I would post a picture but for some reason postimages seems to not be working. Most of the cutting I do on squawk is with game shears. The four legs, head, guts and being separated into four quarters and back saddle is done with an old pair of Gerber game shears. The tail cut to initiate skinning is done with a Menefee Trapper folding knife or a small fixed blade like a Bob Dozier Canoe Knife.
It is hard to beat a Case Trapper or Mini Trapper. However, Lazy R Cowboy Knives makes one called tree rat that I hear is pretty special. They aren’t the best looking, but pretty specialized for the purpose. There may be a YouTube video of a guy skinning with one.
i've had this one for close to 50 years and hundreds of skirrels. i bought my sons each one as well. they are not a super high quality knife by todays standards but they will sharpen easily to razor sharpness and are just the right size for most game.
Queen steel is harder than anything I have ever sharpened, I’ve had people bring them to me because they couldn’t touch them with regular stones.
Thanks!
Originally Posted by rem141r
i've had this one for close to 50 years and hundreds of skirrels. i bought my sons each one as well. they are not a super high quality knife by todays standards but they will sharpen easily to razor sharpness and are just the right size for most game.
I like Dozier, but I don't care for the finger grooves. I prefer the Canoe Knife from Dozier because I can slide the knife around and change positions with it easier and it's more comfortable in different hand positions without the grooves. Good D2 steel will take you through a bunch of squirrels and still be razor sharp afterward.
Queen steel is harder than anything I have ever sharpened, I’ve had people bring them to me because they couldn’t touch them with regular stones.
Thanks!
Originally Posted by rem141r
i've had this one for close to 50 years and hundreds of skirrels. i bought my sons each one as well. they are not a super high quality knife by todays standards but they will sharpen easily to razor sharpness and are just the right size for most game.
you can get them for a lot cheaper than that link too. i don't think i paid over 30 or so bucks for either of my sons a few years ago. one was newish and the other was used and the sheath was beat up. my nieces husband made really nice little monogrammed sheaths for them anyway.
I use a TL 29. I have had it for more than 50 years from when I first went into the army.. it was issued to me but I don't know what year it has a wooden walnut handle but the metal loop is gone and I don't know what happened to it... I also have a later one that has a plastic handle, it is still complete with the carry loop.. I was issued it just before I retired. the blade is shaped very well to skin squirrels... I keep the older one razor sharp for skinning squirrels...they can be bought on line .. just google them up..
Been using a Case or Schrade medium Stockman pocket knife to clean small game and for all the critters I trapped over the last 50 or so years. Never saw the need for anything special for skinnin' little critters.
Been using a Case or Schrade medium Stockman pocket knife to clean small game and for all the critters I trapped over the last 50 or so years. Never saw the need for anything special for skinnin' little critters.
Some squirrel hunters use the least expensive Marlin or Savage .22 rifle they can lay their hands on and are happy with that. Others use a Cooper Jackson Squirrel Rifle. Both kill squirrels.
I prefer a small drop point fixed blade knife for squirrels or rabbits. I've used a variety of folders and fixed blades with different shapes and lengths; I like a 2-3/4"-3" length thin blade, overall knife length in the area of 7". Two favorites l use are an Easler custom and A.G.Russell Gents Hunter. Game shears are handy too, along with fish skinning pliers to grasp and pull with, as I have some nasty arthritis and neuropathy issues making some days pretty painful.
I like the Opinel #8 Gardening Knife. Stainless, sharp, good blade and handle shape. Add a lanyard made from #275 paracord and you're ready to go afield.
8OT, 93OT, 34OT or maybe a 3347. Whichever one I happen to have in my pocket. Really didn't know there was such an animal as a "squirrel knife", but my ignorance knows no bounds.
I have cleaned lots of squirrels. I use a hatchet or cleaver to cut the feet, head, and tail off. cut a slit in the back insert fingers and rip the skin off like a pants and shirt. I like a knife like a Trapper pattern or a small fixed blade with a sharp point.
After resisting for years as seeming too gimmicky, I finally tried the Havalon with replaceable blades. They're great.
For me, a scapel blade knife and a pair of game shears are the way to go. I have a Havalon, but find myself using the Gerber Vital more as the blade change is easier.
Cleaned lots over the past few years, I have an old fixed blade - like a full sized knife, not sure of the brand, but it's Carbon steel and has rust and pits, but sharpened - it cuts..........
Also, use shears ALOT. I cut the feet off with shears, tail off with knife, sometimes slice under the tail and around it on top of the hind end, to pull the hide, other times just start at the middle of the back with a slit from the knife. Skin, cut off the front quarters with knife cutting along shoulder blade down. Next I cut off the head with shears, then the back quarters with shears either side of the back. Then trim off ribs and keep the back half of the back.
Shears makes it SO Much easier, you can use the to slide under the hide after you cut the feet off, and slice along the sides of the legs to split the hide to make it easier to skin.
Lastly, a Pressure cooker does wonders to make the meat tender.........my fave lately, using Squirrel for Gumbo
this little knife by Tim Olt is what I take when out for squirrels. S30V steel. I designed it, Tim made it a reality. Keeps a razor edge and is small enough for small game.
Here is my small game knife, ok it’s with a turkey but it works with all small game and birds. Wayne Olsen, it was my father’s and will be my son’s one day. Hope not to soon. 😳
Here is my small game knife, ok it’s with a turkey but it works with all small game and birds. Wayne Olsen, it was my father’s and will be my son’s one day. Hope not to soon. 😳
Check out McCroskey Custom Knives 405-624-9900 Stillwater, Ok
mccroskeyknives.com
Look at the Trapper Set...they are unbelievable. You will skin 300 squirrels and never touch up the blade...sharp as a surgeon's knife. A friend that was a trapper skinned 300 Beaver with his before he sharpened.
Been using a Case or Schrade medium Stockman pocket knife to clean small game and for all the critters I trapped over the last 50 or so years. Never saw the need for anything special for skinnin' little critters.
I have an old Buck 107 that seems to get used most but I have a 2 knife lockback set (1sheath) also made by Buck that I carry most days and have used more than once.
I've used custom knives of all kinds, but a Case Slimline Trapper works as well as anything knife wise. Use a hatchet for cutting off the head, tail, and feet.
Medium stockman's work very well. I have a Mike Sanders skinner that I've had for a long time that works well. I think a bark river smaller lightweight fox river could do.
Guess you can call me cheap, but my go-to knife for cleaning squirrels and bunnies is a 4" Rapala fillet knife. Good for skinning and deboning. Game shears then make quick work of cutting off the feet and head.
Guess you can call me cheap, but my go-to knife for cleaning squirrels and bunnies is a 4" Rapala fillet knife. Good for skinning and deboning. Game shears then make quick work of cutting off the feet and head.
I believe smart it the word you are looking for. I could clean a squirrel with a flint.
Also used a Case slimline trapper for many years, and would first cut the feet and tails with an my old faithful sidecutters. Recent years went to a Kershaw Leek. Dandy knife, and love their Skyline also for a camping, deer hunting knife.
Guess you can call me cheap, but my go-to knife for cleaning squirrels and bunnies is a 4" Rapala fillet knife. Good for skinning and deboning. Game shears then make quick work of cutting off the feet and head.
I believe smart it the word you are looking for. I could clean a squirrel with a flint.
I also like a Fillet knife for Squirrels! Have used several different kinds of knives, for them, but I always seem to wind up with a fillet Knife in my hand!
Local guy put this one together for me. My design, specifically for small game. Giraffe bone handle. I need to get a nice leather sheath made for it one of these days.