Review- Gerber Myth Series Knives Verses 300lb Wild Boar

There are few things a man needs, a good pair of boots, a favorite pair of jeans, a manly beard and a knife in his pocket. Pretty simple really and there is cross over there for women, less the beard. The last part for me is the most important, a good knife.

I have a few qualifiers for a good skinning knife for processing game,

1. Sharp

2. Easy to handle/Won't slip with bloddy.

3. Fixed Blade or Folding I want Strength!

Simple easy and a straight forward list of requirements. 

The Review-

 Gerber Gear came out with the Myth Series knives in hopes to mean the need of the hunting community and by and larger they have done it. In a since that have developed a series of knives that could very well match up with all hunters.  I personally like the fixed blades. I was able to put the knives to the test this past year on 4 Wild Boars, 2 Mule Deer and about 20 Chickens, so I speak with authority on how this blades work to say the least.

1. Sharp- There is nothing worst than having you knife go dull while working in you trophy's journey to the table, especially while skinning pigs that seem to be made of both leather and concrete. The Myth Knives have a solution for that. Starting with a high carbon stainless steel blade that is factory sharp out of the box and then they have added a built in knife sharpeners on the sheaths. Something I find incredibly useful and easy to access. One does not have to look further than their belt to Sharpen their knife, no more forgetting the sharpener at home or rummaging though your pack.

2. Ergonomics is the big word for it feels good, I have big hands and that means I like big knives. Ones that remind men that I am still holding them an when I am holding them they do not slip or slide while I am doing my dirty work. The soft rubberized handles solve that by staying put no matter the situation.  The pictures to the right show the kind of work I do on wild boars and as you can see with all the fat, grease and blood grip is everything.

3. I tend to lean towards fixed blade knives while hunting and though my daily driver is a Gerber Covert FAST, I like strength. Hence fixed blades only in the field. I have had other good skinning knives from multiple companies and they have lacked the structural integrity needed to not be a danger while working in a slick environment. Everyone has purchased those knives that you have had to tighten the screws after a few uses. Gerber fixed that by bonding the blade to the handle in the molding process, simply no screws to mess with on the fixed blades. The folding knives have been good to, strong, easy to open and for me they have been a good back up knives in my pack. 

Final Say-

Reasonably priced, strong, fits well, and doesn't fall apart. The Gerber Myth Fixed blade knives have earned a place in my pack and will stay there for the foreseeable future. The only thing that I wish they had always a slightly longer blade for cutting meat on large animals. The blades they do have are still very workable and very useful, an inch or two longer blade would be nice on the Compact Fixed Blade.  I use their EZ Open to open up the skin, Field Dress Kit to pull back the skin, to remove meat off the bone and de-flesh skulls. 

Pros- Strong, Won't Slip and easy to sharpen. 

Cons- Would like a longer skinny blade for cutting meat.

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What if I gave up HUNTING???? Is hunting worth it anymore?

There was a lot of soul searching that I had to do this past two years.  I went from hunting three plus times a week during the season to maybe hunting a few days in a season total.  I thought I was going to move into a great job within the Hunting and Tactical Industry that was going to allow me to hunt more open doors to great things and it did at time, but it also had the opposite effect at times.  Thought I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in the industry in the capacity that I did, I realized that I needed to do it more on my terms and not on the opportunity. Before and during that time I was able to hook up with Gerber Gear, Vortex Optics, Contour Camera, Tight Spot Quivers, Cajun Archery, Hot Shot Manufacturing, Lacrosse Footwear, SKB Cases, Bee Stinger Stabilizers and Chesebro Rifles and for them I am thankful. Nothing but the best for them all.



  Because of the above people the 2012-2013 hunting season was profitable, very much to say the least.  I was able to harvest my first pig with my Mathew's bow, and learn a lot about the marketing side of hunting. I came in second during a cooking competition to none other the the great Bill Miller.  I did indeed miss a California Mule Deer at 30yrd & the same deer at 90 yards due to a low hanging branch and that was devastating to say the least.  I almost gave up hunting because of that.  Literally I can replay the whole sequence of event leading up to the even and all I want to do is curl up in the fetal position and give up......but I will not.



Through all of the crap that has taken place over the past two years and how hunting became a job and a push to perform and give results, one thing brought me back to my passion for hunting, my son.  Yup, my boy.  This year something happened that had never happened to me before, I went hunting for someone else.  I was hunting not for a manufacture to have kill pics or a great review, I found that I could hunt for something way more important.  My son "The Boy" aka "Chew". I was not hunting to show him how to be successful. mind blowing and life changing.

