Is a $300 Hunting Knife Worth It?

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The knife a hunter chooses to make use of may appear trivial to some however, for me and my household, it’s at all times been a sentimental determination. Again in November, I wrote about my Buck 119 Special fixed blade knife and the historical past I’ve shared with it within the deer woods. After discovering out that many different hunters additionally had an inexpensive however efficient favourite knife, my curiosity piqued about why individuals would pay for a premium blade within the first place.

I’d heard lots about manufacturers like Montana Knife Company and Benchmade promoting knives for lots of of {dollars}, however by no means understood the necessity for such an costly blade. I’d additionally by no means used one. To realize some perception, I reached out to MKC and obtained my arms on the MKC Whitetail, a 4” blade constructed from MagnaCut stainless-steel, and put it to the take a look at. Right here’s what I discovered after two months of use and gutting and skinning six deer.

The Kind of Metal a Knife is Made from Issues

Over hundreds of years, people have used all kinds of steels in bladesmithing. With each carbon and stainless-steel, there are further alloy components that make every blade distinctive and acceptable for various jobs.

Learn Subsequent: Basic Guide to Knife Steel and Blade Selection

knife steel comparison chart — An instance of some further alloy components and their contributions to the blade. Purple Label Abrasives

All of the knives I personal have a chrome steel blade. The Buck 119 Particular and the MKC Whitetail aren’t any totally different, however the high quality and composition of the stainless-steel used is vastly totally different. My tried and true Buck knife is 420HC stainless-steel which presents the next carbon content material than common 420, growing hardness. However in comparison with another steels, it’s softer and doesn’t maintain an edge very effectively. Regardless, the 420HC is a most well-liked metal for knife makers providing a price range product. Not solely is 420HC metal inexpensive, it’s additionally some of the corrosion resistant steels in the marketplace attributable to its stage of chromium.

However, the 420HC doesn’t maintain a candle to the standard of a MagnaCut metal blade. This metal alloy blade presents nice toughness, an unimaginable edge retention, and distinctive corrosion resistance. Merely put, there’s a motive blades constructed from a MagnaCut metal include a premium price ticket. It’s a superior product. Composed of carbon, vanadium, molybdenum, niobium, and nitrogen, MagnaCut metal combines among the finest properties metal has to supply. The molybdenum makes this metal much more corrosion resistant than chromium, and the vanadium paired with the niobium helps the blade retain its edge significantly better than the 420HC.

The Excellent Deer Knife

The MKC Whitetail is touted because the ‘good deer knife’ and, after testing it, I can see why. In complete, your complete knife measures 8 ⅝ inches lengthy. That makes it maneuverable in tight areas when area dressing deer, but in addition giant sufficient to execute the preliminary zipper cuts with ease. Whereas the scale of the knife is nice, what actually blew me away was the sting retention.

With my previous Buck 119 Particular, getting by way of one deer on a freshly sharpened blade was simple, but when I didn’t contact it up earlier than the subsequent deer, boy was I in bother. As I discussed above, the 420HC isn’t well-known for its edge retention. The MKC Whitetail, nevertheless, held its edge by way of three totally different deer with out resharpening. I genuinely consider it might have gone by way of greater than three, however I worth an extremely sharp blade, so I re-worked the sting out of behavior. The MagnaCut metal sharpened sooner and simpler than the 420HC knife I used to be used to, one thing I wasn’t actually anticipating.

premium hunting knife with buck — The writer reveals off his MKC Whitetail moments earlier than gutting a pleasant Pennsylvania buck.

Whereas I used to be blown away by the sting retention and common usability of this knife, I do supply a phrase of warning. Attributable to simply how sharp the blade is popping out of the field, ensure to keep away from nicking your fingers throughout the gutting course of, in any other case you gained’t be capable to inform your blood from the deer’s.

Is it Actually Price Paying Lots of of {Dollars} for a Premium Knife?

I’m nonetheless within the part of my searching profession the place a strong, low-cost knife is smart. I’ve used the identical Buck knife for 18 years with out having any main points and it’s served me effectively.

Nevertheless, a premium blade makes the job undeniably simpler. Not simply within the slicing course of, however even within the ergonomic design of the deal with in comparison with my previous knife. I used to be capable of intestine, pores and skin, and course of deer sooner with the upper finish blade. Proudly owning a high-end blade is superior, and I can’t stress the advantages of a premium metal sufficient.

premium hunting knife next to cheap hunting knife — These two gutting knives have each earned their place in my searching pack.

Learn Subsequent: Best Hunting Knives

I believe a premium knife is smart for hunters who pores and skin and quarter a number of big-game animals within the area. If you’re engaged on a deer, on the facet of a mountain, at the hours of darkness, it’s vital to have a pointy, ergonomic knife that holds its edge. Do you want a premium knife to intestine one deer per season? In all probability not. However hey, in the event you’ve obtained the cash to spend and wish prime efficiency out of your knife, then you definitely’ll by no means be disillusioned by a knife just like the MKC Whitetail.