The right knife
 

I just graduated from college and got a decent job, so I can finally afford to go deer hunting. I' ve got most of my gear but I have no clue what type of knife I need to field dress, skin and butcher a whitetail deer. Please advise brand/model/blade etc.
Thanks
Kid

RE: The right knife
 

I use a gerbar gator with the ats-34 blade .It is reasonably priced at $65 here in canada and stays sharp much longer than any other knife that I have used.

RE: The right knife
 

I have several.. but my fav. is a Buck knife that has a drop point blade on one end and on the other is a bone saw/gut hook.. they have them on Cabelas... I dont know the exact name of the knife... but they have one that is beyond the Rockwell scale(much harder than steel and stays much sharper).. exact same knife just treated different and its like $79...

RE: The right knife
 

Buck 110. Around $40.00 and worth every red cent. Old time favorites are hard to beat.

RE: The right knife
 

Kid I used to carry several but lastyear I got a Browning " FDT" (Field Dressing Tool) for Christmas. I had always considered such multi-blades as too " gimicky" . It' s the knife I wish I would' ve gotten 20 years ago tho! It has 3 blades, 1 a guthook/straight razor type blade, another a drop point skinning/dressing knife (with another guthook on the tip) and a bonesaw blade makes up the 3rd one. Works like a charm!

Great quality as well! ;)
RA

RE: The right knife
 

RA already has one of my dream knives , but a skinner with a gut hook will do for general use . It will get the hard part done .

RE: The right knife
 

I' ve been thinking about buying a Buck Alpha Hunter. I' ve always loved buck knives.

RE: The right knife
 

I also carry a Gerber Gator & Sagen Plevis Saw gets used for most of my field dressing work. I also carry a Kreshaw Blade trader for multi uses while on a week long trip or bigger game hunting. I process my own animals, as such I think it is essential to have a good boning knife to make this task quick and effortless.

It really depends on your uses and requirements. The gerber or other drop blades will allow you to FD and skin and animal. I prefer the Sagen Pelvis Saw to removing the anus by cutting while FD (they are cheap like 12 bucks), but choice is yours. If you want some versitality then the Kershaw Alaskan Blade Trader is worth a look.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: The right knife
 

I use a Swiss Army knife that has a lock blade and a gut blade. It works really good on dressing out a deer. I' ve been using the same knife for over 10 years and the blade still will hold an edge long enough to dress out several deer! Everyone' s first impression is to laugh at the knife, but by the time I get through skinning up, they all want to know where they can get one!!! It' s a great knife!
Here is a link to where you can get one, and I think they have free shipping!

http://store.yahoo.com/swissarmyexpr...saroldrab.html

RE: The right knife
 

stay away from knives of alaska. they break for what seems no reason. bucks and gerbers are the best. gerber holds the edge better

RE: The right knife
 

I own Puma, Gerber, and Buck 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" folding knives and all work well. The Gerber is my favorite. Any will due but I have to remember to bring one of them with me. They don' t work well sitting at the house.

RE: The right knife
 

i have to say Buck i have two of them, there sweet--


remember to bring one of them with me. They don' t work well sitting at the house.


--srry hit wrong keys--:)

RE: The right knife
 

I suggest you do a bit of research on the steels used in knives. All will rust, but some faster than others. I would also consider the ease with which thsy can be sharpened in the field. You might take a look at Cold Steel' s Master Hunter in the Carbon V steel. This knife can be had with or without a gut hook. The grip is made of Kraton - a rubber like material that resists slipping and does not add to your misery on cold days. Cold Steel knives come hair popping sharp right out of the box and the edge geometry makes them easy to sharpen. I use Spyderco' s Sharpmaker to sharpen all my knives.

RE: The right knife
 

I have used quite a few knives for skinning deer. If you want something that holds and edge the best, go to a pawn shop or gun and knife show and get a used Buck. I am talking about one that is 20 years old. They hold a good edge. Of the newer knives I have used, either a Puma or Browning is my favorite.

I have gotten away from knives for skinning though. I currently use a quick change utility knife. When skinning I only use the tip anyway and the utility knife is always sharp.

RE: The right knife
 

I have had the same SOG Knife for 3 years now, seems to be
the best knife I have ever owned.

