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Post by JS84 on Jun 15, 2023 10:01:55 GMT -5
Wife wants to buy me a father's day gift. I'm a tough one to surprise so she just asked me what I wanted and I told her a fixed blade skinning knife. I'm thinking the top back left with the brass guard. Which would you pick?  |
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Post by One Man Gang on Jun 15, 2023 10:45:24 GMT -5
What all you skinning? Hogs and deer or moose and elk?
If it was me, and my choices were on the more expensive side, I would prefer holding the knife and looking it over rather than buying it blind. I know that's not always possible but that's my thought.
Of course I just use a good, well used, 20 something year old Buck 110 for my dressing and caping tasks and it never fails me. It will hold a razors edge for 3 to 5 complete deer depending on how often I drag it across a bone.
Having said that, if I was picking from your selection I would take the knife you're looking at or the one right below it... bottom row, second from left.
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Post by JS84 on Jun 15, 2023 10:54:39 GMT -5
It'll be used for Deer and hogs mostly. I checked it out when I was in WV for thanksgiving and for some reason didn't buy it then. Well balanced knife.
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Post by james243 on Jun 15, 2023 13:09:39 GMT -5
I would take your pick also. I like the guard for the purpose of having something to stop your hand from coming off the handle. I’ve finished off hogs and deer with a quick poke to the lungs. I like the security of knowing my fingers aren’t going to be sliding across the blade if I hit a bone with a swift stab.
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Post by JS84 on Jun 15, 2023 14:22:04 GMT -5
Small guard and not to fine or to blunt of a point is what draws me to it. I have a Havalon Titan that's shaped like a Buck 110 and I've had more then one time where I poked to much. Some of that could be experience too self admittedly.
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Post by meateater on Jun 15, 2023 15:28:47 GMT -5
i just use a p-38 but if i was you the top row middle knife would be my choice. hate finger guards
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Post by Stumpy on Jun 15, 2023 15:49:58 GMT -5
I like the one you picked and the one in front of it.
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Post by bswiv on Jun 15, 2023 18:28:42 GMT -5
I'll take this from a slightly different direction in that I see at least 4 of them that I'd NOT BUY.............
You initial choice is not in the "not buy" category......for what that is worth.
If it felt good in your hand......and you're confident the maker used good steel when building it I see no reason it would not be far more than serviceable.
And just to be clear.......35 years in the seafood business, much of that with a knife in my hand. Cleaned a few hundred gators, a emu or two, a ostrich, a few armadillos, snakes, otters, bobcats, turtles and on and on and on........plus....more deer and hogs than I've shot. That last thing, the having cleaned more deer and hogs than I've shot does raise the question of my intelligence!! Though, as I made a living with a knife in my hand it was always assumed by my friends that I'd not mind dealing with things while they had a beer. Which again raises the question of my intelligence based on my choice of friends!
If it's good steel.......and you use it enough to get comfortable with it.....then it'll be prefect.
All that said......I've a buck Esquire ( 501 ) my father gave me about 52 years ago that is on it's SECOND BLADE ( Buck replaces them if you wear them out.....which gives some idea of how much use it got. ) and it's still what I reach for when Louann brings home a roadkill that she wants skinned with the ears and face and paws still attached so she can desiccate it and hang it or give it to someone.
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Post by 4ward on Jun 15, 2023 20:08:25 GMT -5
Back row middle, if I had to pick.
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Post by meateater on Jun 16, 2023 9:42:00 GMT -5
Back row middle, if I had to pick. good choice. my pick as well. |
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Post by 4ward on Jun 16, 2023 10:12:30 GMT -5
 These are my favorites |
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Post by richm on Jun 16, 2023 10:46:17 GMT -5
I have two Buck 113s that are okay. They look like the knife selected by OP.
A fellow traded me a skinner with NWTF logo on it that is an exceptional knife.
End up using Buck 110 most of the time.
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Post by swampdog on Jun 16, 2023 15:11:41 GMT -5
I agree with your choices. However, I’m assuming the steel is good and accepts sharpening. I have a few old Buck knives that have also stood the test of time and use.
I’m a little “nutty” when it comes to knives and have too many (according to wife) so if your gift fails, hit me up and I’ll be happy to gift you a very decent knife. Gerber, Buck or a replaceable blade knife.
Good luck and I hope you clean a lot of critters with your new knife.
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Post by hunter85 on Jun 16, 2023 20:03:16 GMT -5
Bar none my favorite skinning knife is the outdoor edge replaceable drop point fix blade. As I hate trying to sharpen a blade while cleaning something. Blades are cheap in the grand scheme. But out of your picture it would be the top row middle and or the larger one in the bottom row far right but would have to handle them to make the final decision to see what size felt and swings the best. If I were to have a Coustom knife made I would say I would want something more along the lines of an over sized butter spreader, something with a rounded top so no point that is a bit on the blade heavy side but not with a really thick blade in the 3-4.5 inch range. With a handle that fills the hand.
