replacement blade knive opinions wanted

T

Tbone-AZ

New member
I have a question for the community.

I have a set of Knives of Alaska knives and an outdoor edge swing blade.
which i resharpen on the work sharp tool, to make the very sharp. THat 6000 grit belt really finishes them nicely.

They are very sharp and work really well.. To a point.

The last two trips out, has really put them to the test. After the last trip I cleaned them up and thought they were sharp, and repacked them, but then by the time I finished skinning the last of the 5 coyotes and the bobcat they were getting fairly dull.

I am not complaining... I also don't want to stand there sharpening on a stone or hone when in the field. I just don't have time or the desire for that. When I am out there hunting that is what I want to do. Especially since most of the time I am skinning in the mid day break, after morning hunting and when the coyotes stop coming, and before the afternoon starts.

Lets face it, there are not a lot of knives out there that are going to be sharp as sharp gets after skinning out 11 coyotes and a bobcat. Skinning takes it's toll.



I was thinking of getting a replaceable blade knife for this, and was looking at the two Havalon's and the Outdoor edge version. I think they all have pro's and con's but wanted to hear what some of you that have seen them used, directly or second hand, before i buy one.
 
A friend gifted me a Havalon Piranta that I've been trying out this year.
I like it ALLOT!
I'm easily getting through two critters before changing blades. Could go even longer but for about six bits apiece I change em as soon as they even start to get dull. And yea,,, I'm sure someone will be along to tell us how they're skinning a couple of Elk, five Deer, and a pick up load of Coyotes with one blade but I don't see the point when blades are so inexpensive.
I don't skin in the field any more but I can't imagine a better knife for the task. Wish they would have made em back in my day. They're so lite-weight and handy I'm surprised the back pack crowd isn't all over them but that's just as well because the price would likely double once they started selling them at the yuppie stores:)
I would suggest carrying a Multi-Tool or even an old pair of pliers for changing blades with cold/slippery hands but you can get by with em if you're careful.

Oh,, and get the 60XT blades. They're a little longer and have a good contour.
Course that's just my opinion. They make other blade shapes and sizes depending on likes/needs.

Here's the rotation I'm using this year. The Havalon's definitely seeing the most use.


 
Thanks for the feed back.. Its appreciated, and wanted to see what people thought before i buy one or another.

I have the same bear cub KoA knife and use that a lot. I also have the Muskrat they sell and that is the best knife I can use for the actual skinning. (once you get the hide started) but I use other knives for the ears, cuts up the legs, and ringing the legs. Not to mention the eyes, and snout. I am hoping that this knife will work well for these cuts. If I only use the Muskrat knife for skinning (with it's rounded nose) i can skin a lot of animals without dulling the blade at all. Every time the knife has to cut through fur, or comes into contact with bone, it starts to dull.
 
Allot of guys use a serrated blade for ringing the feet and peeling the skull.
I've always meant to try it but never got around to it.
Maybe you should take a run at it and get back to us;)
Chicago cutlery makes an inexpensive one. I think Victornox does too. That Victornox paring knife in my pic is a sweet little knife with way better steel than the price (6.00 shipped at Amazon) would suggest.

The KOA's good one too. I picked that one up in a bargain bin at a local liquidator's for 20.00 last summer. Good ergonomics and steel. I'd like to try a muskrat but at the going rate I doubt I ever will.

Good luck in your quest.
 
Thanks..
I have a pair of the Victornox as well. I keep those at home with the fleshing knife for when I do the fleshing work. It's a scary sharp little cheap knife, but mine goes dull fairly fast.

I skin in the field, with my skinning rack that goes into my trailer hitch, and would also like to make a small fleshing beam to flesh in the field as well.





This would allow me to just sew, wash and stretch when I am home. But to do this effectively, I am planning in setting up so that when I go out for a few days, I can handle about 4 a day. With this in mind, most knives are going to need some kind of change or something (i don't want to take a pile of knifes) to handle 8 to 12 coyotes.(optomistic thinking)

suggestions?
 
That would lead me right back to my first reply.

"Can't imagine a better knife than the Havalon for skinning in the field".

the rest of em are just fun to talk about.
 
I got to the store this weekend and given the costs of each, the price of the replacement blades and the feel and thickness of the blades, I went with the Outdoor Edge version..
To replace the blade, it's not a "oh god please don't let me cut myself deal" You just push the button and slide it out.
There are supports on the sides of the blades that give the blade stiffness.
The blades also felt thicker, and I felt as though I would be able to touch up the blades after a trip to the field.
Also, more importantly, I felt as though the baracuda was just too big to be useful, and the Smaller Havalon was great, but felt a little small.
I also was happy with the feel of the blade, it didn't feel as though there was any slope in the security of the blade.
I also got a pack of replacement blades while I was there, and figure that I should have enough for a year or more alone.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZ
To replace the blade, it's not a "oh god please don't let me cut myself deal" You just push the button and slide it out.


LOL... There's not quite that much drama involved in replacing the blade on a Havalon.
I just thought it was worth mentioning.


Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZ
The blades also felt thicker, and I felt as though I would be able to touch up the blades after a trip to the field.


If the blades are thicker they must not be common Scalpel blades. Have to wonder if availability could be a problem if that is indeed the case.
I'm also not sure why you'd want to "touch it up in the field". Can't you simply do that with a regular knife?
I thought the whole idea was to avoid sharpening in the field.
 
I have used a Havalon for the last few years on everything from fur bearers to elk and have been very impressed. I'm the guy around here that all my friends get to sharpen their knives so I am very capable of getting a good edge on a blade. that said with the simplicity of the Havalon it is just hard to beat. My deer this year I skinned it quartered it boned it then went back to camp and caped it with the same blade and could probably go through another deer with it. That and as a aging fluffy guy weight in my pack has become more important to me and these little knives a very light. What isn't to love.

drscott
 
Thank you for the feed back and the eperience with your Havalon knife.

It's good to hear about the quality of the blade.. How many coyotes and predators do you typically skin with a single blade, before changing it out?
 
Tbone I can usually do 2 to 3 but I have a tendency to stay a little to close to the bone and it dulls a bit quicker. overall I would buy another one in a minute. My piranta came with 12 blades also, as I think that is standard, and replacement blades are cheap
 
Havalon as stated above I do 2 yotes and dump it.I do use a pair of pliers to swap out the blade as they are scary sharp.
 
I tried changing the blade of the Havalon at the store counter, and not only did it make me nervous, it made the clerk nervous as well..
The Outdoor edge replacement blade knife has a button you push, and it's not so that you would accidently push it, so I chalk that up to a plus for the Outdoor edge version.
 
I love my havalon. It makes skinning so much easier and faster because I don't have to stop and sharpen my knife. I skinned a 440lb bear with one blade. If you've ever skinned a bear you know all the fat is very hard on a knife edge. I still use my hunting knife for field dressing and just use the havalon for skinning. Changing the blade is a little sketchy but not bad if you use pliers.
 
Originally Posted By: huntin1I love my havalon. It makes skinning so much easier and faster because I don't have to stop and sharpen my knife. I skinned a 440lb bear with one blade. If you've ever skinned a bear you know all the fat is very hard on a knife edge. I still use my hunting knife for field dressing and just use the havalon for skinning. Changing the blade is a little sketchy but not bad if you use pliers.


What he says
 
Back
Top