Gear validation when hunting.

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MCMXI

MCMXI

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One of the appealing aspects of hunting for me is the validation of gear whether it's a backpack, boots, rifle, optic, ammunition, trekking poles or anything else related to the task at hand. I have more than a few knives and have bought hunting specific knives over the years, but after gutting, skinning and quartering an elk last week I have to say that I'm really pleased with and impressed by the two knives shown below.

The Casstrom was given to me by my buddy who owns Spartan Precision Equipment. I was over in England at his shop a few years ago and he saw the covetous way in which I was looking at it. I like the quality of the leather sheath which houses the knife, a small box and a fire steel but I'd rather have a simple Kydex sheath similar to those made by TOPS Knives. The knife itself is superb! The Sandvik 14C28N blade stays really sharp even when cutting through elk hide, and the flat grind seems to be just about perfect for gutting, skinning and quartering. It has a really good feel in the hand, an excellent blade shape, wonderful balance and a blade that's easy to get a great edge on. I know that more Casstroms are in my future.

This particular Casstrom is the N0.10 Swedish Forest Knife.

https://www.casstrom.com/knives/fixed-blad/casstrom/no10-swedish-forest-knife-orange-g10flat.html

About seven years ago I bought Havalon Barracuta and Piranta knives which were ok, but a few years back I bought the significantly better Jim Shockey Double Folder which is fantastic. I completely disassembled the knife this morning to give it a thorough cleaning and changed out the disposable blade.

If I had to pick one of the two shown below it would be the Casstrom, but I think I can settle on the combination set for just about any hunting scenario. A bone saw would make a good addition but my Porter Cable sawzall made quick work of removing lower limbs.

casstrom_havalon_2.jpg
 
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That Casström and sheath do look like a very nice combo. Good proportions on both, and they both look high quality.

I was really pleased by the ESSEE IZULA-II I had. Got it good and sharp and it stayed that way after skinning and parting out two good sized does. It got lost the next year during deer season thanks to the sheath. I've got a cheaper similar SOG until I decide what to replace it with as a general use fixed belt knife.
 
MCMXI said:
Those ESSEE knives are really nice. I'd never heard of them until your post but BladeHQ sells them. This one appears to be a good alternative to the Casström I show above.

https://www.bladehq.com/item--ESEE-Knives-Xancudo-Fixed-Blade--105735
Click to expand...


Oh that's nice. I was thinking about the ESEE3 which is a little larger, but would prefer one 3-3.5" than the almost 4" of the ESEE3.

I sand blasted off the paint coating of my IZULA-II and forced a patina on it and put a 20° bevel on it. It did wonders for how well it would slice and skin game and the 1095 steel still held that edge very well.
 
When I started I carried my gun some shells a knife and a piece of rope. Over the years more gear was added. In middle age I notice that fanny pack was getting heavy so at the end of the season I took everything out of the pack and made 2 piles. 1.) The things I used and 2.) The things I did not use. I have since done away with the fanny pack and am back to gun knife, game drag harness (easier on the back), shells and 3 of the wick style scent dispensers (if stand hunting).
 
MCMXI said:
One of the appealing aspects of hunting for me is the validation of gear whether it's a backpack, boots, rifle, optic, ammunition, trekking poles or anything else related to the task at hand.
Click to expand...

Yep....and one of the most frustrating is when you find what really works well for you and then when you need to replace it, you find out it's not available anymore or it's made to a different standard.
 
That's why I like the old classics. Wool rich hunting coats and pants. Stormy Kromer hats, Haven't changed the design in I've a 100 years. Pac boots, buck knives, Winchester model 94's Marlin 336, Savage 99, still the same great performance. I stick with what works.
 
The older I get seems the more gear I end up packing....not that I can't plan better, taking grand kids along involves dragging all their stuff as well. Look forward to the day I can go solo and minimalist.

....nice knives!
 
9x56MS said:
That's why I like the old classics. Wool rich hunting coats and pants. Stormy Kromer hats, Haven't changed the design in I've a 100 years. Pac boots, buck knives, Winchester model 94's Marlin 336, Savage 99, still the same great performance. I stick with what works.
Click to expand...

Yes, some of the old classics still work and work well. Yet, modern technology has made for things like boots and gloves, that are much warmer, much dryer(both by being waterproof and wicking sweat), amd much more versatile that anything we had back 40 years ago. Hunting jackets now that use insulation that is lighter and more compact that goose down. Jackets and pants that don't get heavy and cumbersome when they get wet like the old wool ones. Modern hunting Broadheads and modern hunting bullets are another example. Yes, many of the old ones work, but some of the newer ones work better. I had a coupla of three packs of some Allen broadheads that shot like field points outta my Ten-Point crossbow. Shot 5 bucks in the last 6 years with them. Lost a couple and bent the tips on a couple, only have two decent one's left. No reason to change, right? Allen no longer makes that style....can't tell you why.
 
MCMXI said:
One of the appealing aspects of hunting for me is the validation of gear whether it's a backpack, boots, rifle, optic, ammunition, trekking poles or anything else related to the task at hand.
Click to expand...

