dropped point vs semi skinner

[JCCD]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the dropped point and semi skineer for deer hunting? There doesn't seem to be much difference in the edge profile, just a different shape for the top of the knife.

 

[Danbo]

The semi skinner just looks cooler.

 

[bruce]

Danbo, if you'd left off the word "just" you'd be right. The semi-skinner is the better knife for skinning large animals (deer -- mule deer, not those little whitetails I've seen! elk, moose, etc.) The drop point versus the semi is a wash for smaller animals. For actually removing meat from bones (muscle boning) the drop point is probably better assuming it has a blade less wide (spine to cutting edge) than the semi-skinner.

When buying a hunting knife (and I'm using the word "hunting" to mean harvesting game animals -- not "camping") the blade shapes like the ones used in packing houses are the best ones -- sometimes buying packing house blades like "Forschner" is the best thing.

Bruce Woodbury
(Former Professional Game Meat Processor)

 

[Jeff Clark]

One advantage of the semi skinner is when you use the blade upside-down. When you work along the surface of a bone your knuckles aren't as deep in the meat as you work with an inverted semi skinner. When you are opening an abdominal cavity with the blade turned edge-up it is common to guard the internal organs from your blade point by extending your index finger next to the blade. The back sweep of the semi skinner puts the point at an easier location to reach with your index finger when holding the handle.