what blade length is most comfortable for you for field dressing

I love and alternate between a Becker Necker and a Rat-3. I just wish the blades were a little more narrow.

I recently used a longer blade (5") in the chest to free the windpipe and diaphram and was pleased with how my hands got less bloody from not reaching so far into the chest. The extra blade length also made splitting the sternum easier.

So I guess it is 3-5 inches, anything sharp with a little belly.
 
I used a Dozier Delta Traveller on a hog last year (240 lbs before slaughter), it's about the same size as his K2 model. It worked great, including splitting the sternum and pelvis, but I was careful with it.
 
dd61999 said:
I am finding smaller knives (2-3") are more enjoyable to work with for field dressing.

What knives do you guys like to work with?
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Generally I prefer a narrow, thin blade of around 3" to 3-1/2" for deer and bear. For elk and larger, I use a blade of about 4" to 4-1/2". When I was trapping countless years ago, we used long narrow blades up to 5" in length (boning knives) and small, thin, pelting blades. Thick, heavy, wide blades have no place in my hunting pack.

-Dan
 
I like a drop-point around three inches for whitetails. Like others have mentioned, the Spyderco Native or Native III is a wonderful tool for the job, and what I carry during archery season (when I'll be in a treestand). If I'm ground hunting, I usually carry a Fallkniven F1.

This year, I field dressed my buck with my new custom from fixed blade by Joel Bolden. It's a bit larger; a 4+" drop-point/spearpoint, but worked very well.

JCB%20knife.jpg


Next year, I want to bloody up my new/old Blackjack Woodsman:
Woodsman.jpg


Good hunting,
desmobob
 
I use the inexpensive 4" fillet knifes from Rapala with the wood handles. They are very thin and sharp yet have enough stiffness to get the job done of field dressing and even some butchering. On Bears I use a custom 6 1/2" long blade that looks very much like an old Sharpfinger for field dress.

MTMM
 
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