Good skinning knife?

[Bean Counter]

Anybody have an experience (or rumors) with the Gerber Gator II?  Cabelas sells it for $40, but I've seen it on eBay for $15 cheaper.  I saw a similar skinner by Knives of Alaska at Sportsmans but that was like $120.  Yikes!

I post it under Elk Hunting because I want it to be able to do an elk, as well as deer and bear. Thanks.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=S55F3D4TNH4PZLAQBBLCCOVMCAEFAIWE?id=0033881516986a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_RESULTS_NYR&returnPage=search-results2.jsp&No=0&Ne=46&nyr=1&noImage=0&Ntt=gerber+knife&Ntk=Products&QueryText=gerber+knife&Ntx=matchall&N=51&_requestid=111203"

[bucklucky]

Get one custom made from rainshadow here on the site, I bet those other knives wouldnt even compare.

[jdb]

any good knife that will hold and edge will do just fine. the gerber would be an excellent choice. JB

[rainshadow1]

The 420HC is a little easier to sharpen and gets sharper than 440c or ATS34. Conversely, it'll dull faster, need to be sharpened more often, and not be as tough as those. If you don't use your knife a ton, or use it real carefully (avoiding other metal, rocks, bone, sand, etc.) then it's a good choice. Gerbers in general have been decent for the money.

No, they don't compare, but I can't do a knife for $40!!!

[Bean Counter]

The 420HC is a little easier to sharpen and gets sharper than 440c or ATS34. Conversely, it'll dull faster, need to be sharpened more often, and not be as tough as those. If you don't use your knife a ton, or use it real carefully (avoiding other metal, rocks, bone, sand, etc.) then it's a good choice. Gerbers in general have been decent for the money.

No, they don't compare, but I can't do a knife for $40!!!

I checked out your website.  That's some beautiful work.  You really do get what you pay for I guess.  Losing my $20 pair of binoculars on my first deer hunt was one of the best things that ever happened to me--I upgraded to Nikon Monarch ATB.  Perhaps I'll first get that Gerber and then you'll be hearing from me a little later!   

[Bean Counter]

Steve,

PM about your products..

[SNIPER10]

Bean Counter,

I use the Havalon Piranta.  It is a removable blade knife that uses a 60X scalpel blade.  It makes extremely short work of any skinning job.  I have used it to skin numerous elk, deer, and even a bison.  When the blade gets dull, just replace it, no sharpening needed.  I can usually gut and skin an entire elk with only one blade.  I can do two deer per blade.  The knife is about $40.00 and 100 blades are about $27.00.  You can get them from havalon.com.  I like the plastic handle one better for holding on to, but the metal handle one has a better locking system.

Good Luck,

JT

[jackelope]

good skinning knife...
thanks again steve...exactly how i was hoping it would turn out.

[rainshadow1]

It's in the mail! 

[cascademountainhunter]

i like BUCK KNIVES. they are all good and not to expensive.

[HoofsandWings]

I think knives with the folded steel blades work well for skinning. Something in the 10 to 20 folds, but maybe more is better.

[TheHunt]

My opinion the best skinning knife:  http://www.havalon.com/  Absolutely the best skinning knife I have ever owned...    40 dollars, plus comes with 12 blades.

I own the the Piranta.  Would not use it to bone out a big game animal but would skin one in a heart beat

[rainshadow1]

Damascus (folded) can be one of the best performing edges in the game, from any angle, if it's heat treated right.  But $40 isn't even a downpayment!

[AlpineMuley]

I skinned a whole elk with a knife from QVC, after my $90.00 grber went to #QW#$.  It really doesn't matter on the blade, as long as u can keep it sharp.  I had to keep sharpening the QVC knife every 15mins.  Since then, I have four knives (1 custom) for various portions of the skinning process. 

[rjm5]

I would forget about a knife and use scalpels. Thats all we use for deer, bear, and elk. There cheaper anfd lighter than any knive you'll buy and when the blade gets dull you put another one on. Its just another way to go if you don't want to carry the weight of a knife.

[SHANE(WA)]

deffinately a few disposable scalpels in my pack for caping its a must if you want to do it right.

[MountainWalk]

I really dig the knives of alaska muskrat. But i wouldnt feel handicapped if i had to use a plain jane old timer. I liked fixed blades.  My knives are used for everything, not just skinning. A lot of folks love the scalpels and such, but there are only so many things you can do with it.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I've always just used Dextar Russels (sp?).  I believe the ones I use are the 6 1/2" de-boning knife.  I use it for everything.  Skinning, Gutting, Splitting the rib cage (deer sized animals), and Quartering.  I know I can do one deer without sharpening.  Though I have done a couple befor I've had to sharpen it.  I think they go for between $12 and $18.  Depending on where you get them.