I need to adopt this attitude more in life. I think I don’t appreciate things for what they do near as much as I am disappointed at things for what they do not.

Just yesterday I called the battery in the tractor, I intended to use to put out hay, a bad name. This thread reminded me of how many times over the past few years it did start it and I never acknowledged it positively (no pun intended) even once.
 
buck460XVR said:
Yes, some of the old classics still work and work well. Yet, modern technology has made for things like boots and gloves, that are much warmer, much dryer(both by being waterproof and wicking sweat), amd much more versatile that anything we had back 40 years ago. Hunting jackets now that use insulation that is lighter and more compact that goose down. Jackets and pants that don't get heavy and cumbersome when they get wet like the old wool ones. Modern hunting Broadheads and modern hunting bullets are another example. Yes, many of the old ones work, but some of the newer ones work better. I had a coupla of three packs of some Allen broadheads that shot like field points outta my Ten-Point crossbow. Shot 5 bucks in the last 6 years with them. Lost a couple and bent the tips on a couple, only have two decent one's left. No reason to change, right? Allen no longer makes that style....can't tell you why.
Click to expand...
I can tell you why because they found a cheaper way, not better but cheaper. Just keep digging our way to the bottom.
 
9x56MS said:
I can tell you why because they found a cheaper way, not better but cheaper. Just keep digging our way to the bottom.
Click to expand...

Modern tech fabrics are not only far superior they are also far more expensive. There is a reason you don’t see guys climbing Everest in wool jodhpurs and leather boots any longer.

The same goes for modern top end optics, controlled expansion bullets, And modern actions, barrels and stocks.

I do dearly love the classics and I still hunt with them. I’m not saying the old stuff doesn’t work, it absolutely does. But the truth of the matter is we are capable of manufacturing more precise, reliable, lighter and weather proof hunting equipment now than we were 50 years ago. You can buy cheap stuff that’s mass produced junk for sure. But you can also spend the time and money to find stuff that is absolutely superior in every way as well. It’s nice to have the choice.

When a company decides to use their brand recognition to trade the excellent product off on a cheaper version that isn’t the same quality, I dump the brand and go find something that is good. It’s a frustrating thing that many American businesses do, Butler Creek scope caps were a perfect example. They went from a decent long lasting product to absolute brittle going to break junk! And now they are getting it fixed, but what a waste of time a business to delve into the junk they did.
 
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9x56MS said:
I can tell you why because they found a cheaper way, not better but cheaper. Just keep digging our way to the bottom.
Click to expand...

I just re read this and see that you were responding to Allen Broadhead portion of Buck’s comment. I agree with you and address it in the last paragraph of my reply. Sorry for any misunderstanding on my part.
 
I just can't bring myself to pay the prices for the Kiui type stuff but I do have a question. Will it keep you warm once it gets wet like wool will? I am still wearing the same thinsulate insulated woolrich wool hunting pants my wife got me our first Christmas together 40 years ago. Have never had a good enough reason to change. No problem. With the misunderstanding. My sons bought into the under armor craze and bought all their stuff. We still wear it during bow season but once it gets cold he went back to thE wool rich suit. I bought from cableas a wool coat lined with goretex but sold it as I got wetter from the inside than From the outside.
 
MCMXI said:
One of the appealing aspects of hunting for me is the validation of gear whether it's a backpack, boots, rifle, optic, ammunition, trekking poles or anything else related to the task at hand. I have more than a few knives and have bought hunting specific knives over the years, but after gutting, skinning and quartering an elk last week I have to say that I'm really pleased with and impressed by the two knives shown below.

The Casstrom was given to me by my buddy who owns Spartan Precision Equipment. I was over in England at his shop a few years ago and he saw the covetous way in which I was looking at it. I like the quality of the leather sheath which houses the knife, a small box and a fire steel but I'd rather have a simple Kydex sheath similar to those made by TOPS Knives. The knife itself is superb! The Sandvik 14C28N blade stays really sharp even when cutting through elk hide, and the flat grind seems to be just about perfect for gutting, skinning and quartering. It has a really good feel in the hand, an excellent blade shape, wonderful balance and a blade that's easy to get a great edge on. I know that more Casstroms are in my future.

This particular Casstrom is the N0.10 Swedish Forest Knife.

https://www.casstrom.com/knives/fixed-blad/casstrom/no10-swedish-forest-knife-orange-g10flat.html

About seven years ago I bought Havalon Barracuta and Piranta knives which were ok, but a few years back I bought the significantly better Jim Shockey Double Folder which is fantastic. I completely disassembled the knife this morning to give it a thorough cleaning and changed out the disposable blade.

If I had to pick one of the two shown below it would be the Casstrom, but I think I can settle on the combination set for just about any hunting scenario. A bone saw would make a good addition but my Porter Cable sawzall made quick work of removing lower limbs.

View attachment 953085
Click to expand...

