Field dressing/skinning knives

[CaNINE]

Wow mossy oak arrow slinger glad you had help there to provide first aid. A knife slip cam happen in an instant. The surgical blade leaves little margin for error. I jabbed one through my forefinger down to the bone last weekend while removing a deer hock.  I’m going to keep using the havalon too but am going to double down on caution.

Be careful folks

[carpsniperg2]

yeah those havalons are scary sharp and that's my fear of losing the blade.  my go to meat cutter is now a 6" victoronix (spelling ?) made by swiss army
its real sharp and holds an edge and sharpens easily.  bought it off amazon for around $22... gonna buy some more cuz it's a helluva knife for the price

Hands down the best butcher knives out there. If I am bring a animal out whole or when processing it at home its getting worked with them. Cheap and sharpen easy/hold edge great! You can buy them 20-40 online but cash and carry stocks them to!!!!

[CaNINE]

This knife (Victorinox 6” boning) was just recommended to me by a professional butcher. I was surprised to learn how inexpensive they are. Going to get a couple of them for my home butchering kit.

Are you guys using the straight or curved blade version?

[Widgeondeke]

I have been using a Havalon Piranta for the past 4 seasons. They are great for skinning. I also have the fear of breaking/losing a blade, but haven't yet.

For the heavier cutting or breaking the hip socket connection I grab my DH Russell Canadian Belt Knife. They do cost about $105, but hold an edge. I love the ergonomics of them and are what I used exclusively before the Havalon. Mine was given to me by my FIL and is probably 40 years old.

[brew]

This knife (Victorinox 6” boning) was just recommended to me by a professional butcher. I was surprised to learn how inexpensive they are. Going to get a couple of them for my home butchering kit.

Are you guys using the straight or curved blade version?
[/quoteusing the curved blade...awesome knife for dirt cheap..

[HighlandLofts]

I have the larger havalon that I bought for skinning cows over on my friends farm. My advise is stay focused and have a clear mind. Some guys like to have a few shot on cold hunting days, they are for after you get everything done and back at the camp.
I seen what can happen with these knives, they are extremely sharp and hazardous. One slip up and you can cut an artery which would be life threatening.
 Being a thin bladed knife I limit what I use mine for, any of the heavy cutting or joint removal I will not use my havalon, I use a fixed blade knife.

I keep a small pair of needle nosed players in my day pack for swapping out the blade.

[Kenaiwild]

Been using the Havalon for a few seasons now and after breaking one in half gutting a deer and having a blade pop off gutting an elk I’ve learned to go slower and let the blade to the work and not torque it.  It’s no fun feeling around a chest cavity for a blade. 

A few years ago in MT a buddy of mine had his buck head in his lap and was removing the hide and put too much into it and the knife went right into his thigh to the bone.  Blood started squirting out like a super soaker.  2 hour drive to the nearest hospital where he spent a couple days repairing the artery. 

[Scheindogg]

Been using the Havalon for a few seasons now and after breaking one in half gutting a deer and having a blade pop off gutting an elk I’ve learned to go slower and let the blade to the work and not torque it.  It’s no fun feeling around a chest cavity for a blade. 

A few years ago in MT a buddy of mine had his buck head in his lap and was removing the hide and put too much into it and the knife went right into his thigh to the bone.  Blood started squirting out like a super soaker.  2 hour drive to the nearest hospital where he spent a couple days repairing the artery.

 
 

[PolarBear]

My kids got me an Outdoor Edge Razor Pro for Christmas last year and I was able to gut, skin and break down my buck this year with one blade.  I absolutely LOVE it! You do have to be very careful and I did wind up cutting the crease in the joint of one of my fingers while gutting but that was just repositioning the knife in my hand and not paying attention. I won't let my daughter use it to gut but she really liked the skinning blade on it.  I have buddies that have had Havalon blades come loose or break while gutting. 

[Pinetar]

My kids got me an Outdoor Edge Razor Pro for Christmas last year and I was able to gut, skin and break down my buck this year with one blade.  I absolutely LOVE it! You do have to be very careful and I did wind up cutting the crease in the joint of one of my fingers while gutting but that was just repositioning the knife in my hand and not paying attention. I won't let my daughter use it to gut but she really liked the skinning blade on it.  I have buddies that have had Havalon blades come loose or break while gutting.

     The outdoor edge razor pro is my favorite as well. And they sharpen easy and fast so blades can last longer, if you don't mind sharpening. The Havalon's are sharp and nice but they will pop off and break. Watched a buddy of mine break his Havalon blade cutting off a deer leg at the joint and the part that broke off stuck in his lower forehead  right between his eyes, luckily it wasn't deep and didn't get an eye.
 

[PolarBear]

Damn!!!  He was lucky!  I never thought of sharpening the blades. I told the kids that all I want for Christmas is a couple packs of replacement blades.  I'm using that thing for everything.

[KFhunter]

I like my commercial knives, considering packing those with me. 6" boning and skinner all I'd need

This is my 3 knife set I use for home butchering, finally got my steels figured out so they stay sharp al the time.