Knife shape for hunting?

[bowjijohn]

A friend of mine has taken up knife making

He makes them for 'friends and family'

A builder by trade he is one of these people who is good at anything he turns his hand to

His products are excellent - comparable with anything I've found in the custom knife market

He can't yet afford/justify the purchase of hardening equipment so sends them off in small batches to a specialist for hardening

I have 2 of his bushcraft knives in high carbon steel.

He is making me a third in RWL 34 with handles from an old oak tree that blew down in one of our fields few years ago

He has been asked to make one ''suitable for stalking'' for a mutual friend

As far I am concerned there is no particular shape that I would choose over and above a standard 4" drop point bushcrafty knife with Scandinavian grind

Anyone here suggest an alternative?

 

[Tgood1]

rather fond of the canadian belt knife design

 

[Art Lambart II]

I'm also a bushcrafter but I don't use my scandi's as hunting knifes, sure they will work but I find the more traditional flat or saber ground knife to be more effective for general tasks. I would recommend a French Trade Knife or a Kephart design. If the knife is going to be used for processing game I would look at a 4" butcher style blade.

 

[nztimb]

It depends on what you do with the knife as a hunter. Are you just field dressing (essentially gutting )and taking the animal back to camp or home to break down or do you quarter in the field and the size of the animal and the distance to camp makes a deciding point here.

He has been asked to make one ''suitable for stalking'' for a mutual friend

There are factors in the question that need answering before an decision on knife style can be given.

 

[BourbonTrail]

It depends on what you do with the knife as a hunter. Are you just field dressing (essentially gutting )and taking the animal back to camp or home to break down or do you quarter in the field and the size of the animal and the distance to camp makes a deciding point here.

He has been asked to make one ''suitable for stalking'' for a mutual friend

There are factors in the question that need answering before an decision on knife style can be given.

+1

 

[bowjijohn]

Yes - a fair comment

as he is a UK based stalker/hunter then a knife in the field would be used to bleed out and grallock (gut) a deer of 50lb to 180lb in weight

skinning and processing is rarely done in the field and usually involves the use of a different set of knives and saws

 

[nztimb]

Then you need a knife that is suitable to ring cut the anus, and nimble enough to work inside the body cavitity and for me that is the Light Hunter with its 3 3/4 in blade that I have carried for a number of years and is eminantly suitable for those chores.

Or something like the Tahr Hunter is another option again with a 3 3/4 in blade. It has a little more belly but still able to do the things you mention.

Of course when the animal is back at the camp then other knives take over the work.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I'm also a bushcrafter but I don't use my scandi's as hunting knifes, sure they will work but I find the more traditional flat or saber ground knife to be more effective for general tasks. I would recommend a French Trade Knife or a Kephart design. If the knife is going to be used for processing game I would look at a 4" butcher style blade.View attachment 465147

I think one of these is a Von Gruff original!

 

[mdwest]

I like two different profiles for hunting…

For general purpose work like gutting, skinning, etc I like a drop point design with a good bit of belly to it..not too terribly long.. somewhere between a 3-5” blade depending on the size of the animal being worked on..

For caping.. and also for small game.. and even most fowl… I prefer something with a narrow, upswept blade and a fine tip/point… something in the general shape/design of the Old Timer Sharpfinger …

 

[Rick HOlbert]

I've found my pukko's from Finland do outstanding work on processing game. They hold an edge rather well. If I'm quartering game in the field then I use a game hatchet to break down the carcass for ease of transportation.

 

[nztimb]

I think one of these is a Von Gruff original!

Yes the lower one in @Art Lambart II post is a mini bullnose skinner.

 

[lockingblock]

If I could only have one, it would be a Buck Woodsman. It’s the ideal size for 95% of jobs, easy to keep sharp, never rusts, and light enough to carry.


if I had a second…it would be a leather man type tool.


Then, a caping knife.

Then a full on skinner…even though I’ve never needed a dedicated skinner.

 

[CM McKenzie]

Then you need a knife that is suitable to ring cut the anus, and nimble enough to work inside the body cavitity and for me that is the Light Hunter with its 3 3/4 in blade that I have carried for a number of years and is eminantly suitable for those chores.
View attachment 465226

Or something like the Tahr Hunter is another option again with a 3 3/4 in blade. It has a little more belly but still able to do the things you mention.
View attachment 465227 Of course when the animal is back at the camp then other knives take over the work.

You are pretty handy sir! I respect your work.

 

[IvW]

Drop point hunter

 

[Art Lambart II]

I think one of these is a Von Gruff original!

Yes is is, like Von Gruff said if a bullnose mini-skinner and its by far the best hunting knife I have ever owned. One day I'll have Von Gruff make a bushcraft knife for me but I just can't decide which one I want.

 

[Nhhunter]

I prefer a 3 to 4 inch drop point nice and thin behind the edge

 

[norfolk shooter]

@bowjijohn I have just got back form Africa and gave one of my home made knives to the PH as a gift. The shape has been evolved with some input from game keepers and deer management personnel on local estates to me.
Shame I didnt take a pic of the thing

 

[nztimb]

I've just made a template of a smaller EDC Hunter. 3 1/4 in blade and 7 1/2 in overall. I may increase the blade to 3 1/2 in though.

 

[meigsbucks]

I like a Canadian Belf Knife or a drop point ( 3.5-3.75”) for general hunting use. I used to use 4-5”, but prefer the shorter blades. Other knives for skinning and caping.

 

[WAB]

I've just made a template of a smaller EDC Hunter. 3 1/4 in blade and 7 1/2 in overall. I may increase the blade to 3 1/2 in though.
View attachment 465626

I like that pattern. I owe you a reply, sorry for the delay.