Thread: Worthington, Elmax test

Originally Posted by Tahr

Using a steel is fine on the carbon steels like L6, O1 etc. Its the hard supersteels where you will strike trouble or find a steel ineffective.

Totally disagree, we found the fine steel really efective in stuffing the edge of the Elmax test knife!!!

I think I might go with an A2 steel, these super steels seem to good for a ham fisted bugger like me.

What about the little ceramic sharpeners

If yiu cant sharpen that steel easily in the field then soon enough might end up being a PITA surely

Yeah. It can be sharpened in the field no problem. Simple.
But the good thing is you don't need to. It will do several deer without being touched.
I will post some pics.

Turning into an interesting thread this...

You get steels and you get steels.... Ranging from rough kitchen stuff, to diamond sharpening steels, to highly polished burnishing rods.

Hamish, I've got a high quality burnisher here that I use for turning over the burr on card scrapers, pop in and give it a try with a decent blade.

Ripi Helihunter. 10 yrs old.
7 years on commercial venison.
(Thousands of animals)

John has tickled it up maybe once a season.
Still the best knife I have used by a long shot.
Every other operator we worked in with, uses a Ripi helihunter knife.
Can't think of a better test for quality.
Still looks and works great.



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Yeah R93, you fit the knife to the fuss. When I was cutting bums and guts out of deer for a living a straight knife like yours was ideal. And a steel that was forgiving and could be abused, and came back sharp with a lick from a steel was preferred. Mine was starighter and pointier than yours (will post a pic).

Then I became a recreational hunter and my preferences and needs changed. A bit of curve for a skinning job from time to time, a bit of length for slicing, a bit of a point for boning etc. And the steels started to improve, and they held their edge longer. And I liked that, but had to adopt new ways of sharpening them. And it became an interest...and then a fettish. And then I started wearing cardigans...

I don't skin or headskin with that knife. It is a field knife.
One of 2 I carry in my day bag.
I have another Ripi I use for head skinning and another again for skinning.
Boning is done with a cheap victronox.
I have done everything with the helihunter when needed tho.
I am fortunate to have a mate that can process a deer from the chiller faster than I can make him a coffee.
My skills at the latter leave a lot to be desired😆
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Can someone recommend a good quality steel for home? I just carry one of those little diamond steels for touching up in the field.

From my perspective a steel should not be too course. They are just for straightening the edge. I used to rub my shepherds steels on a brick to make them finer.
Diamond steels actually remove steel. They work well, but can eat your knife

The House of Knives which have branches dotted around the country have a good selection. I will have a look at the brand of my one at home that I got from them.

That Heli Hunter looks similar to the Hoki hunter, nice shape, if people stop buying the ones I get in I may be able to take.one for my self lol

Originally Posted by R93

Ripi Helihunter. 10 yrs old.
7 years on commercial venison.
(Thousands of animals)

John has tickled it up maybe once a season.
Still the best knife I have used by a long shot.
Every other operator we worked in with, uses a Ripi helihunter knife.
Can't think of a better test for quality.
Still looks and works great.



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Looks like a fucking moose

It is, a Fallow Moose😆

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my what an interesting thread i havent been online for a while but will get back to this soon and answer some points
cheers john

just a couple of points
tahr i put the v edge on knives because if some one has a convex edge and does not know how to sharpen it they will drive it onto a stone or steel and you end up with a short blunt edge.
if you know and like a convex edge it is easy to put on and people that do will mod their edges accordingly

shelly i do have a first name i dont mind if you use it .it seems strange to read just my last name

scoped you should use that knife d2 is to good a steel to leave in the drawer

i am still working at the moment just not taking new orders so people are not disappointed with the wait time
cheers john