Filet knife, need a suggestion

Z

zimmerDN

Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
68
I want to purchase a filet knife under $50. What would you recommend?

I just noticed Mora knives and I am about to purhcase their #2000 and it got me wondering how good their filet knives are.

Isn't this great, one forum member helping another to spend their money. :D
 
The big question is "stiff or flexible?"
The next question is a knife for filleting only or a knife for fishing in general?
fishinblades.jpg

Fishing and fillet knives.
One could fillet a fish with any of those above.
The flexible blade shines when skinning the fillet once it is off the fish.
Alot of folks scale their fish so they don't skin the fillet.

A fishing knife does more than just filleting fish, it'll cut fishing line, bait, unzip fish that'll be cooked whole or used for bait.
I used the Schrade Sharpfinger for years without wanting another knife.
(then I found the internet).
This reminds me that I have a Helle fillet blade from Ragnar that needs a handle :D
 
Mora's are always a real good bet. As are Dexter Russells, and I just picked up a Rapala Saltwater fillet knife at the grocery store that did a bang-up job on ocean Silvers earlier this week. I also tried one of the new Benchmade Salmon River fillet knives, and wasn't really impressed. I'm definitely more of a rigid blade person, and the BM felt flimsy, and didn't hold it's edge as well as the Rapala. (AUS-8 vs. Sandvik 12c27)

I tend to recall that Victorinox and Forschner make some decent ones too.

I once bought my father a Microtech Black Marlin fillet knife. That one I utterly loathe. I'm the one that always gets to resharpen it. (you know family and all) Once that S-30V has been through hundreds of pounds of salmon and halibut, it's a real bearcat to restore.

Or you could go totally traditional, like my mother did. She used a souvenier shop ulu and cleaned about four fish to our every one. she had the only Ulu out there- the rest of us had traditional fillet knives)

The Moras are easy to maintain and sharpen, and they're pretty darn expendable, but work very well.

Whatever you spend, I just wouldn't break the bank on it. I've reached the conclusion that expendability is a prerequisite for a good fishing knife.

Sorry for rambling. just had a real good fishing trip, and still a bit enthusiastic...:o
 
I have a 4" and a 7" birch handle rapala ones. I too spend hours in the yard cleaning fish before. It held up pretty well, cheap and easily replaceable.

I prefer a little softer blade so I can get really tight up against the ribs to get the most meat out. I have also used my regular pocket knifes in a pinch as well.
 
If you are looking for a really thin & flexible blade at a reasonable price (about $25), my favorite is the Mundial 5112-7 (7" blade). If you like stiffer blades, stay away from this one.
 
I have a benchmade that I absolutely love...it was very reasonably priced as well. Steigerwalt design, AUS 8 steel, unusual folder...and less than 25 bucks...I can filet walleye or bluegill with the same ease with this knife.
 
Common guys, I need more suggestion.

I will be using this knife to filet mostly bass and trout sometimes.
 
I have both sizes of the Cold Steel offerings and their
always ready for a stringer of Big Cats or buckets of Crappie
Been known to butterfly loins,shrimp . . . .
Care is needed for rust prevention(high carbon),cut the edge down to 15*and they work when needed :thumbup:

T/
 
Rapala - with the rubber handle (wood handled ones get too slick).

And I'd hurry, because the last one I bought was made in China.
They'd always been made in Finland.
 
It's pretty tough to beat an electric knife for fileting - especially if you have a lot of fish. I use the Mr. Twister Saltwater Filet knife when I have electricity available.
($39.95)

When an electric outlet isn't available I use the Dexter Russell 8" flexible filet knife. I highly recommend learning to use use a steel to keep your filet knife sharp. I usually steel mine after every two or three fish - flexible filet knives are tempered pretty soft to flex easily so they will dull pretty quickly - 8 or 10 quick licks on a steel will usually bring the edge back to razor sharp.
($15-$20)

piranha_knife.jpg
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