RE: The right knife
 

Wow,

That' s like asking...what' s your favorite? Blonde, Brunnette, or Redhead? Bound to get alot of different responses!

I' ve used quite a few different knives that I would consider satisfactory. And a few that I would consider really good. For deer you will probably find that the knife that works best for dressing and or skinning the deer...are not the same ones that will work best for butchering. (If butchering is on your agenda.) For a few good examples of good butchering knives...peer into your local neighborhood butcher shop, or two, if you can. They will be using good examples of butchering knives. And depending on what cutting they are doing, probably more than one!)

For dressing and skinning deer, bigger is definitely NOT better. A blade with a lenght of 2 1/2" to 4" will be more than enough. Gut hooks work well especially until you gain some experience. And usually a blade with a " drop point" style is normally easier to keep track of inside the animal when you can' t see it. Trust me, if you don' t keep track of it when you are skinning, you will find it with your other fingers!

As a rule of thumb. The blades that hold their edge the best, are also the hardest ones to resharpen when they do go dull. Conversely, the ones that are easiest to put an edge on, will dull the fastest. Ideally try to strike a balance. But deer aren' t terribly big and nearly any fixed or lock blade knife will hold an edge long enough to dress and skin a deer. Depending on where and how you hunt, you may not even skin the deer in the field. In Pennsylvania for instance most hunters dress their deer in the woods, drag them to camp, and skin them either at camp or home. (Most just take them to processors.) So if you just need to dress in the field and skin at camp or home, edge holding characteristics become even less important.

I would suggest looking at an appropriate blade sized (once again 2 1/2" to maybe 4" in length) knife in either a fixed or locking folder style. If you stick to any of the " brand name" knives you will be less likely to make a mistake. Find one that feels good in your hand, fits you well, and will not be slippery when wet. And if you are not certain the proper way to sharpen a knife...don' t. Pay a shop to either show you...or do it for you. (Unless you are lucky enough to know someone that knows how.) Probably many good knives have been close to ruined by improper sharpening.

Best wishes and good luck with your decision!

RE: The right knife
 

SOG SEAL Pup www.cabelas.com 54 dollars, worth every cent. Trust me.

RE: The right knife
 

I use a Cutco knife with a serrated blade. I have had this knife for 10 years and have skinned a lot of deer with it and even used the serrated edge to saw through some and it is still sharp enough to take the hair off my arm. It has never been sharpened in all these years. Cutco has been around for a long time and the knife is guaranteed for life. When it does need sharpening all I have to do is send it to them and they will sharpen or replace it all for the cost of return postage. It truly is the best deer knife I have ever owned and I used to be a meat cutter for a living so I know my knives pretty well. Here is the link:

Cutco

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: The right knife
 

Case!
I have a case model 316-5 and it is awesome for cleaning deer. it has whipped the hides off more deer than most yahoos on here could dream of shooting!
i just bought the little brother to it a 3" finn just cause i wanted it.
my step father gave my son a buck zipper. i am about ready to throw that scrap metal away! won't keep an edge and heavy!
case! great knives!

RE: The right knife
 

All good suggestions. When you want to do a little dreaming go here for the best.

http://randallknives.com/

RE: The right knife
 

Right now my favorite hunting knife is a buck alpha and my second is a browning mako pro. Both take a great edge and hold it well. I personally don't like folding knives so I can't help there.

RE: The right knife
 

What a question!

You could use one knife for everything. Need to get one with good steel AUS-40 or D-2, the harder the steel the tougher the edge and sharpening is some work.

A few I have seen lately that are real quality for the price.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-Product%20Spec?ks1070, $40 - Kershaw is a quality manu.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-Cus...,60,=,outbound - $70 Benchmade makes good stuff, edges can be hit or miss out of the box.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?AK11 - $50 - knives of alaska are great steel and edge. This caping knife is super all around


A great all around option - http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-Product%20Spec?ks1130, - the two piece game shears separate. I use mine for deer, birds, and fish. Very good steel, great out of the box edge.


Favorite in the field -

www.dozierknives.com - perfect size, awesome manu, best steel, super edge. But $165 for a knife/kydex sheath. Bob Dozier makes awesome hunting knives.

Good Luck