Old Navy flying Shoe🇺🇸

[@andrewzabinski2205]

I came for the content but stayed because the dog. The true star.

[@LuisSandoval-xn6nz]

Exactly😂.

[@AdamWoody-q4n]

My thing is what do you have to pay for a dog like that 😂

[@andyd2960]

The first knife you picked up was my first hunting knife too. My dad got it from an old fisherman. He dropped it in a deep creek and left the sheath for him. "If you can dive and get it, it's yours". I handed it down to my son now.

[@Miller_Time]

I believe it's a buck 119. Also my first hunting knife

[@1joshjosh1]

@@Miller_Time buck 105. Buck 119 different. But 119 more common.

[@kyle18934]

i cleaned a deer with my first real knife, I mean the first knife I bought myself with my dad. it was a crkt m16 with a 3 inch folding blade. not the best hunting knife 😂. I still have it around, but it's dull, since I had to grind down the blade because of a big chip, and re-sharpen it.

[@KrisK-i4f]

I’m a buck fan , I carry the small buck light , but I’m not above packing a case Trapper

[@bushleague3472]

@@KrisK-i4f The Trapper is pretty underrated as a hunting knife, I swap out my usual SAK for a Trapper every fall for that reason. I do generally carry a fixed blade when I'm hunting, but I've dressed out a few deer with the Trapper, and even the SAK on one occasion.

[@bluesfanman1]

I prefer the old tried and true Buck knives for all of my needs. Another great episode. Thanks!

[@denniswhite9750]

I could watch your dog while listening to you and no nonsense all day. more covey on the side!

[@radagast6682]

I bought my first hunting knife in 1967. It is a Buck #118 and I still use it from time to time. I don't care for folding knives, because I don't like cleaning out the groove. For cutting up deer, I use Victorinox boning knives.

[@josephmalovrh6745]

I’ve carried. Swiss Army knife since I was in the military. It’s great, not very expensive, multiple uses. If lost a replacement won’t hurt your budget to much.

[@borisperez3129]

Paws up for Cuvvy what a well behaved dog, I must confess I was a bit nervous with knifes in the table. Love ur channel fisherman here. Last time I hunted was as a kid with a bow and arrow and we jacked Guinea fowls that grandpapi let us harvest, he choose the wood for my bow, those were the times.

[@smitty3624]

My personal favorite hunting knife is the helle eggen I've had for about a decade now. Used it to dress game from quail to whitetail, and plan on using it for many more. The skandi grind is easy to get a good fine edge on, and the laminated steel holds that edge very well. I can fairly easily break down a deer with it, plus a boning knife for the more precise work. Given I haven't really taken a lot of deer, I feel that's a fair testament to its qualities.

[@constantinracu9588]

I have it too, very good knife, 2 years experience, no issues with.👍

[@pikeman0357]

Been using a buck 110 folder for 30 years..still holds a great edge many critters dressed with it..

[@blueduck9409]

Its really hard to beat the Buck 110. Its a got a solid reputation, a long history and great value.

[@futuremainiac6351]

My Dad gave me a Buck 110 in the 70s. Just a great knife, sturdy, sharp, versatile

[@waholoopesorry74]

I have my great-grandpa's Buck 110 from the 70s. It has field dressed well over 100 deer in its lifetime and it's my everyday carry as well. It is on its third blade

[@1joshjosh1]

Yah....the Buck 110 kicks a**. !!! And 103 and the 113 and the 112 and the 119 and the 650 and the 105 and the 112 and the 55 and 120 oh oh and don't forget about the sadly discontinued 118. And many more. 😂.

[@richardfiedler2201]

I'm 54 years old haunted my whole life everything gray squirrel to moose in the Northeast whitetail deer is my passion. My mother bought me Buck 110 when I turn 12 years old. It's been on every trip.

[@eugenegress5896]

Mine was a WESTERN KNIFE BRAND, Lost it while Trout fishing a creek as a kid; Stuck it in a log, forgot, left it . Buck 110 , was the best , most practical of Buck Line. My go to, today is a Kellam Pukko, 3.50 inch , real carbon steel, Finnland knife. Only about 70 bucks. That Scandi blade grind is fantastic, easy to sharpen, don't have to that often. Fixed blade.

[@davidteague5461]

I agree , on the throw away knife. I just like the sharping of a knife. And heritage of passing them down .

[@marktomasunas4926]

Good day Ron, I have the exact Buck knife you have it was my first hunting knife I purchased when I was 18 years old. I’m still making memories with that wonderful tool.

