KA BAR knive use?

[alecvg]

I recently lost the knife I use for gutting and skining animals, and really can't afford a new one.  I have a Ka-bar that I use as a belt knife for using around camp and for camp-like tasks, but was wondering if that would work for gutting and skiing too?  Has anyone on here tried using a Ka-bar for that?  My Ka-Bar is not the full version, but the smaller USMC fighting knife.  Any advice on how well this would work would be appreciated.

[follow maggie]

Just be careful with the tip and take your time.  If it's sharp, it'll work fine.  I use a hatchet for skinning

[BLKBEARKLR]

If sharp it should work ok as long as you are careful with it. I myself would not do around the face with it though. Especially around the tear ducts and such that is a big blade going in there, lots of room for errors..

[alecvg]

If sharp it should work ok as long as you are careful with it. I myself would not do around the face with it though. Especially around the tear ducts and such that is a big blade going in there, lots of room for errors..

I would mostly just have it for the gutting itself, and maybe some of the skining, and I never cape out the entire head anyway.  And I am hoping to get a Knives of Alaska Muskrat for fine skining jobs, and I want it for when I get my trapping license for skining out pelts anyway.  I just don't think that would work to well for gutting.  Thanks for the advice.

[dbllunger]

Do what you want, but I would just buy a cheap folder and a Smith sharpener.  You would have about 10 bucks into it.  I have totally skinned and quartered many elk and deer with a "Gerber/Danner" folder that came with my boots.  Your K-Bar would work fine.  I just quartered a elk with an "Alaska Knives Caper" last week.  Just keep it sharp.

[sako223]

There are many different KaBar knife styles. I have some small ones that are great skinners, one even has a gut hook.
Knives of Alaska are nice, they use different steels in each series. The Cub Bear is a nice detail knife. Mine holds a good edge. The Muskrat could be risky for a beginner having a sharp edge on both sides of the blade.
For elk my favorite is a Gerber. Not that Gerber is the best but it has good steel and a great skinning design.  
Those Gerber Danner knives are popular. I have two.

[Alchase]

To answer you question, yes your K-bar will do fine. Just keep it sharp.

[bighorns2bushytails]

ive used my smaller Ka Bar knife to skin and gut a deer.   just keep it sharp and youll be fine.

--BH2BT

[landshark]

i have used my ka bar for 10 plus years works great just tune it up