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Posted: 10/22/2017 7:20:26 AM EDT
Any suggestions? I have a few current options here at home that I may use but it would be nice to have just a dedicated knife to skin with. About a $50 budget. I do not need a Stag horn grip knife for this
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Posted: 10/22/2017 7:48:22 AM EDT
[#1]
had the same issue last year. I have the gamete of expensive knives (Benchmade, spyderco, emmerson) but wanted a dedicated skinning knife. I ended up buying a nice blank and then dremil sanding my own grips. I'm not really a DIY guy but I enjoyed the easy project and got something I really like for its purpose. I was out the door around 50 bucks but I did upgrade the grips to some dark Africa wood that I think looks better and is supposed to be really hard wood (giggity). I keep it in my workshop (or beer drinking station) which is essentially a garage addition built under a large addition on my house. It stays rather warm in there but the temp does fluctuate so I wanted a harder wood handle. I have a nice concrete patio under my addition and I just hang the deer down there and do my butchering. If you decide to go this route just make sure you pins line up perfectly before you start hammering away or you can crack the wood.
When all else fails the Buck 101 is a classic and exactly at your price point. Smokey Mountain Knife Works Blank I ended up with something similar to this but with a gut hook on the back. I don't see my exact model but honestly I didn't google-fu to hard. |
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Posted: 10/22/2017 8:21:52 AM EDT
[#2]
I picked up one of these a few years ago at Wal-Mart for $17. Back them black was the only color available. The orange would be a great option, my nephew bought one too and we said so at the time.
https://www.buckknives.com/product/paklite-skinner-knife/0140FAM01/ He shot a buck that year that we gutted and skinned. A couple days later he shot a cow elk. He got her gutted saving the anus for last. His knife was just them getting dull enough to be dangerous so l gave him mine. When we got home a few strokes with his Lansky brought his knife back. I now carry a sharpening steel in my pack. These little knives are impressive. I still carry my ColdSteel Master Hunter but rarely use it anymore. |
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Posted: 10/22/2017 8:25:19 AM EDT
[#3]
Skinning as in you are processing it yourself or just a knife for field gutting? For gutting, a knife the size of an ESEE Izula is perfect. Skinning requires a longer sweeping or trailing point blade.
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Posted: 10/22/2017 8:31:28 AM EDT
[#4]
The more with the been plastic handles works great on Amazon search more knife. They run less than 15 bucks come razor sharp.
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Posted: 10/22/2017 1:55:53 PM EDT
[#5]
Something with a gut hook on it such as the Gerber Myth works better for me and is a great feature for zipping through hide.
But I use a Buck 118 too, that belonged to my dad: 
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Posted: 10/22/2017 2:07:23 PM EDT
[#6]
No you don't. Just get a friggin knife and skin some deer.
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Posted: 10/22/2017 6:30:17 PM EDT
[#7]
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Posted: 10/23/2017 6:19:20 AM EDT
[#8]
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Currently, I have my ESEE 4 sharped to use if we get one in the next few days. I plan to get something new before this next weekend though.
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Posted: 10/23/2017 6:28:29 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryI have one of these and it is amazing. I also have a Jeff White Nessmuk like this that I carry on my belt:
Attached FileFor some reason I cant get the picture to load. |
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Posted: 10/23/2017 8:25:45 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No you don't. Just get a friggin knife and skin some deer. |
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Posted: 10/23/2017 11:45:47 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have one of these and it is amazing. I also have a Jeff White Nessmuk like this that I carry on my belt: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/74034/Jeff_White_Custom_Nessmuk_Knife_&_R__Jones_Sheath_55_00-341527.JPG For some reason I cant get the picture to load. Quote HistoryQuoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/74034/Jeff_White_Custom_Nessmuk_Knife_&_R__Jones_Sheath_55_00-341527.JPG For some reason I cant get the picture to load. |
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Posted: 10/23/2017 11:51:37 AM EDT
[#12]
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Posted: 10/23/2017 12:25:31 PM EDT
[#13]
Skinned, gutted and butchered a lot of hogs with Mora knives.
I'll start with 2 or 3 Mora knives so I don't have to sharpen them in the middle of the job. They are cheap so it doesn't hurt to buy couple and easy to keep sharp. Not fancy but they work well. |
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Posted: 10/23/2017 1:26:25 PM EDT
[#14]
Make your own.
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Posted: 10/23/2017 1:32:02 PM EDT
[#15]
If you just want something cheap that works, Mora's or Hultafors are a good option. I would go with carbon steel with either of those as their stainless isn't very stainless in my experience. Both are available on Amazon for around $15 or less. The sheaths are cheap but functional.
