New guy to Buck fever needs a skinner- 103 or 113?

J

jefcon1

Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
9
This fall I got my first Buck knife, a 110, for deer season. Now my mom and step dad want to get me a 'nice' (mom's word) 'real' (step dad's word meaning fixed blade) knife to go with it. I just got into deer hunting a couple years ago and the 110 was to replace my Kershaw Corral Creek and Air Force Survival knife combo I was cleaning with. It was a workable duo, but still too much and too little all at the same time. Honestly, I can probably do anything I need to do to the whitetails around here (NC) with just the venerable 110 (I can't believe I'm 44 with a drawer full of knives - and this is my first Buck knife!). But... my step dad wants me to pick out a 'real' skinner and my mom wants to get me a 'nice' knife. Heck, I've been a good boy this year and I like knives, so I'm picking out another Buck match up and compliment the 110.

So far the 103 and 113 keeping topping my list. The 103 has great hand-feel and that classic purpose-built design. I haven't held a 113 yet but its about the same dimensions as a 110 and the 110 feels very good in my hand too. The blade on the 113 looks a little more do-it-all (piercing, gutting, skinning, slicing, etc) than the 103's blade. I can't really qualify that as a positive or negative since I would always have a clip point blade with me anyway. I also held a Vanguard (I don't recall the number) at a gun and knife show a few years back and I loved the way it fit my hand, but they seem a little too 'nice' for some reason. I know they make a rubber grip Vanguard now, but I'm not a fan of rubber grip knives. I don't want something as utilitarian as a PakLite or the Omni but I don't want something that I'd feel needed to be polished and displayed either. Buck has a lot of fixed blade skinner/hunting knives to chose from. Not liking gut hooks or rubber grips got me down to a manageable set to choose from, but still too many to consider every variable.

I should probably give my parents both model numbers (103 & 113 or even the Vanguard too) and just let them surprise me. But I decided to post here just in case someone has some great insight for me, because I'm terrible at making decisions like these. Choosing the 110 was easy because I've wanted one since I was 10 years old. But if there had been 112 on the shelf beside it that day, I'd probably still be in the store with one in each hand trying to decide. Also, fwiw, I'm pretty sure my wife already ordered me a 112. I'm not sure if that factors into any logical decision process or not. But, the 113 would look darn nice on the dresser beside the 110 and 112. So there's that. Can anyone throw some sanity my way?
 
Jef, Welcome to the Buck part of the forum... I like the 103 and a 102 and a 105... I have a GEN 5 too but have never used it... It would wook just fine I'm sure... ITE ... :thumbup:
 
The Gen 5 and Ergohunters look like good knives. I wasn't given a budget to work in, but I have my step dad's voice in my head saying "fifty bucks". Maybe he's telling me I need 50 Bucks? The 103 and 113 seem to retail around that number. Past that price point, the Vanguard is the knife that I find most appealing. Maybe its the thicker blade, but it seems like a more durable knife for the added cost. Although I'm sure durability is not even an issue with any of these knives. At least I still have it narrowed down to a brand.
 
jefcon1, I'm not a hunter and have never skinned any animal so I can't help with my own advice. There will be a couple of guys along later (at work now) that are avid hunters and will be able to give you first hand impressions of several models and how they really work in the field. David Martin and jb4570 immediately come to mind. There's others also and I'm not meaning to slight them, I just know those two.
 
Get the Vanguard.I have 2 of the wooden handled ones.I can not even guess how many deer it has gutted skinned quartered and cut into family sized portions.The rubber handle ones are nice when you have blood all over the knife and are reaching up through the chest cavity to cut the esophagus so you can pull out the heart and lungs.That is just my opinion I am 44 and have been hunting for 32 years.
 
You could do well using a couple of those mentioned and you'll probably have different taste a few years down the road. Thats the joys of learning. I can only give you what works for me or what I enjoy. Your taste may vary. Only the 103 has enough belly ( as I like belly)and length to be the better skinner in your group. Plus, it and the 192 (which has good length and point) have been offered in upgrade steels. Don't you also have hogs in North Carolina? Skinning a fat animal is where a deep bellied blade pays off. With good woodsmanship a guy can over come an equipment short fall. Its coupling the best equipment for the job with know how that enjoyment seems to spring forth. DM
 
STOP, STOP, STOP, and listen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You said you want a skinner...YES?
Then your decision is simple, you choose the 103 period.
One thing about these forums is you get a lot comments from people who have not one clue about what they are saying...sorry Buck brothers.
The 103 has been in production since the 50's. There is a reason for that....best skinner on the market.
The Vanguard and 113 are great general purpose knives but not skinners.
So, listen to me young man and buy yourself a classic that will last you the rest of your life.
I still have the one Dad gave me in the mid-70's and intend to gift it my favorite nephew.