  I found more determination in his love for hunting, which he only reads about or watches on tv, that I had getting paid to do it.  He has pure excitement when he sees a buck, duck or quail.  I seen pictures, video and possibly another sponsorship deal.  This was very evident last weekend in his first over-night hunting trip with me to the Lower Owens Valley for duck last week.  Even though he was throwing up all over the back of my truck he was determined to stay and finish out our "Man Trip." It was at the behest of my wife that I made sure to bring the little man home to rest up and live to fight another day.  He wanted to hunt, just for the sake of being outside and seeing ducks fall from the sky.




So to my Son, thanks.  You saved me from a lifetime of regret and renewed my desire to hunt, film, fly fish and be outside.

Here is his first hunt that we went on a few seasons ago.


Pass'n It On from Bearded Boar on Vimeo.


So more on the past year as I remember the good, the bad and the ugly.

But until then shoot straight.

The Bearded Boar.

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Christmas Gift Guide for Hunters

Hunting to me is more than one dimensional, it has many facets. Bows, centerfire rifles, shotguns and sharp knives are all things that I feel make me a complete outdoorsman or woman.  So instead of flipping through a catalog and giving you things I have only seen on the Internet or on the store shelf, here are my holiday gift suggestions for the hunter in your life that I actually own and use or otherwise have experience with.

Button Buck Clothing (most items $15+)

Button Buck clothing can be a great gift for both the hunter and his or her little ones.  As a father I know this: my son and daughter absolutely love their Button Buck gear and wear it proudly wherever they go.  As a father I can see the quality in the shirts, no cheap big box store bottom-shelf products here, Button Buck clothing is made entirely in the USA and printed by hand. As any parent or grandparent knows, kids’ clothes take a beating, but Button Buck’s premium products keep on going even with the most active kids. With slogans such as “Suction Cup Archery Champion”, “Vegetables are for Deer”, “Hunting’s Future”, and “Food Chain Champion”, there is something for every kid in the clan.

Bee Stinger Pro Hunter Bow Stabilizer ($79.99-109.99)

I received my 8” Bee Stinger Pro Hunter mid-season this year and with gusto I put her on my Mathews bow in hopes to tame my groups and I did just that. More than just a vibration dampener the Bee Stinger Pro Hunter actually aids in your shooting. While most other stabilizers focus on dampening your shot, the Pro Hunter focuses on making you a better shooter.  Bee Stinger’s carbon tube construction and variable weight forward design enables the Pro Hunter Stabilizer to slow down and steady your sight picture when you draw.  The internal dampening system that is located inside the carbon shaft also aids in reducing the vibration of your bow, making for a more comfortable day in the field or on the range. Availible in 8”, 10” and 12” carbon shaft lengths and 0 to 11oz weighted ends starting at $79.99 on up to $109.99.

Gerber Gear Myth Field Dress Kit ($84)

I am a knife junkie to say the least, so when a friend forwarded me Gerber Gear’snew #Unstoppable #HelloTrouble campaign I was beside myself with their new direction as a company. A few days later I had a few new knives show up at my door, two of which were part of the Myth Field Dress Kit–the Fixed Gut Hook 3.75” blade and the Small Fixed Knife with a sleek 3.25” blade. And don’t forget about the innovative and interchangeable knife sharpener that is built in the sheath. All in all you have a complete package that is ready to cut and cut and cut endlessly, whether you are in the field dressing a deer or at the farm cutting some rope. They truly are #Unstoppable and can keep you going for $84.

Custom Sako by Chesebro Rifles (price varies)

Everyone deserves something custom once in their life and something that is quality made. We have become accustomed to off-the-shelf products that fall apart. Not so with a custom Sako from custom gun maker Chesebro Rifles. Sako rifles themselves have a long history: like many other gun companies, they started out manufacturing rifles for their country’s armed forces (Finland) in the early 20th century. I recently took possession of a Sako 995 action chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum with a 1:9 twist 32” Benchmark barrel from Chesebro. Sako rifle construction is exceptional; the action is crisp and clean while the barreling, trigger work, and stock fitting from Chesebro is top-notch as well. Not being just a number at a gun counter is refreshing as well, as is actually getting a response to questions and information from a true expert and not just a guy in a green shirt. It was a great gift to me this year, and I believe would be a great big ticket item for you or your loved ones as well.

