|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 435
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 435 |
Never have liked how my skinning knives work, when doing the gutting chore. Too awkward when up to my elbows, feeling my way down the spine, cutting everything loose (deer and elk).
Was wondering if anyone carries a blade that's dedicated to gutting? And if so, what is it....or, what are the dimensions?
I was thinking along the line of a Cold Steel, mini Pendleton fixed blade.....maybe with the higher grade steel (cpm-3v). Smaller and more control.... maybe less likely nicking something that oozes green?
Any suggestions?
Andy3
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 24,781 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 24,781 Likes: 4 |
For deer I liked to hold the knife this way ,with my index finger covering the tip . Turned upright while zipping the the belly ,it gave me confidence not to puncture intestines . This is 6-7/8" OAL drop ,blade 3-1/4" with 3' of edge . I have field dressed deer with a smaller blade but when it came to the part about cutting around the anus ,the shorter blade wasn't that good . This is a personal preference of course . Anything longer than this knife ,it seemed to hold it this way it got kinda dangerous as your hand would be on the blade in front of the handle
Website : New website coming soon thanks for your patience
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,675 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,675 Likes: 2 |
Never have liked how my skinning knives work, when doing the gutting chore. Too awkward when up to my elbows, feeling my way down the spine, cutting everything loose (deer and elk).
Was wondering if anyone carries a blade that's dedicated to gutting? And if so, what is it....or, what are the dimensions?
I was thinking along the line of a Cold Steel, mini Pendleton fixed blade.....maybe with the higher grade steel (cpm-3v). Smaller and more control.... maybe less likely nicking something that oozes green?
Any suggestions?
Andy3 The cheap/easy answer is something that uses scapel blades. I prefer the Gerber version to the Havalon, but have used both. Easier/safer to change blades on the Gerber. I'm also a fan of the #70 scapel blade. It has a blunt tip. Keeps me from poking holes in things.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,098 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,098 Likes: 4 |
For gutting - cutting the hide and open the belly,
The outdoor edge swingblaze works well.
As does the old Wyoming knife.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 18
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 18 |
IMO a good gutting blade should also be a good skinning blade. 3-3.5" semi skinner design is just about perfect, as is a canadian belt knife design in the same blade length. Why carry two knives into the field when one will do.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,828 Likes: 12
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,828 Likes: 12 |
I use several different knives when processing a deer or hog. I have different types and sizes and use them because some are better than others for specific tasks. For field dressing, unzipping if you will, I like a smaller knife.
Sam......
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19,659 Likes: 19
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19,659 Likes: 19 |
https://www.knivesplus.com/outdoor-edge-whitetail-skinner-oe-wt10.htmlHard to beat this IMHO. The t handle lets you keep secure grip, easy to sharpen, gut hook unzips really easy. Use the heck out of one for a long time till I lost it.
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,798 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,798 Likes: 4 |
For gutting - cutting the hide and open the belly,
The outdoor edge swingblaze works well.
As does the old Wyoming knife. When my god friend's girlfriend started hunting, I picked her up the pink version if the swingblade. Long story short, we used the [bleep] out of 'her' knife for a couple seasons until she made the mistake of leaving it with his hunting schitt and he inevitably lost it. I haven't found a pink one for her since, and still feel that I owe her a replacement. Maybe she'd be happier with one of your sets in pink kydex!
Last edited by NH K9; 02/20/24.
�Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.�
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,740 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,740 Likes: 1 |
Never have liked how my skinning knives work, when doing the gutting chore. Too awkward when up to my elbows, feeling my way down the spine, cutting everything loose (deer and elk).
Was wondering if anyone carries a blade that's dedicated to gutting? And if so, what is it....or, what are the dimensions?
I was thinking along the line of a Cold Steel, mini Pendleton fixed blade.....maybe with the higher grade steel (cpm-3v). Smaller and more control.... maybe less likely nicking something that oozes green?
Any suggestions?
Andy3 Get ahold of Tim Olt (Michigan Roadkill) and ask him for a 4 3/4 inch version of his Michigan Slim. It will come in S35VN steel which is the easiest steel to live with that I have used. I have what amounts to 4 different length version of his Michigan Slim, and the one he made for me with the Buffalo Horn Handle wins the Goldilocks prize for gutting Bambi. I posted a picture of it here, so it's in this forum and in the one for just holding pictures. S35VN holds its edge as well as S30V, it is stainless, it is easy to sharpen.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,792 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,792 Likes: 2 |
Never have liked how my skinning knives work, when doing the gutting chore. Too awkward when up to my elbows, feeling my way down the spine, cutting everything loose (deer and elk).