I also enjoy validating and field testing equipment in the field. My long time hunting buddy Ashley Emerson sent me his new design hunting knife the Ashley Game Knife (AGK) ESSE. I love everything about this knife, it’s the perfect shape for working on game. I used it on two elk and five deer this season. It holds a wicked edge and it’s pretty much indestructible. Ashley and I have taken apart hundreds and hundreds of critters over the years. One thing about any Ashley design, it’s going to be real world useful, it’s going to be well built and it’s going to be basically indestructible. F8DA5CE4-170B-42F6-A433-8C054C35C3EC.jpeg

And on the other end of the spectrum I picked up an Outdoor Edge replaceable blade razor knife. I’ve got to say, for the price this thing is a very useable and functional tool. You can pick one of these up for like $40.00 and it’s a good shape and seems to be pretty tough. I do enjoy simply pulling off the dull blade and replacing it with a new super sharp one. I have several negative comments on the Outdoor Edge. The blades can be tough to remove when gummed up especially in cold weather and the replacement blades are a bit pricey. But the main thing I don’t like about it is the poor quality control one the replacement blades. The edge on them goes from surgical sharp, to not so great from blade to blade. Overall it’s a great knife for the money.

I have given each of my girls an Outdoor Edge. It saves me tons of time dressing edges in the field. I carry both but like the spine and shape and toughness of the AGK.

An AGK is going to run you about $90.00 to $100.00 the OE razor knife can be had at any Walmart for $35 to $40 bucks and is absolutely better than just about any other hunting knife at that price point.

2412D75F-A1BD-4214-ABB3-134F801FA41C.jpeg
 
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9x56MS said:
I just can't bring myself to pay the prices for the Kiui type stuff but I do have a question. Will it keep you warm once it gets wet like wool will? I am still wearing the same thinsulate insulated woolrich wool hunting pants my wife got me our first Christmas together 40 years ago. Have never had a good enough reason to change. No problem. With the misunderstanding. My sons bought into the under armor craze and bought all their stuff. We still wear it during bow season but once it gets cold he went back to thE wool rich suit. I bought from cableas a wool coat lined with goretex but sold it as I got wetter from the inside than From the outside.
Click to expand...

I find the modern, top end synthetic fill lofts to insulate as good as or better than wool when wet, but they don’t get heavy like wool does.
 
Knives, boots, scopes, gloves are some of the things that have definitely improved over the years I was especially impressed with the fairly new line of hunting knives brought out by Rapala razor sharp and only $30 with a leather sheath oh and Muck boots. Any $200 scope now are as good or better than the older European $1000 scopes. I do like goretex in my gloves. Pop up blinds are a nice improvement also.
 
H&Hhunter said:
An AGK is going to run you about $90.00 to $100.00 the OE razor knife can be had at any Walmart for $35 to $40 bucks and is absolutely better than just about any other hunting knife at that price point.

View attachment 978157
Click to expand...

That ESSE looks like a great knife. I've owned one in the past and will again in the future. Those razor knives are not my cup. As far as the best value hunting knife, I'll take a $10 Mora Kniv any day.
 
9x56MS said:
I can tell you why because they found a cheaper way, not better but cheaper. Just keep digging our way to the bottom.
Click to expand...

H&Hhunter said:
I just re read this and see that you were responding to Allen Broadhead portion of Buck’s comment. I agree with you and address it in the last paragraph of my reply. Sorry for any misunderstanding on my part.
Click to expand...

While this may be true for some things, I think the reason for the extinction of the old Gunnison Broadhead is simply because IT was old fashioned. It was a simple 3 blade fixed blade broadhead in plain jane packaging and even tho it worked, and worked very well in my experience(4 outta 5 of the bucks has complete pass thrus and none went more than 80 yards), they just didn't sell to the average archer, even tho they sold for about $13 for a 3-pac. Too many other broadheads out there with fancy packaging and massive advertising making outrageous claims. Of course the $40 price tag on their package means they work that much better, eh?
 
H&Hhunter said:
the OE razor knife can be had at any Walmart for $35 to $40 bucks and is absolutely better than just about any other hunting knife at that price point.
Click to expand...

My first experience with the disposable razor knife concept was the Gerber offering and I absolutely hated it. Took 3 blades to skin and quarter a deer. Threw it all in the gut pile when I was done.

Then this season a hunting buddy let me try his Outdoor Edge. It was fantastic. I’ll never use anything else again.
 
I believe the reason for the popularity of the disposable blade knives is simply because so many new hunters just don't know how to properly sharpen a knife blade. How many here remember sitting around a table in deer camp telling tales while one guy sharpened knives. My Dad taught me how to sharpen a blade until it shaved the hair off your forearm. Getting to be a lost art.
 
9x56MS said:
I believe the reason for the popularity of the disposable blade knives is simply because so many new hunters just don't know how to properly sharpen a knife blade. How many here remember sitting around a table in deer camp telling tales while one guy sharpened knives. My Dad taught me how to sharpen a blade until it shaved the hair off your forearm. Getting to be a lost art.
Click to expand...

That is so true. Sharpen a knife. Get from A to B using a map. Change the oil in your vehicle. Cook a meal. The list of essential skills that are aren’t being past on could be long.

That said, there’s something to be said for convenience. I can sharpen a knife, but that OE razor knife is the tits
 
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