Buy a Vanguard as your Camp knife. That is what it was intended for...taters and onions.
 
Welcome aboard,I would definately look at the 103 skinner,also the gen 5 skinner is quite a good skinning knife as well.For skinning,a buck 110 will work good,but for a purposely designed tool for the job ,go with a real skinning knife like the 103.The vanguard is a great knife ,it will work but not as great as the purpose built skinners will.

I'm 39 and have been hunting since 12 years old,I use a 110 for most everything,but skinning jobs i do love the 103 ,its a great caping knife also!
 
Thanks for all the responses! David, yes we do have hogs in NC. That is an excellent point because, even though they aren't in my immediate hunting area, they are on my list and a short drive away.

It sounds like the 103 is a knife I'll end up getting someday anyway, I might as well get it now.
 
I like the 103 myself mainly due to the blade profile however I also prefer the old school phenolic handle of the 103 versus the Ranger 113 brass and wood but that is just personal preferance (I find knives with hidden tangs to be a bit more ergonomic and I've always felt that a designated skinning knife should sacrifice some strength for Ergos).
 
BG42EDGE said:
Let's face it......that really does sum it up. Nothing more to say.

:)
Click to expand...

I handled a 103 at a local shop today. Yep, that's a great feeling knife. Nice and light and feels natural in my hand. I still want a 113 or a Vanguard, but I'm putting the 103 on the list for this year. Even though it won't be a general purpose or EDC, at least I'll still have 6 more hunting days after Christmas to use it out this year.
 
Oh Boy,,, Could I ever get into this thread, but will just say that the guys are right, the 103 is a skinner and the Vanguards are not. I tried a Vanguard and the drop point blade failed me. It now lives in mothers kitchen drawer and she raves about how sharp it is. S30V

Down the road, you may want to consider a 105 or a 121 to reach in a little better removing the quarters and bs. But,,, you may well find that once you start working on a deer with the 110, you may finish with it.

Yeah,,,long time hunter here. Texas Hill Country.

And Welcome to the Buck Forum !!
 
Aman brother... I completely aggree. The 103 has long proved itself as the Skinner of choice, thus the 50 years of production. If it wasen't a good skinner they would change the name, like the 121 fisherman/guide(1985 name change.)
 
You could go to an auction site and look for a twin set, 104 (a 103 and a 102), sportsman set 115 (a 103 and a 118) or a trophy set 117 (a 103 and a 116). There seem to be a few out there lately.
 
mbjannusch said:
You could go to an auction site and look for a twin set, 104 (a 103 and a 102), sportsman set 115 (a 103 and a 118) or a trophy set 117 (a 103 and a 116). There seem to be a few out there lately.
Click to expand...

They had a 105, 102 and a 119 in the case at the shop too. Any one of those would be a good combo with the 103. Those sets look great too. I wish Buck still sold them like that. But, since I'm 'allowing' my aging parents to get me this knife as a gift, I'll refrain from introducing them to the wonders of online auctioning. In my 44 years I have caused enough trouble already.
 
I'd almost bet that Buck got the inspiration for the 103 (formerly the 110) from the old skinners that were popular back in the fur trade and buffalo hunting days. Here's the 103 with a Russell Green River skinner. This Russell is from the early 1980's but the design didn't change over the years. They were one of the go to knives for the buffalo hunter/skinners.

Skinners.jpg
 
I had (might still have) a really old butcher knife that has a blade just like that top knife. I'm going to look for that over the holiday to compare it to the 103.
 
The one I pictured was part of my Buckskinning stuff, but my wife took it away for several years to use in the kitchen as a butcher knife. She loved it.

This one was also popular and even with the upswept blade, the design still resembles the 103.

Skinner.jpg
 
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