Best skinning knife?

[allboy]

So what is everyone using, and why do you like it? I'm looking to upgrade to a good fixed blade skinning knife that is under $100.00, and American made. I read alot of good things about about knifes of Alaska, older Shurade knifes, Bark river, Buck 103's just to name a few. Those that do more skinning than I will ever do seem to perfer a 3"-4" blade, not the big Rambo knifes I some hunters packing. Your thoughts?

[predatorpro]

i use an outdoor edge with a guthook, works good! im sure not the greatest in the world but it does just fine for skinnin coyotes!

[JimmyHoffa]

I use a homemade thingy that has a large handle but the blade is only about 3 1/2" long and rounded. Really thick blade too.  Don't like the flimsy pointy things for skinning, use those for butchering.  I tend to use it more in a wedging/pushing motion and don't want to puncture the hide/meat in the process.

[Bshiftbc]

I carry the Alpha Wolf (Knives of Alaska) and I also bought a Havalon this year. The Alpha Wolf is a workhorse and I love it. The Havalon is also very impressive and scary sharp. Both very good knives (my opinion) and worth looking at.

[JoeE]

I like the outdoor edge swing blade and I also carry a SOG swing blade knife/saw combo.

[scottfrick]

I too carry the outdoor edge swing blade and a havalon. Both are great knives 

[splitshot]

i think  the bigger the better.  i like the buck 119, the biggest they make, but it should have a gut hook.  when i got the big boy gut hooks were not popular .  i am knife poor as i have at least 15 bucks and a few others.  it is like guns and fly rods you cant have enough.    you gotta keep them very sharp!  mike w

[ellensburgpo]

This year I've used the knife I bought from Rainshadow made from and old bandsaw blade. It's earned a permanent spot in my pack.

[Griiz]

I love my knives of alaska knives with D2 steel. All you really need is a havalon. They are small, light and make fieldressing, caping, skinning, and deboning a breeze.

[400out]

My truck 

[DoubleJ]

I love my Buck knife.  $30 at wal mart



Takes a few minutes to get it sharp out of the box but once sharp, the edge just doesn't go away.  It's my skinning/boning knife.  I crash the thing into rib bones and pop ball sockets with ease and it stays super sharp.

So sharp in fact that it did this with just a small brush with my hand:

[400out]

  I hate that!!!!!!!! bet it still hurts 

[ribka]

Started using these a few years ago for skinning and boning out

Cheap and work well

http://www.askthemeatman.com/knives.htm#3%20inch%20paring%20knife

[Austrian Hunter]

"Cutco" I got one from an outfitter he spoke very highly of them.  I've skinned three bears, three deer and an elk.  This year was the first time I sent it in to cutco for free sharpening.   

[carpsniperg2]

Outdoor edge skin and bone is a great set! You can pick up the pair on ebay for about 30.00.

I use my havlon knife a lot for skinning as well.

[Kioti]

Schrade Sharpfinger works for me.  I have skinned out tons of deer and elk with it.  Great knife.  Handy, small, and if you keep it razor sharp, there is nothing it wont cut.
I carry that along with my Buck Kalinga, and I do just fine.

[matt345]

Havalon Paranta for sure!!!!!!

[sirmissalot]

I just can't bring myself to pack a havalon, I'm sure they are great but I like the feel of a sturdy fixed blade in my hand.

I have a diamond blade and love it for the most part, but the steel is so hard it makes it a pain to touch up, and it would also be out of your price range.

My vote goes to knives of Alaska, I believe they are owned by the same company as diamond blade just use a milder steel which I would prefer.

[bradslam]

If you want something way under $100, there is nothing wrong with a Green River by Dexter-Russell.  They are carbon steel and have a thin blade that is easy to touch up if you carry a sharpener with you.  I bet more animals have been skinned with them than any other knife.

[Huntboy]

Outdoor Edge, Swingblade.

