Tyto Knives
In today’s age, it seems like technology is advancing faster than I’m able to keep up with. In the hunting world it is no different. When I first started hunting, a hunting knife had a wooden handle with a large piece of metal attached to it that was made into a blade. It felt like a brick on your hip, or in your pack and it dulled fairly easy. The first metal hunting knives were established around 2000 b.c., and essentially haven’t changed all that much up until the last 20 years or so.
The knife style that has made the biggest impact in hunting during recent years, is the replacement blade knife system. There are a handful of different companies that have this style of knife and I have tried a few of them. But to me there is one that stands out from the rest and they are Tyto Knives. Built right here in the USA, you won’t find a more simplistic, durable and lightweight hunting knife setup. Going from using a traditional knife, to the replacement blade style has been a game changer. Not only in the backcountry but also at home and for everyday life. From boning apart a chicken for dinner, filleting a salmon, or taking apart big game in the field. These knives do it all. With two different sizes in replacement blades, you’ll be sure to find a size that works for you. The size 60 is 2.75 inches long and weighs 2 grams. The #22 is 2.12 inches long and weighs 1 gram. So you’re not a big fan of the replacement style? Well, Tyto has you covered there as well with their fixed blade knife called the Fannin.
Let’s talk about some of their products and how we as a team have integrated them into our hunting style. The original Tyto 1.1 is the knife that started it all. In our film Seeing It Through, all four of our bucks were boned out with this knife and let me tell you, it’s sharp! I had an incident and found out first hand just how sharp they are, by accidentally running the blade right through the tip of my middle finger. If you’ve ever packed in for a hunt, you know how important weight is. The Tyto 1.1 knife comes in at a mere 1.5 ounces and that is including the handle, blade and sheath. I can cape, quarter and bone out an entire animal with a single blade, but always bring a couple extra just in case. That’s one of the beautiful things about these knives. There’s absolutely no sharpening required! If you feel that a blade is getting dull on you, just simply pop it out and replace it. Bam, you’re back in business. If the 1.1 knife isn’t quite light enough for you, check out their TI model. This one comes in at .8 ounces and that’s including the handle, blade and sheath. Absolutely no strength or durability is sacrificed either which blows my mind for how light these knives are. These knives are made from ultralight, ultra strong grade 5 titanium. So good luck trying to break them.
Like I mentioned before, if the replacement blade system just isn’t for you, that’s where the Fannin model could come into play. This thing is strong enough to skin and bone out a rhino. You would think since it’s a fixed blade it’d be a lot heavier right? Wrong, this thing only weighs 1.8 ounces and that’s including the sheath. This knife is made of D2 tool steel, hardened to 58 RC. Not sure what that means, but I know they are very, very strong. There are also different color options so if you accidentally drop or misplace it, the bright orange or green will be sure to stick out. Aside from great knives, they also have come out with an awesome and convenient way to save weight on your backcountry silverware. They now have a spork that attaches right to the knife handle of the 1.1 or TI models. Of course it is recommended to clean with alcohol wipes if you’ve used it on a animal, before you dig into your meal. If you’re looking for some good looking swag, they’ve got you covered there as well. So be sure to check out their line of apparel.
Since trying out Tyto Knives two years ago, none of us have looked back. The days of packing around heavy, dull knives are now a thing of the past. And if you’re willing to give this style of knife system a try, all four of us would highly recommend Tyto Knives. If you end up using one, be sure to tag us in your field pics and let us know how it worked out for you. Also, don’t forget to carry a first aid kit with you while hunting because accidents do happen and these knives are insanely sharp. Happy hunting! 