All right folks, my first ever knife review. I was super excited when Jonathan asked me if I would do this and even more excited about writing this piece once I had the new Bear Edge Model 61519 in my own hands.

Hope this is helpful! Please read and leave your thoughts below.

Since I’m not much of an academic and more of a learn-as-I-go kind of girl, I’m not one to “geek out” on gear. To be honest, I wish I was more like that. You know those people who can wax eloquent about the cutting edge performance specs of their equipment as fluently one would sing the words to their favorite song? The ones who are able to effortlessly recite the details of improved design concepts or roll off the list of superiorities of the latest textiles used in hunting apparel in their sleep? Yeah, I envy them. I have to work a little harder at this.

So, how do I choose my gear? It’s a lot of listening to people who are much smarter than I am, personal experience and a bit of trial and error.

I tend to shy away from a lot of gear designed specifically for women as much of it lacks a certain toughness. That being said, it is extremely challenging finding a knife that is comfortable to hold, easy to grip and not too bulky to carry. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised with the remarkable craftsmanship as well as comfort and usability with the Bear Edge Model 61519. Used for anything from cutting rope to cleaning a fresh kill, this knife performs.

Just pulling it out of the box, it was easy to tell I was holding American-made quality. Specifically purposed for big game hunters (my personal passion!), this tool comes equipped with two 440 stainless steel blades: a 3 7/8-inch drop-point one for skinning or everyday tasks and a gutting hook. Both fold securely into an aluminum handle. It’s fun reading specs, but in this case they take a back seat to my personal experience with this knife. The Bear Edge 61519 was up to any task I’ve given it without weighing down my pack. At 1.7 ounces it weighs less than two slices of whole grain bread. With an MSRP of $49.99, you can keep that extra weight in your wallet.
I have only one complaint: the liner lock feature. Both skinning and gutting blades are secured by a metal piece parallel to the blade that pops into place once the blade is fully opened. Closing the blade required that I pushed the mechanism to the side and simultaneously fold the blade back into the handle. Easy enough, unless your hands are covered in blood, guts and anything else that makes things slippery. Managing the exposed blade can be tricky whenever you need both hands free. Reality check: This was my first experience with liner locks; my struggle may have simply been lack of familiarity.

As I thought about this review it dawned on my just how much I rely on knives. Each year I hunt as many days as possible, but everyday I’m a wife and mommy of three little ones. It probably won’t surprise you that a lot of my day-to-day time is spent in the kitchen with a variety of cutlery. As someone who thoroughly enjoys the outdoors, a lot of the summer is spent on adventures that involve a trusty pocket knife. As a hunter…well, a quality knife is a non-negotiable. I am pleased to say, I have been introduced to a new hunting buddy! The Bear Edge 61519 will join my Remington 700 on my hunting essentials list. I am very much looking forward to our high altitude adventures together!