Recommend a good skinning knife?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Recommend a good skinning knife?

Posted: 12/8/2016 6:43:56 PM EDT

Since I skin and butcher several deer a year, I thought it might be a good idea to get a dedicated skinning knife. I've used a Spyderco folder limited edition of some sort for years to hack the hell out of the deer as I skin them up to this point. Suggestions appreciated.

Posted: 12/8/2016 6:52:31 PM EDT

[#1]

One that uses replaceable scalpel blades.

Posted: 12/8/2016 7:09:24 PM EDT

[#2]

Havalon Piranta

Posted: 12/8/2016 7:17:32 PM EDT

[#3]

Do you have a price range in mind? I'm a Busse combat knife fan, that being said they aren't for everyone, they are usually short runs and you may have to go to the secondary market. These facts tend to make them a little more pricey but their steel is phenomenal, customer service is second to none and they are blades you will use your entire life and pass down to be used by the next generation.

This is my go to skinning knife. A Busse Combat HG55.

Another option from their sister company scrap yard knives. A scrap yard knives 460

All that being said I'm a knife guy and love the brand as well as being a hunter. If you don't want to pay the tag on Busses and Busse kin (referring to their sister companies scrap yard and swamp rat), I'd also recommend the skinning knives benchmade makes, my best friend and hunting buddy uses their gut hook model fixed blade with a rubber handle, a very nice knife. Also check out all of bark rivers knives especially the gunny.

Posted: 12/8/2016 7:18:17 PM EDT

[#4]

https://silverstag.com/Deer_Meat_For_Dinner/DMFD_Deer_Meat_Combo

Posted: 12/8/2016 8:17:57 PM EDT

[#5]

I have not tried this knife yet, but did purchase it this year to see what it would do; it's a Cold Steel FinnHawk and is pretty inexpensive at $20ish.

Posted: 12/8/2016 8:54:15 PM EDT

[#6]

Mora knives.. cheap dirty and sharp.... I gut, skin, and process 3-4 deer with them..

Posted: 12/8/2016 9:04:10 PM EDT

[#7]

Mora, Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter, or make your own.

Posted: 12/8/2016 9:14:21 PM EDT

[#8]

These are on sale for 11 bucks on Amazon. Should work just fine.

Posted: 12/9/2016 10:29:55 AM EDT

[#9]

I normally don't like Buck knives, but if you can find a Buck Diamondback GET IT. Those things are great knives, but they've been out of production for a while.

Posted: 12/9/2016 2:27:56 PM EDT

[#10]

How much do you want to spend?

The budget option if you want purely functional would be a couple of Mora knives and a utility razor knife. Set you back about $20-30.

For a nicer knife, I'd recommend a Bark River, probably something from their Deluxe Game, Professional or Canadian Guide series.

Posted: 12/13/2016 2:57:44 PM EDT

[#11]

Buck Vanguard with the rubber handle.

Posted: 12/20/2016 11:53:47 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
These are on sale for 11 bucks on Amazon. Should work just fine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/2016/DSCN3447_zpsslu0gbx8.jpg

View Quote

A mora field dressed the deer I just got pretty nicely.

Posted: 12/21/2016 12:05:00 AM EDT

[#13]

Back when I trapped and skinned beaver, this is the one that worked best.

http://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&pw=55963&ctc=iwyf1fmf7d00zk8a0104w&mi=11469&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fproduct%2FOld-Timer-reg-Sharpfinger-Fixed-Blade-Knife%2F1583689.uts?productVariantId=3462227&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03650126&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KEQiAyuPCBRCimuayhb3qqvwBEiQAgz62kbHP8wkKCxtAYDSlTgv7Fsgs25iWpWXL-BpwkmcWHCwaAr1R8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Posted: 12/21/2016 12:18:42 AM EDT

[#14]

I made my own.

Posted: 12/21/2016 12:28:47 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Havalon Piranta

View Quote

FP Kinda NI, this one clears everything up.

