Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Need Fillet Knife

After an extended session of meat cutting this weekend,I have decided I need to finally get a good fillet knife. I will continue to use my super thin mega flexible 15 dollar bait shop specials for smaller panfish. But I want something high quality for when I am breaking down a deer and filleting heavier boned fish. I don't want a boning knife. Want more flex than that. Have always used a fillet knife on the slightly stiffer side but still fairly flexible. I have tolerated cheap steel that needs frequent sharpening. But the weak point is always the cheapass handles they all seem to have.

So here is the wish list.

Aprox 7 to 8 inch blade mid to full flex.
Quality steel. Open to most anything. Prefer ease of sharpening opposed to edge retention, if I have to choose.
G10 or Similar handle. While I am not going to abuse the knife it is a tool and don' want to have to baby it.
Kydex Sheath. Not carrying it just need some protection. Don't want a sheath to have to care for.
Would like to have the knife in hand within a couple months.
Finally. I would like to spend aprox 150 on the high end.

Suggestions??? Thanks

Give Mike Miller a shout.

He’s here on the forums.

Great guy, he’ll fix ya up.

Northarm Kermode. $154 and in stock.

Fish processors on the west coast use the cheap Russel-Dexter knives...and so do I, as good of steel for edge holding as you'll find, but soft enough to take an edge without hassle, almost unbreakable. I do everything from fish to disjointing elk with mine...the most worked knife in my home. The wife has taken over the little 6 inch boning knife...and there sits the 400 dollar Frost set. US made, by the way.

Quiet Carry Pilot.
N690 steel
.055" thick
G10
Great kydex sheath
$135

Link-------------> Quiet Carry Pilot

The pilot and kermode look like nice options. Both are bit longer than I would prefer though. Really want to not go over 8 inches.

Interesting line up there...

Hey Gary,

I fell hard for the idea of a 100% corrosion resistant blade and bought the version 1 Drift. It had several design features that were real letdowns at the price point (though the vanax blade was fantastic.) I tripped it and went on with life. Then, I saw a YouTube that showed the V2 where they had listened to knife community criticism and made several fundamental changes to the knife. I bought another Ti framelock and loved it so much I also got a G10 liner lock. They are that good.

I somehow missed teamprairiedog's suggestion of the Kermode. John and Mike also make a 6" version. My wife bought their Chef's, Santuko and Paring, and I have 2 iterations of the Skaha. Sooooo...though I don't normally recommend a knife I don't have, the rest of their lineup is uniformly excellent, fwiw...

Given your recommendation, which I respect and appreciate, I'll give them a try.

Back at you, brother...

We NEED to do an EDC thread. I was stuck overseas by the Covidiocy and found some really great European knives, then finally got home to a bucket full of folders I'm working through. I figure lots of guys had spending sprees last year while locked in....

Northarm also makes a 6" version... the S35VN steel is good.

Yep, sorry..."John and Mike" are John and Mike Gudmundson of North Arm.

So I did some looking around on here. Found some pics and discussion of Mike Millers fillet knife. Was very nice design little more upsweep in the tip than I would prefer. Was thinking about contacting him to answer a few questions. But just did not get that warm fuzzy feeling about the design. I am certain it is a top shelf knife as all his stuff appears to be

My initial thoughts of Northarm were that it checked all the boxes. Still had a couple questions. I emailed John. It is now three days later and I have a 6" Kermode in hand. I have never had a company respond so quickly and completely as Northarm did. Emails were answered faster than most people answer text messages. Initial I was told I would wait a couple weeks for the next batch from heat treat. To my surprise I got tracking info the next day.

As to the knife it is perfect. Razor sharp extremely flexible nice full handle. First thing I have bought in a very long time that I can't find a flaw with.

Really don't need another knife right now. But I am going to find a reason to buy one of their other designs.

Thanks for the update and review!

+1! Nice write up. A pic of the flex would sure be welcome if you get a chance...

Flex was one of my questions. John promptly sent me this pic. This is the blade blank. I added the black line to show location of front of handle. With the handle on it I can get a fuzz more flex than the pic. It is not a whippy blade though. It is not flexing unless you want it too.

Thanks!

I bought two of the Kermode 6" based on mike7mm08's glowing review...(and because I HATE recommending something I haven't used)... One for my wife in the kitchen, the other for me...(I'd forgotten we got a Lynx and Mallard to be the cutlery in our Camper Van so I got one to round out that set too). As usual, impeccable customer service. Knives are flawless!

Just wanted to add a update. Been using the knife a bit. Still have not sat down to dismantle a whole critter or a cooler full of fish. But I can tell it is a keeper. Feels like an extension of my hand. Granted use has been limited but the edge is showing no wear at all. Too many times a new knife has such a fine and perfect edge on it that one use rolls it over.