Knives that have worked for you.

[6mm Remington]

The Ruana story is pretty neat if you take the time to read the short story in the brochure. They still make the knives like Rudy Ruana did many years ago on a lot of the very same equipment still being run by his family.

Over the years I got a knife for me, one for my son Jeff, and one for Jeremiah. I partially paid cash and the rest I used found shed elk and deer antlers to fund the purchases. Mostly antler trades for the most part. There are several of their models that I really like, but the Steelhead is one of my favorites, and that is what I purchased for the family. If we would have had time last fall I would have taken Scotty & Brian for a tour of the shop and seen if I could get them to part with some of their greenbacks. What are friends for? :mrgreen: :grin:

I like a good folding knife also like the Buck 110 or Schrade or Gerber. They all make good knives. I try and purchase made in the USA products if I can. I won't buy one of the Gerber's or the Bucks that aren't made here but are outsourced.

http://www.ruanaknives.com/knivesandhatchetgallery.aspx

 

[DrMike]

Very interesting account of the company history. I've always like Buck in part because Mr. Buck was a Kansas blacksmith, as was my father. I trusted those blacksmiths and their work.

 

[JD338]

David,

Those are very nice knives.

I have a custom knife made by Black Forest Blades in Saginaw, MI.
Nothing better than a nice knife to have with you on your hunts.

JD338

 

[6mm Remington]

David,

Those are very nice knives.

I have a custom knife made by Black Forest Blades in Saginaw, MI.
Nothing better than a nice knife to have with you on your hunts.

JD338

You and Mike both make some good points. It was well worth the effort to obtain them, and they are something to pass down that family will really enjoy. I was assisting a guy on a case and we got to looking at knives in a pawn shop and he recognized the Ruana logo but he just couldn't remember where he had seen it. He remembered later at home that about 15 years ago he found a knife while out in the woods with this logo. He almost threw the knife away and had been using it at one point to cut sod with! :twisted: He didn't throw it away though and after checking two boxes in his attic, he came across the knife and low and behold, it's one of the early Ruana's made by Rudy himself. I think if I recall correctly that he said it was made in the late 1950's. He did some more checking and found that the knife is worth between $600.00 to $1200.00. He is most thankful that he did not throw it away! :shock: Since he does not have sentimental value with this particular knife, he plans to sell it and purchase Ruana's with the money he will get for each of his boys! I think that's pretty cool.
David

 

[widgeon]

Very nice looking knives. I prefer a short, fixed blade, like the steel head and short skinner.

Lately I've been carrying a laminate wood handled caper from Cabela's as well as my latest edition...
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t104330880

 

[ridgewalker]

Knives are amazing and beautiful mechanical/metallurgical tools. I worked for Western Cutlery for a few years and it was a great learning experience. You wouldn't believe what a bargain production knives actually are.

Personally I like a full tang 3" drop point for a hunting knife. I have gone through a lot of knives in my 65 years. I got my first folder as a 4 year old kid in Texas.

Knives are very personal tools. The nice thing is no one is wrong for the knife they like.

 

[BK]

Oh man, I really like that Ruana Damascus Sidekick! It might be a touch rich for me though.

 

[6mm Remington]

They are pretty neat looking Kurt! Awfully tempting aren't they!! I'm just trying to help. :mrgreen: :twisted:
David

 

[DrMike]

I do admire a finely crafted knife. These certainly appear to be well made, and they are assuredly handsome.

 

[Guy Miner]

Considered going with a custom knife - but my production knives have done very well for me.

Still have the Buck folder that Dad gave me when I was just a kid, 14 or so at the time I think. Good knife. Blade is HARD and it's tough to put an edge on that rascal. Once it's sharp though, it's sharp for a long time.

A few years back I treated my son and myself to the fixed blade Buck for general purpose hunting knives. They work real well. I handle most of my hunting chores with the Buck or the little orange Havalon knife anymore:

Also took care of a mulie buck one day with just my Benchmade folder. It worked very well.

BTW - don't have a photo of it - but last year I treated myself to a small folding Kershaw for all of about $35 - made in the USA - and dang, it's a great little general purpose knife!

Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

Norway is famous for producing good steel and knives. In the 1990's the Marines sent me above the Arctic Circle in Norway for a few weeks (no, it wasn't punishment!) and I remembered to pick up a couple of nicely made hunting knives for Dad on that trip. They've worked out real well for him.

 

[Guest]

My first hunting knife was a Buck 110 folding lockback. I still keep that one in the truck for when I need something bigger than the lightweight mini-lockback I carry daily. The mini is a Schrade my wife bought me about 13yrs ago. I really like Buck knives, though. I've used mine for numerous deer and have discovered exactly the same thing as Guy - the blade is hard. Hard to sharpen, and equally hard to dull. to me, that's quality. About 7-8yrs ago my wife bought me another Buck folding lockback. This one is their Alpha Guthook with rubberized handle inserts. I thought I wanted rosewood until the first deer I cleaned with that knife. Man, it's the perfect shape and size for field dressing white-tails. It seems to hold an edge almost as well as that old 110 folder, and it cleaned three deer this past season without complaint. I'll redress the edge before next season, for sure, even though it will still shave hair off my arm. Just habit to prepare for the season, I guess. I know guys who like all sorts of newer brands of knife, but I'm sold on Buck until mine lets me down.

 

[BK]

Considered going with a custom knife - but my production knives have done very well for me.

Still have the Buck folder that Dad gave me when I was just a kid, 14 or so at the time I think. Good knife. Blade is HARD and it's tough to put an edge on that rascal. Once it's sharp though, it's sharp for a long time.

A few years back I treated my son and myself to the fixed blade Buck for general purpose hunting knives. They work real well. I handle most of my hunting chores with the Buck or the little orange Havalon knife anymore:

Also took care of a mulie buck one day with just my Benchmade folder. It worked very well.

BTW - don't have a photo of it - but last year I treated myself to a small folding Kershaw for all of about $35 - made in the USA - and dang, it's a great little general purpose knife!

Guy

I have that same Buck knife. I really like it.

 

[257 Ackley]

Nice looking knives David. It is always fun to have something made close to home that can be passed on to your family. I have a weakness for good knives (just like rifles) that are made with great steel. There is some really interesting new steel being made for knife makers right now, but I still prefer D-2 more than any other. To me it is the best compromise between edge holding, ease of sharpening and toughness. Anyone that had an old Buck 110 made out of 440A steel knows how hard those knives can be to sharpen (at least for me). Knives of Alaska uses D-2 for most of their knives, although their fillet knives are made of 440-C.

I picked up a new knife made by a custom builder the last time I was in Arkansas made by Bob Dozier. All his knives are top quality and most are made from D-2. This one will be going with me on my elk hunt to Montana this fall to get bloody for the first time (hopefully).

http://dozierknives.com/index.php?optio ... icle&id=58

He makes a very interesting sheath for his knives as well: http://dozierknives.com/index.php?optio ... &Itemid=54.

I like a nice looking leather sheath for a knife, but this one has grown on me after carrying it on my belt for a day. The sheath is formed around each individual knife and fits like a glove.

 

[DrMike]

He does make some most attractive knives, Joel. I can see the appeal.

 

[6mm Remington]

Joel he does make some nice looking knives. They appear very well made.

 

[wagnerj]

I really admire nice looking knives and most of all its quality.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Here is my favorite fixed blade, BG hunting knife. It is African buffalo horn scales brass finger guard and damascus steel blade. I got it from Lewis Drake and Company, years ago.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Nice Charlie

 

[BK]

Damn that's a fine knife, Charlie. I love damascus...