Knife for field dressing (Page 2 of 3)
Joined:
Apr 2024
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898
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SD, USA
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Originally Posted By JimPope: I have always thought of field dressing as gutting. Then it gets skinned and broken down either back at camp or somewhere else. This is whitetail deer though, I know things are different when you’re out west and don’t have an easy way to move an entire elk besides packing it out. I guess I'm just confused. If all he wants is a knife to make a single cut up the stomach, and cut out the butt, what is the problem? I can't think of a less demanding job of any tool. And if you do want a really good knife, why wouldn't you want to use it for skinning and quartering too? The only reason I can think of to use a second knife for gutting is to keep a clean knife or quartering or boning out meat. In that case I don't see why you would want anything but the cheapest, lightest thing that could do the job. |
| I've always liked knives of alaska pretty good quality to price ratio that said I gutted a deer tonight with a $5 ozark trail fixed blade cause it's what I had in the truck |
Originally Posted By nickforney
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
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At the “farm” we just keep several sets of those knives you get when you resign with RMEF. We can usually be found the night before season opens sitting in the cabin making sure they are razor sharp. If they start getting dull just grab another one and we just resharpen them later if we need to. 3 sets gets us through 5-7 Whitetails every year. |
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Tier 1? Take your pick. I have purchased more than 1/2 dozen from this shop, https://www.bladegallery.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=311&cat=Hunting+Knives, and not one has disappointed. If you pick of one of these and a replaceable blade surgical knife you will be set. My 3 work horse knives: Raymond Richards custom, Esee Izula and a Havalon Ti. The Raymond is a knife that feels like an extension of your arm. 
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These make great gut hooks. Cutter |
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Originally Posted By 10-35: What model Buck is that? I have never seen that blade profile. Gonna have to be more specific, lol, if you are talking about the pic I posted with a trio of Bucks, they are all 119's, the top and bottom ones are just special runs that have a different profile and no fuller. Top one is Magnacut, bottom is 3V, middle one is the classic profile in 420HC. @10-35 |
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: Anything sharp is fine. It’s not rocket science. Trying to field dress game with a blade bigger than about 4” is suboptimal. Big “tactical” knives suck. This 100%. I gravitate towards a 3-4” drop blade. Works perfect. Smaller the better. |
"There are two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket." MajGen Smedley Butler, USMC
Live from the 'Horse Capital of the World'
Joined:
Dec 2007
Posts:
8533
EE: 100% (188)
FL, USA
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Local guy here in Phoenix makes some very nice knives Copper State Knives Attached File |
"You want perfection, or nothing. The revolution was never perfect....We fight because we believe, we leave because we are disilliusioned, we come back because we are lost, we die because we are committed.
- Jesus Raza, The Professionals
- Jesus Raza, The Professionals
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I used to use the Mora knives, they work very well. But my dog chewed my last one up several years ago. I switched to the Cold Steel knives and really like them. The Pendleton Hunter is very nice. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00322NAE6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 My son like the Canadian Belt Knife. I think it makes a better skinner than gutting knife. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WADUIW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The Cold Steel Finn Bear is very similar to the Mora. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q99RXG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 But my favorite for gutting is the Roach Belly. It's also very good for skinning. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013DIRHQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 |
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Originally Posted By utahman: I understand the love of a well-made, cool looking, expensive or "one off" knife. But for pure "carry in the pack field dress a large mammal" knife, you can't beat a Havalon. They never get dull, have a tiny caping blade up to a largish skinning/gutting knife, weigh almost nothing, and you won't cry if you lose it. [url]https://assets.basspro.com/image/list/fn_select:jq:first(.[]%7Cselect(.public_id%20%7C%20endswith(%22main%22)))/1918245.json?$Prod_PLPThumb$[/url] I have and have had more knives than I can count. For the last 5+ years the Havalon has been my go-to for processing big game. Just don't cut yourself! My other favorite knife brands include but are not limited to: Mora Ontario (when they were USA made) Cold steel Buck Gerber Mora Etc. Etc. ETA/ I just looked up when I bought my first Havalon Piranta. It was in 2015 and cost me $31 shipped to me. |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
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Originally Posted By squirrel_herder: Another vote for the mora. You don't need much knife for field dressing. I also carry a havalon for further breakdown or skinning when I need to to that. I have boned out elk with just the havalon several times, it works great. I’m a knife nerd so the idea of using the Havalon makes my head hurt. That said it’s probably the best choice for most people. There is a reason a surgeon uses a scaple and not a hunting knife . I made myself a high hollow ground dozer style knife years ago. I’ve used it a few times and I think it’s a great style of kept razor sharp. It’s a smaller 3in blade with 1in of height. Works well to skin or field dress Attached File Attached File |
"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."