[@gamallsdokkalfs7253]

After a lifetime of collecting and making knives, I find your advice is spot on. For camp and bush crafting at an affordable price, a Morakniv knife is hard to beat. For game processing, Russell Green River knives are an excellent choice that suited the Mountain Men well and are still made today and they're not expensive. You can also buy the Green River and Morakniv knife blades and then attach your own handle material like wood harvested from the favorite tree in your yard or antler from one of your kills. Like you, most days I carry a Swiss Army Knife.

[@brocknspectre1221]

Is that a Western W84 sheath knife at 2:33? I bought that knife at K-mart for $17 back in 1985 and it has been my edc ever since. I had to replace the sheath about ten years ago because it was starting to disintegrate, but that knife has been my only large cutting tool for almost 40 years. There’s nothing I don’t do with it from carving signs (I’m a professional woodcarver) to preparing dinner to using the handle to hammer in tent stakes. I just measured it and it’s 3/8th of an inch shorter than it’s supposed to be. I guess that’s how much I’ve sharpened it over the years. Thanks for the video 👍

[@raymondabella4684]

That dog was so cool I was focused on him most of the time when I fist watched your video. Because of him I had to watch it a second time. Very nice and informative video. It was nice to see a true outdoorsman talk about knives for a change and not some urban EDCer talking about how his Benchmade Bugout is the coolest knife to open amazon boxes or envelopes. 👍

[@waynesmith699]

Bought three Buck knives at the PX in Vietnam.... one of which looks like the sheath knife you have (I think the model is the Pathfinder). My dad carried it for years. Youngest son now has it. BTW.... I resisted owning a gut hook knife... until I used one. I now own several..... some sheath, others folding. I enjoy your videos! Keep doing what you do.

[@fredcox961]

Ron and Cubby bring smiles to my face, joy to my heart, and many memories of wonderful times in the field. Some work is worth it just for the pleasure of handling a good knife, well matched to the job.

[@jonathanmitchell3733]

Gut hook. I have two, a folding Muela skinning knife with a Gut hook, and then another Muela with a very basic fixed blade. I only use these two for gutting and throat cutting. They never really cut anything else, I'm too precious over them. For other general stuff I use the good old French Opinel folders

[@pighunter7981]

Hey Ron couldn't believe it when you pulled out that first buck knife I have the exact one have had it 27 years has been a great little knife 👍

[@wolffo999]

my 92 year old side neighbor showed me how to dress n butcher a mule deer three weeks ago. His Buck 105 Pathfinder ran rings around my ESEE. The Buck remained very sharp all day long. So I bought one the next week !

[@kitsimmonds.344]

I'm in the UK so have to be very careful about what knives I carry in public. However I've had a Swiss Army Huntsman on my key ring for years... There is a hidden feature most people don't know about, a tiny hole in the handle behind the base of the corkscrew that one can keep a pin in.

[@max4vax]

I prefer the cheap Morakniv Basic with carbonsteel, which I modify a little bit to a drop point. They are cheap, easy to sharpen and with the colours hard to loose, I have lots of them... Also, for me a nearly perfect knive for hunting in form & function is the Cold Steel Pendleton LITE Hunter, similar to the Mora, but costs more. And I always carry the Fällkniven GP as a backup in my pocket.

[@MrThunderbumper]

Ron, lots of good content as usual, but for us back country hunters, who are sometimes solo and 8+ miles in the back country, a hunting knife has to double as a survival knife. I’d be interested in your take on a backcountry hunting knife you turn to that gives you confidence when the crap has a real chance of hitting the fan! For me I carry a Falkniven Idun (medium sized fixed blade heavy duty drop point 4” blade with laminated VG10 steel,) as my primary survival knife/backup processor, along with a Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter (small, thin, fixed blade drop point 2.8” blade with S90V steel) as my primary skinner/processor and backup general purpose blade. I’ve processed many antelope, deer, and elk with both, but like you I find I prefer the smaller knife in true processing scenarios, but in sketchy situations I have great confidence in the fixed blade Idun, and it does a good enough job processing game to fill both roles effectively. I’d be interested in your approach to balancing both survival, general camp duties, and game processing in the deep backcountry. Thanks Ron!

[@aChewyGummyBear]

I was waiting for the saw. And it showed up in the Swiss Army knife. I always recommend having some type of saw or serrated blade incase of any bones you need to remove. As for knives, I personally stand by Buck knives. I carry the Buck 110 every day. And I used the Buck 119 when I’m hunting.

[@davew7250]

Another related topic: Knife sharpening systems. Maybe from good quality yet budget systems to more involved and higher investment required. Myself, I have a very budget conscious Lansky that fills my needs and not a budget buster. As always, I enjoy every video you bring us. Keep up the good work. Thanks again!

