The Ultimate Deer

[HEAD0001]

KNIFE----I know, I know it is not an MZ topic but if you don't like it then skip over it. But consider this. A good MZ hunter will always need a good knife!!

This is a fun topic. So critique away on my choice.
My choice was the Case StockMan. For several reasons.

First is how slender the main blade is. By not being as wide it will allow a few things. First when gutting I like a thinner blade because it cuts easier. Second when skinning the hardest part is skinning out the legs. And the narrow long blade will allow you to do your center cut considerably easier all the way down the leg bone.

Second is the actual skinning knife. I like a shorter knife that is rounded. And the second blade on this "Stockman" design knife is rounded perfectly so as not to cut through the skin while skinning.

Third is the last blade with a drop point on the bottom. I like this blade for cutting out the loins. I like the firm drop point to reach directly back to the bone then cut downward as to not loose any meat.

The next reason for the Case(it came down to a Case versus a Schrade) was the actual metal the blade was made out of. The Schrade's were all Stainless Steel. And for me SS is hard to sharpen. I wanted a high Carbon Moly steel blade. Yes they might rust a tad bit faster, but they will hold and take a considerably better edge.

I bought this knife from E-Bay for $38 shipped. So the price was not real bad.

I know this is a long rant over a knife. But consider the fact that I don't have much too do so I tend to ramble on. Plus I also spend too much time making little decisions. But I think I got this one right!!

It is also hard to believe how incredibly sharp this knife came from the factory. All three blades are razor sharp right out of the box.

I also ordered the Lansky sharpening system.

What do you guys think?? Tom.

[MountainDevil54]

very nice! You ought to check this out one. The swing blade. The skinning blade is awesome. Just pull foward and its like slicing through water. The skinning blade is also perfect when cutting down the section of the knee to get the skin off.

[Muley Hunter]

I've always used a Buck 110, but I bought a Swing Blade like Jon showed. Now my Buck is a backup.

[MountainDevil54]

check out ebay for the swing blade, i got mine for half the price that cabelas charges.

[HEAD0001]

That knife looks OK to me. But it is way too long and bulky for anything I would want to carry deer huntnig with me every day. Maybe if you kill larger game like elk it might be OK. But Ialways used a small knife on the few elk I have killed, with good success and no problems. And I know for sure I would not want to carry a knife that big around if in the mountains. Just an opinion.

Regardless of how much it weighs. Just too big and bulky. Tom.

[Muley Hunter]

It's only a 3" blade.

[MountainDevil54]

oh i love it. i left it on my belt the entire hunt in new mexico. Never felt it once until i gutted my deer. I have pretty big hands and so i like a knife with some girth to it. I used to use smaller knives as well but its just to hard on my hands.

[lemoyne]

I like knives I have some that I won at muzzle loader shoots before inlines were ever heard of some from blanket shoots some that were gifts some I seen and liked and bought. Some I traded for at Rendezvous. I would tell you how many I have except I never counted so I really don't have any idea.
I have a couple of folding hunting knives that have a hooked gutting blade I carry one in my Archery kit one in my gun kit, and a pair of case skinning knives and a case boning knife which I use for butchering.

[Muley Hunter]

Nothing skins as good as the swing blade. It's the only design that skins from the inside out. You don't have to cut the hair. It's like a zipper.

[cayugad]

Many years ago, I purchased two blades from the Green River Knife Co. I made a handle out of Mesquite wood. and one out of Black Walnut. They turned out real good and hold a super edge, but for some reason I do not use them.

I have a folding "Buck" Knife I carried and still keep in my possible bag today. I also recently got a Schrade Premos "The Caper" fixed blade knife.



As you can see it has a small blade, but the handle fits perfect in my hand. It has a diamond stone and diamond stick to sharpen if you need to, all in the case. Just a real nice knife. The Buck Knife is also a nice knife, but I do not like a large blade when I gut or cape an animal. I've even used a simple pocket knife sometimes. This new Caper will be a good knife I feel.