Deer skinning with Case 6318

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Bro. Johnson

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Jul 21, 2018
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Hey guys. Newer member here. Only have posted a couple times. Was wondering if anyone used a 6318 (3318) to skin a deer. I’m thinking of making it my only EDC for an entire year, but did not want to be in over my head if I had to skin a deer later on in the fall. Any comments appreciated.
 
Was watching one of those Alaskan wilderness people shows on TV & the guy completely field dressed a moose with a leatherman multi-tool ... so i would think a person could field dress a deer with a medium stockman.
 
I'd go for it, there's no law saying you can't change you mind later on or just slip a belt knife on during the deer season. Field dressing shouldn't be an issue, for skinning I personally like a Dexter Russell Skinner, but that rides in my pickup until I get back to the gambrel.
 
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about the only place I'd see a problem is if you decided to split the ribcage or pelvis. It should handle all the "cutting" tasks well.

My ideal knife would be anything with a 3-4" blade.. slip joint, lockback, fixed... I don't think it would matter much.

Now, for our Texas jackrabbits? That's a different story... THIS one comes out...
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A guide I used to hunt with used a yella case medium stockman to skin all his hogs, probably 3-4 a week. And this is down in the Georgia swamps where the hogs are covered in mud and who knows what else that can dull a blade while skinning.
 
My dad uses a Case XX Trapper for deer that he picked up 40 years ago; probably dressed over 100 at this point. He doesn’t split the rib cage though, knives are for cutting. I wouldn’t expect a Stockman to do any worse at the job.
 
Just because you EDC one knife for however many consecutive days, does not mean you cannot add another one or more to keep it company.
As long as you have it on you, it is still your EDC.
If you want to pair a fixed blade to your EDC, during deer season, or any other time, and use it, that isn't "cheating".

For 30 or 40 years, my EDC has been a large stockman, a canoe, scout/camp knife or SAK Huntsman (for the saw and scissors), and until recently, a Buck 110 or Old Timer 7OT. The Buck and Old Timer have been on vacation for a couple months, since I got a Marbles MR417 two blade slipjoint Folding Hunter.
Sure, I've changed things up once in a while. A Barlow instead of a stockman while I was in the hospital and physical therapy after I had a stroke. A large (4 inch closed) Sunfish took the place of the canoe for about a year, and a Buck 87 or Western L66, or Mora Classic Number 1 sometimes took the place of the Buck 110 or Old Timer 7OT on my belt. Come to that, different 110's ranging from a standard production brass and wood, a SK Blades "Smoke Jumper" LT, a Buck "NASCAR?" or "RACING" Limited Edition 110 LT, and a SK Blades "The Gentleman" 110 SFO have all served duty for weeks and months at a time on my belt over the last year.

Being retired, most days I may use none of my EDC knives. On some days I may use one. On still other days, I might use them all. However; Used or not, they are still my EDC.

In answer to your question:
No reason you shouldn't be able to dress a deer with your stockman. The Clip Point and Spay blades are both commonly used for skinning critters.
 
You can certainly do it with a Medium Stockman (my favorite EDC pocketknife). Skinning a small or large deer with a main blade or even a secondary is doable - look at all the folks who skin deer with the long spey blade on a Case 54 Trapper (probably a better choice for skinning). Now butchering is a different story - you could do it with a Peanut - but I'd rather have more knife - a 3-1/2" to 4" clip blade on a fixed blade knife. If time and convenience don't matter go ahead and do everything with the Med Stockman, take pictures and let us know what you think when you get it done - I'd love to hear about it. OH
 
No need to split the ribcage, or even gut the animal, unless it's very warm outside. Just skin the animal, remove the shoulders and the hams, then take the backstraps and tenderloins. A two inch blade is enough to do the job, but much quicker and easier on the hands to use a larger one. A 3½ to 4½ inch fixed blade is the best medicine.
 
black mamba said:
No need to split the ribcage, or even gut the animal, unless it's very warm outside. Just skin the animal, remove the shoulders and the hams, then take the backstraps and tenderloins. A two inch blade is enough to do the job, but much quicker and easier on the hands to use a larger one. A 3½ to 4½ inch fixed blade is the best medicine.
Click to expand...

Jeff, I started doing this several years ago. The first one was on a Mule deer buck about 2.5 miles away from the truck. Makes it a lot easier than dragging one out. It has since been used on every elk, except one, that my buddies and I have gotten over the years. But I agree, a little longer blade makes this task easier, especially trying to separate the hip joint.
 
Just because you can do something doesnt mean you should lol you could skin and gut a deer with a medium stockman, but get ready for frozen, cramped hands. Itll take way longer than it should. That little neutral handle is not going to be comfy, and those small blades arent suited for the job. The clip point is alright but the secondary blades are too small to be really useful, unlike a Trapper.
Im not saying it cant be done. Im just saying that its ok to have a cheat day lol A fixed blade or pocket knife meant for the job (like a Trapper or folding hunter) is what Id suggest.
 
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