Replaceable blade hunting knives

Recently we took a look at two examples of these style knives here at Coastal Arms to see which we would eventually end up carrying. Admittedly, I am a bit behind the times as many folks have found them and use them.  I hope this short breakdown helps you choose the right knife for the job.

 

What they are:

Replaceable blade knives are an incredibly sharp knife used in breaking down your game animal. Instead of having to sharpen and re-sharpen a blade you simply remove the dull disposable blade and affix a new sharp one. They have become more popular as hunters have found the benefit of the “gutless method” of breaking down big game. If you’re not familiar with it, a quick search over on YouTube will give you plenty of examples of how to do the “gutless method”. The blades are made of stainless surgical steel and are very similar to a scalpel, and they cut meat extremely well.

 

What they are not:

They are not made for carving, whittling, or any of the usual tasks around camp. They are not a replacement for your regular camp/hunting knife. They are not nearly as strong as a traditional knife and do not take side force without breaking.

 

The candidates:

The two knives we took a look at are the Havalon Piranta and the Gerber Vital Pocket Folder.

Link to Havalon

Link to Gerber

They both have an msrp right around $46-$49. We’ll take a look at the Gerber first.

 

Gerber Vitals Pocket Folder:

The Gerber Vital Pocket folder has a blade length of 2.8” but only 1.5” extends past the attachment frame for the blade. The blade is made of 420HC steel and it is a #60 razor contour.  The blade locks up nice and tight when opened with very little if any play with a traditional lock back system. The handle has a good texture to it and a decent cutout that allows for easier opening and also good indexing point for your finger when holding.  The blade attaches and detaches by sliding it onto the blade frame. There is a spring loaded snap that locks the blade in place. To remove a blade, simply depress the lock button and pull the blade off.  Your fingers don’t need to be in front of the blade and no other tools are required. But for God sake be careful, did I mention these blades are sharp? The Gerber has comes with 6 extra blades in a plastic case.

 

Havalon Piranta Edge:

The Havalon Piranta was one of the first replaceable blade hunting knives to hit the market. The blade and knife are nearly identical in size and weight to the Gerber. The Havalon’s replaceable blades are surgical steel as well and are the #60a razor contour (note: the blade is not interchangeable between the two brands). The Havalon Piranta’s frame is nylon and has a slight contour and grip panels to help you hang onto to it when things get slimy. One thing I like is that the back of the knife frame is open, making it much easier to clean, especially in camp. It comes with a nylon sheath/holster and a dozen extra blades. The holster can carry the knife and about 4-6 extra blades. The Havalon extra blades come individually wrapped which I like much better than the Gerber’s plastic box. Replacing blades is a bit more precarious with the Havalon. Havalon states in their instructions that a pair of pliers or forceps should be used when grabbing the blade to remove it, and for good reason. With the Piranta, you need to grab the blade close to the base and pry it up from the edge side of the blade while using your other hand to slide it off the frame. Both knives have pocket clips and both function just fine.

 

 

Summary:

Both knives are just plain crazy sharp. Although our test was conducted out of hunting season we did take both knives through a half of a cow we purchased.

They both can cut though meat and tendons like they are butter. I couldn’t tell a difference in sharpness or ease of cutting between the two. Plus, with the ability to change blades on the fly, breaking down your game will be quicker than ever. We really liked the open back design and holster of the Piranta. The ability to carry the extra blades in the holster along with the extra blades being individually wrapped are big plusses for the Havalon. The Gerber Vitals’ ergonomic and grippy frame is definitely better than that on the Havalon. The real decision maker for us, however, is the way in which blades are removed and or replaced. In our view, the Gerber has a much safer system. And it’s no fun trying to debone an elk with your hand all bandaged up (did I mention these blades are sharp?).

 

You can check out the Gerber Vital at  http://www.coastal-arms.com

5 Items to Think About Adding to Your Packing List

In just a couple weeks hunters in Oregon will be learning what hunting tags we’ve been lucky enough to draw for 2015.

Here at Coastal Arms, we originally thought about preparing a list of 10 items to think about adding to your pack, but then we got to thinking that there isn’t room in most hunters’ packs to add 10 more items. So we cut it down to 5. Perhaps it’s reflective of my age, but the majority of the items I’ve listed are what I would call comfort items– stuff that just makes it easier to hunt harder and be in the wilderness longer.

So here goes:

1. Shower wipes: I don’t know about you, but for me hunting is a physically demanding proposition. Even in the winter, I break a sweat when hiking. Getting sweaty does two things when you are hunting: first, it increases body scent, which game can smell. If you can smell it, odds are your quarry can smell it 100 times more keenly. It isn’t the sweat that makes you stink, it’s the bacteria on your body. If you don’t clean it off, you’ll go on stinking till you do. Second, all the sweat and grime make it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep. I’ve had mornings where I am glassing an area and just can’t keep my eyes open, having not slept the night before. My solution is shower wipes. There are several manufacturers that make wipes specifically for when traditional bathing isn’t an option. Check your local pharmacy or medical supply retailer or even on Amazon. Choose scent-free wipes for obvious reasons.

