Recommendation? Which knives for field dressing deer?

[Kabanstva]

Hi guys, can you fellas throw out some names of knives that you would use to field dress a deer? Trying to get a good one (budget $250).

I got the Bark River Fox River 3V but want to expand my collection if possible.

 

[ghostrider1]

Get a benchmade seat belt cutter for gutting. I don’t like knives with a gut hook built in. I have one othe older Benchmades and have been using it for years

 

[Dan of Bazz Clazz]

In that price range there are many producers that make great blades suited to the task. My Bark River B&T would do nicely. Arno Bernard makes great stuff. On the smaller side but up to the task, Dave Ferry's Horsewright knives are wonderful. Boker Solingen and Arbolito lines both make some great drop points, the style I prefer for dressing out big game.

 

[Halador]

It might be a bit out of left field, but I'll recommend the Grohmann Canadian Belt knife. Well under your budget, and a very purpose-oriented design. Pretty much everyone who has one loves it. Assuming you can get past the handle egos which are very much a love/hate.

 

[gadunz]

A slaughterer's skinner for sheep, cattle, wapiti, dogfood horse & presumably bison & moose.

Curved Skinner 5 3/4
Model 677BB
Length of Blade (inches) 5 3/4"
Over All Length (inches) 10 3/4"
Blade Shape Curved Skinner
Handle Material Mahogony and Brass
Steel Specifications 15N20
Blade Thickness (mm) 2.2mm
Sheath Leather

Slightly shorter for medium game speciality
http://www.svord.com/img/p/2/0/0/200-large_default.jpg
Utility Skinner
Model US
Length of Blade (inches) 5"
Over All Length (inches) 9 1/4"
Blade Shape Skinner
Handle Material Wenge and Brass
Steel Specifications 15N20
Blade Thickness (mm) 2.2mm
Sheath Leather
http://www.svord.com/index.php?id_category=20&controller=category

 

[palmerdl]

Never thought I'd like it, but bought an Outdoor Edge Swingblade just for the hell of it, and it's turned into a favorite. I don't like gut hooks at all.

I have lots of Bark Rivers and I like larger knives. So, Gameskeeper.

 

[afishhunter]

Schrade Sharp Finger
Old Timer 7OT or 6OT
Buck 103 Skinner
Buck 113
Buck 110
Mora No. 1 or No. 2
Old Hickory "Butchers Knife" cut back to 4.5 to 5 inch blade.

 

[pinnah]

Hi guys, can you fellas throw out some names of knives that you would use to field dress a deer? Trying to get a good one (budget $250).

I got the Bark River Fox River 3V but want to expand my collection if possible.

You've got a super nice knife. If it were me, I'd be spending that money on ammo and range time.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would take a look at Bob Dozier's knives. He has many in the $250 price area. I personally would look for something like the K-6 Companion or K-4 Straight Hunter.. There are others depending on the size you're looking for. But for straight hunting, hard to beat about a 3" fixed blade.

The Spyderco Moran is another good one and much cheaper than a Dozier. I think they run around $125 now, but I bought mine a few years ago.

The classic Buck 102 Vanguard is always good. I like the Cabelas Alaskan Guide Series version which runs around $125.

I would tend to carry a dependable traditional knife like the GEC Improved Trapper or the Case regular sized Trapper.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

I think the CRK Nyala is fantastic.

Keep in mind, you don't need a $250 knife to gut a deer, my Buck works just as well, but if you WANT a $250 knife to gut a deer, the CRK fits the bill perfectly!

 

[22-rimfire]

No you don't need an expensive or $250 knife for deer hunting. You buy such a knife because you want to. I have field dressed most of my whitetails with a traditional slip joint. That's why I always have one with me.

 

[shortwinger]

Outdoor edge makes some nice processing knives and they have kits that make everything from skinning to final processing a breeze. Very reasonably priced too.

I'll also second the Grohmann Original Canadian belt knife and the Buck 110 or 119 as great all around game knives.

