Best knife/knives for cleaning game (ducks, Deer)

[Lucky Blade]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, but I have been lurking for over a year and have learned alot reading these forums from time to time. Most of my knowledge of knives is from using them, but I have lil to no technical knowlege.

I bought my first spyderco, the persian, based on looks last year. IT has been my EDC since and its great. My second the perrin is in the mail as I type this. I had no real knowledge of steel at the time, and really dont have any practical knowlege now other than what I've read here.

During a typical hunting season I may clean 500 - 1000 waterfowl ( i didnt kill them all myself) and 4 or 5 deer.

1st I would like any of you guys or Sals opinion on what spyderco knife with which would be best suited for breasting birds. (I was thinking maybe the stretch)

2nd Im tired of my knives dulling by the time I get done cleaning one deer. What knife do you guys recomend for skinning/cleaning deer. It doesnt have to be a huge knife either. I havent used my persian on a deer yet, althoguh Im sure it would be better than what I have been using.

3rd where is the best place to learn about the different steels. THe education page here is good, but is there laymens terms somwhere that rate steel based on intended use, hardness, edge holding, sharpenabliity?
IS VG-10 the best all around?
what about the ATS-34, AUS-8, BG-42, S30V, and the other good steels I probaly havent heard of, how do the compare to eachother. I know there is probably a complete thread on this somewhere if someone could point me to it. I like a knife that holds an edge, but I have to be able to sharpen it also.

Thanks you guys have been a wealth of knowledge.

[smcfalls13]

Check out this article by Joe Talmadge, this should help with supplement the materials on the Spyderco site.

Here is the link.

http://www.agrussell.com/knife_infor...metry_faq.html

Basically, steel is important, but so is the blade geometry and heat treat. Depending on what your application is(in your case, cleaning a deer) some steels/geometries may be better suited.

The VG-10 in your Persian is a superior steel for general use. As far as production steels go, it is one of the best. Best is a relative term, what serves me well in my cutting needs, may not necessarily be good for you.

Not familiar with cleaning deer(couldn't shoot a deer if my life depended on it, I don't have the aim ) but would imagine that the Impala with Guthook would be an excellent knife for what you're looking for.

Here it is:

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=31

Other should be along shortly who know a lot more than I do.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forums.

[zenheretic]

Well the Impala was designed with big game cleaning in mind. I'm sure the new Ocelot would work although the gore in the paw prints wouldn't be fun to clean.

In short VG-10 and S30V are usually considered top dog for edge retention atm, varies oh who you speak to on which is actually THE best.

Be prepared for a multitude of answers now and for the next few days...

[Lucky Blade]

Be prepared for a multitude of answers now and for the next few days...

Thats ok, the more the better

[Native Justice]

The Moran or Tempest would fill the bill nicely for any big game on the planet.

I prefer serrated myself and have field dressed several elk and a muley without having to touch up the blade.

The Delica would be a perfect choice for small game, upland or waterfowl. The VG-10 would be my blade choice. Have a good season!

[Ed Schempp]

What knid of knife or blade shape have you been using for these tasks. I think Spyderco has a good choice in what you are used to using.

Spyderco has some very good sharpening tools appropriate for thier knives. All of the previous suggestions have been good. The Vg10 will give you great preformance and ease of maintenance.

You already own a Persian, try it out on all your tasks. That experience will give you a good benchmark by which to make future choices. The Persian is all stainless, there is nothing there that can be hurt with the jobs at hand with a little discretion, be careful with the tip. Wash in hot soapy water and dry. Relube and tune your edge; you might not need to field sharpen with one days work on the edge...Take Care...Ed

[Axlis]

Everyone else has answered this question far better than I could, so I'll just say.....Welcome to the forum!

[foggy]

I used a impala on a mule deer and it retained a very sharp edge. Just minor stroping brought it back to hair shaving sharp. Probibly any vg 10 knife would work but the impala has the liner lock so you can run water through it which I think is important if you are doing alot of animals. My little bro just bought the persian so we will try it out next year.

