i have approximately 30 tags this year for white tail and need to upgrade my skinning knives. any recommendations?

would also like something for skinning coyotes and bobcats. in the past i have not had the right knife for the job and the pelts came out pretty piss poor

thanks in advance!

Havalon

if your not looking for replaceable blade, arkansas made dozier knives are top shelf

Pretty sure my dad uses a RazorPro, it has a replaceable blade. We have a management lease, and he skins a lot of deer each season. He's been through different knives over the years and he's stuck with the RazorPro.

I think it's more about having a replaceable blade, having a razor sharp blade without the hassle was important to him.

Am I doing doing this right?

Outdoor Edge or Havalon.
Havalon is probably a better skinner, but OE is a heavier and better all-around blade. Get that if you're doing anything else.

goatchze said:

---

Am I doing doing this right?

---

Close! I prefer my minitrapper. I do 99% of my skinning with that spey blade, and the CV steel will easily skin two or three deer between sharpenings. I don't skin 30+ deer plus coyotes and bobcats per year though, so I'm no expert.

I have several nice custom skinners, but if your looking at high quantity of animals to skin havalon is the only answer

Havalon, F sharpening

Randall made Alaskan skinner. He did say upgrade.

Link?

Pine ridge.

https://www.randallknives.com/knives/model-11-alaskan-skinner/
What's the wait on a randall these days? Gotta be 10 years or more

Havalon!!!!

Apache said:

---

Outdoor Edge or Havalon.
Havalon is probably a better skinner, but OE is a heavier and better all-around blade. Get that if you're doing anything else.

---

This is why I use both when I clean an animal.

The boning knife I got when I took ANSC 307 (Meat Science) is a great boning knife. They're Victorinox black handle knives. Easy to sharpen, easy to clean, and nimble enough to maneuver. And they're cheap.

Love my Wyoming knife.
It has gut hook of you need it. And a curved blade for skinning. I hang my deer from the back legs with guts still in place. Then skin down past the shoulder, remove shoulders, take off back straps, sneak in between stomach area to grab tenderloins, use loppers to cut backbone off, then use looper to cut hams off. Only knife I use is my Wyoming knife. Works great.

I received a fixed blade benchmade as a gift last year that I used on 12 deer, and it's still sharp. Impressed with it

I have been eyeing the Benchmade meatcrafter. Nice looking knife.

Charismatic Megafauna said:

---

https://www.randallknives.com/knives/model-11-alaskan-skinner/
What's the wait on a randall these days? Gotta be 10 years or more

---

My good friend got a Randall bull cutter for Christmas from his brother this past year, it took 6 years.

You'll want this

Havalon.

I have 3 of them. I can send you one to try out. Best skinning knife hands down. No sharpening just switching blades.

ive used a havalon the past couple of years and wanted to try something new. went with one of the recommendations above

will give them both a try this year

this or an axe and limb loppers are my tool of choice.

last weekend the axe and limb loppers got the call

In all seriousness, these are my favorite two knives for cleaning deer.

6" Victorinox Butcher/Skinner

6" Victorinox Boning


I like the Fibrox handles for comfort and ease of cleaning, but I think you can get wood handles as well. I like the semi-stiff blade on the boning knife.

They're not beautiful. But they're very utilitarian. The both live in a leather sleeve with an ultra fine stone and a honing steel in my truck toolbox.

I have a couple havalon and they work really well. I also have several Bark River knives which I really like. The wolf river is my favorite but not sure they make it anymore. A canadian is on my list to get next.

I usually have a hunters axe I currently use a toporsib bobr. But I tend to use my corona max forged loppers they have a deeper curve than anything else and work extremely well for butchering. I have several pair so I always have one close.

Half Face Blades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

with a well placed 6.5 bullet you wont have to gut a thing.........jk

I use an 20 year old gerber that has a gut hook and was ready to upgrade until I took a look in the mirror and admitted that there was nothing wrong with the knife and my sorry sharpening skills were actually to blame. Purchased me a set of stones and strop and practiced on every knife I could get my hands on. I still am not very good, but now my knife can make it though a couple of deer before having to be redone.

I bought a Gerber skinning knife off of the clearance shelf at TSC last season. That thing is awesome, best $10 I have spent.

Run it on a ceramic rod every now and again, it's still sharp, fits my hand perfectly and does a great job. My other one is an Old timer sharpfinger.

I have no problem sharpening a knife now and again, so never have gotten into the Havalon fad.

schmellba99 said:

---

I bought a Gerber skinning knife off of the clearance shelf at TSC last season. That thing is awesome, best $10 I have spent.

Run it on a ceramic rod every now and again, it's still sharp, fits my hand perfectly and does a great job. My other one is an Old timer sharpfinger.

I have no problem sharpening a knife now and again, so never have gotten into the Havalon fad.

---

Those havalon have a place - right alongside disposable bic razors, cardboard starbucks cups, and lunchables.

Between these and worksharp systems, caring for and sharpening a real knife with a real stone is becoming a lost art.

highvelocity said:

---

i have approximately 30 tags this year

---

I'm a believer in pine ridge,

Love my Benchmade Hidden Canyon.
I'm getting a Buck 113 Ranger for my son.
I have a havalon, but prefer the toughness of a fixed blade and the aesthetics of a quality design.