The perfect knife?

[Bowland blades]

In developing my SLH knife I think we might well have hit 1000 deer roe , red , sika fallow .. its only really had cosmetic changes from the very first prototype.
The SGR model came a bit later , the sole purpose of this one originally was to make a deer knife that had a geometry that could also ( in addition to all UK deer) handle rabbits and hares easier . Not that the slh can't I just thought on using my own SLH about all those guys who perhaps shoot 100 head of small game for every deer they grass .
Those who think you require a different knife for a red than a muntjac I think are deluded or maybe have a very weird gralloch technique. 4 " is required for an adequate bleed with ease
I have worked hard creating the best heat treatment processes for the different steel choices five overall ( some of those have options )
The photos and tests are detailed frequently on my social media
The red white and blue resin handle is the SGR the one wearing orange g10 is tge SLH ( this one has done over 200 grallochs mainly red and roe ) sharpening is genrally required at 50 or more and its minor . I sharpen al, the knives I make FOC ( knife owner pays post ) . The biggest problem the good knifemaker has to deal with is correcting bad sharpening ( normally way before the knife needs it ) Dont sharpen an already sharp knife guys !

 

[johnnytheboy]

Maybe not perfect but it’s mines!

 

[YoungGun]

Recently got a Fallkniven F4Z and it is fine enough to do Muntjac, but long enough to stick big fallow and reds.

Has lardered 12 deer since purchase and only needed a strop to date.

 

[Nashie59]

Hi all, I’ve been using a fallkniven f1 knife which I really like. The blade shape and thickness is great and I love the convex grind but it’s a little long. Anyone using something similar but with a shorter blade?

Have you seen the Victrinox 4” rabbit knife?

 

[Shabz]

Have you seen the Victrinox 4” rabbit knife?

Just ordered a couple. It looks like it’ll do the trick!

 

[User00035]

Recently got a Fallkniven F4Z and it is fine enough to do Muntjac, but long enough to stick big fallow and reds.

Has lardered 12 deer since purchase and only needed a strop to date.

That's why I like my Boker Relincho. Slim 5" blade with a profile that's just the drop-point side of straight. Long enough to stick larger beasts but light and dexterous enough to deal with small species. It will even paunch rabbits without feeling too bulky. Does it all. And holds an edge like a surgeon's scalpel.

 

[willie_gunn]

If you like the Victorinox then check out the Caribou version from Cutting Edge Services (no connection with them other than being a happy customer):

Caribou 10cm Rabbit Knife with Wide Blade

The 10cm Wide Rigid Blade is from Caribou’s Evolutive collection. Made from high-quality stainless steel, the blade offers a strong cutting performance and is ideal for rabbit operations. A cost-effective and durable option, Dassaud’s Caribou knives guarantee a long and exemplary edge life. Each...

www.cuttingedgeservices.co.uk

The handle, which is available in a variety of colours, is a slightly different profile to the Victorinox. Good for both field and larder work, at £7.50 including VAT they are well worth a try.

 

[25 Sharps]

Took Guy Stainthorp out with me on the fallow which is my mainstay. He noted my ladylike small hands and how I work a carcass. Worth every penny, I can say that every day of the week.

We spend hundreds on the rifle and bullets are £50+ a hundred not including the powder or primer. The knife will still be with you as long as you aren’t a careless bafoon which I can be accused of. Especially after last weeks escapades resulting to a bleed on the brain. Very lucky to be here. Wife isn’t happy, I’m thinking I need two more custom knives for girls 2 and 3 to have as memento’s. Suffice to say wife is not going along with that

Lovely knife, I really like Guy's knives and have handled a few, i just can't decide which design to go for!

PS glad you're okay after the bleed!!

 

[Bowland blades]

Maybe not perfect but it’s mines!

I stock the 5 " straight victornox boner which i do with a washable kydex shieth. They come sharp, easy to clean. Ideal for taking heads and legs off or as a back up knife in the pack incase of contamination
Really they are a disposable item while the steel has a good edge initially they ain't so good with re-sharpening as you pass the original edge geometry. That said the purchase price of tge knife is only equating to fish and chips for two say ? What do folks expect

 

[Timberdoodle]

Well my thoughts are towards the Snakes knives roe knife.