[@ngallakp62]

Get some whet stones 2 will do 600 grit and 1000 or you can get a a double sided one and a cheap knife then practice practice practice

[@ngallakp62]

Oh and a leather strop if you want to go the extra mile

[@nospam3409]

Save yourself some frustration and spend $80 for a worksharp. I've sharpened knives by hand for over 30 years. I enjoy doing it with a set of stones when I don't have anything else to do, but when I have 6 or 8 knives to do after a day or two of butchering, the last thing I want to do is putz around with a stone. It doesn't matter how dull the blade, how much experience you do or don't have, or how hard/wear resistant the steel is, a worksharp will have it razor sharp in no time. If $80 is too much for a person to spend on a sharpening system, maybe they should pay a butcher to process a deer or three and then re-evaluate what they are willing to spend on a sharpener.

[@TheCowboyfromhell87]

I have the worksharp field sharpener. For 30 bucks I think it's the best there is for the price.

[@seankeaney823]

I invested in an EdgePro and love it… one of the best tips for sharpening I can give is to cover the cutting edge with a sharpie before sharpening and periodically check to make sure the markers is coming off at the cutting point. It is surprising how many people grind the side of the blade instead of sharpening the edge.

[@nozrep]

awwww heck yah the knife episode is here! Thanks for putting this together as a side project from the ballistics things.

[@Tool-Meister]

I have the prototype Cold Steel Hunter with a false back for chopping. It was a gift from Cold Steel for suggesting the pattern. I’ve carried it for over 30 years. Will function well until the rubber handle dies, maybe another 30 years…. I have their Master Tanto. Very cool, INCREDIBLY sharp with the surgical Steel inner layer protected by a spring steel outer layer, but mostly impractical. Mostly a tactical design but it DOES have a lanyard hole in the pommel and I have kept it on my boat for big salmon and sturgeon butchering. I have a 1950 Western “Hunter”, made in Boulder, Colorado as well as the 1986 version of the same knife. Ridiculously under appreciated knives that are easily sharpened to a razor edge, yet are exceptionally durable. I have a small collection of knives and pocket tools. Each has a character and utility of its own. Love my EDC Swiss Army Knife! So many knives … so few pockets and belt spaces!

[@Heeman5]

My favorite is a Bark River Knives Gunny👍🏼👍🏼

[@sappysiggy2351]

Just picked up an old marbles. Enjoyed watching Covey, beautiful setter

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

Gorgeous dog , gods gift to us .

[@jonathanhicks140]

For simple practicality I like the stainless steel Mora’s with the rubbery, grippy, coating on the handles. They take a good edge, are easy to re sharpen & are very lightweight. Blade about 4” which is perfect, and both knife & the plastic sheath with the drain hole go in the dishwasher afterwards and are clean & sterile without any effort ready for next time. They are also really low cost, so of course you never lose them - unlike my Buck Vanguard which is somewhere in a forestry block in SW Scotland….😢

[@johnbennett7244]

Mora knife. Fixed lade, Scandia grind. Good all-around knife for hunting, bushcraft, etc. I've had mine for 50 years, easily. Great knife. Good video!!!

[@reidcreel5149]

You can skin with virtually any knife but a scandi grind is better for bushcraft tasks than skinning that said Moras are great for the price.

[@JeffSmith-xt9wt]

Great explanation of knives. I have a Buck Woodsman that I bought right after high school and have carried on every hunt for over 50 years. After dressing out countless elk, deer, bear and turkey it has been sharpened so many times the blade is much thinner now than when new. I think about retiring that knife and using one of the many other knives on the shelf, but always pick up the Buck.

[@nategremore9162]

My best knife?A two blade “Old Timer,Trapper”Lots of memories over fifty years with that knife!But I’m good at forgetting it!Used my Bear Razorhead to dress one deer.My wife got me a big Old Timer when we got married and I started notching the handle for each buck I got.After ten or so I stopped doing that. I was running out of handle sooner than I thought!

[@chrisowen5497]

Great video! I always carry a Swiss Army knife, and at least one other larger knife. Got my first SA knife in 1988, and it was very useful in military service. I also have a couple of Leatherman Wave tools. Very useful also, but not what I want to dress game with. I have a case trapper knife, with a gut hook that feels like I have a zipper when skinning small game.

[@adamboylan2307]

I’m just happy your brother got you that buck knife Ron. That’s how brothers show how much they care. I bet it has much sentimental value to you.

[@brucebanner6149]

Great video. You have a beautiful pup! I love sentimental stories about being gifted first knives and such. I still have my first lock blade, a Wenaka, that I bought when I was 12 in summer 1976. Last year I took it out of the old toolbox I kept it in and set it next to my chair and use it for opening packages and such pretty much everyday but the blade is a little loose for a carry. I always had a special affection for buck knives since I was a kid and seeing the ads in Boys Life Magazine in the elementary school library, I'm finally bought myself a Pathfinder when I started collecting knives maybe a decade ago.

