I have small hands and the longest blade I can safely handle when gutting is 3". I insist on being able to place my finger tip beneath the blade tip when making my cut up the belly. Since I always have two knives when hunting this shouldn't preclude me from owning a longer blade but any more it seems I finish an animal with the knife I start with. And having moved to South Dakota the need for boning out an animal has fallen to near zero. I do like the looks of the tanto pattern, Rick does such a great job on his knives - I have another of his headed my way.
