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 mounted 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 affordable however efficient favourite knife, my curiosity piqued about why folks would pay for a premium blade within the first place.
I’d heard a lot about manufacturers like Montana Knife Firm and Benchmade promoting knives for tons of of {dollars}, however by no means understood the necessity for such an costly blade. I’d additionally by no means used one. To achieve some perception, I reached out to MKC and received my palms on the MKC Whitetail, a 4” blade produced from MagnaCut chrome 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 Sort of Metal a Knife is Made from Issues
Over 1000’s of years, people have used all kinds of steels in bladesmithing. With each carbon and chrome steel, there are extra alloy components that make every blade distinctive and applicable for various jobs.
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All of the knives I personal have a stainless-steel blade. The Buck 119 Particular and the MKC Whitetail are not any totally different, however the high quality and composition of the chrome steel used is vastly totally different. My tried and true Buck knife is 420HC chrome steel which gives 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 properly. Regardless, the 420HC is a most popular metal for knife makers providing a price range product. Not solely is 420HC metal reasonably priced, it’s additionally one of the crucial corrosion resistant steels in the marketplace as a result of its degree of chromium.
However, the 420HC doesn’t maintain a candle to the standard of a MagnaCut metal blade. This metal alloy blade gives nice toughness, an unbelievable edge retention, and distinctive corrosion resistance. Merely put, there’s a purpose blades produced 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 a number of the greatest 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 Good Deer Knife
The MKC Whitetail is touted because the ‘good deer knife’ and, after testing it, I can see why. In whole, all the knife measures 8 ⅝ inches lengthy. That makes it maneuverable in tight areas when subject dressing deer, but additionally massive 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 by 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 hassle. As I discussed above, the 420HC isn’t well-known for its edge retention. The MKC Whitetail, nonetheless, held its edge by three totally different deer with out resharpening. I genuinely imagine it may have gone by 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 common usability of this knife, I do provide a phrase of warning. As a result of simply how sharp the blade is popping out of the field, be certain to keep away from nicking your fingers through the gutting course of, in any other case you received’t be capable of inform your blood from the deer’s.
Is it Actually Price Paying A whole bunch of {Dollars} for a Premium Knife?
I’m nonetheless within the section 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 properly.
Nonetheless, a premium blade makes the job undeniably simpler. Not simply within the reducing 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 feel a premium knife is smart for hunters who pores and skin and quarter quite a lot of big-game animals within the subject. While you’re engaged on a deer, on the facet of a mountain, at nighttime, 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, should you’ve received the cash to spend and need prime efficiency out of your knife, you then’ll by no means be upset by a knife just like the MKC Whitetail.
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