[zenheretic]

Unless you are looking for an excuse to get another Spydie (like anyone needs an excuse!), Ed's wisdom shines through. Try the knife you own. I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

[Lucky Blade]

What knid of knife or blade shape have you been using for these tasks. I think Spyderco has a good choice in what you are used to using.

For deer I have had good luck with the drop point style.

For waterfowl you name it I have used every knife and shape you can think of, but the a "longer" clip style probably has worked better than anyhing else, For me. The normal shape that curves up with a flat back also works well.

I was hoping someone would share what had worked best for them.

[Lucky Blade]

By the way Ed (wonder how many times you have heard this) great job on the persian, next to my Labrador(hunting dog, not a knife) it has become my favorite companion.

[Lucky Blade]

The Moran or Tempest would fill the bill nicely for any big game on the planet.

!

Did you mean the Moran or Temperance?

Just asking because I couldnt find the Tempest

[Irish Lager]

Well if you like drop point blades then i recomend either the Moran drop point or the D'Allara. I own the Moran and find it to be one of the best fealing knives in production. I have dressed several deer since i bought mine last year, it has also cleaned a fair share of geese. VG-10 is a great steel for heavy cutting chores like this. For smaller game like pheasant and rabbits i use a Delica, soon to be replaced w/ a D'Allara Drop Point. I think VG-10 is a sound choice for a game knife, and the Moran fits the bill perfectly.
J

[Lucky Blade]

Well if you like drop point blades then i recomend either the Moran drop point or the D'Allara. I own the Moran and find it to be one of the best fealing knives in production. I have dressed several deer since i bought mine last year, it has also cleaned a fair share of geese. VG-10 is a great steel for heavy cutting chores like this. For smaller game like pheasant and rabbits i use a Delica, soon to be replaced w/ a D'Allara Drop Point. I think VG-10 is a sound choice for a game knife, and the Moran fits the bill perfectly.
J

Thank you for the info, can't beat expericnece from the field talking.

[Lucky Blade]

The D'Allara looks like a great knife. Will add to my list.

[d.g.g]

The Spyderco chef/utility type knives would work very well for your purpose. I have used them on ducks and can't imagine they wouldn't also be good for deer, etc. They hold an edge until next year (well a long time anyway). I would also suggest a good meat/bone saw which you probably already have for quartering. I usually have two knives for the job because I don't want to have to stop to sharpen or look for another if there is any problem.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=65

We have them in the kitchen and they are pretty good on all kinds of meat. They range from 4" and up. I just swipe them from the kitchen drawer when we go hunting or camping.

Here is some steel info I have acquired over time that may be of interest to you. There are a lot of steelheads out their that think the steel makes the knife but it is just one important aspect, IMHO.


http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=26036

http://www.ajh-knives.com/metals.html

http://spyderco.com/edge-u-cation/steel.php

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=368828

http://www.bladesbybrown.com/aug04review.htm

I have some very technical papers available. Let me know if you want to get into that depth.

[Ed Schempp]

I have made two large fillet knives for my brother-in-law, he is a fisherman and served as Harbor master for some 25 years in Alaska. He loved his fillet knives that were preforming much better than his families and friends knives. I sent him a Pacific Salt with full serrations. Now he uses the Pacific Salt to do all his Salmon. What ever works for you...Take Care...Ed

[North61]

The new Ocelot should be a fine game knife. A smaller thinner knife would be useful for ducks. I process 5-10 caribou a year up here in the NWT and have done so since 84. That's easily over 100 caribou and I have used all kinds of knives.

Nothing I have used bests the C48 Wegner. It will skin and quarter 3 caribou and still remain usefully sharp. Couple of swipes on the steel and it's ready to go again. Leant out during a group cleaning the trick is to get it back. It has a fantastic combination of point, belly and ergonomics. Never been equaled even by my new Bladetech S30V version IMO.

Here is a picture of some Blade tech Wegners in 440 C and the round holed and never equaled C48. The CRKT Bwana is a great knife for the price. I am getting an Ocelot for Christmas and will let you know.