Shower wipes come individually packaged so you don’t have to worry about them drying out.

Body wipes on Amazon

2. Butt pad

When I take someone big game hunting for the first time, they are  always surprised at how much time is spent sitting and glassing. After about 15 minutes of glassing they start to fidget and wiggle from discomfort. Sitting atop a ridgeline may look serene and majestic, but once your butt gets sore or your legs go to sleep, the serenity goes right out the door. My lightweight savior for glassing is a 16” square of an old closed cell sleeping pad. Some guys use the squares of interlocking foam you might see on a garage floor. Either way, they insulate and add a bit if comfort to your rear and allow you to sit longer and glass. The comfort-to-weight ratio of a butt pad is pretty high in my book.

3. Starbucks Via coffee

Hello, my name is RJ and I am a caffeine addict. There, I said it. I will also say there are few things as awful as a caffeine headache. The little packets of Via are my lifeblood in the morning when I am out in the field. Even if you don’t belong to C.A. (Coffeeholics Anonymous), a cup of hot coffee can be welcome in the morning, or maybe in the afternoon when the sun is at its highest and the warmth of the sun is slowly lulling you to sleep. There are lots of instant coffee brands out there, Via just happens to be my favorite. And while we are at it, a cup of decaf mint tea can be pretty darn nice at the end of the day.

4. Turbo lighter

So far, everything I’ve listed is what I would call comfort items. These next two are, I believe, more than comfort. The Turbo lighter is a handheld blowtorch. It burns at right around 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. With it, you can light the most stubborn fire and you can even patch fiberglass and plastic. They are small, wind- and waterproof, and once you’ve used one, you’ll throw one in each of your packs and even each of your vehicles. One note: they are shipped empty– meaning you need to fill it with butane once you get it. Only use premium butane. I use 5x filtered butane from a local cigar shop (the lighters are great for cigars too). Prior to filling,they need to be purged. If you have any questions you can always give us a call or you can navigate your way over to Youtube for a demo. Here is our favorite lighter:

Turbo Flame lighter at Coastal Arms

5. Portable battery pack/ power bar

Electronics have become an integral part of our life and hunting in the modern day. GPS,  handheld radios, cell phones and cameras all accompany most of us on each trip into the outdoors. Each takes power to run, and on a longer backpacking trip it’s easy to lose battery life.  There are a couple options for charging. First is a small solar panel with a storage battery attached. Second is a stand alone storage battery. For trips of a week or less, I have found a 2600mah battery keeps my electronics charged and at the ready. Now I’m not playing games on the phone or surfing Facebook for hours, and I don’t keep my phone of any of my other electronics turned on all the time either. If there are 3 or 4 of us, a 12,000mah battery pack has enough juice to keep the group going, provided everyone is conscientious and conserves power. One note: take a compass and a map and know how to use them! Electronics fail, it happens. Be smart and be prepared. Two packs I have used successfully are:

2600mah battery and BH Photo

12,000mah battery at BH Photo

6. Bonus item!

Most backcountry hunters I know rely on a freeze dried meal at least once a day. I’ve taste tested many (which is a good idea to do before you head out) and have come to the conclusion that, at best, they are palatable and fill your stomach. Homemade or gourmet, they are not. To combat the lack of taste I like to bring a miniature bottle of Tabasco bottle (we buy them at Cost Plus World Market). The really, really, really small one. I also throw in a couple small paper pepper packets and whatever free mini condiments I can scrounge and will probably use. The small packets of honey (like the ones from KFC) are pretty sweet too, pun completely intended.

Well there you go.  5 items plus a bonus that might help you out on this year’s adventures. What are your 5? We would love to hear from you. Feel free to comment below.

Please note: of the 5, only one is something we carry at Coastal Arms. The other items may be bought just about anywhere, and we are not reimbursed by Amazon, BH Photo or Cost Plus World Market. Of course, if you’re looking to buy the Turbo Lighter, we would love to help you out.

Badlands Mirage and Snugpak Scorpion 2 Tent Review

by RJ Barnes

It’s about that time of the year. The sun is starting to come out a bit more. The hills are green, the rivers are running high (well, we can hope) and for both backpackers and hunters, the urge to get out takes over.  For any backpacking or back country hunting trip, lightweight equipment that can take a beating is paramount. Camping should be an enjoyable experience. Having to sleep in a wet tent, or carry one that weighs a ton is just plain no fun.

Two tents that we have found that will both keep you dry and won’t weigh you down needlessly are the Badlands Mirage and Snugpak Scorpion 2, and an added bonus: neither will break the bank. The Mirage is relatively new to the market, and the Snugpak is a brand that very few have heard of. With that in mind we thought a brief comparison was in order.

