I need a small, fixed blade trout-bird knife. Want it for cleaning trout, upland bird and waterfowl. Anyone have something they could suggest? I prefer to avoid the "off-shore" brands.

Randall number 8.

The Model 8 ...Randall calls it the "Trout and Bird Knife" , sounds perfect! Good looking little knife to boot. 100% American Made in Florida, been in the shop and watched them forge and grind.
Gary

Thank you, I will Google it and take a look.

I have one of these and love it.

== CANADIAN BELT KNIFE == Grohmann Knives: Outdoor Knives, Survival Knives, Camping Knives, Kitchen Knives, Sheaths, Blocks and more.

Regards,
Bradford

If I can say this, take a look at Nordic Knives. They have good prices and no waiting.

https://www.mastgeneralstore.com/pro...nd_Trout_Knife

The Marbles knife is the classic, trout and bird knife. Perfect in it's simplicity. You will have to find an older one to get one made in America. It would be worth the search. Ed

Be careful Kid44, Randall's are very habit forming. I bought a little Pathfinder years ago, and now I have 9 different Randalls and still would like a few more. They are like potato chips, can't have just one!
One of the things I like is the craftsmanship and being American Made adds to it.
Gary

Some of these are pretty nice if you're on a budget.

Skinner Knives | Crazy Crow Trading Post

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Case makes a bird knife that sells between $40 to $50. I suggest Knife center website as they are in stock.

That Randall is a beauty, should be for what they cost. Their web site lists it for $360.00 yikes.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Tops Knives--made in Colorado I believe. (Idaho, Not Colorado). Bird and Trout Knife. Carried my for 3 years now, absolutely love it. Hardly ever carry a big knife any more. You can find at retailers for $80 bucks. For goodness sakes don't pay over $350 for a small fixed-blade knife.

TOPS Knives.com

Here is is for $85:
http://www.bladehq.com/item--TOPS-Kn...-Knife-3--8187

is this the size you are looking for? I got this one at a DU dinner over 20 years ago. lee

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I've got a Randall 10 salt water fisherman with a 3" that I use constantly in the field. A little cheaper than the 8, but not as pretty to look at.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

My 1975 Gerber T&B knife is still my favorite for just about everything, even though the blade has shrunk from sharpening for almost 40 years. The blade was 3" thin stainless, a bit more stiff than flexible, a handle larger than the blade., a nice heavier leather sheath, made in Portland Or. It has easily handled everything from T&B's to deer/hogs/opening mail. I bought a newer version, in case the first got lost or used up, but it is still going strong. the newer version has a longer handle with a small spoon on the end to help clean out fish guts. The blade is a bit more flexible & the leather thinner. No idea if they are still made or where/how much$. I recommend wearing it around your neck in case you need to cut yourself out of waders or a climbing harness. Good luck.

Take a look at Queen Cutlery. Been around since 1922, made here in the good ole USA. The Light Hunters line (fixed blade) would be what you're looking for.

Light Hunters

Excellent quality, American made, attractive, sharp, made in the USA, good steel, reasonably priced, and made in Pennsylvania. Did I'll tell you they are not an import?! Visit their shop if you have a chance. Queen makes Schatt & Morgan as well. Old school.....

Bark River Bird and Trout

Bark River Knives: Bird and Trout

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

A big second for the Bark River knife. I don't have that one, but I've owned several BRKT knives and they are top-quality implements. U.S. made, ferociously sharp out of the box, damn near indestructible, and a couple of hundred bucks less than the Randall--add in no waiting, and what's not to like?

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Oh well, what the hell.

That Bark River knife others have posted looks great. I have had many knives and always come back to the Green River Hunter. It is a very plain knife but it is so good on fish and game. It is also very light. They have been around a long time and are now being resurrected by the "bushcraft" people. I find that funny because "bushcraft" is really "being a kid in the country" lol

Green River Hunter Knife, 5" | Green River Knives | Crazy Crow Trading Post

I respect Bear Bio's judgement, but our taste in Randalls differs somewhat. I'd opt for their Model 7 with 4.5 or five-inch blade. I'd order the optional black Micarta handle and the alloy butt cap, drilled for a wrist thong. And I'd pay the difference for the stainless blade option.

As he later posted, Nordic Knives is one dealer who sells Randall knives from stock. You do pay a premium for avoiding the long waiting period if you order from the maker.

One man mentioned the Grohmann knives from Nova Scotia. Either their Boat Knife or the famous Russell-designed Canadian hunter will suit the need, if you don't mind the lack of a guard. I have both and the larger No. 4 survival knife. Be advised that the Boat Knife has been issued as a utility knife to Canadian paratroopers, in a special flap sheath, which they also sell to civilians. The RCAF has issued the No. 4 as part of the survival supplies on their planes that may go down in the wild. I don't know if they issue them to individual pilots in single-seat fighters.

Ooops. Already named a foreign maker. Gonna do it again, to let you get a better knife.

