Hunting/Skinning

M

matthew.brian.smith1

Joined
Jun 20, 2012
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101
So it's official, boys and girls. I'll be getting my first-ever hunting license in a few weeks, heading out to learn how to bring home some food for the family. Not a fan of the mystery meat they call beef at the commissary/grocery store anymore. Plus, I want to teach my boys to appreciate where our food comes from, as well as how our lives affect the world around us. I've got my gun sorted out: a 1979 Remington 870 Wingmaster. That brings me to my question.

Assuming I'll be able to bring something home, what would your recommendation be for a skinning knife? I've got a Mora Clipper, a BK7 and various other blades, but if there is something that would work better, I'm all about it. Thanks!

mbs
 
One more vote for the BK15. It will work wonders on critters.
 
If it hasn't been said enough already lol bk15, that thing looks like it'll slice up game real nice
 
I'm going to be different.

I like a shorter blade for cleaning small game. Go for the BK-14, and get the zytel scales.
 
I just hope me & my daughter get a few deer this year. I gots me a zillion blades i wanna try out on some ! LOL If so, maybe i will do a whole deer with just using all my Beckers---BK-Venison ! LOL
 
SaturatedShadow said:
I'm going to be different.

I like a shorter blade for cleaning small game. Go for the BK-14, and get the zytel scales.
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I'm with Shadow. I like a short blade in the 3.5 inch range. Better control, makes sure ya don't perforate an innard that ya didn't intend to.
 
You gonna be doing field dressing or dragging home and dressing?


Field dressing- BK-17
Home dressing- BK-5
 
I am going to try out my new BK-11 on my first deer of the season. I think the 3.25" blade is perfect for field dressing a deer. FYI: the lanyard is attached in a way to take it off while gutting an animal. Don't want any body fluids on it...lol.. We shall see. I have used a Buck folder for years with the same size blade and never had an issue...
 

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dramos1 said:
If it hasn't been said enough already lol bk15, that thing looks like it'll slice up game real nice
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I can tell you from experience that it WILL slice up game really well. :thumbup:
 
You can do it with a larger blade - heck, I've cleaned squirrels with my BK9 just because...

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... but smaller is way better...

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To me the BK11 (or BK14 if you prefer) is about the optimal size and sturdiness. Those blades are just long enough that you can lay your index finger along the spine - not important for small game, but when you are up to your elbow in a deer's chest cavity, it pays to know *exactly* where your blade is and what it's doing.

No idea why there are so many votes for the BK15 (no offense to that knife but I'd NOT like to process game with it). That trailing edge might be ok for skinning really large game but it's just not needed (or desirable) for skinning or dressing or parting out the smaller stuff. As to trying to field dress a deer - honestly, I'd rather use a broadhead - think I could do the job more safely. It would probably make a pretty good butchering knife (for once the animal is dressed and skinned) and a fantastic kitchen / table knife but the BK11 / 14 is a much better choice (as would be the BK16/17), IMO.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
I agree some of the others I would definitely prefer using a 11/14 to gut and field dress it but once I got it home I would reach for the 15 to break it down (process) into the different cuts.
 
You can use almost anything, a lot of the ye olde fronteirsmen would choke up on the blades of their Bowies, wrapping their palms around the spine and putting your fingers and thumb on the side of the blade (a bit back from the edge) to skin game. That said, I do prefer a smaller knife like the 11/14, but the 15 will do quite well also.
 
I used my BK-11 on mulies last year. THe only thing it wasn't good for was the backstrap (needed a longer blade to make clean slices in my opinion). Did gutless cleaning and skinned the limbs on two deer without needing a sharpening. I'll be arrying it again this year.

Clark
 
I used my BK-14 with zytel to do a pesky rooster a couple months ago. Worked great. Chickens are a little different though. I unscrewed the scales and cleaned them real good afterwards. Simple.
 
Cwilliamson said:
I used my BK-11 on mulies last year. THe only thing it wasn't good for was the backstrap (needed a longer blade to make clean slices in my opinion). Did gutless cleaning and skinned the limbs on two deer without needing a sharpening. I'll be arrying it again this year.

Clark
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What are "Mulies" to you guys over in the states? Over here they're a type of baitfish...Like a sardine.
 
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