The CS Canadian Belt knife is a good way to try the pattern at about $11. CS also makes a great a Master Hunter that I have used for years along with my Outdoor Edge.

The Victorinox Hunters have been handling deer very well for a long long time.

We have used lots and lots of deer knives but always seem to come back to the ones mentioned above.

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks for the recommendation Dan

I do make some purpose driven and designed by pros knives for these occasions, The Sonoran series:

Sonoran Camp Knife:

Sonoran Camp knife is an excellent hunter too. Designed by a very experienced guide (who was interestingly of the use the trapper folder for everything too) but he wanted something a little bigger and this is what we came up with. I called it the camp knife cause I'd already used Sonoran Hunter for another design.

Sonoran Skinner:

Designed by a hunter that has travelled the world following his passion.

Sonoran Hunter:

Designed by the same hunter who also writes for numerous magazines on said subject.

From top: Sonoran Belt knife, Sonoran Hunter and Sonoran Skinner in sheep horn with a Pack Pac. The Sonoran Belt knife was originally designed as a caper but morphed into an excellent bird and trout design as well as a popular EDC. The Pack Pac is designed for carrying the two larger knives in a pack and the Sonoran Belt knife goes on the belt. Each knife comes with an individual sheath too:

They work.

Base price on these starts at $250.

 

[Stubai]

Seems as if this question pops up on the radar screen just about this time every year. Someone said that you don't need an expensive knife to accomplish this task, and on that I totally agree. It is more about the man or woman behind the knife than other factors. A simple, very sharp knife can and will do the trick if the operator is up to snuff. Of course, it is cool to show up at the hunting camp with a fancy blade that is sure to garner a bunch of attention. My now ancient Randall skinner gets noticed each and every time I pull it out of the sheath. I could have sold that thing a hundred times or more. Heck, one fellow even wanted to buy my old sheath. Not going to happen on my watch...

Of the knives I have to choose from, I would select the Scrapyard Skinner. It might be a tad on the thick side but it sure does glide through and keeps a keen edge for what seems like an eternity. Also love the grip/handle on that knife. I have also used the Buck 110, various Schrade offerings and even an old Puma which has been somewhat abused, sharpened and touched up a million times. That Puma (small bowie style) is a vintage piece that still does the job. Love the well used antler slabs on that baby!

Last season I used a Scrapyard 311 and was quite pleased. Again, so many great choices out there in our world these days.

 

[OldNavy]

Havalon,
https://www.havalon.com/baracuta-blaze-pack-includes

 

[22-rimfire]

If you like Bark River stuff, the Bobcat Hunter model would be a very good choice in my opinion.

 

[hexenjager]

I've tried a fair number of field dressing knives over the years, but there's one that's always in the pack regardless of what else I bring with me- the Cold Steel Master Hunter. Mine's an old carbon V version and I have yet to find something that I personally like better for the job... and I've tried. Not because there's anything wrong with the Master Hunter, it's just the fact that I'm a hopeless knife nut.

 

[philos]

I personally like having two knives for hunting. One for gutting and one for skinning. If you are looking at simply field dressing-removing entrails-you could do quite well with something as inexpensive as a Wyoming knife or similar. If you go with a traditional knife I would go with a shorter fixed blade knife. I like the ESEE Izula for this but there are several well under $250.00. Go with a handle material you can grip if knife gets wet.

 

[Scaniaman]

The Outdoor Edge Zip Pro is a really neat accessory to a fixed blade hunter. It's the gutting blade of the Swingblade in folding version. I use mine with a custom 5" Mora/Frosts sheep skinner I made.
As been pointed out above, the Cold Steel Master Hunter is a solid hunting knife. I own the 3V version, but have not used it much yet. I think paring it with the Pro Zip would cover all your needs in the field for deer size game and upp.

 

[Dangerously]

If you like Bark River stuff, the Bobcat Hunter model would be a very good choice in my opinion.

Are you sure the right answer isn’t: White River Backpacker Pro?