The Hog Blog

I have too many hunting knives.

OK, not really “too many”.  There can’t be any such thing.  I love good knives, and over the years have accumulated a couple.  This was driven home to me the other night as I packed for my elk hunting trip.

Of the bunch, though, there are two or three that are my real favorites. 

One is a custom knife I picked up a few years ago from a local artist (whose name totally eludes me).  It’s a beautiful, swept-blade skinner with scrimshawed, Micarta grips.  It’s a big knife, though, so about the only game big enough to justify it is elk or the occasional big hog.  The blade was cut from a saw blade (the big ones from the lumber mills), and is strong and hard, but still takes a wicked edge. 

Another favorite is a little Uncle Henry lock-blade.  This is about a 2″ drop-point, skinning blade that drops right into a pocket or the little sheath.  I carry it everywhere.  Folks snicker when I pull it out, but that knife has probably dressed and skinned more deer and hogs than most people have seen (not all mine, granted…but I’m always happy to jump in and lend a hand at the skinning pole).  Because of its size, I can use it on anything from big boars to squirrels, rabbits, and birds. 

Finally, there’s the old standby, the Buck 110, Folding Hunter.  This thing is a true workhorse, as can be seen in the blood-stained, worn leather sheath.  Unfortunately, tough as this knife is, I finally maxed it out while working on some fencing a few weeks ago.  I know better.  I’ve known better since childhood.  But I still found myself using it to pry on a piece of metal.  “Ping!”  The point broke off about three quarters of an inch back.

A few years ago, I would’ve taken a side-grinder to that knife and restored the point.  But that was then, when I couldn’t afford to replace a good tool (of course, back then, I’d probably have been more careful in the first place).  The Saturday before I left on the elk hunt, I went and bought a brand new one.  I’ll probably still put it in the old sheath, though…  it’s got character. 

Do you have a favorite knife?  What makes it special?