[@davidteague5461]

Your right about the fish knife. I’ve used them for sometime to debone meat . Works great.

[@davidtaylor195]

Nice profile of knives and pros and cons. Buck 110 is my folder, Short Kabar(5.75 in blade) and Mora as camp knives. Had a 119 Buck Fixed similar to yours,little bigger blade. My nephew was starting Bushcraft, so gifted it to him. Also a Victronix Swiss Army(Fisherman mod), and a Gerber Multitool so he is well stocked. You are so right about different uses and blades. Thanks again. Fine review.

[@Jay-mv7xv]

The Huntsman was the 1st pocket knife I bought myself (all others were gifts from my Grandfather or father).. It was in 1984, in the USAF, stationed at Iraklion A.S., Crete Greece.

[@christopherrowley7506]

I prefer fixed blade knives for processing game because they are easier to clean up afterwards. In a folder you are going to get blood and gore up in the folding mechanism. A fixed blade is also much more versatile since the solid tang gives it a lot more strength. For example you can baton it with a stick for splitting and breaking down firewood, which is pretty handy. You probably don't want to risk batoning a folder

[@57HEMIviken]

The axis lock from benchmade will hold 600 pounds before failure and phosphor bronze washers do not gum up like you think. Also by removing 2 screws you can easily pop off the scales to deep clean when the job is done. Just food for thought

[@christopherrowley7506]

@@57HEMIviken Sounds like a strong knife. But a one time slowly applied 600lbs is a lot different than 1000s of sharp wacks over years. Still I haven't tried it so maybe a Benchmade knife would hold up to it. They cost an arm and a leg so I think some people would be worried about whacking away at it. I'm not worried about the mechanism getting too gummed up to function, for me it's a sanitation issue. And I'm unlikely to go through the effort of dismantling the knife in the field and making sure I get all of the parts and crevices clean. With a fixed blade I can wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe and call it done in a few seconds. Then when I'm cutting a slice of cheese with it later, or using it as a fork to skewer a piece of meat to eat, I'm not bringing contamination near my food or mouth.

[@teddahrable]

​@christopherrowley7506 I TOTALLY agree on the inability to properly sanitize a folder in the field. In 43 years of hunting and processing livestock, I have used a folder exactly ONCE. Yep, it was a family heirloom Knife, the fisherman version of the SAK. Forgot my knife, had to deal. Due to Felix Immler's influence, I have carried the SAK Huntsman for the past 7 years as my EDC. I like them so much and am always afraid of being without that I have three. One on my work pants, one in my uniform pants, and one for my jeans or dress pants. Can't carry a ekt knife of any kind while in uniform, gotten used to not carrying one at home (I do carry a larger folder (with a clip) in my right pocket in all the same pants configurations. 😀

[@57HEMIviken]

@Christopher Rowley I'm just saying for how fantastically light weight and easy to carry they are, it might not hurt to have one as a backup or for finer lighter duty tasks but yes for survival/bushcraft a fixed blade is obviously better. There's plenty of videos of people battoning and splitting wood with a folding cold steel triad lock.

[@christopherrowley7506]

@@57HEMIviken good point. I usually carry a carbon opinel as a backup since they are so lightweight and super sharp.

[@Bvnbg0]

Have to agree with you on the fish fillet knives for trimming meat off the bone. Very versatile.

[@Oldhogleg]

You're knife preferences are exactly the same as other long time experienced hunters. It's a proven formula! 👍

[@lddtyrone]

Finally new topics sick and tired of any 6.5 … appreciate the history and input in each knife

[@robertmiller3562]

I love my Spiderco Tenacious folding, it's in my pocket every day for years now and has cleaned a few deer, sharpens easy and holds a edge a good while, next is my Case folder and my buck fix blade

[@steveroca360]

We asked and you delivered. You and Cubby were very helpful in explaining knife options. Thanks!

[@blueduck9409]

Ive had a Uncle Henry spike and Buck 110 for several decades, and they have skined and gutted a lot of game. No complaints about either of them. They always kept and held a good edge. The marrtini from finland makes an excellent fish knife, and Mora is making a good knife too.

[@jamescooper2618]

I think everyone has their own favorite type of knives. It's all personal preference which comes after some experience in gutting and dressing game. Of course, a big-game knife will be a bit different from a small-game, trout and bird knife, butI think what's important is being familiar with the basic designs and what jobs they are best suited for. I like a fixed-blade for gutting and skinning and a folder for more finer, non-butchering types of cutting jobs. I personally prefer larger blades too, but all blade sizes have their place, it just depends on what you need to do with it.