[huntnphool]

deffinately a few disposable scalpels in my pack for caping its a must if you want to do it right.

My taxidermist gives out caping kits that are small and lightweight. Each kit has its own zippered pouch with a clip to hang on your pack, a scalpel, 10-20 disposable blades and a small retractable tape measure. I guess he got tired of repairing poorly done capes and decided the time spent on the repairs was more than giving out the kits. A good idea for you taxi's that are on here

[bucklucky]

Thats a dang good idea Huntphool. Does it come with complete instructions on how to cape also . I will look into putting some kits like that together. Glad you posted that picture.

[Gobble]

I'm building one right now, I will post a pic of it when I'm done 

[Wacenturion]

I use the Case XX Changer.  Great quality product and compact.  Here's a couple links showing different handle materials. 


http://cgi.ebay.com/CASE-XX-STAG-CHANGER-SERIES-KNIFE_W0QQitemZ140252944923QQihZ004QQcategoryZ48819QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/CASE-XX-CHANGER-4-BLADE-FOLDING-KNIFE-SET-MIB_W0QQitemZ370072444889QQihZ024QQcategoryZ48819QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[yelp]

Wacenturian....you call that a knife?   I was thinking more along these lines.... for our hunt...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pig-Sticker-Bowie-Knife/dp/B0009UCTJ6

[jadeball1]

Thanks Jim, just bought one. Cant wait to try it out! Which blades do you perfer?

[TheHunt]

deffinately a few disposable scalpels in my pack for caping its a must if you want to do it right.

My taxidermist gives out caping kits that are small and lightweight. Each kit has its own zippered pouch with a clip to hang on your pack, a scalpel, 10-20 disposable blades and a small retractable tape measure. I guess he got tired of repairing poorly done capes and decided the time spent on the repairs was more than giving out the kits. A good idea for you taxi's that are on here

Ask you taxidermist if he knows about the Havalon knife.  The blades have disposible blades but you have a solid handle rather then the small handle if the scaple.  http://www.havalon.com/

[TheHunt]

Thanks Jim, just bought one. Cant wait to try it out! Which blades do you perfer?

I use this shape...  http://www.havalon.com/ss60xtdz.html 

You only need to carry one extra blade.  I can skin out a complete deer without changing blades. 

[Crunchy]

Im curious for those that use gut hook knives, how do you sharpen the gut hook portion?  I noticed mine seems to be getting a little dull and hard to use.

[boneaddict]

Throw a band aid in that kit too would you, or maybe some superglue.  , and if you are allergic to bees, a benadryl as the yellow jackets are a real bitch when you are trying to cape out a moose. 

[Fullabull]

I got tired of having to sharpen knives while I was still skinning so I decided to finally purchase a quality knife. I ended up getting a knives of Alaska set and have never wanted to use another knife. I skinned two elk and two deer before having to touch up the edge (which is really easy). I have had them for nine years now and haven't looked at another knife.

My father has a Cutco hunting knife that is probably 55 years old and is still in great shape. They make them in a straight edge or what they call a Double-D edge. Very nice knife!
http://www.cutco.com/products/thumbnail.jsp?category=70

I have found that if I invest in a good knife it saved me money in the long run

Fulla

[demontang]

I use a morseth skinner and have skinned two deer with out having to resharpen it, My father makes the same knife now. I will post a pic tonight.

[hambone]

i use a plan jane buck knife but i carry a ceramic steel in my pack a few swipes and the edge is good as new but i have been cutting meat for 30 years so its a little easy for me.

[Bean Counter]

Thank you all for your replies.   I did pick up the Gerber Gator II on eBay for a modest $28 total.  Pretty good deal and I think its a good basic skinning knife.  I'm hoping to pick up at least one trophy this year so I'll try to find my way into a scapel as well.  Eventually, I'd like to get me into a few of those beautiful handmade knifes that Rainshadow creates.  Best luck to all in your skinning pursuits this year.

[jeff100]

Those scalpel knives look like a great idea.  I'm too old school to use them, but I know a lot of men I will suggest them to!

I am a out of control knife collector.  I will buy any well made knife I can get cheap.

My dad taught me how to sharpen a knife when I was very young using a whetstone. I practiced many an hour as a young boy, trying to get my technique down so I could prove to the old man I could sharpen a knife.  It took a long time, but I did get it down.  In those days, that was one of those 'rites of passage' that a young boy had to go through on his path to becoming a man.  Any young man worth his salt carried a pocket knife and knew how to sharpen that pocket knife.  To this day, I never go anywhere without my pocket knife.

I don't think pocket knives are allowed these days for all the young boys being raised by single mothers....(oops, slipped out, sorry), not socially acceptable.  But I digress...

These days I have a number of different stones I use to sharpen my knives, depending on the steel in the blade and how dull they are to start with.  There's nothing I like better, than to sit down for the evening, plug in a good western movie, get out a few knives and my stones, and watch the movie and sharpen my knives.

