Butchering knives

[stmtrn]

With the good fortune of filling my elk tag this year, I'm in need of good knives for processing. Who makes or sales quality knives?

[angelhelp]

Check out this thread.

survivalbunker.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=knives&action=display&thread=2719

[thywar]

Crashdive123

[sirderrin]

+1

[crashdive123]

I appreciate the endorsements - I really do. I'd be happy to sell a knife to you stmtrn - keep in mind - an Old Hickory knife was used every day for butchering. They're still made today.

[woodyz]

When I was growing up my Grandfather would butcher hogs and calves as part of our family Thanksgiving weekend. It would be cold enough by then, plus he had four or five men to help. And he always gave each of his kids a whole hog and a half of beef.

He used and old hickory butcher knife and an old hickory boning knife. He would carry a steel rod type sharpener and when the knife didn't suit him he would drag it back and forth a few times and go again.

He had a home made walk in cooler and a smoke house made from an old mail truck.

As I got older I got to increase my role in the process. I look back at those days with much fondness.

[stmtrn]

I must have a old hickory that's just not up to par. I spend more time trying to keep an edge on it than using it. Crashdive, your knives just look to good to put to work. I'd be afraid of taking it off the shelf and having the help acquiring it.

[Redneckidokie]

Sadly on big critters you just almost have to sharpen as you use.
I have never really found a sharpen once, cut all day knife.
A good butcher knife tends to be softer which lends to having more of a microscopic saw blade edge. That also make them easy to sharpen quickly on a steel or stone. For me it is best to start off with several knives and switch off. I have two similar to crashes and two smaller for boning and inside work.
Those curved knives were originally brought west by the trappers and were made by Green River, Old Hickory copied them. At one time every Buffalo skinner on the plains had at least one.
Glad you got an elk, have fun cutting him up.

[stmtrn]

I know sharpening as you go is a way of life with something as large as a elk. Just looking for some knives that are more suited for the purpose at hand. As it was, 2 rookies and 1 micro helper loading the freezer took 8hrs to get the job done. Cheap kitchen for cutting the steaks is not the way to go.