The Hultafors HVK is one of the best values around at just over $7. I like the classic Buck knives too. The 112 Ranger is my favorite but I also have a couple of 110 Hunters and a 102 Woodsman fixed blade that I use regularly. The 103 Skinner will have a better blade profile for a dedicated skinner but that makes it less versatile. It's much harder to cut out the anus or separate joints with a deep bodied blade than with something like a clip point. My dedicated skinner is a Bark River Loveless Drop Point Hunter, but that's well outside of your budget. I usually keep at least two knives on me while hunting. Which two usually comes down to what happens to be the sharpest at the time. I rotate them out during the season and resharpen them in the off season.  Attached File |
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Posted: 10/23/2017 3:50:27 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Skinned, gutted and butchered a lot of hogs with Mora knives. I'll start with 2 or 3 Mora knives so I don't have to sharpen them in the middle of the job. They are cheap so it doesn't hurt to buy couple and easy to keep sharp. Not fancy but they work well. Since then I acquired a Helle knife with a more rounded blade shape, which I prefer for skinning. The Helle knives are my first choice, but a little more spendy. |
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Posted: 10/23/2017 5:38:05 PM EDT
[#17]
One other thing...
In addition to Mora knives, I usually carry a box cutter with new blade. I use the box cutter to get the initial Y or X cuts and around legs where I have to cut through hair/fur. Deer/hog/elk hair/fur will dull a sharp knife very quickly so I use the box cutter to get the job started. Then I use the Mora to actually do the skinning and other work. |
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Posted: 10/24/2017 8:17:09 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No you don't. Just get a friggin knife and skin some deer. If you WANT to justify buying another knife, have at it. But I have skinned well over 100 deer and use whatever is handy. If the deer is still warm I peel more than anything. Handiest 2 things to me area 4 1/2" Rapala filet knife and a single edged razor blade. I use 100s of them. Also trap, and use a few no name knives and a LOT of razor blades. Skin a few otters and get back to me. 
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Posted: 10/25/2017 3:01:00 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The Piranta works great for deer, but don't expect much out of them if you're skinning hogs. Hogs are bad about dulling a normal blade. Those really fine scalpel-like blades get trashed in a hurry. |
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Posted: 10/25/2017 8:23:53 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Are you cutting the hair or is it just that the hide is much thicker? There are no hogs in WA so I don't have any experience with them. I can normally get 2-3 deer with each Piranta blade (using a pull through sharpener) before I try and use them like a prybar on something and they break. That being said, I always try and cut from the inside out and no use it on hair. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The Piranta works great for deer, but don't expect much out of them if you're skinning hogs. Hogs are bad about dulling a normal blade. Those really fine scalpel-like blades get trashed in a hurry. |
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Posted: 10/25/2017 8:25:41 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I never cut through the hair. I hook the blade underneath the skin and cut out. Their hide is tougher, but you don't actually cut through the hide much. I don't know what it is about them that dulls blades to be honest. The "shield" is really rough on blades, but the Piranta with a brand new blade I used was dull before I ever got to the shield. |
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Posted: 10/25/2017 9:57:02 AM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
Any suggestions? I have a few current options here at home that I may use but it would be nice to have just a dedicated knife to skin with. About a $50 budget. I do not need a Stag horn grip knife for this  
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Posted: 10/25/2017 10:05:17 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryThis
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Posted: 11/3/2017 10:10:43 PM EDT
[#24]
I added a Buck 0691 Zipper to the collection that arrived today; shiny, smoothly finished, feels solid and really good to my hand, and it's sharp as a razor.
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Posted: 11/4/2017 10:13:00 PM EDT
[#25]
Case Knifes! Still made in America. The make a couple nice skinners.
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Posted: 11/7/2017 2:05:04 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote History |
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Posted: 11/7/2017 2:25:04 PM EDT
[#27]
Get the Buck skinner 103. I have lots of custom knives but nothing has come close to it. It’s superb.
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Posted: 11/8/2017 11:37:32 PM EDT
[#28]
cabelas alaskan guide made by buck knives. has the s30v steel and i have skinned and gutted 4 deer and it will still cut hairs on my arm with ease. its over budget but its worth the extra in my opinion.
