# need to know brands of hunting knives. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115 "2004-10-19T21:38:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaFemale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@alphaFemale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaFemale)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/1 "2004-10-19T21:38:47Z")
my BF has requested a hunting knife for his birthday/christmas. he referred me to [Randall Made Knives](http://randallknives.com/) and [Knife Art Custom Knifes](http://www.knifeart.com/) as resources. It appears that Randall knives requires a 36-48 month lead time for all knives. I have [found one](http://www.knifeart.com/conblac.html) that I like, but decided to see if anyone here can provide me with any other quality manufacturers. I really have no idea what i’m looking for. when asked as to what one does with a hunting knife, he replied: _skin… gut… cut salami… stuff like that._ i guess this is half factual question and half opinion (?) Thanks so much. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/2 "2004-10-19T22:05:33Z")
“Hunting knife” is kind of a generic term. Does he dress game frequently and need a more specialized knife for that or does he want a more general purpose knife? You might find out from him if he’s really picky about the specifics of a knife. The one you linked to looks like a terrific knife but it would not be what I’d choose to dress game. If ye be squeamish, do not highlight… IMO a skinning knife should have a lot of “belly,” that is a deep curve in the edge of the blade toward the end and a less actute angle at the tip so it is less likely to puncture accidentally. Some purpose made skinning knives have a rounded bull nose with no point at all. He did say he wanted it for gutting so he might want a knife with a gut hook. that is hook shaped notch in the back edge of the blade that is sharpened on its inside radius. Makes the whole blade look kind of like a barbed fish hook. It’s made to cut with a pulling motion in order to open the abdominal wall without cutting any of the things inside. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/3 "2004-10-19T22:13:38Z")
Getting an expensive designer knife for down and dirty skinning, gutting etc is an absurd waste of money. Buck, Gerber and Case can all provide you with excellent hunting knives for less than $ 100.00. Getting a high end designer knife is virtually always an artistic/aesthetic purchase. It is highly unlikely that a designer knife will ever see an animals hide other than it’s sheath. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/4 "2004-10-19T22:52:20Z")
I recommend **Buck** knives. I’ve had several over the years, and they have performed wonderfully. Get your BF to give you more details as to what **exactly** he is looking for, then go [here](http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/222). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/5 "2004-10-19T22:53:56Z")
Astro makes a good point and it’s something you should talk to your BF about. If he wants a Randall get him one. Heck, he might even be willing to wait a few years to get one made specifically for him. Y(and his)MMV but if I was getting a fancy knife I’d get a really nice utility folder that I could use every day. True hunting knives get used rarely and for a fraction of what you are planning to spend you can get a sturdy, well made knife that works just as well. FWIW I never spent more than $150 on a knife and that a spur of the moment thing when I got a Benchmade automatic. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/6 "2004-10-19T23:32:31Z")
You want a good knife similar to the one you linked to? [http://www.coldsteel.com/penhun.html](http://www.coldsteel.com/penhun.html) Same style blade, better grip, STRONG steel, and a couple hundred dollars cheaper. This is a knife he won’t be reluctant to actually _use_! I actually recommend this one, though: [http://www.coldsteel.com/fixed-blades-master-hunter.html](http://www.coldsteel.com/fixed-blades-master-hunter.html) One more link to add. These two are great for all his hunting needs, and are even CHEAPER than the others. [http://www.coldsteel.com/36e1.html](http://www.coldsteel.com/36e1.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/7 "2004-10-19T23:38:13Z")
Also, I just noticed the knife you linked to is made with 440 stainless steel. So, not only is it a couple hundred dollars more, it uses an inferior steel. The only thing stainless steel is good for, is looking shiny and not rusting. Carbon V or AUS 8 steel is much stronger. It will get sharper and even hold an edge longer. I would definitely not go with stainless steel on a knife I actually intended to use. Stainless steel does not hold an edge very well at all. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/8 "2004-10-19T23:43:28Z")
You can get a Randall from such dealers as [AG Russell](http://agrussell.com) without the long wait. You pay slightly more for it, but if your bf wants one, I say get him one. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/9 "2004-10-20T01:13:19Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Also, I just noticed the knife you linked to is made with 440 stainless steel. So, not only is it a couple hundred dollars more, it uses an inferior steel. The only thing stainless steel is good for, is looking shiny and not rusting. Carbon V or AUS 8 steel is much stronger. It will get sharper and even hold an edge longer. I would definitely not go with stainless steel on a knife I actually intended to use. Stainless steel does not hold an edge very well at all. Per these tests carbon is sharper, but not overwhelmingly so. [Wayne Goddard’s Edge Holding Tests](http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/edge.htm) > [@](#): > > Twelve years ago I started using a standard test to test the cutting abilities of different knife steels. All the blades I prepare for this test are the same size, shape and thickness, being .125 in. thick and flat ground. The included angle is 12 degrees to 15 degrees, with a primary sharpening angle of 15 degrees per side; final sharpening is on a Norton Fine India stone. Cuts are made on the single strands out of a 1 1/4 in. hemp rope. The single strands are easier to handle. > > ``` > Three tests were conducted on each blade and the results averaged. Using a slicing cut, the strand is parted and cutting continues until the cutting edge loses its bite into the rope. This is about the same point that the edge loses its ability to shave hair > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-know-brands-of-hunting-knives/270115/10 "2004-10-20T01:21:19Z")
Oh. I should note [this discussion](http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-150808.html) is there I got he link to the steel table.