[kentrek]

all of the above are great options..anything with good steel an a drop point is money

but id avoid the razor blade type knives (havalon)...if you cut your self with one of those in the backcountry your in some trouble..ive got the scar to prove it

sharp is great but tooo sharp is deadly..esp with a super light knife

[golfguy0912]

I just can't bring myself to pack a havalon, I'm sure they are great but I like the feel of a sturdy fixed blade in my hand.

I thought the same thing, until I got one last year for christmas. Thought they would be flimsy. Completely wrong. I have used it on two deer this year and it performed as well as my Schrade Old timer that I have had since I started hunting 18 years ago. I could not recommend this knife enough for skinning out any animal.

The one down side to them as it has been said is they are EXTREMELY sharp. I pricked myself this last week on my dad's buck as we were skinning it out. Thankfully it was just a minor knick and stopped bleeding after a few minutes.

[sirmissalot]

Seems to me the razor blade inserts would be too sharp for skinning. Never even held one though so I don't know... I just know it is possible to have a knife too sharp when skinning or caping. I do plan on getting one and giving it a shot though.

[sebek556]

Wife got me these knifes of Alaska muskrat/cub combo last year for x-mas. and I love them!! I have done deer this year with the cub and it will still shave the hair off my arm 
http://www.knivesofalaska.com/item.asp?id=65&r=store%2Easp%3Fc%3D35

[golfguy0912]

I dont know if I would use a Havalon for gutting an animal though. Having something that sharp while your hands are up inside the animal. All it would take is one slight mistake and your either cut or cut open something you shouldnt have.

[NRA4LIFE]

I just skinned 4 deer last week with one of Rainshadow's pack skinners.  That is an outstanding skinner.  Holds it's edge great and the blade design seems ideal.

[nwwanderer]

For skinning, whatever fits your hand, is easy fir YOU to sharpen and has a nice bow to the edge.  Sure do not need to spend $100.

[dscubame]

I like the Alaskan Blade trader for Elk.  Kershaw Alaskan Blade Trader Knife 1098AK Demo

Nothing but a small pocket knife for deer.

[bradslam]

I've started using a kevlar glove on my left hand when cutting up animals in the field.  It beats getting nasty cuts when in the backcountry.  When I'm done, I just throw it in a Zip-loc bag and wash it with bleach when I get home.  I used to commercial fish in Alaska and I always used one during halibut trips.  I didn't have to worry about getting sliced while going a-mile-a-minute while gutting them.

[Bshiftbc]

I dont know if I would use a Havalon for gutting an animal though. Having something that sharp while your hands are up inside the animal. All it would take is one slight mistake and your either cut or cut open something you shouldnt have.

Agreed! Like I stated before, the Havalon is scary sharp. I use the gutless method...but if I gutted, I would NOT use the Havalon for that part. It is handy for detail stuff (caping around the face etc).
I used one on several WY elk this season, and was impressed. Like many here have stated, I was skeptical of its durability. I tried to use it on some heavier work and was able to break a blade. I tried to use it as I would my Alpha Wolf (as a test). It is simply not made for that type of work.
I would also not give this knife to a newbie or a person doing his first animal!

[Simcoe hunter]

I use a Gerber.  Got this set from Bi-Mart right before Gerber became Fiskars, or whatever they are now.  It's a downright shame.  The skinner has a 3 1/2 inch blade, with a 3 inch useful cutting length.  These are them until something bad happens to one. 

I used to carry an O. K. Olsen.  Nice heavy knife.  I let my brother taslk me out of that one.   They are no longer in business.  You can find them used on E-Bay for a lot more than they were back in the late 70's.

I think a W. R. Case skinner with the stacked leather handle would be a good knife.  It looks like the old Marbles knives.  I don't know if Marbles even makes knives anymore.

[Dirty Mike]

Havalon

[losdaddy7]

Havalon

Havalon piranta X 2.  Nothing better.