Was wondering if anyone carries a blade that's dedicated to gutting? And if so, what is it....or, what are the dimensions?
I was thinking along the line of a Cold Steel, mini Pendleton fixed blade.....maybe with the higher grade steel (cpm-3v). Smaller and more control.... maybe less likely nicking something that oozes green?
Any suggestions?
Andy3 One of these is what I would like to get my hands on, fairly scarce though. Puma gutting knife
These are my opinions, feel free to disagree.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,124 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,124 Likes: 1 |
There are a lot of reasonably good working knives and different ones work for different users.
I have yet to find anything that works better for me than a standard Bob Loveless drop point pattern with a 3 1/2" to 4" blade for gutting, bung hole and skinning overall. A semi skinner seems to be pretty versatile also.
Many preferences from many users. Really does not need to be a big knife as MILES358 mentioned above. And then. Big, small. Fixed, folder, interchangeable, scales, which of many really good steels...........
My 2 cents.
Last edited by michiganroadkill; 02/21/24.
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein
At Khe Sanh a sign read "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never knew".
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,820 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,820 Likes: 3 |
Never have liked how my skinning knives work, when doing the gutting chore. Too awkward when up to my elbows, feeling my way down the spine, cutting everything loose (deer and elk).
Was wondering if anyone carries a blade that's dedicated to gutting? And if so, what is it....or, what are the dimensions?
I was thinking along the line of a Cold Steel, mini Pendleton fixed blade.....maybe with the higher grade steel (cpm-3v). Smaller and more control.... maybe less likely nicking something that oozes green?
Any suggestions?
Andy3 One of these is what I would like to get my hands on, fairly scarce though. Puma gutting knifeThat's cool. When we were shooting a lot of deer on damage tags we had a couple poly handled F. Dick knives with similar blades. When quickly gutting a lot of deer they were very handy.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 435
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 435 |
Never have liked how my skinning knives work, when doing the gutting chore. Too awkward when up to my elbows, feeling my way down the spine, cutting everything loose (deer and elk).
Was wondering if anyone carries a blade that's dedicated to gutting? And if so, what is it....or, what are the dimensions?
I was thinking along the line of a Cold Steel, mini Pendleton fixed blade.....maybe with the higher grade steel (cpm-3v). Smaller and more control.... maybe less likely nicking something that oozes green?
Any suggestions?
Andy3 One of these is what I would like to get my hands on, fairly scarce though. Puma gutting knifeThat rounded point Puma makes perfect sense, for internal work, when you are going by feel more than sight. I'm thinking of taking one of my fixed/drop point blades, and grinding a rounded (butter knife) nose on it, with no edge or point. About 3"-3.5" with lots of belly in it. And, gripping it like Vince pictured, above. Something like a small buck 684..... https://www.buckknives.com/product/684-bucklite-max-ii-small-knife/?sku=0684BKS-BThanks for all the input, guys....great suggestions, all. Andy3
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,313
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,313 |
I use a caping blade a lot still, but have moved to gutless because I mostly am working out of a backpack. Your huckleberry is probably something like we used trapping. I lost mine but replaced it with a caper, and for me it's tough to decide which is better. https://www.knivesofalaska.com/Store/muskrat/muskrat---suregrip
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.” Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,786 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,786 Likes: 6 |
The technique that Vince noted is what I do when opening the gut. I prefer a 2.75-3.25" blade for all that I do, 3" being my favorite. A lot of the cutting I do while processing is with my index finger on the back of the blade, though usually farther back than Vince shows (unless I'm opening the gut).
On hunts in an adjoining state, I can't bring bone in, so I use the gutless method there. There's a fair amount of skinning on the tailgate then removing meat. I can handle the skinning with a slim dropped point or a skinner/semi-skinner. The finer work removing meat...I don't like to remove meat with a skinner or semi-skinner. For the way I use a knife, if using a single knife for everything, I prefer a slim drop point like Tim's dropped MI Slim.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,732 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,732 Likes: 7 |
Something like this Ingram Slim Hunter will take a deer from field to table...
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,788 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,788 Likes: 1 |
Outdoor Edge Zip Blade or Outdoor Edge Swing Blade
Member of the Merry Band of turdlike People.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,447
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,447 |
Maybe it is because of my skinning technique, but never have an issue. I leave all the guts in the chest cavity and only lower and expose just enough to remove the inner loins. I never have an issue cutting the stomach.
