Skinning knife for big game

Hi folks,

Can anyone please recommend a skinning knife for big game? I would prefer a dedicated skinning knife as opposed to a hunting or survival knife. But a hunting knife that is excellent a skinning could be considered too.

Thanks.
Nas.

Quite a few hunters that I know like the Wyoming Knive. Kinda silly looking, but reportedly effective...

If 10 reply, you should have 10 good options. IMHO - The BUCK SKINNER 103 is a good choice. I like the blade length and contour.

[img][IMG]http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh19/zazabu531/deerdeath006.jpg[/img][/img]

This is my dedicated skinner. The Gerber Gator XDP (plain edge with a drop point blade). There is a version with a gut hook as well. It holds a razor sharp edge ideal for skinning and the grip is second to none (especially when the knife is bloody and wet) Also, it won't break the bank at around 50 bucks. The sheath is well designed. I use a different knife for general camp chores like chopping etc and keep this one sharp for the actual field dressing and skinning. I have friends with far more expensive blades that don't cut nearly as good. The Gerber Freeman hunter is also a good choice. If a folding skinner is more your style then check out the cold steel ultimate hunter.

My leatherman Wave has a pretty good blade I use for skinning/field dressing big game.

I prefer an ULU or a thin blade short handled hatchet for skinning. It is much more ergonomic than any traditional handled skinning blade I've used.

A sharp, curved blade is best. And note that some professional big-game hunters use knives that are much smaller than many would suspect. I saw a writeup of a African hunt going after large game and the local guides, the guys who did all the skinning, all used knives that had blades roughly 3" long.

I like Bark River's Highland Special and Fox river... both good knives for skinning AND general camp work. For smaller work, their mini-Skinner, in my opinion, can be equaled but not bested. Buck's Alpha Hunter is nice. Coupled with a good saw, any nice bellied blade of good steel and design, ought to work well.

What do you need a saw for in reference to game prep?

Just curious cuz I've never had need for one.

I would recommend the Buck Skinner 103, or the Hen & Rooster Drop Point Hunter.

Cut through the Pelvic Bone, cut the head off and cut the lower portion of the legs off.


Are you looking for a knife for just skinning or dressing and skinning?

Dressing – I like a small, sharp knife. I’ve got an old frame lock Old Timer (<2” blade) that I really like. Its easy to manipulate inside the cavity.

Skinning – If you can hang the game other than to get started you’re going to pull the hide off (Minus a couple of trouble spots) Any sharp knife should work, curved blades are probably the best, Gerber Freeman is a good choice.

The "best" of both worlds and probably most popular is the Buck 110

Hmm, I've never needed a knife for any of those three tasks, but then all I've ever dressed is deer and elk. One good blow with my hatchet and the pelvis is separated, and I've always cut the cruciate ligament and snapped the joint free to separate the leg joints. It is a lot quicker and a lot less work according to the butcher. Necks take a few blows with the hatchet and maybe a little knife work to get the tendons free.

I suppose it depends on what you are taught. It sure is handy to know how to do it all with just one blade if need be. I am sure a saw will get the job done just as well.

You want a knife just for skinning?

If you are looking for knives to use around a deer camp where you do your skinning and breaking and do not carry the knives with you into the field, why not use the same knife they use in packing plants. I have a skinning knife and a boning knife that I use for nothing but cutting meat.

Russell is one good brand:

http://www.dexter-russell.com/PDF/meat.pdf

The Sani-Safe line are stainless, provide good grip and they are designed to be washed in very hot water. It does not hurt them a bit to wash them in a dishwasher.

If you look at their products they also make very traditional carbon steel knives with beechwood handles, if that is what trips your trigger.

I do not know who has the best deals, but if you search the web for dexter-russell knives you will find places that sell them.

I really like Victorinox-Forschner boning knives. Their Microban line has a softer grip than the Russell. Their rosewood handle knives give the best grip I know of when you are cutting pork and get a lot of grease on your hands.

If you are you are looking for a knife just to do meat processing, Russell and Forschner are two good brands. They are great meat processing knives, but they are not much good for general field work.

Also, if you go this route a butcher's steel is good to have.

+1 on the Gator. One of my favorite field dressing and skinning knives. The rubber handle is a nice touch esp with wet hands.

You gut and skin game with just a hatchet?

You can do it all with a knife but I've ruined a 110 trying to crack the pevlic bone.

Personally

Hatchet for the pelvic Bone
Knife for the removing the femur
Saw for the head.
Knife for dressing

YMMV

skinning----i use whatever is handy. a sharpened tomato can lid,...
a Mora is pretty good for the job. i've used inexpensive pocket knives when my hand gets tired of holding a fixed blade . got plenty big knives but they are
always too big for big game. funny ...
cutting up the joints is another duck all together. Japanese kitchen knives do a fantastic job of separating an animal from its parts .
buzz

Thanks Ron,

This is more like what I was looking for. A quick search on Amazon.com turned up quite a few sellers.

http://www.amazon.com/Skinning-Curved-Bl...2784&sr=1-1

Am off to find a steel now.

Nas.

Yes, that is a very good one. That is the kind of knife people who work 8 hours a day with a knife in their hands use.

Also try Smokey Mountain Knife Works:

http://www.eknifeworks.com

They carry Forschner and lots of other neat stuff. They now have free shipping.

Another thing that is nice to have if you are doing a lot of meat cutting is a cut resistant glove like this:

http://www.galeton.com/item_detail.asp?SKU=1057

You only need one. If the knife is in the right hand, put the glove on the left. It sure keeps you from cutting a finger off with a razor sharp knife.

Naw, just for skinning, the pelvis and the neck. The rest (including gutting) is knife work, though I am sure I could manage to work the insides effectively with a hatchet if I had to.

When going through hunter training class years ago, I remember a great video about a grandpa taking his granddaughter hunting. Grandpa looked like he was at least in his 70's. Granddaughter shot a nice deer. Grandpa used a little folding pocket knife. Probably about a 3" blade non-locking. Gutted and cleared the cavity really quick. Then showed her a really cool trick. He dislocated the front leg joints and cut the skin a little so the the bone and skin formed a "T", then he slit the skin between the rear leg bones to form a kind of button hole that the front hoofs could go through. He pulled it out enough to engage the "T" toggle and had a gutted deer backpack to pack out.

But getting back to the topic at hand, using the same little pocket knife, he skinned and quartered the deer so quickly. I was extremely impressed.

I guess my point is, knowing how and having experience is more important than the knife you use. Just ask the grandpa.