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Originally Posted By mc556: I’m a knife nerd so the idea of using the Havalon makes my head hurt. That said it’s probably the best choice for most people. There is a reason a surgeon uses a scaple and not a hunting knife . I made myself a high hollow ground dozer style knife years ago. I’ve used it a few times and I think it’s a great style of kept razor sharp. It’s a smaller 3in blade with 1in of height. Works well to skin or field dress https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/87899/IMG_3459_jpeg-3358365.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/87899/IMG_3460_jpeg-3358367.JPG Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By squirrel_herder: Another vote for the mora. You don't need much knife for field dressing. I also carry a havalon for further breakdown or skinning when I need to to that. I have boned out elk with just the havalon several times, it works great. I’m a knife nerd so the idea of using the Havalon makes my head hurt. That said it’s probably the best choice for most people. There is a reason a surgeon uses a scaple and not a hunting knife . I made myself a high hollow ground dozer style knife years ago. I’ve used it a few times and I think it’s a great style of kept razor sharp. It’s a smaller 3in blade with 1in of height. Works well to skin or field dress https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/87899/IMG_3459_jpeg-3358365.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/87899/IMG_3460_jpeg-3358367.JPG I am also a knife junky. Heck, I have a large box of brand-new Ontario knife co USA made blades I bought up when they closed up shop in the USA. One of my favorites and most useless knife is the Ontario 499 Air Force survival knife. For years I used various Mora knives for processing game. Before that it was a Buck knife, fixed or folder depending on what I wanted to carry. I can put a good edge on a good blade using a basic stone and leather strop, so while I use and recommend the Havalon, it's not because I can't sharpen blades, it's just that it works better. I even saved a few of the "used" blades with plans of stropping them and trying them again but don't really go through too many. |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
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Originally Posted By FrankHKP7: I have an Abraham and Moses AM-2 drop point. Probably the best knife I’ve ever used for gutting out deer. Beautiful balance and is the perfect size to work inside a rib cage. A&M 2 I’m using an A&M 2 right now. Cleaned 2 does with it yesterday. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By PortaJohnPicasso: I've been using a Havalon for the last 4-5 years. Change out the blade as needed. This . Although I have switched to the Outdoor Edge Razorlite for gutting, skinning and deboning . Havalon is now used mainly for caping duty. |
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: Anything sharp is fine. It’s not rocket science. Trying to field dress game with a blade bigger than about 4” is suboptimal. Big “tactical” knives suck. Agree completely. I use one of these  
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Originally Posted By Tjcj: This . Although I have switched to the Outdoor Edge Razorlite for gutting, skinning and deboning . Havalon is now used mainly for caping duty. Hmmm, I may need to try one. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By PortaJohnPicasso: Hmmm, I may need to try one. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/543436/IMG_20241112_092756183_HDR_jpg-3377390.JPG I need a decent bone saw. |
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Originally Posted By SpeyRod: I need a decent bone saw. Originally Posted By SpeyRod: Originally Posted By PortaJohnPicasso: Hmmm, I may need to try one. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/543436/IMG_20241112_092756183_HDR_jpg-3377390.JPG I need a decent bone saw. I have and have used a Wyoming saw since 2016 (when in the field.) They were much cheaper back when I got one so not sure if the price to value ratio is still there as there are many more other options now a days. https://wyomingknife.com/saws/ If in the shop I just use a saws all or hack saw. |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
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Originally Posted By SpeyRod: I need a decent bone saw. Wyoming saw are excellent and I've had great customer service and ordering directly from their site |
Originally Posted By nickforney
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
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Originally Posted By bankfraudguy: This. And it is tier 1 because you wont hesitate to hand it to a buddy if they need it. Originally Posted By bankfraudguy: Originally Posted By nvcdl: Morakniv Companion (S) Stainless Steel Fixed-Blade Knife, With Sheath, Burnt Orange, 4.1 Inch This. And it is tier 1 because you wont hesitate to hand it to a buddy if they need it. Third vote for the Morakniv. Thick blade and very sharp from factory for a price that cannot be beat. My favorite (and what I currently use) is the ultralite Tyto with kydex sheath and replaceable medical grade scalpel blades. It can gut, skin, and quarter. You don't need a huge long blade and it legitimately razor sharp. Attached File Tyto Gerber Vital Kestral Browning Primal, etc. |
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Been using a Buck knight hawk for 20 years. Kinda big but theres always a part of it that's still sharp after a long season. Wife surprised me last night with a Montana elk horn skinner I'll hopefully try out tomorrow. Always wanted a buck 119 and that turned into a collection of 1970s bucks. Attached File |
I'm not here because I make sound financial decisions.