Posted: 12/21/2016 12:29:23 AM EDT

[#16]

I use a mora model with a handle that helps prevent slipping (I can't remember the term), the regular cheapest get pretty slippery with goo all over them. They're cheap enough to carry a few.

Posted: 12/23/2016 9:44:27 AM EDT

[#17]

I have a weak spot for knives, and have tried a variety over the years. I keep coming back to Outdoor Edge and Kershaw.

Outdoor edge makes some nice knives, both with and without replaceable blades. Subscribe to one of the hunting mags at the right time and they will send you one model or the other "free".

Kershaw is another inexpensive option. I have this one fixed blade skinning knife.

Mostly I just use the replaceable blade Outdoor Edge. Pretty much does everything, and you only need one knife.

Posted: 12/23/2016 4:43:02 PM EDT

[#18]

4" Rapala fillet knife for everything.

Posted: 12/25/2016 10:46:24 PM EDT

[#19]

I have dozens of knives.

we keep several Mora's at the cabin specifically for skinning duty. very easy to sharpen.

Posted: 12/25/2016 10:57:30 PM EDT

[#20]

I've got lots of knives in the $300-600 range and the two best ones for deer are inexpensive, a Havalon Piranta is great as is the Buck Skinner. Both do much better than my custom knives.

Posted: 12/25/2016 11:01:54 PM EDT

[#21]

All of my hunting knives sit in a drawer now, and we all use Havalons.

Posted: 12/26/2016 1:12:58 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Mora, Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter, or make your own.
http://www.bladedb.com/images/blades/556/Pendleton%20Lite%20Hunter%20with%20Sheath.jpg

View Quote

Great knife for the money. I keep one in my hunting pack.

Posted: 1/9/2017 11:53:58 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Havalon Piranta

View Quote

This.

Posted: 1/9/2017 11:57:39 PM EDT

[#24]

Used a Havalon for the first time this season. Made skinning a breeze.

Posted: 1/10/2017 12:11:19 AM EDT

[#25]

as mentioned above, any of the havalon series

also Alaska ulu knife or eagle river Folding Ulu Knife

Posted: 1/12/2017 1:16:26 AM EDT

[#26]

I skinned 5 deer this year. One with a CRKT and 4 with a Kershaw Blur. I use to carry a big, fixed-blade knife, but a pocket knife served the purpose just fine.

Posted: 1/17/2017 7:45:59 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Mora knives.. cheap dirty and sharp.... I gut, skin, and process 3-4 deer with them..

View Quote

best knife for the money! I love them and have probably a dozen stashed all over the place.

Posted: 1/17/2017 7:48:39 PM EDT

[#28]

I used this one to skin a pig a few weeks back. Was pleasantly surprised. It held up and was extremely manageable in the hand:

https://smile.amazon.com/Timer-152OT-Sharpfinger-Fixed-Blade/dp/B000IE3ZKA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484696865&sr=8-1&keywords=schrade old timer

Posted: 1/18/2017 1:44:20 PM EDT

[#29]

Look at the meat trapper videos on youtube - intersting knife - the canadian belt knife.

Red

Posted: 1/18/2017 11:00:34 PM EDT

[#30]

on old USA made Old Timer Sharpfinger or anything from jrsknives.com

Posted: 1/21/2017 12:51:38 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
One that uses replaceable scalpel blades.

View Quote

Yep, Outdoor Edge Razor Lite is what I have.

Posted: 1/27/2017 2:38:05 AM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
Buck Vanguard with the rubber handle.

View Quote

I've skinned about 75 deer with one. Has yet to leave me wanting.

I've started using it in tandem with a Havalon Piranta. I am on the fence about the Havalon for skinning though. I think it is a better gutting knife. The radiused portion of the blade gets dull far too quickly. With the Vanguard, I'll touch the edge up with a diamond thingamabob prior to skinning and away it goes. Plus I like the meaty blade for tail and bone duty.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Recommend a good skinning knife?

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