Shortest blade length for field dressing and skinning

troutfisher13111

troutfisher13111

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What do you guys consider to be the shortest blade length for a knife that will be used to field dress and skin animals? I am talking about actual cutting edge length.
 
Saw a YouTube clip of Cody Lundin skinning and removing a leg from a mule dear with a simple stone blade that was no longer than 2".
 
Many years ago, I shot a deer and then found out I had forgotten to bring my hunting knife. I only hbad my pocket knife, a Buck 303. I was able to field dress that deer with the little Buck, but l did learn to always double check for my hunting knife. My actual hunting knife is a Bob Jones 3.5 inch drop point and it is all I have ever needed for white tail and mule deer.
 
For deer I'd say 3 1/2". My BK-11 works well on them. For elk size critters I prefer a 5" blade. It seems to work better when removing the backstraps.

Clark
 
Just to add, my current favorite hunting knife has a 3-1/2" blade. I am just curious how short others may like or have used.
 
It is a personal thing, but I like knives that are on the smaller end of the scale.
I have an older Buck 444 folder that has a cutting edge of approx. 2 1/2 inches, and it will work just fine. You can only use so much edge.

That said, most of my hunting knives have blades that are 3- 3 1/2 inches long. I will never understand companies that market hunting knives, that are 12 inches long with a 6 inch blade. I guess I should say, I will never understand people that buy knives that big. But if they are happy with them, that is what matters
 
3-3.5 inches. I prefer 4-5 inches though, makes long slicing cuts a bit easier, such as when removing backstraps from deer or pigs. I have used a SOG Seal Pup, 4.5 inch semi-serrated tacticool knife as my go-to skinner for the last four years, worked great. The Aus-6 holds a wicked edge and was still shaving hair off my arm after cleaning and processing a South Texas feral hog about two months back. I switched to a SYKCO War Dog recently, waiting to test it out.
 
My hands down favorite deer knife is my Busse Active Duty. I don't have it in front of me, but it has a blade length of about 3.5" and edge of what, 2 7/8"?
 
The minimum you could do it with is 1"-2". You could probably get it done with a box cutter, but why would you want to?
 
3 1/2 or 4 inch blade seems to work best for me. My go to knife is an old Randall #11, with a 4 inch blade.
 
For dressing and skinning a couple inches is plenty. Done the dressing and skinning on a few deer with an izula. For butchering a bit more is handy. When skinning a deer you really don't need a knife for much at all.
 
Last edited:
troutfisher13111 said:
What do you guys consider to be the shortest blade length for a knife that will be used to field dress and skin animals? I am talking about actual cutting edge length.
Click to expand...

Can you be a little more specific about what animals you're talking about? My rabbit knife is a little different than my elk knife. But if I could only have one for everything, it would be a drop point with a 3-1/2 - 4" blade.
 
I use a 2 - 3" knife for field dressing/skinning everything. The shorter blade is easier for me to manage when I reach up into the chest cavity of a whitetail to cut the wind pipe. It feels like I have greater control with the shorter blade. My goal is to be efficient and clean as possible when field dressing, skinning, and quartering game.
 
Over the years I've found a 3" to 3.5" blade is perfect for field dressing and have even used them to completely process large whitetail deer. A knife that big isn't necessary, but it makes the core chore much easier.
 
The Spyderco Moran (3 3/8" cutting edge) is just about the perfect size for me and a very capable knife for this purpose. I have often just used a pocket knife (folder) with about a 2-2.5" blade (your typical trapper pattern). I suspect my Dozier Personal with about a 2" blade would do just fine.

I want the knife to be a sharp extension of my fingers, not my arm. I cut/nick myself far less often with a smaller blade especially when dealing with field dressing whitetail deer and smaller animals. Inside the chest cavity, I am frequently going by feel and that is where I will cut myself.

I want a larger knife for meat processing. Skinning can be the same knife as for field dressing.
 
Well, I guess if you're talking absolute minimum, an inch or so will get the job done if you know what you're doing. I've field dressed several over the years with just a little pocket knife. Now if you're talking efficient and practical, I like knives in the 3 to 4 inch length. My personal knife right now is one I made for myself and it's a Sharpfinger inspired knife with a blade about 3 1/4".
 
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