12 pt omni hunter or 103 skinner?

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jor fly

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Hey folks,

I have been using an old Voos/Schlieper fixed blade knife my dad had always used and gave me to field dress and skin my deer. God knows how many deer he cleaned with it. Dad passed away last year and I have decided to retire his knife until I have children. In the meantime I need a good deer cleaning/skinning knife. Needs to be able to field dress and skin. I have a 110 I have used on squirrel and other small game for years (dad bought me this particular 110 years ago) and as a result I trust the Buck brand. (I know the 110 can take care of deer, but I prefer a fixed blade for deer) I have narrowed my choice to the omni hunter 12 point and the 103 skinner. The 12 point because I can get it in blaze orange (which would be easier to find should it get dropped, hasn't happened to me but better to be prepared) and the 103 because I love the look of the blade, just not sure how it would do for field dressing. Thoughts?
 
I've personally used 110s, 560s, even an ErgoHunter Pro, 619, among others. I've settled on the 118 Personal. A little more knife than the 110 but not so much that's it's impractical for deer our smaller game.
 
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I'm in the 118 fan club, it's a great all round knife, my number one and go to fixed blade knife. I have used the 103 for skinning and it's well suited for that purpose, haven't used it to eviscerate or cut up parts. It seems that once I start with the 118 I stay with it 'til finished. My suggetion is get both! Preston
 
I'd keep using the knife your dad gave you,I'm betting he wanted you to use it not put it away.The 103 is a excellent skinning knife,I've used it to feild dress a couple deer and it will surprise you at how well it will handle dressing.id rather use a 110 ag or ag rubber handle vanguard though
 
I prefer the 103 out of this mix. A wide stout fixed blade with plenty of belly. Get a early year date model if you can find it. (1990 or 91) The belly is correct on that knife. You didn't have anything to says until now? DM
 
RAZORBLADES said:
I'd keep using the knife your dad gave you,I'm betting he wanted you to use it not put it away.The 103 is a excellent skinning knife,I've used it to feild dress a couple deer and it will surprise you at how well it will handle dressing.id rather use a 110 ag or ag rubber handle vanguard though
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Blades,
the honest truth is this: part of me doesn't have the heart. It's still kinda raw brother. Also while it's an outstanding knife and my dad and myself have taken good care of it, being older soligen steel it's got some minor pitting that was there when I got it. Heck I think it was there when dad got it, he bought it from a yard sale before I was born. I have used it on deer, but it's something I don't want to risk loosing.
 
I'm really leaning towards the 103, I love the fit and finish, the length is good, and I can't help but think the belly of the blade shouldn't be a problem for field dressing.
 
jor fly said:
I'm really leaning towards the 103, I love the fit and finish, the length is good, and I can't help but think the belly of the blade shouldn't be a problem for field dressing.
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Have never handled an Omni.

I just can't see using the 103 to open up the animal's body cavity, especially around the anal area...unless there is another way I don't know about, or you don't that. The blade on the 110, 118 much better for that and getting around inside the body cavity, JMHO, Preston
 
In my experience the 103 is much better than the 2 mentioned: as both of the others have clip type tips and with those when making the cut from vent to sternum that tip can easily puncture the stomach and empty the contents in the cavity. Whereas the 103 not having as much point and a different positioned point does not puncture the stomach. Your second point, 'around the vent'. The manner this is handled with a knife that has less point is. At the vent, cut in a ring fashion circling the vent. Then pull this out, cutting it free as you go. Once you have 2 inches pulled out, have a string in your pocket and use it to tie the intestine off. Then go on about opening him up and field dressing. Cutting everything free to be raked out the opening. Don't cut the pelvis, merely cut the intestine free from the inside and pull it out the opening with the stomach. No need for a saw. DM
 
103 is a great knife and if you do not like the hump that is easily taken care off.
 
I've only got a small folding omni hunter I've nevervused it,so I can't even comment on that knife.One hunter I know of who spends a great deal of time in the woods carries 2 knives,a 2 dot 110 and a old 440c skinner.he uses the 110 for all camp chores and general cutting,saving the 103 for animals only.he uses only a 103 for feild dressing,skinning and even deboning.i have never used it to de bone any meat but it must work pretty decent .both knives you are interested in are pretty affordable,maybe try both and see what you like best,?,
 
pjsjr said:
I'm in the 118 fan club, it's a great all round knife, my number one and go to fixed blade knife. I have used the 103 for skinning and it's well suited for that purpose, haven't used it to eviscerate or cut up parts. It seems that once I start with the 118 I stay with it 'til finished. My suggetion is get both! Preston
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Me too, the Buck 105 does a deer well, from skinning to butchering, but my hands down favorite is the Buck 118 - perfect size for whitetail. The Buck 103 is an excellent skinner, but the blunt blade wouldn't be my choice for removing meat and cutting it up - however try one out and see what you think - ultimately that is what matters. OH

Recovered_Core-Lokt_s_and_Buck_118.JPG
 
pjsjr said:
Have never handled an Omni.

I just can't see using the 103 to open up the animal's body cavity, especially around the anal area...unless there is another way I don't know about, or you don't that. The blade on the 110, 118 much better for that and getting around inside the body cavity, JMHO, Preston
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I actually use an axe to split the pelvis and then cut the anus out that way :) The 103 is sounding better and better. My dad's old knife we very similar to the 118 and while it did a good job, that thin point almost knocked a gut or two. I'm leaning towards the 103. Looking at omnihuntwr reviews the sheath looks cheap and the knife blade looks too unwieldy.
 
How about a drop point 110? I have only used 110's on deer., my favorite knife, I got a BG42 110 drop point this year that I am looking forwar to trying this year
 
I have used that style blade on Mule Deer and it works real good. I used three different blade styles, the drop point that came with the Selector worked ok. Just not as good as the skinning blade that was offered with the Selector. Then I used the drop point that came on Buck's Collectors paper stone model. Which worked very well also. I think it's the amount of belly that increases performance. A thin radiused belly works for field dressing and skinning. DM
 
The Omni Hunter is better in my opinion, its a full tang knife with plenty of belly much like the 103 but advanced in style and functionality. Its more versatile than the 103 and can be used for camp chores as well. The 103 is a skinning knife only. I will only address the two knives you stated interest in, cause we can go on for days about other knives that can function well in the hunting arena.
 
I'd vote for a 113 skinner plus the 110 - one long pointy knife and one shorter full bellied knife. The 113 is a beautiful knife and the two look nice together if that matters.
 
I agree with David, I love my 2 line 103 and three liner. I have used both for field dressing and never worry about puncturing organs. However I use a 110 to cut the butt out and use the string method.

To each their own.
 
Curious if you folks suggesting 2 knives do your skinning in the field of when the deer is hung up to be butchered. Reason being, my skinning and butchering tools don't go afield with me. I'm only packing a 118 or 110. Then I'm just dressing on site with the same pull and tie method mentioned. All my butchering happens at home where my <cough> Victorinox <cough> butcher knives get to work.

I'm curious why the Vanguard hasn't been brought up in this conversation as an option...
 
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