But a knife is a knife, I use it for what it is, it’s a tool, it’s got a handle and a blade, on this knife they are both good and holds an edge like a razor
Yes NDS one doesn't need a swag of knives but sometimes backup is gold. An excerpt from a memorable hunt re knives.
The shot.
Geezuz all hell broke loose,sambar deer went every where,left,right,down and up. Two stopped close by me,they were only seen in my peripheral vision as my eyes were focused on the stag and they obviously didnt know which way to bolt.
Immediately on the shot he had lifted his front left leg and raced to my left across the hill. His tail was fully erect showing the sign of a hard hit and then to my surprise he went straight up the very steep slope where he topped the hill and folded,albeit out of sight,all this in seconds of course.
After gathering my gear and climbing the steep slope I had sweat cascading down my face until topping the crest into the welcome cooling relief of the breeze I saw the antler sticking up against the evening light.Always a relief to see them dead in front of you.
I had a quick appraisal and thought 'yep he`ll do'
Knowing dark was imminent I took the obligatory photos although with the aid of a flash unit and then making up my mind to head skin and cape him out there and then under my "battery questionable " head lamp I got stuck into him. Then disaster! Placing my antler handled Green River skinning knife on the leafy carpet after initial cuts and prior to rolling the stag I simply couldn't find it after the roll over,frig it! Torch was pi$$ hole snow yellow.
Rustling around in my day pack
I pulled my old Buck pocket knife out and did the job with it using the occasional stripe on the mini diamond steel to negate the dulling effects of the stags hide. Finally after some time the task was done under the dimming headlight including the face mask and all the time wishing the bloody moon would hurry up and lift higher to show the way I gathered my gear along with the antlers and with the cape draped across my neck walked in the now silver moonlight back down the steep as f***ery hill to my ute, arriving just before 8 PM.
Thank F*** i had a back up.
