Let's talk deer knives....

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Poeschel

Joined
Jan 2, 2016
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Hey guys, deer season is winding down here in PA, but I'm always on the lookout for a new deer knife. I go through a mental dilemma every year of what to carry. I always have a SAK in my pack and a Laplander saw for makeshift blinds and what not. I prefer to only carry one knife on my belt but never can decide on a pattern. I generally like a skinner best except for cutting around the anus ( that's the way I learned and I'm too lazy to change.). For that I prefer a longer thinner blade. What do you guys like for patterns?
 
For the anus?
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Joking :p

But seriously speaking...I always liked the idea of a simple bill hook knife that has an edge ground on the spine as well (never seen one. but in my head it seems like it would make a great skinner).
 
If you got the deer on hooks or hanging grab the poop shoot with your hands and cut around it, most any knife I've used works for this. Hold it until its cut free and pull that sucker down and out.

I use my big Chris knife on multiple animals and found there is such a thing as too sharp for skinning LOL

I like the Winkler belt knife as well for animal processing.
 
I use two a case hawkbill and a skinner of my own design similar to a green river buffalo skinner with a couple of differences.
 
shinyedges said:
If you got the deer on hooks or hanging grab the poop shoot with your hands and cut around it, most any knife I've used works for this. Hold it until its cut free and pull that sucker down and out.
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This x2 ... Nothing extra to carry around.!! For a belt knife, my go to is a Cold Steel Master Hunter in Carbon V. I find it to be a good all around blade... Enogh belly to easily skin, short enough to get inside the chest cavity, and long enough to fully process a deer if I wanted to.
 
My favorite all-around deer hunting knife is the Buck Vanguard. I did open the last deer I shot with a SAK Hunter XT's gutting blade. It worked like a charm but was not really necessary. I used my Fallkniven WM1 for hide removal. It was right on top of perfect for that task, but the Vanguard would have been fine. I used three additional knives for processing the meat, but the Vanguard alone would have done the job without a problem. I rate it high for all-around use. Knife guys are going to try many knives, but if I was restricted to one knife for deer hunting, I'd take my Vanguard. However, next season, I'm going to try out my Queen Light Hunter.

Joe
 
Check out the BRKT Gunny - also called the Bravo Gunny - a most excellent option, IMHO:

Specs:
Overall length: 8.4"
Blade Length: 3.775"
Steel: CPM 3V, A2, S35VN, or Elmax
Thickness: .154"
Weight: ~5.50 ounces, depending on handle material
Full exposed tang; contoured handle
Leather carry sheath included

Here's mine in Amboynia Burl:

 
I use a victorinox boning blade mostly. Otherwise a Mora or three have served me pretty well my first three years.
 
shinyedges said:
If you got the deer on hooks or hanging grab the poop shoot with your hands and cut around it, most any knife I've used works for this. Hold it until its cut free and pull that sucker down and out.

I use my big Chris knife on multiple animals and found there is such a thing as too sharp for skinning LOL

I like the Winkler belt knife as well for animal processing.
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Can you explain this a little more? I'm having a hard time visualizing. I usually cut around the anus from the outside while he deer is on the ground during the gutting process. Then pull the poop shoot from the inside out. And by the way, that winkler is sweet. Reminds me of a schrade pattern on steroids. Not fond of the sheath though. Hard to get a belt through and when I have kydex, I like a solid click to let me know I'm in. Great knife though
 
Whitetail caper by silver stag knives is my favorite hunting knife I have found! Made d2 steel hand finished and made in the USA plus it's not to expensive

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BRKT Fox River Featherweight (3.0 ounces, 4.2 with sheath - that's light enough to carry two.. or three..!)

 
Before I got into knives I used whatever I had on me and as long as it was sharp it worked just fine.

I have dressed out quite a few deer with a Victorinox Tinker and a Case Trapper.

I now use a Mora Companion most Often simply because it is sharp as crap and useful for most any tasks in the woods. No complaints except that the thin Scandinavia edge will chip if you slip and hit bone.
 
I've used Buck 110 and 119. They both work well. Lately, I've been using a Nesmuck that I made. Maybe not the best for initial field dressing but is great for skinning
 
Poeschel said:
......And by the way, that winkler is sweet. * Reminds me of a schrade pattern on steroids *. Not fond of the sheath though. Hard to get a belt through and when I have kydex, I like a solid click to let me know I'm in. Great knife though
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Posting off this because I read the part I highlighted above so thought I'd kill two with one here....

My long-time goto hunter is an original Schrade--Walden Deerslayer from the '60's...meaning their 1960's 1095 steel. :) It's been an incredible knife and still is.

It's the big brother and progenitor of their Sharpfinger line, a few of which I've also owned a few over the years to supplement the Deerslayer with caping, etc.... It's the hunting concept of my leuku/pukko wilderness sets.

I can highly recommend the knife not only for the hunt but for the campsite afterward. It has a great baton ramp for splitting heavier wood and is really an outstandingly balanced specimen of full tang tough steel. You can find the original models for sale online pretty easily and they're cheap. I would stick with a vintage one though (i.e. "Schrade--Walden") --- I have no idea what "Schrade" pushes these days for steels.

Yeah, the Winkler is very similar in design to my Deerslayer and why I like it very much as well.
 
I field dress on average 3-4 and skin 1-2 deer a year. I most often now use (probably due to light weight) a carbon Mora and an Opinel No8 carbon. Some times I switch it up.
Skinning I tend to use the Outdoor Edge Swing Blade in AUS8, the blunt tipped gutting blade works real well for opening the hide wherever you want it to.
On the Opinel (even through I have treated handle with oil) after it is washed up, it takes a couple of days before blade opens and closes easily due to wood handle swelling.

Butchering I then switch to Victorinox boning and no name filet knife.
 
I used my Bark River Drop point Hunter on my bow buck and my Case 381 leather Hunter on my rifle buck. I dress deer the same as you and my Case is hands down my favorite for this
 
I've used many different knives over the years. Buck, SAK, Cold Steel to name a few. A KOA Alaskan Hunter has been on my belt for many trips. This JK Knives Personal Camp knife did an excellent job this fall... both for gutting and skinning.

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I think the Buck 192 is about all you need as others have mentioned. I like the fancier Cabelas version personally in S30V.

If you want to spend more money, look at Dozier knives as many are made for hunting and will last a lifetime if you don't loose it. The same applies to Bark River knives.

You'll be looking for the next one a year from now regardless. Tis the way it is.
 
shinyedges said:
If you got the deer on hooks or hanging grab the poop shoot with your hands and cut around it, most any knife I've used works for this. Hold it until its cut free and pull that sucker down and out..
Click to expand...

I too am having a hard time visioning this.
 
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