[@UntoDeath]

What a sweet dog. Thanks for the info as I am getting more serious about hunting and field dressing.

[@sandflea2424]

Received a nice Tree Brand DBL blade fold. Holds edge and sharpens easy. A bit large for pocket carry but came with a nice leather sheath that my lab enjoyed.

[@aaronfarr4753]

I have carried the same little hunting / fishing knife for 48 years now. My father served in the merchant marine from 1942-1950 and he picked it up on his first trip to Europe during ww2 and used t as his sailor / hunting knife until the late 1980’s when he finally passed full ownership on to me. Before that starting in 1975 when I was 6 and he took me camping /hunting / fishing for the first time, we shared custody and I was allowed to use it as long as it was always cleaned, cared for and put back after every use. It’s a Mora made in Sweden with a 3 3/4” clip blade and overall length of 7 3/4”. It holds an edge better than any other knife I have ever owned. I have used that little knife to field dress almost every game animal and fish I have ever taken, and many taken by companions and relatives, from my first trout and snowshoe rabbit to moose elk and even a few black bear, and to this day both knife and sheath remain in nearly pristine condition as a testament to the makers and the are it has received. I usually carry three knives in the field and as a collector own over 150 knives from common cheap hardware store pocket knives bought with the hard earned cash of childhood for use on the farm, to the U.S. marine corp issued Robeson Shuredge [ aka K-bar] combat knife my uncle carried through combat across the pacific island campaigns of ww2. All the way up to custom knives costing hundreds of dollars. The only constant in my life has been that the little Mora has been with me all my life and has been my faithful companion on every single hunting,camping, fishing trip and adventure. It sure feels a lot smaller and lighter in my hand now than it did 48 years ago, but it still does it’s job the same and just as well as it did then, and as a bonus has taken less sharpening and kept an edge longer than almost every other knife I have ever used.

[@johnovanic9560]

I have a large collection but the three that go with me every time are my Green River Camp knife an Old Hickory boning knife that I thin down to act like the fillet knives and a German folding Hunter that has a locking skinning blade a heavy-duty saw and a cutting tool with a blunted end. This will do any big game work I have to do. I also have a small single bladed jackknife for doing squirrels and rabbits.

[@Haroldandbob]

No gut hook? I love the feature makes your second cut so nice, like a zipper.

[@barrychouinard4019]

Thanks for doing a focus video on knives Ron. You touched on many points I agree with, and I was specifically listening for one more, that you never mentioned. There is something about a nice fixed blade knife that gives a great feel in the hand. I've never been able to embrace either a folding knife or a disposable blade knife up to this point. With fishing activity most of the year, I've several fillet knives that all work fantastic back at home when deboning the meat. One knife that I never fancied getting was given to me a number of years ago - and it so happened I decided to carry it that year - had a serrated edge. I never thought I wanted that, but I've been happy to have it in the field now on multiple occasions when just a little bit of bone cutting or joint cutting is needed. I didn't think it would be something I wanted until I had it. It's not my first choice when I'm back at the truck or at home. But when I'm a mile away and have to field dress with what I have with me, I've many times when that serrated edge made quick work of some cuts that would struggle with a smooth blade.

[@tims4712]

They are making the classic buck knives in better steel now. I got the upgraded 103 skinner it works great. I use it and the Benchmade steep country

[@dennishein2812]

I’ve used Buck and Old Timer (70s versions). I prefer fixed blades, a lot easier to clean in my opinion. As I got older my blade preferences changed to shorter blades. I tend to choke up on a blade depending on what I’m doing. I also like a drop point. I like carbon steel over stainless. Sharpens easier in the field, but generally I never had to touch up a knife in the field. My knives were shaving sharp when I went out and I could generally gut, skin and process 4-5 animals without touch up. That’s why I like carbon steel. I used a fillet knife for boning for the same reason you do. Only stabbed my hand once. I never was a trophy hunter so I never capped one. Wouldn’t even know how. I got a mount my grandpa had so that’s enough. Sharpening knives soothes the soul. It’s great for relaxation.Great video!

[@Darryl792]

Dennis, I enjoyed your comments. Right on in my opinion. 👍

[@Gubson]

Was just going to comment on the pro's of a fixed knife when it comes to hygiene. Actually really important with hunting knifes.

[@davidderr2662]

I've used the old Kershaw blade trader with a bone saw, fillet, and a standard knife blade and spare for minimal field sharpening.

