What are the best hunting knives? This is a topic that seems to be renewing every season, as manufacturers come out new blades and consumers discover problems with them. As a long-time deer hunter, I know what I'm looking for in a knife: a sturdy solid blade that picks up and holds an edge and will not collapse during the first tough job.
I was skeptical when I was given Gerber's Ultimate Knife Bear Grylls Survival. After all, the product is named after a TV star who is famous for doing stupid stunts that no self-respecting fighter would ever do. How good could the blade be?
So, when I pulled the knife out of the package, I had low expectations. I'm not going to lie to you, I was expecting something else. I was pleasantly surprised by my first impression of the blade: it is heavy and the hold fits well in the hand. The sheath is a durable hard plastic classic nylon around the blade and a velcro strap to hold the knife. As expected, it easily attaches to a belt or backpack, and while the design is functional and challenging, it's not going to win any style contests.
The blade itself is 4 and 3/4 inches long and is obviously designed to take a hit with a full, thick silk. Gerber, in keeping with their typical choice of metals in a mid-range knife like this one, used the 7Cr17Mov stainless steel, which gives good value and does not break the bank. As usual with a modern knife, it comes out of the box. But unlike many modern knives, this one has a high carbon content, which makes the blade slightly softer, but allows you to sharpen it again and again, extending the life of the knife.
Toothing begins halfway to the blade handle, making it easy to cut the rope and ropes, but can interfere with cutting or cutting - indicating that the knife is a versatile survival tool designed for hunters.
The knife has a soft drop point and a straight blade, which is pretty much right for the tasks around the campfire. It will not be the best knife to skin and eviscerate, but it will certainly do the job well.
The rubber on the handle is pretty sticky, and I did not care to slip while I tested the knife by slaughtering a nice 6-point male. Gerber announces that the handle of the handle can be used as a striking surface. I have not had the opportunity to test this feature, but this area has obviously been enhanced to withstand impacts.
Gerber also announces that the knife can be easily attached to a tree or branch to use as a spear, due to the inclusion of several lashing points on the blade. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to realize my childhood fantasies by handling a 10-foot spear, but the device could prove useful in a survival situation.
After the butchery, the blade was cut a little bit where I hit some bones, so I tried the blade sharpener that folds out of the sheath. A few good shots tidy the blade - obviously not as sharp as a beautiful whetstone to give you, but certainly more than enough to keep a blade in the field.
This knife still has a few turns in his sleeve. In the bottom of the sheath is a small waterproof slot for a ferrocerium lighter in the traditional style of a rod that is scraped on the back of the knife. After arriving at the camp, I managed to light a fire using the hot sparks created by the cane - and a pack of dry tinder gathered nearby.
The blade is also equipped with a small lanyard, which would allow a particularly bull-shaped individual to carry the knife around his neck and have a small emergency whistle built into the plastic tip. In the event that one moves away from his hunting partners and that his voice cannot carry the natural sounds, this small hissing could be a lifeline.
Custom Damascus Folding knives Speaking of lifeguards, the knife also includes a small folded set of survival instructions printed on waterproof paper. Although many of them are second nature to the experienced hunter or outdoor enthusiast, they could be used as reading material while waiting to be rescued, as a reminder of ancient Scout lessons or as a fine hunter.
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