Spyder Hunters

[North61]

Unlike some I love a folder for hunting. I hate carrying a lot of gear. What I do carry needs to be compact and just right.

After the pretty good showing of the Stretch on a moose last week and my long love affair of the C48 Wegner, I looked through the Spydie catalogue for the ultimate. For big game the Wegner is excellent but a bit pointy and straight. Works exceptionally well for gutting and caping but is merely good at skinning.

Winter moose need to be skinned all the way. No pulling on a hide this well connected. Every inch needs to be cut off. Designs like the Persian... Chinook would be good skinners but not much good at anything else. The Bradley looks pretty good...but the old plain edge non gut-hook Impala really looks like it might be exceptional.

I found one online for an ungodly price. It's on the way. I'll let you know when it arrives.

[Sam Vimes]

I'll be one of the few hunters with similar tastes regarding folders for hunting. I can't stand carrying a fixed blade when I'm hunting. They always seem to be in the way even if they are better/more suitable at the job.

The difference between us will be the size of game we are dealing with. It's very rare for me to deal with anything bigger than a hare (a bit like a big jack rabbit) or a pheasant. However, I do have a plain Impala. :) As I also like similar knives to you (Wegners, Stretches, Ocelots) I'll bet you'll also like the Impala, I certainly do.

[JD Spydo]

:) North & Sam :) I tend to agree with you guys regarding the use of folders for hunting knives. For many, many years before I became a Spyder-Fanatic around 1995 I had used a twin bladed, stag handled Ka-Bar folder that I used on many hunting trips. I always had a Buck model 119 fixed blade on those trips but most of the time I used the Ka-Bar folder and loved it.

I love the models you've all mentioned with the exception of the Ocelot. Don't get me wrong I love the blade design but those paw prints are just not meant for skinning animals because unless you run the folder through the dishwasher at least twice there is hardly no way to keep that handle from stinking. I would be one of the first in line to get an Ocelot with a solid G-10 or Micarta handle.

Now I've used my C-44 Big Spyderco Dyad on about 4 hunting trips and I really liked having one PE and one SE blade. It was extremely handy and it's one of the reasons that the big Dyad is about my all time favorite Spyder ever.

I would say that the Impala up till now is my favorite Spyderco folder for hunting. I love everything about the Impala and the one with the gut-hook is great. I do love the Wegner but they need to do a sprint run of them with either VG-10 or one of the CPM steels to bring it up to date with a newer/better steel.

I still hold out hope that they will one day release a great prototype folder they designed called the Bison. I truly believe the Bison with a guthook would be a superb hunter/folder.

[FIMS]

I was asked this past CHRISTmas by a co-worker what kind of light folding knife he could get his Dad who is a hunter, and use it for skinning.

I gave him a few options and he went with the Delica PE. I wanted him to try the Stretch.

Apparently it skins and guts better than any knife he has used before.

[North61]

I'd love to see a Sprint VG10 Wegner....great idea. I have the BladeTech version in S30V but it doesn't inspire like the C48. The meaty thwack of opening the 48 is a real treat.

I agree that the Ocelot is just too fine to use for rough work, steam will clean it well but not everyone has the equipment. However the blade shape is superb. A cheaper, solid FRN slabbed version would have been close to the ultimate.

When my Impala comes I'll take a family portrait.

Love those Spydies!

[RIOT]

wonder if you rounded off the tip of a Catcherman filet Spyderco if that would work for what you want

[The Deacon]

If you ever get the opportunity, you might want to look a the Terzuola Starmate. It's similar in some ways to the non guthook version of the Impala, different in others.

[BHDKnifer]

You need a Spyderco Wayne Goddard full size FRN 1/2 serrated.

[Sam Vimes]

I love the models you've all mentioned with the exception of the Ocelot. Don't get me wrong I love the blade design but those paw prints are just not meant for skinning animals because unless you run the folder through the dishwasher at least twice there is hardly no way to keep that handle from stinking.

Indeed, but as I said, I'm not using mine on large game and doubt I ever will. If I had the need it wouldn't be the knife of choice for the reasons you state.

[v8r]

I have a Impala CE with gut hook, and love it.Never have used it for what it was intended for , but it is a great design ......the gut hook opens letters very well! :D

[JD Spydo]

I have a Impala CE with gut hook, and love it.Never have used it for what it was intended for , but it is a great design ......the gut hook opens letters very well! :D

The guthook on the Impala model is the best Guthook on a Folder that I've ever used. I wouldn't at all be surprised to someday see the IMPALA come back.

I sure wish I would have kept the picture of the BISON model that someone had sent me back around 2005. I really believe the BISON model with a Guthook would be a super hunter folder as well. Not to mention it's massive size.

I'm surprised that the Bison model didn't hit the main line up by now.

If they do a sprint of the C-48 WEGNER model I sure hope they do a Guthook version of it.