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I’m going to start doing squirrel this year, but all my knives are deer & elk - I can’t even find my old small game blades.

Well that’s good enough of an excuse for me (I may have quit looking early on purpose).

Show me some nice squirrel and bird blades !!

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[Linked Image]

One like this is what my dad used for as long as I can remember. It was the only pocket knife he would carry.

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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.


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I'd get an Ontario Rat 2 with D2 steel. Best for the money that I know about.

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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.


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My absolute favorite is the Dozier K-12 Small Game Skinner. Can't be beat.

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http://www.dozierknives.com/images/documents/k12.jpg

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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.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.co...-bird-and-trout-fixed-blade-sheath-knife


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That is one heck of a good looking knife.

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.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.co...-bird-and-trout-fixed-blade-sheath-knife

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Originally Posted by RipSnort
My absolute favorite is the Dozier K-12 Small Game Skinner. Can't be beat.

RS

http://www.dozierknives.com/images/documents/k12.jpg


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.


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I make the tail cut with the small blade of a Swiss Army Tinker and everything else I do with a set of Gerber game shears.

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Originally Posted by Spotshooter
That is one heck of a good looking knife.

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.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.co...-bird-and-trout-fixed-blade-sheath-knife



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.


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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..


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My Case SlimLine Trapper has worked on several for me, I carry it every day for everything.

If buying a knife just for small game I would look at a Mini Trapper.

I do have a Jap made Cold Steel Mini Hunter that would be a handy fixed blade for the nut munchers.


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I picked up a set of Open Season knives from Buck with S35V steel and micarta scales. This one is pretty handy.
Buck Open Season S35V


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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.


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The Opinel kids knife works well. File a notch in the blade for breaking bones.


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Originally Posted by sharps4590
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.


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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.

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That sir is one pricey do-dad...

Originally Posted by Nebraska
I picked up a set of Open Season knives from Buck with S35V steel and micarta scales. This one is pretty handy.
Buck Open Season S35V

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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.

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