Recommendation? Which knives for field dressing deer?

I've processed fish, small game, birds, deer, elk, with the single blade SAK that was called the cowboy. Two of us using this same kind of knife did three elk in an evening doing only a couple of touch ups on the knives. I guess you use what you have as any sharp blade will work if you know how to use it. I keep that knife in my hunting pack.
 
Yes, there are some good SAKs for field dressing. My two favourites are the "Hunter" (also a 111 mm model, with small gutting tool) and the Hunter XS. They suffice for field dressing deer etc, if one prefers not to carry a fixed blade.
 
I like a shape like this for a field dresser. 3.5 drop point blade with very usable choil. I don’t really care about steel. 1095 will get me through two deer easy before any sharpening.
RAT RC3(Esee)
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Dangerously said:
Are you sure the right answer isn’t: White River Backpacker Pro? ;)
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I like that knife a lot since I got it, but that is not the one I recommended for this task. ;) However, it would work great.
They've been out of stock a couple weeks, else I'd have bought one by now.
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I may well have bought the last one. It's laying on my desk in front of me begging me to recommend it. ;)
 
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I'm confused because most of their backpackers are out of stock, including what they call their flagship, the M1 Caper which I'm loving the look of. But it also says "Shipping will take,1-2 weeks" - maybe they're being made to order now?
 
lieferung said:
I'm confused because most of their backpackers are out of stock, including what they call their flagship, the M1 Caper which I'm loving the look of. But it also says "Shipping will take,1-2 weeks" - maybe they're being made to order now?
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I logged into one of the regular knife dealers (probably same one as you) and their website said precisely the same thing. But it also said "in stock", so I ordered. It was shipped promptly. I have the orange handled one. It was a rather quick decision to buy at the time as one poster here really sold me on it.

Added: Not sure, but if I wanted one, I'd give them a call and ask a real person about availability. About recommending it.... I would probably choose it over the Spydie Moran just because it has slightly better steel and the price is a bit less.

When I drop by KSF's store, I'm going to suggest they carry the White River line as they are quality made stuff! KSF just announced that their store front is open. However, I had emailed them a week ago or so and they said their store front has been open since Sept 4th. I think they just got the nice sign up. I'm local to them now.
 
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lieferung lieferung White River Knives say a two week delivery but I ordered the Backpacker Pro and it shipped in three days ... DLT trading has the upgraded version of it the Caper with Micarta scales instead of the G10 in stock if that knife is in your consideration ...

As far as a good deer hunting knife ... you ... can field dress a deer with nearly any knife ... but my personal preference is a approx. 4" drop point and I carry a Wyoming knife as I dislike a guthook on my knife ...

For your $250.00 you could go pretty extravagant for a deer hunting knife ... and I have a few I really like and a CPK EDC2 and a Carl Colson Pike Co. Skinner that will be getting those chores this season I think they will both be a great deer knives but a bit above the $250.00 price tag ...

and 2 others I use on Whitetail , Muley or even Elk and wild hogs ... LT Wright Outback and CRK Nyala ... the LT Wright and CRK Nyala are in your price range.

but I used a Buck Vanguard for many years and it still goes as a backup ... as someone mentioned Cabelas offers the Vanguard in S30V with coated blades but Bucks 420HC is simple to sharpen and touch up ... and I have field dressed a few deer without touching up the blade ...

good luck hunting and hope you find the knife that you really like.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
lieferung lieferung White River Knives say a two week delivery but I ordered the Backpacker Pro and it shipped in three days ... DLT trading has the upgraded version of it the Caper with Micarta scales instead of the G10 in stock if that knife is in your consideration ...

As far as a good deer hunting knife ... you ... can field dress a deer with nearly any knife ... but my personal preference is a approx. 4" drop point and I carry a Wyoming knife as I dislike a guthook on my knife ...

For your $250.00 you could go pretty extravagant for a deer hunting knife ... and I have a few I really like and a CPK EDC2 and a Carl Colson Pike Co. Skinner that will be getting those chores this season I think they will both be a great deer knives but a bit above the $250.00 price tag ...

and 2 others I use on Whitetail , Muley or even Elk and wild hogs ... LT Wright Outback and CRK Nyala ... the LT Wright and CRK Nyala are in your price range.

but I used a Buck Vanguard for many years and it still goes as a backup ... as someone mentioned Cabelas offers the Vanguard in S30V with coated blades but Bucks 420HC is simple to sharpen and touch up ... and I have field dressed a few deer without touching up the blade ...

good luck hunting and hope you find the knife that you really like.
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You can field dress a deer with just about any sharp knife. I bet you could do it with a Vic Classic but that certainly wouldn't be my choice. The Cabelas Buck Vanguard is a real sweet knife if you like that design. I do. You can got handmade easily with a $250 budget.

My general approach these days IF I deer hunt is a small fixed blade and a traditional slippie in my pocket. Probably would have my Vic in my pocket too since I always carry it. But the GEC slippie would be my backup in the sense that I am very comfortable using a knife like this for deer chores. I would go with a longer blade for deboneing and so forth.
 
22-rimfire said:
You can field dress a deer with just about any sharp knife. I bet you could do it with a Vic Classic but that certainly wouldn't be my choice. The Cabelas Buck Vanguard is a real sweet knife if you like that design. I do. You can got handmade easily with a $250 budget.

My general approach these days IF I deer hunt is a small fixed blade and a traditional slippie in my pocket. Probably would have my Vic in my pocket too since I always carry it. But the GEC slippie would be my backup in the sense that I am very comfortable using a knife like this for deer chores. I would go with a longer blade for deboneing and so forth.
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I agree ... there have probably more deer field dressed with slipjoints than most would think ... I have even done that myself ... but I do prefer a fixed blade for processing game.

And the Vanguard is a great design for sure ... and very inexpensive compared to most.

And I learned a fixed blade on the smaller wide is the sweet spot for me 3 1/2" to 4 1/2" blades ... I just happened to get the CPK EDC2 and one from Carl Colson ... just because I love the designs and materials ... but the Vanguard would do anything they will ... it just needs touched up a bit quicker. And I got the White River for caping out deer for mounts.

And I also agree with you ... skinning and actually processing deer or large game I have boning knives and butcher knives that run from Old Hickory knives passed down from my father to my favorites Becker's BK15 and BK5 handle everything during process except a flexable boning knife from Victrorinox.
 
Dangerously said:
Are you sure the right answer isn’t: White River Backpacker Pro? ;)
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I'd take a look at the White River Sendero Pack Knife.

Designed by Jerry Fisk, right in your price range, probably ship tomorrow.

My favorite was always the old Schrade USA Sharpfinger. I'll buy another one of those some day.
 
Kabanstva said:
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.
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My uncle likes the Kershaw leek, easy to carry, good blade size, and holds an edge VERY well. We skin deer and hogs with it.
 
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