What is the purpose of carrying a knife out in a safari..

SStomcat said:

I'm planning a small utility knife instead of a trademark hunting knife that I see many of you carry when out hunting. Just want to go light and my philosophy is to carry as less of a load specially around the waist as possible. Already feeling the weight of my 12 pound double on long walks. Am I missing something, please educate me..

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SStomcat,

If I am being completely honest with you and myself the only reason (really) is that one day the knife I have been carrying on 3 different safaris will be used to cut the tail off my elephant.

Other than that reason it is just a treasured part of my kit on my safari belt. I like holding it at home when I am between safaris and thinking about past adventures. I love the process of pre-trip preparation where I put in through the paces on the sharpening sticks that usually adds nothing to an already unblemished edge. I know I have used it to cut pieces of biltong, cheese and a tag off a sweater once. The knife is part of this small group of handpicked items over the years along with my slightly battle worn Leica binos, the well broken in Russell safari boots, the Murray leather cartridge holders and my still dusty Eberlestock day pack that mean I am once again off to the Dark Continent for at least two weeks of hunting bliss.

One day I hope to pass it down to one of my nephews with the hopes that he will hold it and tell his buddy... my uncle carried this thing all over Africa and he gave it to me along with this rifle.

Do you need one... no. The guy that made the mechanic analogy in his post couldn't have been more on the nose! It is just something special and part of the process that makes departure for a safari the best thing since Christmas morning when I was 11 years old.

Happy hunting, my friend !

JB

I rehandled this kephart a while back in cocobolo and it’s become my go to, scratches, dings and all. Skinning and butchering is part of the hunt for me and I would insist on doing it for any guided hunt.

Howdy,

There is no need for a "hunting knife" on safari. I carry a clip point folder and a multi tool. You might get to clean your fingernails with the knife.

One thing to consider is that if you insist on getting into the field dressing of your game is that AIDS is still very common in the indigenous population in Africa. Mixing your blood with skinners in a situation where you might get cut is not worth it.

Mark

No, I do not carry a knife. Everyone of the black guys has one as does the PH.

dogcat1 said:

No, I do not carry a knife. Everyone of the black guys has one as does the PH.

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Which tells me that I should probably have one.

I think I may have posted this before, but I forget things. Please have grace. I have carried a knife since I was six years old. I'm not talking a Arkansas Toothpick or Crocodile Dundee model, but a knife none the less. I didn't in high-school because certain horrible things happened in the 90's... Anyhoo. If you forget your wallet at home, how do you feel when you get to work? Nekkid, maybe? I had a security guard tell me when I handed over my pocket knife to enter a state building, "A knife is part of a man's identity given to him when he was a boy." I think he nailed it. At least for me.....

Good post!

No need to carry a hunting knife for field dressing, skinning or quartering if you're hunting with a PH. All that's done for the hunter. I only carry my EDC pocket knife.

You never know when you might need to get a thorn out of a lion’s paw to make him a friend for life.

DB

I had a Swiss Army knife on me yesterday when we were delivering assistance to our farming communities that were hardest hit by the earthquake here in Colombia. It opened many bags of cement and sand, peeled a few mangos, opened a few avocados, cut up some plantain and opened a few beers when we got back to town. I feel naked without a knife.

Safe hunting

Hedge774 said:

Which tells me that I should probably have one.

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Priceless response…very well done!

FOsteology said:

How else would you eat your biltong?!
View attachment 784846

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Yes, fully agree. Likely use my knife to cut biltong more than any other thing. Biltong is absolutely
my favorite snack in the world. However, my knife was used to screw off my RMR from my double rifle that had failed in the heated pursuit which was a life saver in Uganda in February and it will leave with me in 10days for Tanzania.

50Gunner said:

I have carried a 5" Bagwell Damascus skinner on my belt on every Safari, mostly out of respect and remembrance of the Man that made it for me, I do however have a challenge coming up, when he presented me with the Damascus Bowie at his home dinner table he had just finished making, he asked that i'd promise if I ever go hunt Elephants I'd carry it.

An over 11" bladed Bagwell Damascus Bowie may look a little silly on a cartridge belt, that is okay, I will carry it, I'm no joe fashion male model anyway, i gave the Man my word.

Plus, in a dire pinch, I can throw knives with pretty descent accuracy, you know, if we run out of bullets ; ]

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Well, I kept the promise I made to my dear old Friend, he's been gone since the Winter of 2021, brought the Bowie knife he made for me on my very first Elephant hunt, on the morning of day Seven I put it on my belt and went to the firepit in the dark for coffee, no one laughed, I was glad, later that day I may have taken an 80lb bull Elephant with very dark stained tusks, no scales.

Used that knife to cut off the tail, it's the first and last thing I'll ever cut with that knife, two Ph's, two Trackers, two Scouts, my Wife and I all witnessed the event, could not believe the very first day I carried the knife we found such a magnificent bull Elephant, there may be something to that keeping one's word deal, even if the one promised and word given to is no longer with us.

I hope my old friend was looking down and smiling.

50Gunner said:

Well, I kept the promise I made to my dear old Friend, he's been gone since the Winter of 2021, brought the Bowie knife he made for me on my very first Elephant hunt, on the morning of day Seven I put it on my belt and went to the firepit in the dark for coffee, no one laughed, I was glad, later that day I may have taken an 80lb bull Elephant with very dark stained tusks, no scales.

Used that knife to cut off the tail, it's the first and last thing I'll ever cut with that knife, two Ph's, two Trackers, two Scouts, my Wife and I all witnessed the event, could not believe the very first day I carried the knife we found such a magnificent bull Elephant, there may be something to that keeping one's word deal, even if the one promised and word given to is no longer with us.

I hope my old friend was looking down and smiling.

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Here's Jerry's bowie....

Good grief! That's a proper knife for such a monumental hunting moment. Absolutely beautiful. I'm sure that Mr. Jerry agreed.

degoins said:

Here's Jerry's bowie....

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Thats one hell of a knife, crafted by a true legend.

degoins said:

Here's Jerry's bowie....

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That is just a great knife !

50Gunner said:

Well, I kept the promise I made to my dear old Friend, he's been gone since the Winter of 2021, brought the Bowie knife he made for me on my very first Elephant hunt, on the morning of day Seven I put it on my belt and went to the firepit in the dark for coffee, no one laughed, I was glad, later that day I may have taken an 80lb bull Elephant with very dark stained tusks, no scales.

Used that knife to cut off the tail, it's the first and last thing I'll ever cut with that knife, two Ph's, two Trackers, two Scouts, my Wife and I all witnessed the event, could not believe the very first day I carried the knife we found such a magnificent bull Elephant, there may be something to that keeping one's word deal, even if the one promised and word given to is no longer with us.

I hope my old friend was looking down and smiling.

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Just...wow. I'd bet your friend is smiling.

I can’t imagine not carrying one while hunting. The ribbing i would have gotten from @Kootenay Hunter for that one in a million possibility, unexpected, could have used it before the PH / skinner got there… no sir, not worth it.

Looks cool