[@wrenchoperator6435]

I enjoyed your video and especially love seeing Covey join you. She's so well behaved! After a few years of hunting I also bought a good fillet knife, as well as a boning knife - which is similar but works a little differently. Both of those stay in the kitchen and are used to process the meat after I get home, so I have never really thought of them as hunting knives, but man are they sharp! I also use a fairly compact hunting knife and rotate between a folding and a fixed blade, but one knife I've grown to love is a short, wide blade that is very rounded and has a finger hole. It's probably called a skinning knife and is only about 3" long. I have arthritis and in the cold weather it can become difficult to manipulate a knife effectively. I find the finger hole in the blade helps me get a better purchase on the blade and improve my control of the knife in cold weather and when the knife gets slippery. It works well for me. Looking forward to your next video!

[@erstmaleuermono]

Hello, I had a lot of fun watching your video. My EDC is also a Victorinox. I like the versatility. Some Victorinox knives have a small hole at the hinge of the wine opener for a pin. Greetings from Germany

[@M73S]

EKA swingblade (now it's Outdoors edge), started with Ekberg knife. It's a Sandviken 12c27 and one of the best blades.

[@glenng.8254]

Wow. What a nice dog you have. Paws up for Cuvvy.

[@garyh1449]

I've been using a Wyoming gutting knife to open up the deer and a folding 110 buck knife to do the rest. (In the field)

[@toddmartin3962]

White River Knives Sendero Pack for large game. Skinned and cleaned my elk last year, start to finish, never missed a beat. Micarta handle, S35V steel, flat grind, sort of a mashup between drop point + nessmuk (a recurve i guess) in a 3.25" blade. Perfect, amazing knife.

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

I agree with all you said . Very good sir . Thankyou .

[@cray3027]

Man. I love your videos. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge

[@nohandle257]

When dressing an animal I use three knives. A 4 in drop point for opening the skin and opening leg joints for removal. A 5 in more slender bladed sort of fish and fowl knife for fine work and a full rounded true skinning knife for working the hide off the carcass. All convex high grade steel. I use a steel for returning the sharpness quickly if I hit bone. Also a very good two sided diamond grit sharpener if needed. The only concave sharpened blade I use is my clip knife that I carry for general purpose use. I am a convert to convex shaped blades. Yes they are harder to sharpen and I recommend watching the many you tube videos on such. Convex blades hold their edge far better than conventionally shaped blades. 'Cruwear' is the best steel I have found.

[@guns4funfreedomkeeper999]

I can certainly appreciate the sentiment in carrying a family knife or a really fine quality knife and I do on short hunts but when I have to pack way back in, I carry the little disposable one you had there. It is really light weight. The replacement blade comes in a little sleeve. I just put the old blade in the sleeve the new blade came in and keep working. I also carry a very small lightweight box knife with the hook blade in it. I ring the legs and cut from the ring down to my center cut with the hook blade it is super fast and very clean.

[@edwardabrams4972]

I have an old Ka-bar that was my dads that is 60+ years old and has gutted more then a hundred big game animals over the years! It doesn’t hold an edge as good as my Gerber or Kershaw knives but it just keeps cutting and reliable like most of the old things are!

[@jamessotherden5909]

I have my dad's Kabar also. He used it to clean fish ever since I can remember And Im 70 now. When I started hunting I bought myself a Kabar also. Just something about those leather handles.

[@WillyK51]

When young, you always considered a Big knife as the knife to use.Still have a Camillus USN Mk2, parkerized 7" I thought was the one to carry🤣 With experience you scale down. Depending where I hunt, I sometimes carry a short(Self made) Machete if I have to cut my way through. Rarely. Today, a old Browning interchageable blade, skinning, blunt nose, saw. And a Swiss knife. A couple of fine fishing knives . Agree with Ron. On the field I always carry a penn like Diamont sharpennig tool, tough game make it indispensable, couple of swipes and done

[@maddawgnoll]

I love my outdoor edge that's got the replacecable blades. I sharpen mine but when in the field it's so much faster just replacing the blade. I also use it for my leathercraft business. They can be honed to scary sharp so easily.

[@Tomcat6541]

Been looking at those, didn't know if it was stable enough side to side, to take a hone or stropping. I know they have a good edge right out of the box, but wondered if anyone else was thinking about sharpening them.

[@maddawgnoll]

Mine doesn't have much play. Being mass produced, though, it wouldn't surprise me if some have more play than others. I have one of the original styles, so I can't speak for any of the other models they've come out with over the last decade on so. I just know it works well on game and leather. I get about five "sharpenings" out of a blade before it won't take an edge. I'm not the best at holding my angle. I usually only strop it anyway, but I have put it to my stone also.