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Post by olmucky on Jun 17, 2023 7:59:17 GMT -5
Id have to throw my hat in the ring for the buck as well
No rub on any other knife.
The buck works ans feels great in my hand
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Post by JS84 on Jul 10, 2023 16:33:34 GMT -5
I put together a sheath for it over the weekend.  |
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Post by 4ward on Jul 10, 2023 17:26:38 GMT -5
Looks great Josh, now go get some blood on it.👍 |
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Post by swampdog on Jul 10, 2023 20:57:43 GMT -5
The sheath really turned out great! Did the knife come sharpened and have good steel.
Hope you get to use the knife this season. No reason it shouldn’t last you a long time.
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Post by JS84 on Jul 10, 2023 21:04:36 GMT -5
Had a good edge on it and the steel looks quality. I'll have a much better idea after first use though. Lets see how the edge holds up.
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Post by bindersmom on Jul 11, 2023 8:33:59 GMT -5
that looks nice.
but for me an Outdoor Edge and some spare blades is all I use now. All my other hunting knives have been retired.
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Post by JS84 on Jul 11, 2023 9:42:29 GMT -5
I also have a Havalon Titan double sided I keep in my bag too. One side is a traditional lock blade and the other has the replaceable blade attachment. I have replaceable blades, gut hooks, and bone saws I can clip in. It's a good knife but I wanted something more traditional too.
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Post by bowhunter4life on Jul 11, 2023 14:42:41 GMT -5
I also have a Havalon Titan double sided I keep in my bag too. One side is a traditional lock blade and the other has the replaceable blade attachment. I have replaceable blades, gut hooks, and bone saws I can clip in. It's a good knife but I wanted something more traditional too. I can clean an entire deer with that little havalon knife. It’s small and doesn’t take up much room in your pack. Haven’t found anything better for gutting a deer. Easy to cut a ring around thee ole brown eye! Blades are inexpensive so if one snaps no big deal. Not the greatest for breaking joints though. |
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Post by JS84 on Jul 11, 2023 15:02:13 GMT -5
I've cleaned a couple deer and hogs with the havalon but I used the lock blade side mostly. The replaceable blades are a little on the flimsy side for me as I prefer a more ridged blade. It does ring the butt easily though due to the shape of the replacement blades. Ever use one of the hunter specialty butt out tools? I've only seen them on the web, never used one. www.amazon.com/Hunters-Specialties-Butt-Game-Dressing/dp/B002ECKYSAI think I'd rather just use a knife.... |
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Post by bowhunter4life on Jul 11, 2023 15:31:54 GMT -5
I have used the butt out tool, didn’t care for it.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jul 12, 2023 7:20:50 GMT -5
Why are you guys still gutting your deer? Unless it's for lightening your load back to the truck, I can't see the need. Even then, I'll debone the meat and bring the head out if the drag is too much of a pain in the ass. Or, I'm driving in to pick the deer up if the terrain permits.
Sheath looks good Josh.
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Post by JS84 on Jul 12, 2023 8:02:43 GMT -5
Lack of experience in my case. The buck I took up in WV this past season, my 'cousin in law' helped me dress it without gutting but in all honesty, I wasn't paying enough attention.
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Post by swampdog on Jul 12, 2023 8:16:17 GMT -5
I’ve done it about every way I know about, and still enjoy using a fix blade knife whether boning or skinning and quartering. A lot depends on where I am, and how much time I have.
On a big bodied buck last year the replaceable blade knife ran out of steam before completion of the job.
Some folks don’t realize a deer bone is very hard and harder than beef and hog according to a professional meat cutter.
I think with all the options today, it’s simply a personal choice kinda thing.
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Post by bindersmom on Jul 12, 2023 8:50:11 GMT -5
Why are you guys still gutting your deer? Unless it's for lightening your load back to the truck, I can't see the need. Even then, I'll debone the meat and bring the head out if the drag is too much of a pain in the ass. Or, I'm driving in to pick the deer up if the terrain permits.
It's pretty simple. I don't waste the bones, later I make about of gallon of finished bone broth per deer. I like the 4 shanks whole for braising.
Rib meat goes into the grind.
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Post by fishingsouthflorida1 on Jul 12, 2023 8:57:41 GMT -5
It’s on the pricey side but my motto is what you pay for is what you get and with that I really like silver stag the crown skinner. It’s deer meat for dinners signature knife he designed specifically for skinning hogs and deer. And the other is called woods n water. That one is a lot longer so you can reach in the guys and not get dirty. I love them both. Razor sharp and when they go dull you can ship it back to them and they’ll sharpen it for you again
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Post by anumber1 on Jul 13, 2023 12:18:30 GMT -5
I usually gut as I like to hang my deer a couple of days.
I use a case trapper for most of the work
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