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Posted: 11/9/2017 12:24:43 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
cabelas alaskan guide made by buck knives. has the s30v steel and i have skinned and gutted 4 deer and it will still cut hairs on my arm with ease. its over budget but its worth the extra in my opinion. |
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Posted: 11/9/2017 9:06:08 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you buy a Buck, either go this route or custom order one off their website with the s30v steel. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
cabelas alaskan guide made by buck knives. has the s30v steel and i have skinned and gutted 4 deer and it will still cut hairs on my arm with ease. its over budget but its worth the extra in my opinion. I've always wanted a 119, but didn't want to spend the money on what was essentially a junk knife. The option of S30V steel in one has me thinking I might get one after all. |
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Posted: 11/9/2017 1:01:58 PM EDT
[#31]
Buck doesn't offer the customization option on all their models. Just their most popular ones.
As far as conventional stainless goes, their 420HC is pretty good because of their heat treatment but it still doesn't compete with modern super steels IMO. |
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Posted: 11/9/2017 9:26:39 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryI've been using a Buck Vanguard since 1994. I've lost count of how many it's done. Not the best for either gutting or skinning though. When I first saw the Havalon knives on MeatEater, I knew I wanted one. Got a Piranta about three years ago.
It's a great gutting knife, almost too sharp as I seem to cut myself every time. And as much as I want to hate it or try something new, I keep coming back to the Piranta. I can usually get two deer out of a blade, although the swept portion tends to get dull a little too quickly. The plastic on mine is cracking in a couple of spots, so I don't know how much longer I'll get out of it. I still carry the Vanguard, but anymore I just plain suck at sharpening. |
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Posted: 11/11/2017 12:29:49 AM EDT
[#33]
Buck 119
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Posted: 11/12/2017 11:29:24 PM EDT
[#34]
I have a nice drop point Cold Steel knife that I've skinned and boned a cow elk and a Deer with and have yet to sharpen it. I also have a set of knives from Knives of Alaska and really like them.
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Posted: 11/19/2017 9:32:59 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryJust ordered a no. 8 fixed handle and 50 no. 70 blades.
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Posted: 11/19/2017 9:39:11 PM EDT
[#36]
Blackjack 125 or Bark River Gunny or one of many from them. I like the Bucks as well but they tend to dull somewhat by the time I’m finishing up. The A2 steel keeps an edge better.
Eta spelling |
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Posted: 11/20/2017 10:43:18 AM EDT
[#37]
I learned to skin from an old Mexican butcher, that man could take a cow apart with a 4" Paring knife, hide, head, legs off. I prefer this knife for skinning. Hit it on the stone before going out, a few blade wipes and licks on a good steel, and I've skinned 3 elk without going back to a stone.
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Posted: 11/20/2017 11:03:07 AM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Just ordered a no. 8 fixed handle and 50 no. 70 blades. Quote HistoryQuoted:
For the guys that say they suck on hogs, I’ve skinned hogs with mine. Blade gets dull I chuck it, easy as that. They are cheap and take all of 3 seconds to change out. Blade gets dull, stop skinning, drink some beer, change blade, have some more beer, back to skinning. |
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Posted: 11/26/2017 6:21:51 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
One other thing... In addition to Mora knives, I usually carry a box cutter with new blade. I use the box cutter to get the initial Y or X cuts and around legs where I have to cut through hair/fur. Deer/hog/elk hair/fur will dull a sharp knife very quickly so I use the box cutter to get the job started. Then I use the Mora to actually do the skinning and other work. Construction knives are cheap and easier to find replacement blades than the Havalon if you forget before hunting. |
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Posted: 11/26/2017 7:05:47 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Something with a gut hook on it such as the Gerber Myth works better for me and is a great feature for zipping through hide. https://www.bladesandbows.co.uk/ekmps/shops/bladesbows/images/gerber-myth-fixed-blade-pro-gut-hook-4764-p.jpg But I use a Buck 118 too, that belonged to my dad: https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/234/234956.jpg |
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Posted: 11/27/2017 8:53:20 AM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This is the way to do it. A regular construction knife with a carpet blade for the original cuts and the $10 Mora's that I buy in three's when Amazon puts them on sale. I bring at least two on each hunt so I don't have to worry about sharpening between deer. Even if I did, it only take about 15 minutes to put the edge back on it if you do it after two deer. Construction knives are cheap and easier to find replacement blades than the Havalon if you forget before hunting. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
One other thing... In addition to Mora knives, I usually carry a box cutter with new blade. I use the box cutter to get the initial Y or X cuts and around legs where I have to cut through hair/fur. Deer/hog/elk hair/fur will dull a sharp knife very quickly so I use the box cutter to get the job started. Then I use the Mora to actually do the skinning and other work. Construction knives are cheap and easier to find replacement blades than the Havalon if you forget before hunting. |
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