My usual (favourite) stalking knife has a blade just under 4 inches long. This works well for Roe but when bleeding Red deer I end up almost having to push the whole handle into the thoracic inlet. I would be interested in what blade length people are using for Reds, 5 inch seems like a good length but would 6 be too much??
What is the ideal blade length for Red Deer?
- Thread starter Selous
- Start date
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
I go for 5 inches, for exactly the reason you’re saying. I also have a cheaper knife which Mora make which is a 6 inch blade if memory serves me, very effective tool for the job.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Oh grow up Stalker!
Ahh you are clearly a chap who is impressed by size! I have an 8 incher that would make you gasp!!
Girth or lengh?!!
A photo would be great if possible
john_little
Well-Known Member
5 3/4” blade in s/s, £20 or so.
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
Just be careful sending dirk pics online these days
What make/model is the knife? If custom, who made it? Interested to see photo.
Stuart Mitchell
see post no 7
www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk
see post no 7
Knife handle?
Hi. I am looking at getting my wife to order me a hand made knife for a big birthday I have coming up so can I ask you experienced guys a few questions? It will get used but will be more of a keepsake than anything else to be honest. I really like the Emberleaf cael (style) knife but cannot...
www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk
Magnificent 7
Well-Known Member
I have a fallow stalker from Danum blades think it's 5 inch works fine for all deer species and keeps a great edge
Its a compromise. I recon the only time a longer knife would be vaguely helpful is bleeding a red deer sized animals - you can gralloch with any length of blade. But I find carrying a knife over 4.5 inches a bit of a pain - they don't fit in pockets, the sheath digs into you when driving or crossing fences.
Yes you need to bury a 4 inch knife to the handle to bleed, but your hands and knife will need a clean anyway, so I don't think it is a problem. The knife I carry now is an enzo necker (2.7inches) in flat grind and have bled fallow and red with it.
By all means buy a few Mora knives and experiment. You can never have too many knives and moras are cheap, strong and good for larder work such as gutting off head and feet.
I cannot get scandi grind knives razor sharp for toffee (yes I've watched all the youtube videos) whereas flat grinds sharpen up very quickly on my lanksy - but that is a different matter!
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
If you’ve ever needed to provide the coup-de-grâce on a red, getting the knife deep enough into the chest cavity to reach heart and lungs to do an effective job, a 5 inch blade is definitely needed, agree a smaller blade is just as handy for gralloch etc, but a decent length for “sticking” is very much a useful addition.
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