Everything you need for game processing

Material and ergonomics

The blades are made of stainless steel. It is not entirely clear what specific type it is. It can be indirectly assumed to be 8Cr13MoV, an equivalent to the more well-known 440B steel, so nothing special, but certainly not bad for a working knife. Be that as it may, the edge retention is decent, it sharpens easily, and corrosion resistance is excellent. Without the need for resharpening (i.e. without noticeable increase in resistance during processing), it is possible to process a mature wild boar, although of course the workload is distributed across several knives. I tested corrosion resistance by deliberately exposing the blade of one knife to long-term moisture, and it showed no signs of corrosion. The blades are relatively thin, ranging from 1.1 mm on the fillet knife up to 2.3 mm on the skinner. Within the category of specialized game-processing knives, I do not see this as a major drawback. An additional advantage is the relatively low weight of the knives, depending on the type from 84 to 120 g, allowing smoother tissue penetration with less resistance.

Ergonomically, the tools are strictly symmetrical and therefore equally suitable for both right- and left-handed users. The handles are designed rather for larger hands. Medium-sized hands will also manage, but users with smaller hands may not be entirely satisfied. All knives feature a pronounced finger guard that effectively prevents fingers from slipping onto the edge. The handle material is a polymer with a rubber-like feel and a fine texture. Subjectively, the handle feels somewhat “cheap,” but I must admit the grip is firm and does not slip even when your hand is covered in blood and fatty residue. The handles are identical across all knives in the set. A special mention goes to the smallest knife, which has an index finger choil on the blade, allowing you to grip the knife closer to the edge for finer work. This knife may look somewhat unconventional, but from a practical standpoint, I have little to criticize. It performs very well, although it takes a bit of getting used to. The shears are strong enough even for cutting through the ribs of roe deer, but naturally, they will find their main use in processing poultry. This is also why this tool is not commonly seen in similar hunting sets.

The knives and the saw feature lanyard holes in the handles for hanging.

A solid set for a fair price

During testing, I processed several roe deer and one wild boar with the set, and overall I am satisfied. No damage or corrosion appeared on the blades. Edge retention is adequate, resharpening takes only a moment, and I especially appreciate the easy cleaning. Ergonomics could be slightly better, but the rubberized surface ensures a firm and secure grip. The saw could have slightly finer teeth. The chosen pattern has a slight tendency to bind, although noticeably less than saws originally designed for wood. On the specialized skinner, I would prefer a slightly more pronounced belly, but it is still perfectly usable. The set is well thought out, and the case with the cutting board is a useful bonus. Aside from deliberately testing their strength, I did not find much practical use for the shears in my hunting practice, just like the fillet knife, although that one would certainly find use when processing large “blocks” of meat.

I did not encounter any significant drawbacks worth highlighting during testing. The set costs 1,984 CZK, which is a reasonable price considering its scope, quality, and design. It is not anything particularly extraordinary; Old Timer could improve the design somewhat, and subjectively I find a similar set from HME slightly more comfortable to work with. However, if you are looking for a functional, affordable, and purely work-oriented knife set for comprehensive processing of harvested game at base camp or in a vehicle, I can generally recommend the Camp Field.

Looking for something more compact

The Camp Field is relatively large in both size and weight, and there will certainly be those who would prefer something lighter, simpler, and easier to carry directly into the hunting grounds. For them, Old Timer offers the Lightweight Field variant. It includes three knives from the Camp Field set, specifically a small knife, a large gutting knife with hook, and a boning knife. After all, the fillet knife and shears are not commonly used in local hunting practice, so for most hunters this will not be a major loss. On the other hand, the set still includes a sharpening tool and several pairs of hygienic gloves. All of this is packed in a well-organized textile roll with dimensions of 160×320 mm and a total weight of 720 g. It is still not exactly a belt kit, but it will easily find space in a hunting backpack. The Lightweight Field is priced at a reasonable 1,323 CZK.

Old Timer Lightweight Field set.