I'm getting my supplies ready for my first deer season. I've looking at different knives for gutting, skinning, quatering etc. There are so many choices, and I'm sure there are just as many answers as there are hunters, just looking for some guidelines in what I should be looking for in a good knife.
Thanks

Havalon, hands down.

panhandle,
I looked at Havalon's website, which one do you recommend?

For field dressing I prefer a small fixed blade knife. Cold Steel has an excellent one (I think it is the Pendleton Mini Hunter model).

For skinning and caping I still prefer a fixed blade knife, just one a little larger (maybe a 4" fixed blade).

I have always liked small knives to field dress, skin, and quarter deer. I like fixed blade for ease of cleaning up and re-sharpening.

It is just a preference though - I know alot of guys who don't share my opinion on the above.

Schrade knife, bout a 3 inch blade and a steel, that's all I need to do everything.

Personally this is my favorite style of skinning knife.

I have 2 that sounds like this one, one is a Shrade, the other is a Buck, I never leave home without them.

My Alaska hunter knives are my favorite. They seem to hold an edge forever. Always use a fixed blade. Usually reach for a 4 inch (I think) blade fixed but have used their "muskrat" butter knife, ulu, and skinning blade. That being said, the brand of knife doesn't make a bit of difference if you keep it sharp. Believing in having quality knives, I carry only benchmades and dress deer with Alaska hunters but an old timer I used to hunt with liked cheap disposable knives. He would buy tons of the cheap, brightly colored plastic handled Cisco knives with 2 inch blades. When one became dull he three it away and grabbed another. Those knives skinned deer like any other. And he swore by them.

Point being: spend a lot on good knives and appreciate their feel, balance, edge retention or spend next to nothing on cheap knives. The job gets done either way. Just wanted to say this before the thread turns into a "ford is better than Chevy type argument."

Typically I do all my meat cutting, skinning gutting with one knife. Either a dextur russle fillet knife or a victorinox boning knife.

I use a saw to cut the brisket and pelvis, if you use a knife to do this I suggest one with a heavier blade. You don't need 100 different knifes for skinning gutting quartering etc. One sharp knife is all you need.

Try the piranta

www.bubbablade.com They are coming out with a new hunting knife. Their fillet knives are unbelievably sharp. Expect the same for the hunter edition. Patiently waiting to receive mine.

I use a variety. My Favorites being an ESEE-3 and a one of my Stics.

Havalon Piranta.... nuff said

I use a carton cutter.

forschner or old hickory
meat cutting knives.

I have had a cutco for 15 years. Have cleaned lots of deer and hogs with it. They will sharpen it for free if you pay the shipping. The rubber handle won't slip in your hand.

I get white handled kitchen knives from a resturant supply house.
Inexpensive, pro quality, easy to clean and sharpen,same knives professional butchers use...

For skinning and field dressing I prefer a smaller knife. Something along these lines


6 3/4" overall CMP-154 heat treated and tempered to HRC 59. It's 2 7/8" tip to bolsters.
Bolsters are stabilized Aoudad horn and the scales are stabilized Mesquite Burl. Red liners and stainless pins.
As usual my pics are terrible and don't come close to doing it justice.

Who/what made/is that knife? I've been looking for that type of blade contour, and I can't find one to save my life with the exception of the Mike Irie Sport 300....

Ohh, and saaweeeet looking knife.

I skin them with a my Jeep. Quicker than any knife I've ever used.

Its the first knife I made, its a factory blade from jantz, pattern 32, that I put mesquite scales and brass pins on

Normally a sharp knife is best.

Havalons are so sharp you're scared to use them. I use them with great respect!

Case 2 blade trapper carbon steel is all I use. I have cleaned just about everything you can imagine with it.