decided that i should upgrade my hunting knives a little. been getting by on a couple of buck knives for awhile, now, and think it is time to try something fresh.

so, did a little looking, and it appears that boker has a good reputation. i looked a little deeper and the 2 models that appeal to me most have ceramic blades. does anyone have any experience w/ ceramic blades? i was told they will probably never need sharpening, but they are brittle. boker will sharpen the blades for free, i guess, but they do not warranty the blade against breaking.

any experience w/ boker? does someone have a better suggestion? the blades on my buck knives start getting a little dull after the first deer. i can get thru a 2nd deer, but by then it is in pretty bad shape. i seem to be spending a lot of time sharpening the blade...

the price of the bokers i am looking at start at around $120 and go up.

you don't sharpen the ceramic - it is done w/ a laser, i guess. therefore it must be sent in to be sharpened...but, i've been told that these blades will probably outlast me. don't know if i buy it or not, but that's what i've been told.

k-bars are much bigger than what i want...

i am not sure i am ready to spend this kind of money on a knife... but, the length of time it will hold an edge is appealing, the extreme light weight is appealing, they are the perfect size, balance well, and seem to have some sort of 'stickshun' on the handles so a little bit of blood wouldn't cause a catastrophic slip.

but, before i run out and buy one, i'd kinda like to see what the bsb's input is... k-bar has crossed my mind many times... they are just too damned big. 

Dakotasin;

Go to google & search these two.  A. G. Russell knives & Smokey Mountain Knife Works.  If one of these two doesn't have it & at a pretty good price, then it's truly hard to find. 

I've heard the same as you about Boker.  Sharp as hell & brittle.  Might want to look at Puma now that they are doing quality work again.  Or if a true custom is what talks to you, look at Randall.

900F

I've tried many knives over the years.  My favorite is Golden Spike by Schrade.   Great design and very good steel.  I highly recommend it.  Shop around around a bit on the net and you'll find one for under $40.

Marble's and Kershaw also make some great knives. 

Teddy

my "go-to" knife is the sharpfinger by schrade. as said above, i love my k-bar and use it or my m7 bayonet for ribcage splitting and other "big" work, but the sharpfinger is the one that goes into the guts.

bkc's suggestion of a "baby k-bar" is worth considering....

Wow, you guys play with the big blades.  I have never been that impressed with the big blades for field dressing, skinning and caping big game.  I bought a Dunn custom knife in 1995 and love it.  I have found the razor sharp 3" blade to be perfect for reaching in the chest to cut out the wind pipe and perfect for cutting around the anus. 

When I first got it I used it to split the sternum and it worked fine.  Rarely do I split the chest any more as I can usually get a better deal on the capes.

Anyway, my two cents, get a knife that will hold an edge and bigger is not always better.

http://www.dunnknives.com - www.dunnknives.com

There is an old gent by the name of E.J. Smith in Independance , Kansas that is a cattle rancher and makes knives for a hobby, and sells them.

The run $65 including shipping, are deer antler handeled and usually sport a 5-6 inch blade. He grinds them for left or right hand users. I imagine he would make one any size you want.

Mine has lasted through three elk without any touch up. Try one, you will really like them. If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you. These are the best knives I have ever used , especialy for the price. Each one is unique. I have a big and smaller K-Bar, and a Buck Skinning knife. These far surpass any of them

E.J. Smith

Rt 2

Box 285

Independance , Kansas 67301

620-331-5211

Fella's;

Another VERY handy tool is the Gerber pack axe.  I've got one & won't go hunting without it.  It's a very small & lightweight hand axe.  You should be able to find one in any decent sporting goods store these days for under $30.00.  Check it out, you might find yourelf getting one.

900F

Actually, we have it better than ever.  My Dad as a young man never had the selection and competitive pricing we have before us in 2004.

Teddy 

The very best knife for any outdoors chore is the one your hunting pal has.

Think we chewed this thread before.

I've got some big showy sheath knifes.  Best for me is the Puma, figure $150 and up.  Holds an edge forever.  I have the White Hunter model, bought in 1961.  I take it to wilderness areas, like Alaska and Africa, where "eat you things" live.

For hunting I love a double bladed folding knife, with a small stone in a soft leather sheath.  Case is very good.  I prefer wood handles as they are lighter than bone, and less slippery.  Checkering is a nice addition after you get the knife. it helpd when you are up to your shoulders in the body cavity.  I get the sheath custom make so it is small and the knife almost falls out of it after you open a snap.

My favorite is an old L.L. Bean double folding with a Rosewood handle.

BEAR

Hey, kickback  Welcome.

Nice to hear from you.  Hope you stay on BSB, it is a pretty good place to talk.

Where are you from and what do you hunt?????

BEAR

This place is gonna get my business real soon.  Something to be said for the Green River style.  Check out the Cliff Knife.

http://www.idahoknifeworks.com/ - http://www.idahoknifeworks.com/

I guess I'll chime in here,...

I too favor a smaller blade on a knife. I've got a GERBER right now that works perfect for my needs. It's a 4" blade folder that has the rear section (last 1 1/2") serrated. It works just great for the grizzle sections like cutting through the sturnum,... and the knife edge seems to stay sharp forever.

I used to use an old BUCK 110 for years but now I have been spoiled with the Gerber.

Guys: I am not what you would call a "Knife Collector" but over the decades of my "gun trading" industry - I had accumulated probably 150 knives of the Hunting type and at least 50 more of the street fighting type!

I have and have owned many custom Hunting knives including those by Ruana, Randall, Bjerkle, Morseth and on and on and on!

Last year I decided to start selling off my double, large, drawer full of knives.

I am certain I have realized well over $2,500.00 on what I have sold so far - I immediately bought Hunting Rifles with said monies!

I still have a LONG way to go selling off what I don't use.

NOW to what I do use for Hunting!

My favorite Hunting knife of all time is the simple two bladed large Buck folder Model #317!

This knife has a lanyard hole, is relatively compact and yet exceptionally strong. The 2 blades are 4 1/16" and 3 7/8" long.

One blade is wide and thicker than the other.

I always have "a" sharp blade to fall back on it seems.

The thinner narrower blade is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for reaming and removing the digestive tract outlet from game animals!

I mean it is PERFECT - I have never seen a better blade for this essential function - EVER. And I have seen a LOT of knives try this operation over the last 5 decades!

This knife has been copied EXACTLY by numerous other knife makers over the years - those knife makers include Puma, Schrade, Western and on and on.

I have several of the "copies" of this Model 317 still today (including those by Pume, Schrade and Western) and I have an "extra" Buck #317 just in case times get tough.

I have never seen a knife (custom or factory!) that gets as much done as quickly and as well as my Buck #317!

I feel I will trim down to about 20 Hunting knives and maybe 2 street fighting knives and never will be tempted (I am sure!) to buy another expensive custom Hunting knife the rest of my life.

My advice regarding custom Hunting knives - the money can be much better spent, in many other places.

Hold into the wind

VarmintGuy

Bark River "Fox River" model is hard to beat.  The tool steel is good, the handles light and the shapes are classic.  Not too expensive, yet.

http://www.knivesshipfree.com/Bark-River-Knives-Fox-River-Knife-Red-Linen-Micarta - http://www.knivesshipfree.com/Bark-River-Knives-Fox-River-Kn ife-Red-Linen-Micarta