When I read a review on a knife or a blade of any sort, I want to know that it’s going to cut ‘like buttah’. Don’t you? That’s exactly what discovered when I used the Knives of Alaska Pronghorn Knife last year. Yes, I realize I have been a schmuck for not posting about this yet. It should have been posted a LONG time ago.
I have had great experiences with Knives of Alaska knives in the past. Each has been razor sharp right out of the box. It was no different when KOA sent me the Pronghorn last year to do a review on, but first, let me describe my findings from start to finish.
First, the knife info from the KOA website:
| Category: | The Trekker Series |
| Item Number: | 00176FG |
| Metal: | D2 |
| Rockwell Hardness: | 59-61 |
| Bevel: | 18-20° |
| Knife Length: | 8.25″ |
| Blade Length: | 3.25″ |
When I opened the box, the very first thing I noticed was the incredibly strong aroma of oil-tanned leather. My initial though was ‘Damn! An animal could smell that from ten miles away!’ It’s an awful smell, and while I know it’s common to have a leather sheath, I dislike this sheath just on the smell alone. The build and functionality of the sheath is awesome, but to put it plainly, it stinks.
The one benefit to the oil-tanned leather was that the sheath was soft and pliable. When I had it attached to my belt and took it hiking, well, it felt very comfortable on my hip. It is also very lightweight. Rarely did I notice the weight as I walked. I have owned plenty of knives that weigh a ton. Heck, i still do, but having a lightweight blade is something to consider when hunting the backcountry. A lightweight, strong blade that holds an edge is a must!
The KOA Pronghorn is made out of D2 steel (which is incredibly strong) and the blade, right out of the box was insanely sharp. As I looked over the knife, I decided to clean it using alcohol, as opposed to soap and water (this will prevent your blades from corroding quickly) and then I went to my fridge. Inside, I was thawing out a venison shoulder roast. It was only halfway thawed and that was perfect for me to test out the knife. I opened the package, took the meat out and sliced through it with the Pronghorn. It didn’t take much effort and I was hitting the cutting board with a perfect cut through half-frozen meat. Impressive! (I then cleaned it with soap and hot water. Then a quick swipe on each side with alcohol.)
The Suregrip on this knife is a very nice feature for a couple of reasons. The obvious one is that it is blaze orange. I’ve set my go-to knife down while gutting a deer before and lost sight of it in the leaves and branches. If you have yet to experience that, it’s a sinking feeling to say the least. The Pronghorn handle almost glows against the backdrop of leaves and dirt. Even in low light it stands out. Plus one for that! How do I know this? Well…
Last year, I went hunting with some friends and one of them was fortunate enough to kill a nice deer. He was all ready to gut it when I volunteered to do it with the KOA Pronghorn. The funny stares were priceless.
‘You WANT to gut the deer? Have at it!’
So I did! I don’t mind it and I really wanted to test out the Pronghorn in the field. Remember how I said I want a knife that cuts ‘like buttah’? Yeah, this one lived up to that and more. Sure, the blade cuts like buttah, but the Suregrip allows you so much more flexibility and confidence. The grip is non-slippery, even when it gets wet with blood and water. Yes, I said water because it had been raining and the grass around the deer was covered in condensation. I was still able to field dress this deer very quickly and the knife stayed put in my hand. I set the knife down a few times, in the tall, wet grass and not only found it right away, but the grip was sure. I was able to finish cutting and gutting in no time. The blade stayed wicked sharp throughout the entire process, too. I touched it up when I got home, but for what was needed in the field it worked great. (Again, I cleaned it well before putting it away.)
The other feature associated with the grip that I found useful was the finger grip cutout on the blade. You wrap your index finger around that and it secures it even more to your hand. It’s yet another great way to prevent slippage.
The MSRP on this knife is listed at $99.00 on the KOA website. Other retailers have it listed for $80.00 and that’s a fair price, but I think for many DIY guys that’s a bit steep. Would I pay $99.00 for this knife? Probably not. Would I pay $80.00? Sure I would. I own a few knives that I have had for nearly 20 years that perform superbly and cost less than $50. I think you are paying for the Knives of Alaska name, but it does have the Suregrip feature which is nice to have if you are hunting the backcountry or just on the family farm.
Overall, I give the Pronghorn a 4 out of 5. The sheath doesn’t count, but if I were to rate that I’d give it a 2 out of 5 – that leather smell is nauseous! That being said, the Knives of Alaska Pronghorn would be a great addition to anyone’s pack.
______________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: The reviews on The SoCal Bowhunter are solely my honest opinions. These products were either provided to me for the purpose of review or I purchased them myself. I receive no monetary compensation in exchange for these reviews.
Reviws like this are confusing.
Yo wit: there was no explanation why the knife was glowingly praised in every way with NO mention of any problem but did not rate 5 of 5 stars (since “the sheath doesn’t count”).
I mean…the review praised
– the out of box sharpness
– the stays sharp ability
– the lightness of the knife
– the ergonomics of the knife handles including its wet grip retention
-the visibility of the knife.
So….FOR WHAT WAS A STAR DEDUCTED?