Crooked Horn’s RF Hook-UP ($39.99)

I hide nothing that I do indeed have a deep affection towards Crooked Horn products–they invented the Bino System and have come up with many industry-leading designs. The RF Hook Up is just such a product. It pairs the tried and true Bino System with their new RF (rangefinder) Sidekick. For only $39.99 you are able to carry your binoculars and your rangefinder and ready to access them when you need them. The RF Sidekick has a detachable tethering system that slides up and down the elastic strap and has a secondary securing system that latches over the eye cup. The RF fits most compact rangefinders on the market today which makes the product versatile and easy to use. Being that they are made in the USA, Crooked Horn’s quality is far superior to any others on the market today and their “No Fail Policy” does not hurt either all for $39.99. www.crookedhorn.com

Leica Trinovids ($1,500)

Optics: just the word makes me shutter and my bank account dwindle, but for good reason. If you can’t see your game from afar, you will not be able to get close and seal the deal. Optics are the single most important piece of equipment that you could have with you in the field and the Leica Trinovids are the perfect blend of quality and precision at a great value. Having 95% of the same construction as their top-of-the-line Ultravids, minus a few lens coatings and one less additive to the glass, the Trinovids are nearly identical. They are even built on the same chassis as the Ultravids. All you shed is a few features for a $700 dollar price reduction, landing you at $1,500. Money well spent, so instead of buying a new pair every other year purchase one pair that you will have for 10 years–it’s much more cost effective that way. Amazing optics to say the least and worth every penny you invest into them.

Swarovski ATX Spotting Scope ($3,000+)

When you need to see really far away theSwarovski Optik ATX/STX Spotting Scopes are modular perfection with their ability to change out lens objective sizes from 65mm to 85mm and on up to 95mm. With just a turn of the system, you can change and adapt to whatever situation you are in. The ATX (Angled Eye Piece) and the STX (Straight Eye Piece) also allow you to change your position according to your needs. With the Swarovision you are also getting glass that does not blur around the edges of the optics, has vibrant colors, and allows you to be able to look through your optics for hours on end without experiencing eye fatigue. The picture quality at long distances allows you to confirm that bull or buck across the mountain is worthy of hiking over to. It will save you a lot of time and effort if you just take great optics and look first. The ATX or STX start at around $3,000 for the Eye Piece and the 65mm Objective lens and goes up from there.

SKB Cases ($179.99)

I have had a multitude of different SKB cases over the years and the Hunter XL has been as rugged as any I have owned. Manufactured by poly forming the plastic outer shell and adhering EPS foam and plush fabric to the inside, the case secures your bow in a way that it does not rattle around. Retail for the case is $179.99 and that will hold 12 arrows and your parallel limb bow securely, protecting it from water, dust, and hard knocks that may occur while in transit. The interior dimensions of the case are 41” long x 17” wide x 6” deep, which will accommodate almost every parallel limb bow on the market today. I personally have had gasoline, mud and rain soak my case and the contents are still intact and safe. And let us not forget the kid test, if it can hold up to my kids jumping on it, the case if good for me.

Cajun Archery Bowfishing Kit ($27-105)

An outdoorsperson’s passions can take many forms, and one of mine is is bowfishing. And what better way to outfit a bowfisher than with a bowfishing kit from Cajun Archery. From their entry level tried and true Drum Reel to the new sleek Zebco 808 Big Game Bowfishing reel and accessories, you are able to start out small or slay the big ones while on the water.  The entry level reel kit includes the Drum Reel, fiberglass arrow and mounting rod start at reasonable $27 for their basic model on up to $32. The premium Zebco Bowfishing Reel kit starts out at $84 and top out at $105 for their premium Reel Seat and Yellow Jacket Arrows, my personal set up.

Hot Shot Manufacturing Nano Release ($75)

A relative newcomer to the release market is Hot Shot Manufacturing and their line of high quality releases. With shooters like Stan Potts in the line up, you know the product has to be quality. The newly released Nano utilizes the “Lever-Link” trigger system that makes for the quick and highly adjustable trigger tension. The Nano produces less friction than traditional bearing designs and that translates into a crisp trigger system that allows you to forget about your trigger and just focus on shooting. The Nano’s Lever-Link system also reduces the need to clean and lubricate your release, being that it is comprised of less moving parts. Simply put it is a small, crisp, and effective way to shoot your bow and I am personally glad I made the switch. Not bad for a release priced at $75.

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