Even better, when it gets to this time of year, two things really get me stoked for hunting.  Spending time at my reloading bench loading hunting ammo, and sharpening my field knives in preparation for hunting.  I usually carry two knives in my pack, so I don't have to do more than swap knives when I'm field dressing or caping an animal out. 

The trick to prevent knives from dulling too quickly (assuming you have the proper angle on the edge to begin with) is DON'T CUT HAIR.  Nothing dulls any knife faster, than cutting hair on big game, except for maybe cutting really dirty hair on big game....

Here's an interesting observation.  My original hunting knife, the first knife I bought for myself for hunting about 30 years ago, is an Old Timer two blade folder.  The blades on that knife are stained black from blood.  That knife, of all the knives I own, is the knife I can get the sharpest of all, by quite a bit.  Must be because it's a high carbon steel blade.  The rest of my knives are all some form of a stainless steel alloy.  That Old Timer folder is the easiest knife to hand sharpen as well.  Go figure.  I get it 'scary sharp' to borrow a term related to sharpening woodworking blades, and it actually makes me a little nervous when I'm trying to fold the blades shut without losing part of a finger!....

Just like guns, a man can never own too many knives...

[Bean Counter]

I don't think pocket knives are allowed these days for all the young boys being raised by single mothers....(oops, slipped out, sorry), not socially acceptable.  But I digress...


Just like guns, a man can never own too many knives...

 

I happened to be raised by one of those mothers. To make matters worse where did I go post HS but off to a good ol' University for more liberal indoctrination.  Took me years to un-f* the damage. 

I could see myself developing an affinity for knives but I'm trying to resist by looking at them only as a tool, not as much as a 'toy.'  Guns and ammo are skyrocketing in price and until I get a good horde of those stocked up, I'll have to hold off o the knives for now.  Now I digress..

[jeff100]

No offense meant Bean Counter.  I have strong reasons for commenting on SM's, but this isn't the place to explain them.

Glad you were able to work it out and join the ranks of responsible men...

[rainshadow1]

Stainless is easy, low maintenance, that's why it's so popular with us hunters and fishers... but the more stainless it is, the less appropriate the steel is for duty as a knife. You can get steel that's nearly stain free, but it's almost as soft as wood at its best!

The best stainless steels can be vulnerable to rust because of their high carbon content. They're just "less" vulnerable to it than regular high carbon.

Carbon steel will rust if you don't maintain it regularly. It will Patina, and darken itself all the way to black over the years, even if you do maintain it! But carbon tool steels are the best for knife work. Catch 22.

Some guys like the Patina, the Aged look of a good carbon blade. The Old Timer's are a good example. I don't remember seeing a bright shiny Old Timer blade, but they're excellent steel!

You can hand rub those old blades back up. A bit of technique and good old fashioned elbow grease, but you can make them new again.

[MountainWalk]

I like D2 steel pretty well. My fave knife was a handmade deal from my pa.. He made it out of leaf springs and sawmill blades, and it sharpens easily, and when its touched up,, its so sharp that if you look at it too long, your eyes will bleed.

[Bean Counter]

No offense meant Bean Counter.  I have strong reasons for commenting on SM's, but this isn't the place to explain them.

Glad you were able to work it out and join the ranks of responsible men...

None taken, of course.  Generalized statement--not personally directed.  At times, some things just need to be said. Society needs more "responsible men."  Both in sport hunting and in the family.  That would prevent a lot of homes like mine: of single moms and fatherless children.  Thanks for your encouragement.

[MountainWalk]

Here is that connive. :chuckle

He made it for me when I was nine, and gave it to me when I was twelve. It balances perfectly on one finger.

[jeff100]

when its touched up,, its so sharp that if you look at it too long, your eyes will bleed.

LMAO.....

[jeff100]

Here's my Old Timer.  It's an old friend...BTW, the original post was about Gerber Gator II, I have that knife in a fixed blade config, it's a great knife.  I have it both with and without the guthook.  I also have the original Gator folder in smooth blade (no serrations).  It's one of my favorite lockblades.  The only caveat is, I search out and buy the Gerber knives that were made in Portland.  I don't know if there's any real difference, but the new Gerber knives are made in Taiwan or China.

[fishseeker]

I use a Unkle Henry single blade folding blade I bought in 78, Gutted and skinned alot of game with it. Like an old friend to me! Never leaves the pocket of my hunting coat. Keep it shaving sharp with a stone(in the same pocket). Also carry a Wyoming knife now to use the gut hook for starting out. Have my Dad's old Western in the safe,but  don't use it for nothing but cutting my steak at dinner once in awhile! Kids got a kick outta me cutting thier meat with Grandpa's Knife!!