Used it a few times now and struggle to find fault with it. (the smaller of the 2)

I will save the larger knife for the Reds

View attachment 208875View attachment 208874

Great looking knives. How slippery do the handles get when the field dressing chores start?

 

[ColinBr]

Great looking knives. How slippery do the handles get when the field dressing chores start?

I honestly cant say I have noticed them being slippery at all to be fair.

I always wear rubber gloves so maybe that's why I haven't noticed, but would imagine most folks wear these too?

 

[foxdropper]

I’m curious as to what people actually do with knives when reading the statement no knife will do all six species .News flash ,it will .
The only factor about a knife is that it fits the hand and retains an edge all else is seller hype .
Until I bought a custom for vanity I used a cheap buck knife that did all plus rabbits .
Bigger deer do not require different styles or sizes .

 

[long_range_rob]

The perfect knife.
There's no perfect knife if you stalk all six UK species of deer.

Precisely my argument when she moans about me buying another Alan Wood

 

[Rafter]

This guy (Nick, keen duck shooter) uses Victory knives, which are a (cheap) NZ made copy of the Victorinox - and seems to get around an animal fast enough.

He is careful with the steel touch ups though, and probably knows how to avoid battering the edge on bone.

 

[JohnSmith]

I ordered an Emberleaf knife since joining SD, purely to see what they’re about.

 

[JH83]

I don’t think there’s a perfect solution. I have a large heavy long bladed knife I take with me for reds (a puma Elchstag), but if roe and munty are more likely I take the delicate smaller knife, a Moki Banff.

Exactly my thoughts. I use my falky F1 for roe and the puma I bought from yourself on reds, to really get into the neck for a nice thorough bleed. There’s a saw and mora in the truck to do the hard work. Both decent knives maintained on one of longstriders strops/compound.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Exactly my thoughts. I use my falky F1 for roe and the puma I bought from yourself on reds, to really get into the neck for a nice thorough bleed. There’s a saw and mora in the truck to do the hard work. Both decent knives maintained on one of longstriders strops/compound.
View attachment 249873

Na not me…… that would be Alex (@stalker.308)

 

[Utectok]

I’m curious as to what people actually do with knives when reading the statement no knife will do all six species .News flash ,it will .
The only factor about a knife is that it fits the hand and retains an edge all else is seller hype .
Until I bought a custom for vanity I used a cheap buck knife that did all plus rabbits .
Bigger deer do not require different styles or sizes .

Yep there is a lot of carp about knives about. In truth if you want and can afford a nice bespoke knife knock yourself out but if not cheap knives are just as good. What annoys me is people who sell expensive so called custom knives that are carp.
One knife really will do (note to self as I have just bought another duhhh)

 

[muddy42]

I'm quite hard on my outdoor knives: removing heads, feet and opening the chest cavity on small deer can make them blunt quickly from bone contact. Therefore I prefer a stout scandi grind that I can sharpen easily, moras and enzos. I have never used a Fallkniven F1, but it looks quite delicate and I suspect this would destroy it?

When the butchery moves indoor I switch to a victronix boning knife that incidentally I try to keep away from cutting near the bone.

 

[Mungo]

I'm quite hard on my outdoor knives: removing heads, feet and opening the chest cavity on small deer can make them blunt quickly from bone contact. Therefore I prefer a stout scandi grind that I can sharpen easily, moras and enzos. I have never used a Fallkniven F1, but it looks quite delicate and I suspect this would destroy it?

When the butchery moves indoor I switch to a victronix boning knife that incidentally I try to keep away from cutting near the bone.

No - the convex grind on an F1 seems pretty robust. I have damaged mine attempting to break rabbit legs by hacking at them as you would with a cleaver - clearly this was stupid, and not something you should try. But I routinely use mine to take head and legs off and cut through breast bone, with no real loss in performance.