Good skinning/Gutting knife for whitetail

Way under your mark, but one of my all time favorites is a Buck Vanguard with the rubber handle. Very practical design that just flat works. If you like a gut hook, the same knife is available with one and called a Zipper. I have had mine for many years. It has held up extremely well, is easy to sharpen, and holds a decent edge, but not as good as the newer, fancier and more expensive steels.
 
Whatever you end up with, that's a really cool gift you'll be giving your hunting partner. As you've found out, the opinions and options here are as limitless as any other knife topic. Sounds like you know what you want, and I think you're on the right track talking to forum-sponsored makers.

My favorite all-around hunting knife is a simple Becker BK16. Simple because of the 1095CV steel, and in what I think is a fantastic design. This blade just works, with a length and shape that makes it work well in my hand for gutting, skinning, and processing. I don't much like the stock Becker sheaths, so I did add a leather sheath to it.



A short while ago, I also picked up a Wilmont Knives Pocket Skinner. I bought it as a dedicated skinner, but I've found out it does a lot more than that. It's a cool little design, also 1095, and it's so small it just slips into your pocket (hence the name), or backpack. It works great for me as a field-dressing tool, because of the sharp point and the way it sort of melts into my hand. Probably not at all what you're thinking about when you think "hunting knife", but man what a useful little blade.

 
I have a Bark River Fox River in A2. I absolutely love it. You can get it in A2 for well under $200. A2 is slightly prone to rusting but you can get it in Elmax (stainless) for a bit more than $200. The convex edge is dead easy to maintain. If I don't lose the knife, it will be a lifetime knife for me.
 
I'm 54 years old, and have been searching for the "perfect" all around camping/hunting/bushcrafting knife since I was in elementary school. I just found it, and I cannot recommend these things enough: A Battlehorse Renegade. A close second choice is a Bark River Gameskeeper or Bravo I in A2....
 
As far as handle material what has everyone found they liked? I know g10 is big. But there is something for a good exotic wood and the way it looks. Or many other materials.
 
I've lost count of how many deer I've dressed and skinned over the years with my Buck 110. As mentioned above few knives beat a good custom. I have an Ed Jones skinner with gut hook that, once I reground the gut hook, works flawlessly. Beware of gut hooks with a shallow grind and/or thick blade, they just don't work.
 
Have you looked at the Canadian belt pattern knives?

(top to bottom) DH Russell #4 Survival in carbon (5.5" blade), Russell Grohmann #1 in carbon with flat grind and micarta scales (4") and a R Murphy Skinner in carbon (4"). The Russell Grohmann knives can be had in stainless as well.
Canadiandesignknives_zps7f1a1dca.jpg


The R Murphy can be had for around 40 bucks.
RMurphSkinner_zpsc7a39cbb.jpg



Google DH Russell and Grohmann knives also "elliptical blade"...a very famous pattern.
 
Another suggestion: I have a couple of customs from Robert Hankins in D2. Their cost is right in line with factory prices and they cut like lasers. Super good edge retention too.
 
All posters so far have given great suggestions, so I'll give one more. I have more fixed blades than I care to think about, I even have a couple customs. Just to give you an idea what I use my fixed blades for. Firestarting, wood processing, food prep but mostly for deer processing. Between my 15yr old son and I we usually get between 4 and 6 deer a season. We skin and process all our own. Now to answer your question, of all my knives I will reach for my Falkniven F1 99% of the time. It has vg-10 laminated steel, a nice grippy textured Kraton handle, nice belly for skinning and it's very lightweight. Do I think it's the best knife made, no but it is extremely well made and just does a whole lot of things really well!
 
I just purchased a Hess knife for dressing deer. 1095 steel is scary sharp. One of the sharpest knives I have ever bought. Made in Michigan by a father and son that
used to work for Marbles. They have several styles of handles that should suit your needs. I also purchased a Grohmann Canadian knife as well. Have not had to chance to use it yet. Also, Battle Horse Knives are very impressive, enough so I bought two.
 
I like this thread - I know I personally now want to buy more hunting knives. Some of which I already wanted, and some of which I learned about in this thread. Good stuff.

Still an unconventional choice, I know, but wanted to say I had a chance to use my little Wilmont Pocket Skinner on Saturday on a little 10-point I killed. I used a BK16 for the field dressing this time, but hung the carcass until Sunday before skinning. That tends to make the skinning not difficult, but more difficult than freshly skinning.

I was again impressed with the little skinner, as it proved to be very useful again. Here's a shot of the knife, along with the cape.

 
I've always used a USA Schrade-Walden 15 OT (Deerslayer), from the '60's (yup, my first big knife that I saved about $12 dollars in lunch money for and had an older neighbor buy) as my primary hunter/skinner. I supplemented it with a Sharpfinger later, for easier caping, which is essentially its little brother. The Deerslayer is also good as a bush knife, with its baton anvil and tall blade. The Sharpfinger is an occasional EDC. I've never even considered looking for another hunting knife in that time.

The 'slayer probably has the best 1095 of any of my 1095 blades---just something I've always felt. Very stiff and gets very sharp. Has never been of issue. I retired it a couple years ago, still in good condition. Not sure how the Schrades of today are.

For a folder my vote would go to my Buck 110.
 
Last edited:
Check out Martin knives. Between Ed & Newt something is bound to catch you eye
 
Brommeland said:
I'm 54 years old, and have been searching for the "perfect" all around camping/hunting/bushcrafting knife since I was in elementary school. I just found it, and I cannot recommend these things enough: A Battlehorse Renegade. A close second choice is a Bark River Gameskeeper or Bravo I in A2....
Click to expand...

I just checked out the Battlehorse, nice looking knife! :thumbup:
 
MOCraig said:
I like this thread - I know I personally now want to buy more hunting knives. Some of which I already wanted, and some of which I learned about in this thread. Good stuff.

Still an unconventional choice, I know, but wanted to say I had a chance to use my little Wilmont Pocket Skinner on Saturday on a little 10-point I killed. I used a BK16 for the field dressing this time, but hung the carcass until Sunday before skinning. That tends to make the skinning not difficult, but more difficult than freshly skinning.

I was again impressed with the little skinner, as it proved to be very useful again. Here's a shot of the knife, along with the cape.

Click to expand...


"Little" 10 point!!??!?!? lol that's bigger than anything I've seen in the woods.. I've shot one 8 that's about a 20" inside spread but big bucks in Michigan are mostly nocturnal and hard to find..
 
OP I guarantee you'd be satisfied with the BM I posted, sucker came laser sharp I did 3 field dressings this season with it and didn't touch the edge other than a couple wipes on my sweatpants to keep it clean and washed in between
 
Better count again because I counted more than 10 points on that buck. Plus, he's got good mass and spread to go with it. A fine buck. DM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top