Good fixed blade for cleaning small game?

digitalurbancamo said:
For a few more $ I would pick up a Grohman Bird and Trout and never worry about it again. Money well spent.
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This DHRussell design is counter-intuitive until you've actually used one. I wanted one real bad ever since I was a cub scout in the late 50s (my cub master wielded one of the original #1s) and was quite surprised that they still could be had 50 years later. I had Grohman make me a custom #1 in carbon steel with bone handle in 1994 and stopped looking at other belt knives ever since. The usefulness and feel of one of these is lovely and the Swedish steel blade is strong and hard; matter of fact the tungsten electric pencil attempt at etching my name on the blade never worked because of the hardness of the metal.
The newer 'trout and bird' versions are exquisite down-size renditions of the original award-winning #1 but unfortunately are not available in carbon steel.
 
For doves I just pull out the breast, I don't use a knife. Rabbits are easy, squirrels require more effort and a sharp knife. I've always preferred fixed blades for small game and trout. To be honest, there's nothing a Victorinox paring knife can't handle for such use. Cheap and very sharp.
 
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I picked up an LT Wright Coyote in D2 a little while back and like it very well. It's worth a look if you go with a fixed blade.

Pic from his site:

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I'll add another vote for the Buck 313 if you go with a folder instead. If it locked it would be nearly perfect for my purposes. :thumbup:


ETA: Woops, sorry went back and saw you were trying to stay under $50. The coyote is more like $125.
 
I just use a stainless Mora companion, works wonderful, never have problems with it
 
If you can find one, a Mora 510 wotld make a nice Bird & Trout knife.

The Victorinox paring knife JB in SC mentioned is a great little knife. I bought my wife one as a holdover till she could replace her broken Henckel paring knife. Several months later and she's not mentioned getting another.

I have an A.G. Russel Woodswalker and it's a nice little fixed blade for the money.
 
Try CRKT Onion Skinner. It has great blade shape for your tasks and very good steel. Bohler K110 is D2 steel equivalent. And it actually fits to your budget (at bladehq).
 
Really cannot beat a Schrade sharpfinger. Deals can still be had if you look long enough. I recently got a nice 152ot off the bay for $16 shipped. Appears to have never been used.
 
I always used a slipjoint and usually a Trapper pattern. A Case Trapper should run you around $50 or so. Some people say folders are hard to clean. I've never had a problem. I would get one with a bright handle if possible.

A Mora Companion would work very well and if you let it sit somewhere, you won't loose a lot of sleep over it. I am famous for putting a knife down when cleaning small game and then walking off without it. Have gone back a few times.
 
300Six said:
This DHRussell design is counter-intuitive until you've actually used one. I wanted one real bad ever since I was a cub scout in the late 50s (my cub master wielded one of the original #1s) and was quite surprised that they still could be had 50 years later. I had Grohman make me a custom #1 in carbon steel with bone handle in 1994 and stopped looking at other belt knives ever since. The usefulness and feel of one of these is lovely and the Swedish steel blade is strong and hard; matter of fact the tungsten electric pencil attempt at etching my name on the blade never worked because of the hardness of the metal.
The newer 'trout and bird' versions are exquisite down-size renditions of the original award-winning #1 but unfortunately are not available in carbon steel.
Click to expand...
Eloquently stated. :thumbup:
 
AG Russell Woodswalker would work well with small game. However, I've never used a knife for birds, well dove anyway. They are pretty easy without a knife.
 
The woods walker, as well as the bird and trout look interesting to me. Any word on the latter?
 
For years I used a Remington waterfowl knife which I still like but was replaced by a Case slimline trapper in CV and red bone.
Another fantastic small game knife is the Case Trapperlock

 
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Of course, it's all personal preference, but I find many so-called "bird and trout" knives to be too big/long for their intended purpose. With it's compact size and narrow blade profile, I find the B&T formerly made by Blind Horse to be darn near perfect for cleaning small game/fish:

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I'm also partial to the Bark River "Pro Scalpel II" for small game:

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Also, I started a thread on "Bird & Trout" knives in this sub-forum a while back - if you do a search for it, you'll find a lot of great examples. :thumbup:
 
Rapala 4" filet knife works well and won't hurt your feelings as bad in the event that it gets lost.
 
Most any knife with a slim pointy blade of around 3" will work. I love to use knives, but to be truthful a pair of game shears works faster and better for me. My favorite knife so far for small game is a Russell Easler stag handled ATS-34 stainless fixed blade, it is 7-1/4" overall, thin ans and easily made screaming sharp. Works great in combination with Kershaw Taskmaster shears. A lot of people mentioned liking the Sharpfinger type knives; the first fixed blade I ever bought was a Schrade Sharpfinger, and I hated it, thought that it was the worst handling most awkward to use knife I ever owned. Just goes to show that everyone has different ideas of what works best for them!
 
I picked up a Buck packlite caper and an Opinel Slim No.8 today on my way through town. Both seem excellent, and I think the caper will serve me well for game. I do still plan to pick up an A. G. Russell or two as I can. Particularly the woodswalker. Looks like a good pattern to have.
 
I wish that I had bought a Woodswalker and some shears right from the start instead of spending money chasing gear around. You can burn a lot of money quickly trying to find the perfect gear.
 
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