 

	Badlands Mirage	Snugpak Scorpion2
Trail weight	5 lbs 9 oz. (includes footprint)	5 lbs 13 oz.
Poles	T-6061 Aluma-Light	DAC® Featherlite NSL®
Person	2 person	2 person
Entrance/Vestibule	Single Side/ Yes	Single End/ Yes
Price	$299.95	$249.00

Mirage                                          Scorpion 2

        

 

Badlands Mirage

Badlands has been making backpacks for hunters for just over 20 years and in that time they have made quite a name for themselves. Famous for their “Unconditional Lifetime Warrantee” their products have been tested and tested by hunters. Badlands recently introduced their Accent line of tent and sleeping bags.

The Unboxing

The Badlands Mirage comes in a compression stuff sack with a floating lid, a nice touch when you’re tired and trying to stuff your tent back into the little bag it came in. The bag is just over 18 inches long as shipped.

The tent is a breeze to set up. It uses a clip design in which the tent attaches to the poles via clips instead of sleeves. The clips can often be a weak link, but Badlands beat that by reinforcing them with Hypalon. Hypalon is super strong, if you’ve ever been white water rafting and wondered what kept the raft from bursting each time it bounced off a rock…well…that was Hypalon. The floor of the tent is a tub style that is seam sealed. The side walls are made of weight saving mesh that is great for ventilation as well as a little star-gazing on warm clear nights.

The poles are about as easy as they could get. They are connected by a superlight aluminum hub that keeps them connected. They suspend the tent in a classic X giving the tent a self-standing rectangular shape. There is a lot of headroom in this tent, which is nice for those of use over 6’ tall. It’s not so nice for high winds. To keep the winds at bay, Badlands has place guy lines around the tent which will aid in stability.

The rain fly covers the tent nicely coming right down to the ground. There are vents at the top of the rain fly that can be set open or closed via a Velcro tab. The rain fly also provides a single zipper vestibule that also gives access to the single side door.

Opinion

The Mirage was really quick and easy to set up. Once person could complete the job before the other could have water boiling for tea.  They have used lightweight and strong materials. I really like the interior height and the lighter colored material. The nearly vertical walls means using the guy lines is almost mandatory.  The side door design is nice, but it would be even nicer if there were another door on the other side.

 

 

 

Snugpak Scorpion2

Hunters on this side of the Atlantic may have not heard of Snugpak before but they have been outfitting armies and expeditions for decades. Snugpak is best known in the tactical/military world. Their sleeping bags and tents have been issued to Special Forces groups from several countries and are also used on expeditions around the world, from the Antarctic to the Himalayas.

The Unboxing

The Snugpak Scorpion comes in a zip bag with compression straps. The zip was nice for getting the bag out, but it was kind of awkward to put it back in.

The Scorpion is what is called a fly first design. This means that instead of attaching the pole to the tent and then putting the fly over it, you attach the poles to the fly and then attach the tent inside the fly. There are two advantages by doing it this way. First, your tent body isn’t exposed to the elements as you put it up, and secondly, the fly can be used on its own as an ultralight floorless shelter.

There are 3 DAC Featherlite poles and you can tell them apart by the color coded tips. This is almost mandatory on a tent like this. The two poles that run the length of the tent are not reversible. There are webbing straps that run side to side on the fly. These give you the ability to set the fly up by itself and for it to be self-standing. I don’t know that I would want to set it up self-standing though; the slightest breeze could flip it.

Once the fly is up, the tent simply clips onto the inside of the fly (see photos). I was surprised how the inside of the tent was loose.  The tent also clips to the corners with fastex style buckles that can be tightened (which I had forgotten to do). After tightening them up a bit the inside of the tent grew and tightened.

 

 

Opinion

The Scorpion is not the easiest tent to set up. I wouldn’t want to be that guy who gets into camp after dark and tries to set up his tent for the first time. I am a fan of fly first designs and this one works well.  The 3 pole design is quite strong and I do like the more streamlined shape of the Scorpion, although you lose headroom. I also like the 2 zipper vestibule, it allows opening while keeping the elements outside the tent.

 

The Verdict

We picked two tents that were as close to an “apple to apple” comparison, and that’s what we got.  Both these tents are made of high quality material with great designs. They nearly weigh the same as well. Which one will work best for you will depend on your priorities. Below I have tabulated what I think are the strengths of each of these tents:

Badlands Mirage	Snugpak Scorpion2
·        Super easy set up·        Comes with footprint ·        More headroom ·        “see the stars” at night ·        Lighter colors ·        Badlands Unconditional Lifetime Warrantee	·        Stronger 3 pole system,·        Streamlined shape/ lower profile ·        Fly first lightweight option ·        Comes with repair kit ·        2 zipper vestibule ·        Repair kit w/pole sleeve

Welcome to the Coastal Arms blog

Welcome to our corner of the internet. We have started this blog in order to bring you more information in a speedy manner. Some of the upcoming topics will include:

Product Reviews: Reviews of products that we carry and also some that we don’t, but are still relevant to your/our interests.

Hunting and shooting tips: Everyone has a couple, some you may have heard, some will be new, all will be helpful.

Cooking and healthy living tips: Receipts and easy to take steps that will help you live better.

Interviews and the “10 Questions series”: Interviews with key figures in hunting and the shooting sports.

And anything else that fits in the pot: Western hunting, hunting dogs, and a bit of humor.

 

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