The knife itself was a standout from the moment I saw it at the show.  It’s a nicely done piece of metal work, with a keen edge and good, hard metal (maybe too hard, depending on who you ask).  It’s a thick, sturdy knife, and with the modified tanto point, it should stand up to the roughest use you can imagine, from splitting a pelvis or breast bone, to gouging a broadhead or field point out of a tree. 

The knife’s hilt is wrapped in leather, which gives both a nice feel and a good grip, as well as enhancing the knife’s overall good looks.  I was a little concerned about how the leather would hold up to the rough use I put my gear through, but so far it’s age well and still holds together well.  It’s been out now in rain, snow, and blazing, dusty heat.  I suppose a little extra TLC would keep it looking new, but I like the way good leather ages. 

The knife also comes with some pretty unique accessories.  One of my favorites is a threaded attachment that fits the threads on an arrow insert.  Screw it onto the end of your stuck broadhead, and use the built-in hook on the knife blade to create a lever.  If that won’t pull it out, you may just be ut of luck.

In addition to the extractor, you can also order the knife with a “fire steel”, which can be used with the blade of the knife as a fire starter.  All of the attachments fit into a pouch built right into the leather sheath. 

So that’s all the looks and such.  How’s it perform?

Well, to be honest, I haven’t used it as much as I could have.  It seems that whenever I have an animal down, I immediately reach for one of my stand-by knives, either the Buck 110 or the Old Timer.  The Wild Steer is usually there, but it just doesn’t come to hand as automatically.  When I have started out to use it, I have always switched knives after a few minutes. 

For skinning, the sharp blade works pretty well.  I usually start the first cut by puncturing the skin over the belly, and the tanto point didn’t work a well for that as I’d like.  Likewise, the lack of a point made cutting around the anus a little trickier too.  I’m sure a big part of that is nothing other than personal choice.  I’m used to bellied blades with sharp points for skinning, so the straight blade and tanto point of the Wild Steer just don’t feel “right” to me. 

For an all-around camp knife, though, this thing is the stuff!  Did I mention it’s tough?  I mean, really tough!  I didn’t have any hesitation using it for rough chores that might do in the edge or point of most of my skinners.  I think this is where this knife really shines.

Besides the fact that it feels a little strange for skinning, the only other negative I can think of is the unfortunate choice of a name… the Wild Steer.  I can see what they’re going for.  They’re looking for a good, tough, western-sounding name, but since a steer is really a castrated bull, it just sits kinda funny for me.  Maybe that’s just me. 

The basic Wild Steer knife retails for about 235 Euros, which equates to roughly $314 USD.  That’s not cheap, but the Wild Steer really isn’t a cheap knife.  The knives are made in France, and currently must be ordered directly from Wild Steer (www.wildsteer.com). 

OK, not really “too many”.  There can’t be any such thing.  I love good knives, and over the years have accumulated a couple.  This was driven home to me the other night as I packed for my elk hunting trip.

Of the bunch, though, there are two or three that are my real favorites. 

One is a custom knife I picked up a few years ago from a local artist (whose name totally eludes me).  It’s a beautiful, swept-blade skinner with scrimshawed, Micarta grips.  It’s a big knife, though, so about the only game big enough to justify it is elk or the occasional big hog.  The blade was cut from a saw blade (the big ones from the lumber mills), and is strong and hard, but still takes a wicked edge. 

Another favorite is a little Uncle Henry lock-blade.  This is about a 2″ drop-point, skinning blade that drops right into a pocket or the little sheath.  I carry it everywhere.  Folks snicker when I pull it out, but that knife has probably dressed and skinned more deer and hogs than most people have seen (not all mine, granted…but I’m always happy to jump in and lend a hand at the skinning pole).  Because of its size, I can use it on anything from big boars to squirrels, rabbits, and birds. 

Finally, there’s the old standby, the Buck 110, Folding Hunter.  This thing is a true workhorse, as can be seen in the blood-stained, worn leather sheath.  Unfortunately, tough as this knife is, I finally maxed it out while working on some fencing a few weeks ago.  I know better.  I’ve known better since childhood.  But I still found myself using it to pry on a piece of metal.  “Ping!”  The point broke off about three quarters of an inch back.

A few years ago, I would’ve taken a side-grinder to that knife and restored the point.  But that was then, when I couldn’t afford to replace a good tool (of course, back then, I’d probably have been more careful in the first place).  The Saturday before I left on the elk hunt, I went and bought a brand new one.  I’ll probably still put it in the old sheath, though…  it’s got character. 

Do you have a favorite knife?  What makes it special?