Let's talk about fillet knives

fruitbat

fruitbat

Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
1,274
I have a few different fillet knives, but none that I'm crazy about. I have a Spyderco Catchman, which I just can't get into( I normally love Spyderco knives). I have a Schrade that get dull after 2 fish and I'm a much better fisherman than that.:D Found a Repala last year while fishing, but I don't think I've tried it yet. If used it, it didn't impress me. I also have Gerber that works ok. But it just seems like there should be some better ones out there. I'm looking for a really good one. Suggestions???

I do like Mora knives. Are the Mora Fillet knives any good?

Thanks in advance!!!
 
I know Buck has one out in S30V that pretty good, other than that customs are the way to go.
 
I am a big fan of inexpensive filet knives. The forschner/victorinox breaker knife is excellent for larger fish like tuna and their fillet knife is good for smaller fish, the dexter Russell filet knife is also good. These are what butchers and deckhands use. Once you get a good edge, they are easily maintained with a steel. They are available at restaurant supply houses or kitchen stores. The victorinox are stainless and the Russell/ dexter are high carbon so they wont last if you leave it in your tackle box. I use my filet knives hard and have lost my share so I am not heartbroken when I lose one of these and I always have a couple around.

If you want something high end, then White River Knives has a really nice line of traditional filet knives in S30v
 
Red Rock Tools makes some really nice fillet knives. I helped a coworker purchase a custom in S35VN and Walnut from the maker, Steve Grosvenor. He just had some pretty nice Vanax steel models in the Knifemaker's section, not sure if they're still available or not.
 
I really like the Buck Clearwater Series 6" Fillet Knife with flexible 12C27Mod Sandvik blade. It works well for me and it's not too expensive...
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I just went thru this same dilemma here recently getting ready for fishing season. Had a few Filet knives that were getting long in the tooth and it was time for an upgrade (sharpened way to many times over the years). I purchased a bunch of them, and kept the ones I liked and gifted the others to my fishing buddies. The three I liked the best and kept were the Opinel (7") Fillet and Kershaw 6" for folding knives to keep in the tackle box/in boat use and the Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 8" for the regular/main use fixed blade. I think I had maybe $60 invested in all three and should last me for years. I ended up getting rid of 2 Rapala Fillet's (just wouldn't hold an edge), Kershaw fixed blade,and the Rada Cutlery R220. I was going to try the Mora, Buck and a few others at some point this summer, but the Dexter and Opinel just fit the bill perfectly, and really liked the Kershaw 1256 6" design. Guess there is a reason the Pro's use the Dexters because it does seem to get the most use. Though I try and fillet on boat/shore quick to keep clean-up easy and just pull out the folder.
 
I've had a J. Martinni custom stainless filet knife for years and I like it. I understand they are kind of famous among fishmongers. I think they make some of the high-end Rapalas too, not sure.

They have a few different styles on their website.
 
onojoe said:
I am a big fan of inexpensive filet knives. The forschner/victorinox breaker knife is excellent for larger fish like tuna and their fillet knife is good for smaller fish, the dexter Russell filet knife is also good. These are what butchers and deckhands use. Once you get a good edge, they are easily maintained with a steel. They are available at restaurant supply houses or kitchen stores. The victorinox are stainless and the Russell/ dexter are high carbon so they wont last if you leave it in your tackle box. I use my filet knives hard and have lost my share so I am not heartbroken when I lose one of these and I always have a couple around.
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Even being a custom knife maker i recommend and use the cheapies because if you drop them over the side or forget about them with a pile of fish guts on the blade its only a few bucks to get another, not in the hundreds like a custom.

One trick I learned is to get your ready at home and then bring a small ceramic medium grit dowel with you for a quick touch up if the blade starts to drag.

Buck knives makes really nice and affordable fillet knives for the field. Be careful buying "Buck knives" off of ebay cause some of the cheap ones are knock off's from china and are not a licensed made knife.
 
Rapala is my go to from fish to salami. Maybe it's the nostalgia and good performance for a very affordable knife. Gotta love the fact the sheaths are made in Estonia.
 
I didn't know about the Dexters. And now that I do - I like!! I did recently see a J. Martinni at a gun show. I looked at the knife and it was wicked sharp, but didn't take the time to look at the price as I wasn't thinking about them then. I would prefer to not drop a huge chunk of cash on one since I have a history of losing things over the side of boats/pier/shore.

Keep the suggestions coming. Are the Kershaw fillet knife any good?
 
Not what you are looking for I'm sure, but I can vouch that the Becker Magnum Camp is a surprisingly effective filleting knife.
 
fruitbat said:
I didn't know about the Dexters. And now that I do - I like!! I did recently see a J. Martinni at a gun show. I looked at the knife and it was wicked sharp, but didn't take the time to look at the price as I wasn't thinking about them then. I would prefer to not drop a huge chunk of cash on one since I have a history of losing things over the side of boats/pier/shore.

Keep the suggestions coming. Are the Kershaw fillet knife any good?
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The Kershaw fillet blades are a go!
 
I recently got a China made Kershaw fillet. Used it tonight on a couple of fat catfish. It did ok but I was really hopeing for something better.
 
I've got a Uncle Henry, it's ok, doesn't seem to hold an edge very long. And I've got a Queen #F7 that holds the edge fairly well. It has stag handles and is comfortable for me when using it. I'd love to get a custom with CPM154
 
EChoil said:
The J. Martinni fillet knives are among the finer ones.
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Actually this is one that I have my eye on. I took a quick look at one at a gun show a few months ago before I was looking for a fillet knife. I wish I had looked closer. How is the blade flex?
 
They recently got discontinued by Benchmade, but the Lonewolf folding fillet knives are the best I've ever used, and they're cheap. I only fillet up fresh water fish, trout, pike, and walleyes, and the Lonewolf fillets work great. I use them from time to time for other kitchen tasks as well. If you do some searching I bet you could find some left over ones on the shelf, camofire.com has them from time to time. Brad.
 
I am with you. I have been looking for a good fillet knife for a while. I have an old Uncle Henry that is ok, but nothing to write home about. I have been eyeing the Cabela's Alaskan Guide, but have cheaped out. By the way, why are most fillet knives made from 420J2? I'm assuming it is for corrosion resistant, but will definitely not hold an edge.
 
We fish Key Largo every summer. I have a Fillet knife(6" blade) from Kmart(bought 1997) that has a plastic sheath with 2 ceramic dowels in it. MahiMahi, Blackfin tuna,

Snapper. Florida lobster.....no problem. The key is having the ceramic sharpener in the handle right on the filet table next to you. The blade needs a touch up every 3rd

dolphin(mahimahi). Since your hands are slippery it helps that ceramic is in the sheath because it is easier to hold.
 
fruitbat said:
Actually this is one that I have my eye on. I took a quick look at one at a gun show a few months ago before I was looking for a fillet knife. I wish I had looked closer. How is the blade flex?
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I don't use fillet knives, including this one, but I can say that it appears to me to be a finely crafted, precise, flexible blade. I know they are available in different blade lengths. I have another Martinni--a leuku--and can certainly vouch for their quality and craftsmanship.

The fillet knives are on their website.
 
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