Some knives are razor sharp and others hold an edge better/longer. You will also probably need a guthook knife in your animal dressing effort. I have acquired a few knives over the years. Some I bought and some were given to me. I have 2 guthook knives that I use also just to rip the hide and belly. I also have a Piranta but only use it occasionally since it is either too sharp or too dull for what I'm trying to do. I also have a small, custom-made skinner that is a good knife with good steel but because of it's size/balance I only use it sparingly in an animal dressing process. Finally, my favorite skinning knife is an old Case Arapahoe that was given to me in the 1980s. I liked it so much that I bought another one. With these two knives reasonably sharp I can start and finish skinning a deer or even a large hog ( thick hide and bristly sandy hair and all)! I guess I'm not the only one that like these old Case Indian knives ( the Apapahoe, Kiowa and Pawnee) since I watched the price of them increase to double of more over the years. To each his own and I know that there are many higher priced knifes and maybe even better knives but these do the job for me! That includes 30+ years of hunting and cleaning hundreds of animals, including hundreds of hogs. I was also brought up in a small Mom and Pop grocery store in southeast Houston and grew up cutting up meat with all kinds of knives, saws and cleavers. What is your favorite knife for dressing out an animal? Just curious.
steverino
I have very similar experience as you with taking critters apart the last 45 years or so, we always did our own processing. Wild and domestic animals. And as you have, tried many different styles of knives during that time. Never could get on board with the replaceable blade scalpel type knives, just seemed too flimsy and dangerous to me. I prefer a real knife, but I'm kinda set in my ways. They do work well for caping game heads if you're careful.
A very long time ago I watched an old school, highly skilled processor taking apart goats and pigs. All he used was a Victorinox/Forschner type boning knife. 6" stiff blade. I was very impressed. The long thin blade slid under the hide with ease, making the opening cuts on the legs and belly very fast. I got myself a couple of those, and later added a couple each of the curved 5" and 6" ones. Still use that combo today. Straight, thin blade for opening cuts, gutting when necessary, and leg removal. Then switch to the stiff curved 5" for skinning, backstrap removal, and breaking down the rest of the carcass for the cooler. The 6" flexible curved ones come into play when back at the shop boning out everything, and cleaning off the deer fat and silver skin.
These knives are very affordable, sharpen quickly, and hold an edge very well. Hint, I start out with 2 of each style, fully sharpened. So if one starts getting dull I just grab the other and keep going. Then re-sharpen when I'm done or taking a beer break.... 🍺 🍺
A very long time ago I watched an old school, highly skilled processor taking apart goats and pigs. All he used was a Victorinox/Forschner type boning knife. 6" stiff blade. I was very impressed. The long thin blade slid under the hide with ease, making the opening cuts on the legs and belly very fast. I got myself a couple of those, and later added a couple each of the curved 5" and 6" ones. Still use that combo today. Straight, thin blade for opening cuts, gutting when necessary, and leg removal. Then switch to the stiff curved 5" for skinning, backstrap removal, and breaking down the rest of the carcass for the cooler. The 6" flexible curved ones come into play when back at the shop boning out everything, and cleaning off the deer fat and silver skin.
These knives are very affordable, sharpen quickly, and hold an edge very well. Hint, I start out with 2 of each style, fully sharpened. So if one starts getting dull I just grab the other and keep going. Then re-sharpen when I'm done or taking a beer break.... 🍺 🍺
There is a reason you see so many Victorinox/Forschner knives in packing houses. I have Four. Two I have had for 30 years and I use them for Fillet Knife. I can keep up with an electric knife on Trout. I have two in my kitchen. One 6" curve blade and one larger one. My wife hated the way they looked in the butcher block. (They did not match the other knives). She always used them. The others knives just stay in the block for looks.
I had collected a bunch of quality skinning knives over the years. Truck got broken into in my driveway and they were stolen.
In a search to replace them, I found a fixed blade Buck knife with a 3" drop point style blade, came with a sheath so safe in a back pack/bag. They aren't expensive or even very good quality, but I bought two and a sharpener. They certainly aren't my "favorite" skinning knives, but surprisingly well suited for the work. They get shaving sharp and hold enough edge that I have to change to the 2nd knife about 80% of the way through skinning and quartering a deer. Just swap knives. The handles are slip resistant and shaped so as to not cramp your hands. Again, inexpensive knives that work well.
Eventually I will replace them with better quality, but for now they work very well and I am quite satisfied, and won't be too disappointed when/if I lay it down somewhere and lose it.
Here is a link to the type of knife I use now.
In a search to replace them, I found a fixed blade Buck knife with a 3" drop point style blade, came with a sheath so safe in a back pack/bag. They aren't expensive or even very good quality, but I bought two and a sharpener. They certainly aren't my "favorite" skinning knives, but surprisingly well suited for the work. They get shaving sharp and hold enough edge that I have to change to the 2nd knife about 80% of the way through skinning and quartering a deer. Just swap knives. The handles are slip resistant and shaped so as to not cramp your hands. Again, inexpensive knives that work well.
Eventually I will replace them with better quality, but for now they work very well and I am quite satisfied, and won't be too disappointed when/if I lay it down somewhere and lose it.
Here is a link to the type of knife I use now.
BuckLite Max Small 673 3" Drop Point Fixed Blade Knife & Sheath ~ New 33753104978 | eBay
673 BuckLite Max Small. Fixed Blade & Sheath. Heavy duty nylon sheath included. ETP handle. Cryogenic heat-treated stainless steel. 2.8oz weight.
www.ebay.com
I make my favorites. Just some examples though. I dont have any in stock at the moment to show, they dont hang around long, which is good I reckon.
Attachments
Years and years ago I found a Shrade Sharpfinger out on the Brazoria NWR while letting my dog run around. Still use it to this day, it's skinned a mess of deer, a few pigs, even an elk or two. Just seems to work. Holds an edge relatively good, not hard to sharpen on a diamond stone. I typically hone it between animals and maybe once during the dress out (especially on a pig). One day I'll get into forging and make my own skinning knife - until then, the Sharpfinger stays at #1.
Never felt I had a need for a gut hook...
This Is my best skinning knife & is always with me when I'm hunting. The drop point blade is 4 1/4 inches long & 1 5/16 inches deep. As you can see, it is composed of a 'ladder' pattern Damascus (512 layers of 5160, 1018 & 203e). The handle scales are stabilized mammoth ivory (from Russia) with 1/4 inch mosaic pins & is 4 1/4 inches long. Due to it's high carbon content, it is very sharp & holds it's edge very well.
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This Is my best skinning knife & is always with me when I'm hunting. The drop point blade is 4 1/4 inches long & 1 5/16 inches deep. As you can see, it is composed of a 'ladder' pattern Damascus (512 layers of 5160, 1018 & 203e). The handle scales are stabilized mammoth ivory (from Russia) with 1/4 inch mosaic pins & is 4 1/4 inches long. Due to it's high carbon content, it is very sharp & holds it's edge very well.
I have a knife I bought at the gun show in Houston 20 years ago. The man that sold it also made it. It’s a drop point with Sambar stag grips. This is one of the best knives I’ve ever had. It get razor sharp and stays sharp. It can easily skin and quarter two deer without touching it. I also use a Case full size Trapper. I’ve used this on elk and deer. It’s not as good as my other knife but gets the job done.
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