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Best field dressing knife

I domt field dress enough deer, but I have done the gutless method prob 60-70 times over the years.
I've used Gerber fixed blade, outdoor edge, outdoor edge slingblade (instead of gut hook), havalon and a few others. By far my favorite is a benchmade hidden canyon. It's a bit pricey, but awesome. Just a little touch up after each use keeps it razor sharp. Probably used this 15-20 times using gutless method and it gets better every time.
2nd favorite would be the havalon.
Side note... razor knife with a razor style gut hook can't be touched for making the initial cuts in the skin.

Whatever you use... make sure it's super sharp. Dull knives are dangerous no matter how you choose to field dress or or if you choose to do the gutless method.

Good luck and enjoy trying several knives
 
Wolverine72 said:
Whatever you use... make sure it's super sharp. Dull knives are dangerous no matter how you choose to field dress or or if you choose to do the gutless method.
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100% accurate. Make them sharp enough to scare you, and you will be very careful while using them.
 
Don't overthink it. Most any knife will work. Just like most any caliber will work for killing them. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. Modern super steels will hold an edge much longer than say ....1095. But when it's time to resharpen, you will wish you had went with the 1095. Steels are a trade off....you always give up something to gain something else.
 
Tenntrapper said:
Don't overthink it. Most any knife will work. Just like most any caliber will work for killing them. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. Modern super steels will hold an edge much longer than say ....1095. But when it's time to resharpen, you will wish you had went with the 1095. Steels are a trade off....you always give up something to gain something else.
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Yep. I use lots of knives, but my old Sodbuster has been put to work quite a bit in the last few years. Usually cause it's what's in my pocket.
 
Gerber Exo-Mod Drop Point - Orange. Can be found around the $25 mark, easily found, light weight and super easy to clean. It may not have the best high-end steel for the blade but I have found it only takes a few hits on a ceramic to be hair popping and ready to go. I have used it plenty of times between this year and last with great results. No regrets.
 
If you want to go "cheap", then here ya go. Ryan mentioned these above. They are available in SS and carbon steel. Personally, I prefer the carbon version. I've used these on several deer...they work really well. An added bonus is that they are inexpensive (and not made in China), so if you lose it...no big deal.

smkw.com

Morakniv Carbon Companion Fixed Blade Knife Black and Green

smkw.com smkw.com
 
I used an Outdoor Edge Swingblade for years. It's great. I got a free Havalon with with replacement blades through a Federal ammo promotion. I started using it and it also worked great. I carried both for a while. I started carrying the Havalon only because it is so much lighter. If you put a lot of pressure on the blades they will break. You don't have to because the blades are basically scap
 
I used an Outdoor Edge Swingblade for years. It's great. I got a free Havalon with with replacement blades through a Federal ammo promotion. I started using it and it also worked great. I carried both for a while. I started carrying the Havalon only because it is so much lighter. If you put a lot of pressure on the blades they will break. You don't have to because the blades are basically scalpels.
 
Havalon Piranta and a cheap box cutter with a carpet blade. I have some really nice knives that never leave the building now. For skinning, especially skinning hogs, you can take that carpet blade and open the back, shoulder and ham skin like a zipper. Then your knife blade is working under that mud and your blade lasts much longer.
 

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I keep 1 of these & a little dogbone crockstick in my pack. Weighs less than a half ounce & it'll get through anything with a little touch up. I've been using the same one for 6 years & i literally couldn't tell you how many deer, elk hogs & small game is been through.
You used to be able to get a little plastic sheath for them, but I'm not sure if they're still available.
 
Robtattoo said:
I keep 1 of these & a little dogbone crockstick in my pack. Weighs less than a half ounce & it'll get through anything with a little touch up. I've been using the same one for 6 years & i literally couldn't tell you how many deer, elk hogs & small game is been through.
You used to be able to get a little plastic sheath for them, but I'm not sure if they're still available.
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Pink? Really.... 😂
As I said above...it can be done with anything....simple or complicated. Remember...cave men and Indians, etc were gutting, skinning them with rocks.
Now....if you're wanting a high quality blade to pass down for generations... different story.
 
I love knives, but am not a knife aficionado. I will use what my son has not taken out my "knife bag". My new favorite is a Gerber Downwind that someone gave me. I just cleaned 2 elk with it, gutting/skinning/deboning, and didn't have to resharpen. Was working as good at the end as it was at the beginning.

I also have 2 browning knife "sets" that I got back when RMEF would give you a knife kit at the banquet. These are cheap, but work well.
 
a buddy of mine gave me an outdoor edge swingblade, it works well. easy to clean, easy to sharpen, and its blaze orange so makes it a little tougher to lose in the leaves. cuts through the tougher cartilaginous surfaces in the chest wall as well
throwing this out there too since its on the same topic...at my lease there's nowhere to wash your hands after we field dress so i picked up some of those disposable gloves that cover up past the elbow and they are pretty nice.
 
arctic_cat said:
Outdoor edge. Sharp as a scalpel and when it's not you throw the blade away and put a new one on.
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My youngest daughter bought me the RazorMax from Outdoor Edge a couple of years ago and I'm really enjoying using it for field dressing and such. So far I haven't had to replace a blade yet because you can touch them up and they take a wicked edge.
 
My favorite skinner is a Dozer. It has some backbone and isn't too long. I have broken smaller, thinner knives. For heavier work I love the a Buck 119 so much I now have two.
 

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