Phil, here's the one I used in the 50's and 60's untill my wife bought me the CUTCO in 1970...

EDIT: It's a Schrade Walden H-15 made in NY U.S.A.

Yep. I use a Buck Vanguard most of the time, but I have a folding Old Timer that belonged to my dad that I inherited when he died, that I'll use for detail work if I'm dressing out more than one deer and don't want to resharpen.

Buck Folding hunter. Have used mine for years (35) since my Dad gave it to me. Holds a great edge and easy to carry. Gutted many many deer and again held the edge.

IMHO, you need like 3 knives.

First, get a nice short blade knife like a Knives of Alaska 3.5" caping knife. This is good for all the fine work. With a fairly straight kitchen knife type blade, you can get these razor sharp, which is what you need. This size blade is great for working around the butt hole and general skin cutting. I will get that knife someday, but for now, my leatherman does the trick.

Second, get a long reach knife, without a point, if possible. Again, Knives of Alaska makes a nice one. I have a Schrade which is a standard drop point knife, but the point is kind of out of the way. Basically, if I push along the length of the knife, there is a blade there, like a tanto, not just a point. I use this heavy knife also for cutting through the rib cage and those deep reaching cuts when you are pulling the guts out. I was always told to cut the esophogas high, but now I read things that say not even to cut the rib cage, so I can't say for sure. Heck, if one doesn't cut the rib cage, you'll need a sword to cut the esophogaas high!

Last, get a saw with a protected end, like the Gerber. Yea, sure you don't need a saw, but sometimes you do real bad. I have cut a few butt holes into a mess and the saw was the only way to get all that junk out. Again, I think not cutting this area might be better to save more meat.


Also get a top drawer sharpener like Chef's Choice tri angle electric. Sure I hear it is possible to stone cut a better edge, but even an impatient idiot like me can get a perfect edge with this thing!

Ibought my first old timer two blade folderwhen I was eight I'm 50 now and just gave it to mygod son before he left to the Mid eastits cleaned a lot of fish and deer. Had to hit the steel alot when skinning.

Don't overlook the ole timer, good steel and holds a great edge

I like a one piece knife for hunting,camping. My buck vanguard w/guthook has worked well gut hook wasn't that great, then I got a bark river gameskeeper or I use busse groove master

i like those old timers butwith my boys around i have to buy a new knife every year if anyone finds one kid proof let me know [&o]

Buck is the way to go. i bought a Gerber a few years back, unsure of the model but it had a gut hook and was a fixed blade. i ended up throwing it away before one season was over, it wouldn't keep an edge. my folding buck knife keeps an edge. i've skinned 3 deer at one time without having to hit a stone.

I've had good luck with Gerber and Kershaw knives. Never had to more than hit them with a steel even after cleaning multiple deer. Lost my last Gerber and 1 Kershaw, broke the tip off the blade on my last Kershaw. Sent it back and they sent me a new one, no questions asked. For everyday use/abuse, I carry a S.O.G. and keep my Kershaw for hunting only.