Fallkniven www.fallkniven,com knives are designed in Sweden, by a man with very extensive hunting and fishing experience. They are made by premium grade shops in Japan, of excellent materials, with sheaths far above the norm for factory knives. You pay for what you get, but you do get it. Look at their Model F-1, which is the issued pilot survival knife to the Royal Swedish Air Force. Look also at their superb S-1 as an all-round outdoors knife. Their other offerings are larger than you seem to want.

The basic handles on these are either Kraton or Thermorun, for a secure grasp. But the F-1 offers handle options, including Micarta. Their Northern Lights line uses leather handles with fiber trim and are staunchly reminiscent of Randall's leather handles. Butt caps are Duralumin, drilled for a thong.

They also sell some elegant folding knives, but I don't suggest a folder in this role. Apart from lesser strength, a folder has joints that collect fish slime and fruit juice, etc. But if you also want a good pocketknife, look at what they sell. I have a U-2, which is very light in the pocket and which is sharp enough to define the word, "sharp"! You should realize that Fallkniven products carry the Royal Warrant of the King of Sweden: they're suppliers of sporting knives to His Majesty, who in fact does hunt and fish. And his AF uses the F-1!

Finally, you can look for a good Puma Hunter's Pal at knife shows or Online. I think they still have US dealers, but it's generally accepted that Puma has lost quality since the Lauterjung family sold the firm in the mid-1990's. They had owned the brand since founding it in 1769! I think this is exaggerated, but it is true that the current Hunter's Pal has just two handle pins in bushings, where the older one has three. A production shortcut, but not a vital one. IF you inspect the knife and the stag scales are of proper size and are pretty enough, the Hunter's Pal is a superb little knife, with about a four-inch blade, grooved on top to avoid slippages. If you want a vintage Puma knife, pay the money now. Collectors are driving prices up. The Puma Outdoor model is also excellent and has a fancy version, the Model 3589. But those have five-inch blades and are general-use outdoors knives, not so much for smaller trout and small game. Model 3589 is truly elegant, with a silver inlay for your initial.

Apart from Randall (very expensive), the other US-made brand that I recommend is Buck, the traditional classic line of which is still made here, now in Idaho. They left El Cajon, CA some years ago. I prefer the Model 105 in a lighter knife. It's also called the Pathfinder model, and has a five-inch blade. I find their little Model 102 Woodsman too small for my hands and my taste. I'd pay the considerable difference for the Puma Hunter's Pal if I wanted a four-inch blade. But the Buck Model 105 is what I suggest to any outdoorsman who doesn't know which basic knife he wants. It offers high quality for a modest cost and can be found even in some Wal-Mart stores. Take care of it and your grandchildren can use it. If you like it, buy a spare, although I think they'll keep making it.

One major advantage of buying Buck is that if you need to refinish the knife or have the blade re-honed at the factory, they are in this country, offer a fast turnaround time, and don't charge much. They stand behind their product, too. Unlike some companies, they have a long history and are very well respected.

I like elegance in a knife as well as utility. The above choices will provide pride in ownership and deep emotional satisfaction.

How large are your trout? Which animals will you hunt? Don't get something too small. And carry a good hatchet, too.

I've got a little Randall Model 21 with a 3½-inch blade...a little smaller than the Randall Trout & Bird knife...also a little cheaper.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

AG Russel out of Springdale, AR makes a trout/bird knife. I love mine. I keep it clipped on the outside of my vest. It has a very secure but FAST thumb release scabbard, which means you can get to it and get it out fast if you need to. At $30, you don't have to worry about losing it in the stream or overboard like you would a Randall.

I agree that these are very nice. I've got a large one and a small one, and they're the bomb, especially if you want something to use in wet conditions. The Randall, however, is a life time knife.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

You're right Muss. Don't get me wrong, I have a 1953 Randall my dad passed down to me. Buy in NO WAY and I going to drag it out on a trout stream or river while fishing the Gunnison in October.......

Well, I guess we have a different opinion about that. I have five Randall's,. two passed down to me from my father, and the other three given as gifts from him. Every time I use a knife that's not a Randall, I picture him yelling "Why the @#$% aren't you using the #$% %^&* Randall I got you?"

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Check out Esee knives. The Esee 3 or Izula 2 might work. Made in USA, lifetime unconditional replacement warranty ans under $100.

Somebody's got to say it: how about a Mora? They all have smallish, some smaller than others. Mostly carbon steel, but a few models in stainless. These are wicked sharp, easy to keep that way, very serviceable, and at about twelve bucks a copy, you can have a whole handful.

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Not in jail.

I'm a fan of Wayne Hendrix blades...call him up and tell him what you want, very friendly.

Hendrix Handmade Custom Knives :: Wayne and Ruby Hendrix :: Allendale, SC

Buck 102 Woodsman, still made in the USA, 4" blade and leather
sheath. Around $35 or so. Unbeatable for the price.

A couple of responses:
Bark River makes good knives also. Here's my 41 magnum I carry in the woods sometimes with a matching knife by Bark River. Both are sheephorn (grips by Patrick Grashorn)


Texas Star:

For hunting and woods carry, I usually Carry a Model 23 Randall. Gun and knife have buffalo horn (A porcupine ate the leather grips while on an elk hunt)


OK, I won't show off any more!