Whenever you can, you should always try to match the appropriate tool to its job. Cold Steel has done just that with their Bird And Trout knife.
Having a bead blasted finish makes for secure handling, along with the finger loop at the butt of the handle. For an inexpensive knife it does come with a durable sheath (concealex), unlike others that just come with a soft nylon one. The other accessory in the package is a bead type chain so that you can wear it around your neck.
Weighing in at just 0.8 oz., this little knife is easy to carry. The 2.25″ blade length makes it the perfect choice for fine cutting on smaller game, and is made of AUS 8 steel. With its overall length being 6 and 5/16″, it fits well into any hunting rig or tackle system. The price isn’t bad either. The MSRP is $28.99, but I was able to get it for less than $25.
I used this blade for a hunting and fishing season with great results. The game taken were; squirrel, rabbit, trout, turkey, pheasant, and white tail. The blade shape and size makes skinning and field dressing simple by having a thin blade with the ease of controlling a scalpel. I thought debreasting a turkey would be an issue (perhaps needing a larger knife), but was pleasantly surprised by how it made quick work of it. However, when used to dress a deer, it has a limited effect. It worked well for fine cutting work such as the trachea, but a larger knife is needed for the rest of the job (as expected). The only issue is the handle thickness (or lack there of). Given the philosophy of use, the design of the handle and finger loop work well. It just would have been nice to have a little more to grip.
Overall, I would say that this is a great inexpensive option for a fish and small game field knife. With the upcoming seasons for fishing and hunting, the Cold Steel Bird And Trout knife is going to see a lot of use.
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| The Bird And Trout comes with a concealex sheath and a bead type chain. |
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| A great drop point design for birds, fish, and other small game.
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