[@Billy-rq9hs]

@@Tomcat6541 I had one. Replaced it with vet livestock scapel. I think it’s way sharper than the replacement blades for hunting.

[@jk-kr8jt]

Ron, this was a pleasant surprise. So glad to see Covey helping out on the "knife episode ", cause she is one "sharp" girl. Knifes are always a personal choice. I've used most over the years. Case was a favorite of mine, but anymore I generally pack a Kershaw. Not that it's better, just that it was a gift from 2 hunting partners, that are no longer with us. Kind of feel like John and Bubba are still on the hunt with me. The only "tip" I'd add to your viewers is, if you're going to use a folding knife be sure the blade locks. Nobody wants that blade folding in on a finger while skinning. Naturally, keep it sharp. Cheers Jeff

[@CutandShoot5x5]

FANtastic video Ron! I agree with many of your “points” and “tips”! I love Covey’s choice….the folding Puma!!!!

[@ethanknight3970]

cubby sitting there hearing you talk about meat and unhappy she's not getting any snacks is fun to watch

[@nickgironda8932]

Wow! Love your channel… and Covey, too! I have so many knives! Seriously, for girls dressing I have a compact three knife set that I picked up at farm & fleet. I think the package said Remington! Anyway, they do not have handles and nest together in a nylon sheath. They’re wonderful… easy to wash, easy to sharpen… there’s a small 2.25” blade a medium 3.5” blade and a nice skinner blade. They were like $19.00 a few years ago but I would pay 10x that if I had to replace them. Tho I’ve never seen this exact set anywhere. Thanks so much for your content, Mr Spomer!

[@mpccenturion]

Ron. Worked in a meat packing plant for a few years. One Friday evening - night butcher asked for some help. He taught me to bone out meat. In a single evening. Similar profile to your small knives. Ours were heavier. But we still boned out with a thin knife. Cheers to you!

[@johncooper1107]

Ron, watching this video brought back memories. My first fixed blade knife was a "Utica Sportsman" my first pocket knife was a "Barlow". May not have been a fancy ""Buck or Case" but they worked just fine for skinning a squirrel or cleaning a fish.

[@phasechange5053]

You have a good brother i bought my father a Kershaw Leek Flipper Folding Knife, 154CM, Copper Handle, K1660CU last x-mas or so. having more is great but sometimes you just need the best one. hard to beat that knife and it will patina over time while having an incredible edge with a great blade.

[@johnk5061]

Really cool that your putis hanging out with you. I enjoy my hound interaction also. A+

[@johnwolfen4243]

Hey Ron: Looks like we are about set on knives, I have so many I could open a used knife shop. You did all that and no bandages. One knife I like a lot is a Gerber that is a folder with a gut hook.

[@johnlopez7748]

My main knife for hunting carry is the outdoor edge swing blade it is amazing. I also have a buck 110 like what your brother gave you, a friend gave me the buck 110 so yeah some semimetal value. I also have Randal knife that a got as a present and carry it while hunting. Thank you for the video!!!

[@brandonmitchell3617]

What randall do you have?

[@ecleveland1]

I've got my wife's grandfathers Randall model 7 stag handle that he carried hunting and fishing. It is easy to sharpen and will fillet a human hair.

[@barrywinn2538]

That’s a great knife tutorial I have a Cutco with a gut hook I can unzip the belly to keep that wire hair from dulling my good sharp blade . It is orange and I dropped in in deep leaves I saw a little bit and found it I can put a nice edge on also so I don’t like the throw away or ceramic knive either. Nice piece. Loading your ammo and sharpening your best knives is very satisfying. Thanks

[@nihiluskarr2717]

A good thing I've tried keeping in mind with my own knives is the handle material. Not only, for the sake of how it feels in the hand, but also because of cleanability. A good example, would be Micart vs G10. I love the feel of micarta handles, but I almost always pick a g10 handle for hunting knives, because they are less likely to hold bacteria. Which isn't to say micarta can't be cleaned of any residual bacteria, but it's just a factor I like to keep in mind when looking at available options.

[@matthewdeepblue]

Helle Knives and marttini are the only knives that I would take, with the exception of my Victorinox Swiss army. But a little pocketknife is.

[@scenicdriveways6708]

Great video Ron, I carry a Victorinox Huntsman every single day, and you are right, great pocket knife to own! I also carry a Victorinox Swiss Tool X Plus Ratchet multitool on my belt every day. Perfect companion to the Huntsman. Most of the years I hunted I used a Buck 110 folding knife to field dress deer and other game animals. Never needed anything more than that.

