The kit includes three replacement blades for the gut hook, eliminating the need for any special sharpening tool. The gut hook incorporates a finger hole grip for a secure hold during the wet work of dressing game.

For a skinning and butchering knife, the kit includes a Blackie Collins lockback with a black rubberized handle. The folder is a sensible size for field use and probably would be a lot handier in your pocket than back at camp in the kit. A weak point of the set is the pull-through tungsten blade sharpener, which ought to be tossed out and replaced by something like a small diamond grit whetstone. The pull through sharpeners seldom are capable of putting a good edge on a blade. When you're out in the bush with work to do, it's no time to learn that lesson.

Find this Meyerco Field Kit:

MEYERCO MID STATES FIELD HUNTER KIT US $38.95   Auction Ends: 14d 26m

Meyercoreg 3pc Field Hunter Set MID STATES FIELD HUNTER KIT US $71.95   Auction Ends: 10d 16h 21m

Meyerco redesigned the machete to create a brush knife for the American forests, 19" long with a full 12" of heavy quarter inch thick stainless steel that's as much ax as knife. The rubberized black handle incorporates a wide hand guard to give more protection in places where "everything either bites or stings or stabs you." At just over 2 lbs, this won't likely fit well into your ultralight kit, but it's not too much for a canoe trip, or even as a hip knife (a sturdy nylon scabbard is included) if you're hunting in heavy brush.

Years ago I hiked in bear country with a fellow who always carried the biggest Bowie knife he could find, only a little smaller than Meyerco's Short Machete. His reasoning was that if he ever did meet a bear he wanted something along that would make an impression on it. Even a false sense of security is sometimes worth the extra weight.

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DANNY TREJO CUSTOM T SHIRT TEE machete desperado 627 US $10.99   Auction Ends: 6d 4h 53m

Machete Grindhouse T shirt Danny Trejo US $15.99   Auction Ends: 12d 19h 20m

On this knife, the open length of 8 7/8" includes a hardened aircraft aluminum handle that automatically deploys a 3 13/16" black epoxied tanto blade, half serrated for rough work. The Slide Auto System (SAS) allows deployment or closing with a single one-handed sliding button. SAS ensures that the blade will neither open accidentally in your pocket, nor fold accidentally during use. A strong metal pocket clip keeps the knife always at the ready.

Made in America with 100% American parts, the 18-XRAY's patented opening system eliminates the need for two separate motions and separate buttons. Anything that's simpler is better, when speed is important. Ninety five percent of the parts that go into this knife are made right in the Ralph family's own shop, and the rest are selected from American manufacturers that the Ralph family trusts. Their goal is a knife that "opens like magic and locks like a bank vault."

A precision knife like this one deserves special care. Although it's made to such high standards that fouling due to dirt buildup isn't usually a problem, it's the kind of machine you'll prefer to treat like a fine sidearm. The little bit of cleaning it requires will be a pleasure.

Find this Meyerco Tanto Knife:

Meyerco MC2849 Tactical Folding Knife US $18.00   Auction Ends: 1d 14m

Meyerco Blackies Classic Tactical Tanto Stainless Black G 10 Handles Knife 6960 US $29.99   Auction Ends: 1d 6h 7m