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Table of Contents
1. Buck Knives 0103 Skinner Fixed Blade Knife – Editor’s Pick
You can’t go wrong with a classic
Fixed blade knives like the Buck Knives 0103 have a lot of benefits. It is generally accepted that fixed blade knives will be more durable and more suited to the outdoorsman than the urbanite. If this describes you then you’ll be happy to know that the 0103 from Buck is made from strong and durable 420HC Stainless steel with a Satin finish and features an 8” blade that is about 1” wide.
The wide blade is great for scraping the carcass of excess fat and meat that would otherwise be stuck to the bones and the wide blade also means that it is slightly more durable. The 0103 features a narrow tip with a blunted top portion which makes it harder for you to accidentally pierce the hide where you don’t intend to. The Buck Knives 0103 Skinning Knife is available for $83.00 and is made in the USA.
Pros/Affordable and durable with a blunted tip for easy cutting
Cons/Blade thickness is a bit on the fat side which means that skinning won’t be as efficient or easy for the amount of energy you’re putting into the slice
Bottom Line/A great starter knife for beginners and affordable enough to not worry about losing or damaging
2. Havalon Knives Piranta-Edge Skinning Knife – Efficient Pick
Blade thickness has a lot to do with how efficient your cuts are. The Havalon Knives skinning knife features a replaceable Piranta-Edge blade that is great for skinning deer, elk and wild boar. The blade is foldable so you can easily pocket it and the handle itself is made from durable ABS plastic and also comes with 12 extra blades.
The ability to quickly swap between blades means this knife is a worry-free solution if you’re not the best knife sharpener and you always want to be prepared in the field when your kill comes. The Havalon Knives Piranta-Edge Skinning Knife is available for $44.99 and is made in Taiwan.
Pros/Replaceable pre-sharpened blades that are thin and sharp
Cons/Blades are not durable by design, some argue that folding knives are inferior to fixed blade knives for skinning purposes
Bottom Line/An inexpensive and worry-free solution that would be great as a backup tool in case your main blade gets damaged, or you forget it at home. Toss this one in your field bag and keep it for emergencies
3. Mossberg All in One Skinning Knife – Budget Pick
Sometimes to find the best knife you just have to go with what is popular. This knife has well over 1,500 positive reviews and that in itself makes the Mossberg all in one worth looking at. The Blade is a small but durable 3-1/2 stainless steel tanto style blade and features a finger hole inside the blade for better control during cuts where your hand might have blood on them.
The Blade comes complete with a fabric sheath. and durable polymer camo grips. Most of the reviews say that the short blade is great for whitetail deer but I’m sure this could be used on larger tougher animals in a pinch if needed. The Mossberg All in One skinning knife is available for $24.99 – or less!
Pros/Stainless steel blade features a sharp tanto tip and a gut-hook for great piercing ability
Cons/ Blade is smaller and not very long for deeper smooth cuts on larger game animals
Bottom Line/ A very highly reviewed knife that is affordable and makes for a great gift for any hunter. Buy two and keep one for yourself
4. Gerber Vital Skin and Gut Knife
Gerber makes knives for just about anything and that includes field dressing your animals. We’ve talked a lot about the skinning portion of field dressing, but the gutting portion is just as important. The blade features an entirely unique shape that includes a gut hook for opening and removing the vital organs inside of the animal.
The Blade includes a fabric sheath which can be washed and also serves as a great way to keep the blade protected while carrying it around. The knife also features a durable polymer bright orange handle with finger grooves to give you the best grip possible while reducing fatigue while skinning and gutting. The Gerber Vital Skin and Gut Knife is available for $22.00 and is made in the USA.
Pros/Purpose built tool that is efficient at both gutting and skinning
Cons/Can’t be used for anything else very well
Bottom Line/Great piece of kit for the dedicated hunter and Gerber’s lifetime warranty is top notch in case replacement is needed
5. Victorinox Beef Skinning Blade with Fibrox Pro Handle
Hailing from the same company that makes the famous Swiss Army Knife, the Victorinox Beef Skinning blade is one that is used by professional cooks as well as hunters looking to make quick work of their latest trophy. The Blade is made from a durable stainless steel blade and features a slip-resistant Fibrox handle.
Victorinox claims that their blade will last up to 60% longer than other knives and that the curved handle allows for much longer delicate cuts on large animals like elk or boar. This should prove to be useful for removing the hide around the legs with ease. The Victorinox Beef Skinning blade with Fibrox Pro handle is available for $46.74 and is made in Switzerland.
Pros/Swiss made blade is high quality and well known for its durability
Cons/Blade doesn’t come with any sort of sheath
Bottom Line/A knife fit for a chef or hunter – use both at home and out in the field
Skinning knives vs. other knives
The best skinning knives all generally share a few of the same characteristics. Usually they are all lightweight, curved, and very sharp. A good skinning knife should be maintained or have the blade honed often to give you the best cutting ability. A gut-hook isn’t necessary but it also rounds out the knife’s abilities when field dressing.
Skinning knives are pretty specialized, although they can still be useful for many other purposes. If they don’t have the characteristic curved blade, the blade is usually much wider than a regular knife. This makes getting it between more of the hide and the meat much easier and effective. Can you use a skinning knife for other things? Yes, can you use another knife for skinning? Yes. It’s all about making the job easier, and that’s where a skinning knife will shone when it comes time to skin the animal.
Keeping an edge
There are loads of videos on YouTube that are dedicated to the craft of keeping knives sharp and ready to use. I’m at best, a slightly above competent knife sharpener and do my best to keep all my blades as sharp as possible. Regular use of a sharpening stone while having a heavy focus on keeping the blade even should keep your skinning knife in top tier shape and good to go for your next hunt. Of course, you can also get the replaceable blade-type knives. Those work great too.
Does a skinning knife need to be curved?
No, but without the curve you run the risk of driving the pointed end of your knife through the hide and running the cut (splitting the meat). Different knives have different levels of curvature to them and it will take time and practice to get the technique down so don’t worry if you poke a hole in your first couple of deer hides – you’ll get the hang of it.
Can you use any knife for skinning?
Yes, you can use any knife for skinning game. A skinning knife designed for the job just makes it easier.
How are skinning knives and caping knives different?
A caping knife is a much smaller blade with an exact point. It is designed for doing small, controlled precise work when caping out game animals for taxidermy work, and for smaller game, such as birds and fish.
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