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I’m a big fan of the traditional Kephart knife when it comes to field dressing and game processing. My favorites are the Bark River Kepthart knife (bottom) although I prefer the newest of at least 3 variants they have made (different steels and blade thicknesses) as the thinner blade is closest to the original Kephart design. The Brisa Kephart (top) is a close second and it’s about half the price. The steel however isn’t as corrosion resistant.  The slight belly on the blade provides excellent control and leverage for cutting, the thin blade and the flat grind is very well suited to game processing as is the shape of the tip. Kephart knew exactly what he was doing, back when hunting was a daily subsistence activity not a hobby. 
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Joined:
Jan 2025
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7
EE: 0% (0)
USA
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One of the best knives ever! |
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Originally Posted By smarcus: I’m using an A&M 2 right now. Cleaned 2 does with it yesterday. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/167780/IMG_0400_jpeg-3365710.JPG Originally Posted By smarcus: Originally Posted By FrankHKP7: I have an Abraham and Moses AM-2 drop point. Probably the best knife I’ve ever used for gutting out deer. Beautiful balance and is the perfect size to work inside a rib cage. A&M 2 I’m using an A&M 2 right now. Cleaned 2 does with it yesterday. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/167780/IMG_0400_jpeg-3365710.JPG I have a Goodman with the fancy sheath but haven't tried it for gutting deer |
Silent Brigade 1-20-20
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Originally Posted By bendigo78: Been using a Buck knight hawk for 20 years. Kinda big but theres always a part of it that's still sharp after a long season. Wife surprised me last night with a Montana elk horn skinner I'll hopefully try out tomorrow. Always wanted a buck 119 and that turned into a collection of 1970s bucks. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/26018/20230725_173610_jpg-3380428.JPG I have a 118 I found shed hunting stuck in the ground covered in deer fat from the last gun season pretty sure its an older one but I'm not a buck collector |
Originally Posted By nickforney
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
This subforum has filled up with a bunch of worthless fudds and I feel less and less that this is any kind of community I want to be a part of.
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not my pic but this is what i carry for the most part. no problem breaking down any animal I've come across. Attached File |
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I use a buttout and 3" blade to dress the entire deer, meat from bone. I've never cut hips or rib cages and never seen the need to do so. Start your cut on the sternum so you can get through the hide without hitting the garden bar, then straddle the blade from the back side with two fingers on the opposing hand and zip down the belly to the groin with ONLY enough blade to cut hide. The fingers limit proximity of guts to blade. |
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
Joined:
Feb 2008
Posts:
47224
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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Ive got a buck stainless field kit that is nice, a few other bucks, old timers, etc. My favorite is the blaze orange stainless mora and a wire saw for the pelvis. Light, cheap, and fast. We've all broken a tip on a pelvis...skip that. Make a cut through, insert wire saw, pull. It goes through in seconds, easier than a normal saw or hatchet. |
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
Joined:
Feb 2008
Posts:
48952
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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Originally Posted By VAbull: Buck 110 I use a 119 myself, my wife gave it to me our second Christmas together and I've used it on every deer I've shot since, as well as several other deer. But I have several 110s too. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
Joined:
Feb 2008
Posts:
48953
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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Originally Posted By Iowaredneck: Wyoming saw are excellent and I've had great customer service and ordering directly from their site Listen to this guy, he gets a lot of practice! |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
Joined:
Feb 2008
Posts:
48954
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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Originally Posted By Iowaredneck: I have a 118 I found shed hunting stuck in the ground covered in deer fat from the last gun season pretty sure its an older one but I'm not a buck collector I am, send it to me. 
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WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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Originally Posted By bankfraudguy: This. And it is tier 1 because you wont hesitate to hand it to a buddy if they need it. Originally Posted By bankfraudguy: Originally Posted By nvcdl: Morakniv Companion (S) Stainless Steel Fixed-Blade Knife, With Sheath, Burnt Orange, 4.1 Inch This. And it is tier 1 because you wont hesitate to hand it to a buddy if they need it. More this’r |