[@TheGDizzo]

If you use a Havalon in the field, SLOW THE BLEEP DOWN!!! And ALWAYS make sure to take two seconds to think about where is that blade going to go after it finally cuts thru this thing you're having to apply some force onto it to go thru, like a tough tendon. LOTS of people have sliced themselves with replaceable blade scalpel knives out in the field. Some have stuck their thighs and sliced into their femoral artery too! Bad bad situation! Make sure you have a self-apply tourniquet in your pack, just in case. Recently switched over to carrying the Argali "Carbon" model as the main processing knife. (With Havalon as backup, since weight so low) I really like it! It's like having a Havalon, but without the flexing and a longer blade with a shape less likely to poke the hide. And less worry about dulling it when the cuts involve a little bit of travelling along bone surfaces, left when ya pop off the forelegs or when sliding along the vertebral phalanges and then the ribs when cutting out the back-straps. Mini-bugout in Hi Viz Orange in my pocket at all times for things like cutting off pokey lil branches when you're trying to back up into a sit into something like a scrub oak or holly with those pokey leaves. That way not dulling the processing knife.

[@Tomcat6541]

That was great! Really enjoyed the video. That Victorinox is handy, but a bloody clean-up is a nightmare. As I've gotten older, my favorites are shorter blade, bird and trout knives. The Benchmade Flyway, and the CRKT Hunt'N Fisch.

[@leskrug9266]

I've upgraded from cheap knives to a Buck Vanguard, and my daily carry pocket knife is Buck 110 that I received from being in my brother's wedding 25 years ago and just started carrying last year, has my initials engraved and date of his wedding date.

[@stevedenis8292]

Some of the best part of hunting is the ritual aspect of it . From using a favorite gun or knife for field dressing or processing . Now don't look down too much on the cheep disposable blades the good old box cutter works very nicely for a quick skinning although messy I will admit . Don't forget the Sawzall for cutting legs and very quick quartering again messy but a fresh long blade gets it done. Don't for get some good kitchen knives these are great once you get those quarters in the house.

[@CrimeVid]

The first knife, Buck Pathfinder, is it ? looks like a boning knife (non flex) , basically a pretty good all rounder for flesh, and just do-able for fish. As for filleting knives go to (and stay with) Marttiini, they’re good.

[@laurogarza4953]

Thanks Ron for addressing this topic which is every bit important for the outdoorsman as any firearm. I prefer lockblade pocket knives as compated to non-locking pocket knives like Buck vs Old Timers. For outdoors, while keeping my pocket knife in my pocket, I add a larger clip point knife to my belt. The advantage of a clip point knife not fully understood, I believe, is that it is actually three cutting tools in one and ideal for the hunter/outdoorsman. The clip point has a point that makes a leather awl followed by a scalpel followed by a mear cleaver. Finally, folding knives do not lend themselves to whitling or splitting firewood. That's where fixed blade medium to heavy clip points that carry on the belt sheath. Still, I can't argue the advantage of having a filet knife in your hunter's kit. I also keep a sharpening stone in my kit and a small bone saw. I, furthermore, cannot argue with those cowboys who use a ball cutter boot knife for skinning game. That knife, shaped like a straight razor, is also rugged and has no point to avoid poking oneself while castrating calves and alao avoids poking holes in hides and furs. Thus, all men should have a sharp pocket knife, I believe, and add to that, while outdoors, a larger clip point knife folding or fixed, and a filet knife in the kit along with a stone and maybe a straight razor too. Well done, Ron.

[@blurryface1975]

this was great, makes me want to get back out on the shop and finish up a few knives ive been working on. Ive got a request for another video topic, Handgun hunting. I dont see too much about it on all the popular channels. Id mostly be interested in revolver hunting, but other types as well. again, great video thanks

[@mattsweet7918]

Good video on explaining all the basics. I also have a Buck fixed blade like you brother gave you. A great knife and easy to sharpen with an Eze Lap diamond rod. N less than 5 minutes on the diamond rod and a little honing on a ceramic stone, it will shave hair and stay sharp for a while. I always felt replaceable blade knives were made for those people who don’t know how, or won’t take the time to learn how to sharpen a knife. Agree that throwing away blades is a waste.

[@drmjruff]

My Dad gave me the same Buck knife about 45 years ago and it is still in my pack.

[@jamesparlane9289]

10 Things a knife must have; 1. locking blade 2. easy to keep sharp. 3. No emotional attachment so you can not suffer if you lose it 4. Easily replaceable. 5.ergonomic handle 6. no fancy stuff 7.full tang 8. no holes in the blade 9. Reasonable price 10.large but not too large.

[@blueduck9409]

That list could also apply to women i like to date.

[@jamesparlane9289]

@@blueduck9409 Those are dangerous, ugly, dumb as a sledge hammer Chicks. Be careful.