I have been tasked with finding a folding "hunting knife" for one of my cousins for Christmas. From what I can tell he mainly wants a larger general purpose knife to take with him when he goes hunting, but that he could use to field dress a deer/hog if necessary.

I have a few knives, both cheap and expensive, but mostly for EDC, and I'm not a hunter. So I don't know much about larger knives or what would make a knife good for field dressing an animal.

I would appreciate suggestions if anyone knows of a knife that fits this description.

Budget $75-100.

TIA

Positive it needs to be a folder? For hunting / camping a fixed blade can be so much nicer.

A buck 110 is pretty darn classic and pretty hefty for a folder. Maybe custom engraving or personalized sheath to get you into the budget range?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I5X9810/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512615837&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Buck+110&psc=1

Seems like lots of hunters like the havalons. Maybe get one of those and then extra blades.

Case folding hunter might fit the bill. I know my dad has been using the same one to skin all his deer since the 1970's. Another classic to consider.

NM

Midway USA knife sale

Havalon Baracuda fits the budget and specified use. Always scalpel sharp.

Autoincorrect.

I am all over the board.
Everyday I carry a benchmade mini griptilian
Have a couple havalons which cannot be best for cleaning game.
I have two muella from Spain which are very nice and three bark rivers which are top of line in my opinion.

If you are a knife guy need to join bark river Facebook group. Terrific group but I will warn you your knives will multiply if you join.

Love the Benchmade North fork

Gerber Gator Premium drop point folder.

An upgraded Buck 110 ...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Alaskan-Guide-Series-Folder-Knife-by-Buck-Knives-reg/728890.uts#!

or order one from Buck's custom shop (won't be here for Christmas though) ...

https://www.buckknives.com/custom-knife/customizable-110-folding-hunter-reg-knife/CKS110/

If he actually kills stuff, a Tyto would be awesome.It's a titanium fixed blade knife that takes havalon blades. Easier to clean than a folder, super light and unobtrusive until needed, and feels great in the hand with a cord wrap.

Buck Zipper

https://www.buckknives.com/product/buck-zipper-knife/0191FAM01/

Classy. Functional. Holds an edge. Has a gut hook. and you can pick one up for around $70

Best knife I own at any price for cleaning deer.

A Buck 110 folder and a Buck 119 fixed blade are a classic combo that can handle skinning for the rest of his life.

You can spend more if you want on knives (and I do) but those 2 blades will get it done for a long time for a large range of animals.

My suggestion is to get a nice true EDC folding knife - a Benchmade or the like - and for the skinning/cleaning, get him a Morakniv. They are Swedish made, hold an edge well, come razor sharp from the factory, and only run $12-$14 or so on Amazon.

He is luck to have you, I'd shoot straight to a Victorianox Swiss Army knife. Simple two blade, with 4 implements job. I have fully quartered quite a few deer and hogs with that knife.....and they are like $19.95 at Wal-Mart.

There's been a fair amount of deer on our little place (totally low fenced so rest your sphincters) field dressed with a Buck Folding Hunter.

Moore Maker has some nice knives that would fit the bill .

Thanks guys for your responses! I own and love the buck 110, but I think he wants a little larger knife.

I came across this Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter knife that might fit the bill. Has anyone ever used this knife or have any experience with cold steel knives in general. They seem to get good reviews, but I've never held one before.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS30ULH/cold-steel-30ulh-ultimate-hunter-folder-cts-xhp-blade-g10-handles

Gerber Gator

Gerber Gator's always been a great hunting knife, I have a large boker folder that I love, and I am a big fan of CRKT, maybe something like the NOMA? Maybe the spyderco resilience fits the bill as well?

To reiterate what several have already said - As a Christmas gift for a relative, and the request being a folding hunter, you need look no further than the Buck 110. It is THE classic American folding hunting knife. If you want to take it up a notch, in addition to the knife, go on Amazon (or Google) and search for Leather Sheath for Buck 110. The total between the two will be within your budget. Bottom line - Buck 110 with a "custom" leather open top sheath.

Juicyfan said:

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Thanks guys for your responses! I own and love the buck 110, but I think he wants a little larger knife.

I came across this Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter knife that might fit the bill. Has anyone ever used this knife or have any experience with cold steel knives in general. They seem to get good reviews, but I've never held one before.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS30ULH/cold-steel-30ulh-ultimate-hunter-folder-cts-xhp-blade-g10-handles

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That knife has a 3.5" blade, not larger than the 110 at 3.75". I don't know if you'll find many folders with larger blades than 3.5". And don't have any knowledge on Cold Steel ... I thought they just built swords, battle axes and throwing knives/stars.

Fixed blade Buck 105 Pathfinder. USING mine since 1981. Smaller than the 119 and less rise in clip point. Great for cleaningvdeer, hogs, and elk.

Getting the smaller Woodsman for my 12 yr old son this year for Christmas, so when I'm gone he'll have both sizes.

I think we might have a winner! This sounds like exactly what he is looking for. (Minus the gut hook). Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Plus 2 on Moore Maker !!!
Have several folding knives and my favorite is their " Liner Lock.
Yellow handle with a clip.
Sharpens much easier than ANY Buck I've ever had.

You probably don't have the time now but for future reference you can get a Buck 110 custom made with different steels, bolsters and handles. These make an excellent one of a kind gift but take 4-6 weeks.

Buck Customizable 110 Folding Hunter Knife

Stay away frim the Bark River knife group. Too damn nice and too many to choose.

AV8ORAG84 said:

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Stay away frim the Bark River knife group. Too damn nice and too many to choose.

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It is easy to choose, all of them! When i joined earlier this year I had one bark river for 10 years now I have four in the last three months.

Outdoor Edge Razor Pro

Does anyone else put the base of the blade on the pelvic bone and hit the blade with a rock to cut right through it without dulling the blade? Sort of like splitting wood with a wedge and sledge hammer?

I've used a buck 112 because it has a short blade that won't poke the intestine when I do that. Learned that trick 25 years ago and still on the same knife.

I have never split the pelvic bone. Just cut around all of it and it comes out of the pelvic bone when you drag the rest of the guts out by the eso****us.

Want to talk gutting tools you need to look at Viking solutions website. They work great. The high tail and the deer splitter when you are somewhere you have to field dress.

No need to cut pelvis.