The knife a hunter chooses to make use of might sound trivial to some however, for me and my household, it’s at all times been a sentimental choice. Again in November, I wrote about my Buck 119 Particular fastened 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 Firm 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 acquired my fingers on the MKC Whitetail, a 4” blade made out of MagnaCut stainless-steel, and put it to the check. Right here’s what I discovered after two months of use and gutting and skinning six deer.
The Sort of Metal a Knife is Product of Issues
Over hundreds of years, people have used all kinds of steels in bladesmithing. With each carbon and stainless-steel, there are extra alloy parts that make every blade distinctive and acceptable for various jobs.
Learn Subsequent: Primary Information to Knife Metal and Blade Choice
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 affords the next carbon content material than common 420, rising hardness. However in comparison with another steels, it’s softer and doesn’t maintain an edge very nicely. Regardless, the 420HC is a most well-liked metal for knife makers providing a finances product. Not solely is 420HC metal reasonably priced, it’s additionally probably the most corrosion resistant steels available on the market as a consequence of its stage of chromium.
However, the 420HC doesn’t maintain a candle to the standard of a MagnaCut metal blade. This metal alloy blade affords nice toughness, an unimaginable edge retention, and distinctive corrosion resistance. Merely put, there’s a cause blades made out of a MagnaCut metal include a premium price ticket. It’s a superior product. Composed of carbon, vanadium, molybdenum, niobium, and nitrogen, MagnaCut metal combines a number of 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 entire knife measures 8 ⅝ inches lengthy. That makes it maneuverable in tight areas when discipline dressing deer, but additionally 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 outdated Buck 119 Particular, getting via 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, nonetheless, held its edge via three totally different deer with out resharpening. I genuinely imagine it may have gone via greater than three, however I worth an extremely sharp blade, so I re-worked the sting out of behavior. The MagnaCut metal sharpened quicker and simpler than the 420HC knife I used to be used to, one thing I wasn’t actually anticipating.
Whereas I used to be blown away by the sting retention and normal usability of this knife, I do provide a phrase of warning. Because of simply how sharp the blade is popping out of the field, make sure that to keep away from nicking your fingers throughout the gutting course of, in any other case you gained’t be capable of inform your blood from the deer’s.
Is it Actually Value Paying A whole bunch of {Dollars} for a Premium Knife?
I’m nonetheless within the part of my looking 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 nicely.
Nonetheless, 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 outdated knife. I used to be in a position to intestine, pores and skin, and course of deer quicker 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.
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I believe a premium knife is smart for hunters who pores and skin and quarter loads of big-game animals within the discipline. If you’re engaged on a deer, on the aspect of a mountain, at the hours of darkness, it’s essential to have a pointy, ergonomic knife that holds its edge. Do you want a premium knife to intestine one deer per season? Most likely not. However hey, in case you’ve acquired the cash to spend and need prime efficiency out of your knife, then you definately’ll by no means be disillusioned by a knife just like the MKC Whitetail.
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