Liberalism is a cancer Support Christian Family values
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 537
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 537 |
You can take the brisket off with a knife. Once that's off and the belly open you can cut the wind pipe and pull most all the insides out by sight, with the help of a knife.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,761 Likes: 5
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,761 Likes: 5 |
Maybe it is because of my skinning technique, but never have an issue. I leave all the guts in the chest cavity and only lower and expose just enough to remove the inner loins. I never have an issue cutting the stomach. Just curious... If I'm getting what you're saying, you zip open the belly, then leave the guts in the cavity and just push them out of the way to get the loins?
You can no more tell someone how to do something you've never done, than you can come back from somewhere you've never been...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,085 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,085 Likes: 1 |
I used a guide with a guy that had a custom set made by a maker in eastern AZ who’s name I can’t remember. One was a skinning knife and the other was a gutting knife. The gutting knife was backwards so to speak. The cutting edge of the blade was on top and the spine was on the bottom with the handle in a regular position. The end of the blade had an unsharpened round “point” He could slit an elk lickety split and never worry about punching a gut. Interesting purpose driven design.
"I used to be a tired hunting guide, now I'm just a re-tired hunting guide"
"No eternal reward will forgive us now, for wasting the dawn" JM
Jared
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 867
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 867 |
Mornin, I put this on the other Puma thread but no response. Once saw a Puma fixed blade & in the handle it had a gutting blade that opened like a jack knife. Can't understand why someone hasn't tried this before??? If it was done right I don't think it would weaken the handle. No more than a hidden tang knife. Ya would take some special machining but with cnc would just be another line in the cnc program. Now I've only seen the one Puma like this & lm on knife sites a lot. PS that swing blade is a heck of an idea too. Even the double blade folder would work but again ,maybe to weak for other tasks. What ya think. GWPGUY. 🐾👣🇨🇦
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,732 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,732 Likes: 7 |
"What you think?" I think it's a lot of talk and fuss over nothing. I don't understand the need for a special blade for gutting.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1,990 Likes: 8
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1,990 Likes: 8 |
A good gutting knife is a good skinning knife is a good butchering knife is a good steak knife.
Never saw the need for more than one well balanced razor sharp blade.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children may live in peace. ~~ Thomas Paine
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,954 Likes: 21
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,954 Likes: 21 |
What's 'need' have to do with it?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 2,392 Likes: 4
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 2,392 Likes: 4 |
I like a sharp point to one for everything. Like to poke into the hide first, the just turn It over and don't pop the stomach. Like at least 5 or 6 inches of blade to free the lungs, heart, and windpipe, then pull all out in one clump. I've gutted a heck of alot of deer sized stuff with an old sharpfinger that is carbon steel.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 867
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 867 |
So many experts on here, who new??? Thanks for your time. GWPGUY. 🐾👣🇨🇦
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 867
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 867 |
Huntsman2, ya I've bought chit I just had to & never did use it. Including many, many knives!!! Use some of it for awhile then give it to kids. Used to put 22 rimfire boxes in mail boxes were kids lived on our road. Just the ones I new the parents & got permission. Eventually they clued in, always said from Santa. GWPGUY 🐾👣🇨🇦
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,554
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,554 |
My dedicated gutting knife is a Buck 102 fixed blade knife. It has special meaning for me as it was owned by my hunting and fishing mentor, a WWII veteran Marine pilot. It originally had its 4" blade, but his wife broke off the blade tip on frozen hamburgers. He took it to work (US Rubber Company) and had the shop reshape the blade. He then sharpened it at home. The blade is now 3" long and about perfect for field dressing a deer. He had small hands, and mine are extra large, but it works for me. My other gutting knife is also a Buck, the 112 folding knife, also with a 3" blade. I bought the 112 in 1973 and have had the 102 since 1985, when my friend died.
I have all his knives, mostly old Ka-Bars. Another with special meaning is his sandwich knife. It's a Camillus fishing knife which came out of one of the airplanes he flew in the South Pacific. Every survival kit in the plane's life raft had such a knife. It is wicked sharp. We used it to cut Hungarian bacon and onion for our sandwiches. Memories.....
NRA Endowment Life Member, G.O.A supporter
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,960 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,960 Likes: 7 |
Buck 116. Probably my favorite pure gutting knife although ringing the bung hole isn't the easiest.
They say everything happens for a reason. For me that reason is usually because I've made some bad decisions that I need to pay for.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,372
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,372 |
Ruana #10, To many deer and elk gutted to remember
MOLON LABE
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 390
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 390 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 149 Likes: 6
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 149 Likes: 6 |
ESEE CR 2.5 works for me.
|
|
|
|
499 members (10gaugeman, 2500HD, 257Ackley, 1beaver_shooter, 22kHornet, 10gaugemag, 57 invisible),
3,559
guests, and
1,350
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,699
Posts18,534,626
Members74,041
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|