Elk knife

[Baylian]

My son and I drew out for cow elk this fall. We are very excited. A dentist friend of mine who hunts elk suggested I get a knife with a gut hook and a bone saw for the sternum. My dad hates knives with gut hooks. I currently have a Buck Vanguard with about a 3.5" blade. The guide who works at Gunnies said the Buck won't hold an edge long and will be difficult to resharpen.

Any suggestions on what would do a better job for the knife?

How about the bone saw?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!! TJ :confused:

[jmarriott]

Might check out the remington big game folding hunter. Gut hook and saw on one blade nice big sharp one on the other and a sharpening stick all in one package.

I have used one for years. Only problem is it can be hard to clean it after a good couple of guttings.

http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce/product.jsp?A=&range=41&Brand=92&Mode=Brand&SKU=RE18566

[GoodOlBoy]

As always I will recommend the Kabar or the Camilius version of the same.

A good hacksaw. . . . . . . a barbque pit. . . . . . . .

GoodOlBoy

[buckhunter]

Your Vanguard will gut a elk. Suggest you carry a small sharpening steel to hone the blade if it dulls. Also a small folding saw should do the trick for any bone you run into. Never gutted a elk but the above worked well enough to quarter a moose. Some folks use a hatchet to split the sternum.

[L. Cooper]

In my experience, if a knife won't hold an edge very long, it will be very easy to resharpen because the steel is soft. I think the guide's opinion is illogical.

A good knife will do any game animal. I dislike gut hooks as well because they have only one job they do well, and then they are in the way for every other job. I don't see why the Vanguard won't work.

I like Gerber knives for many things. Reasonable price and good performance.

Big animals need some other tools. A sharp axe will do very well on sternums and spines in large animals. I dislike hatchets because the short handle makes for dangerous chopping angles. Take a 3/4 length axe and a good meat saw too.

[kphunter]

That's crap - Buck knives are known to keep good edges, especially the ones made from better quality steels such as the ATS-34 and S30V.

KP

[8X56MS]

spend a few bucks, and buy a decent knife. The over the counter generic Bucks, Gerbers, etc are not really very good quality. I use a Randall #11 myself.