CARNIVORE 2 Cutlery: Replaceable Blades Patrick Vuong Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More In an ideal world, you never have to bring a sharpener on your hunt because your blade never dulls. But let’s face facts. If you’ve spent any time processing big game, you know that even the best fixed blade will eventually lose its edge. For centuries, hunters had to either know how to sharpen their knives in the field or carry multiple knives with them. Nowadays, there’s a new convenient option: knives with replaceable blades. This growing trend allows you to carry a compact knife (lightening your overall load) while also letting you substitute a sharp blade for a dull one within seconds (eliminating the tedium of hand-sharpening and reducing the time it takes to get your carcass on ice). Plus, for those on a budget, knives with replaceable blades are often cheaper than premium fixed blade skinners on the market. Read on to see if there’s a model that’s right for your field dressing needs. Havalon Piranta-Edge OAL: 7.25 inches Blade Length: 2.75 inches Blade Material: Stainless steel Weight: 1.5 ounces MSRP: $45 URL: havalon.com 411: Compared to the Bucks and the Brownings of the knife world, Havalon is just a fawn. But its reputation has grown rapidly, thanks to its super sharp replaceable blades —no surprise since its parent company makes scalpels for the medical industry. The Piranta-Edge features Havalon’s popular #60A scalpel blade, which might be one of the smallest contenders in this buyer’s guide, but it can cut with the best of them. Comes with a nylon sheath, 12 extra blades, and a plastic blade-remover tool. Pros: > Extremely sharp and precise blade > Slim and compact, for those who prefer lighter loads > Affordable package Cons: > Blade requires forceps, pliers, or the included tool to remove. > Thumb-disc is small, making it harder to open the blade quickly. > Pocket clip has right-handed tip-down configuration only. Wiebe Knives Arctic Fox OAL: 7.13 inches Blade Length: 3 inches Blade Material: Stainless steel Weight: 2.2 ounces MSRP: $35 URL: wiebeknives.com 411: At first glance you might mistake this Wiebe knife for a Havalon folder. Why? First, there’s the surgical-style blade, which rotates out using an equally ill-designed thumb-disc. Next is the liner-lock within a plastic handle and the clone of a nylon sheath. However, while Havalon’s Piranta-Edge comes with 12 replacement blades, the Arctic Fox includes a whopping 24 extra blades. Unfortunately, that’s not enough to compensate for an overall “meh” quality. Pros: > Razor sharp blade with accurate cutting > Handle fits our medium-sized hands well. Cons: > Lackluster materials and construction > Stiff and gritty knife opening > Use caution when swapping out the blades; no tool is included. To read the rest of this article, click here to purchase a copy of CARNIVORE 2 Explore RECOILweb:New from Noveske: Ghetto BlastersPreview - SIG SAUER P229 Legion - Legion of HonorThe Daniel Defense DDM4V7 M-LOK[SHOT Show 2017] Smith Two Point O: The New M&P M2.0 Pistol NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.