Advice needed on filed dressing knife

[Wild1]

NOTE: I was going to post in "Gear/Knife" forum but hog hunters always give the best advice. I'm in the market for a new field dressing knife and I mostly hunt hogs. I'd love to get recommendations for your favorite type and model field dressing knife. Should I go with a folding or fixed blade knife (and why?); Should I get one with a gut hook (why or why not?). Blade length....? What is your favorite make and model or recommendation....? Thanks a million and Happy New Year.

 

[Speckmisser]

Wild1,

There are probably a million different good answers to your question. It's mostly personal preference.

I like a folding knife with a 3" drop point or spear point. The small size lets me manage it well in the tight spots and where you wanna be careful (around the bladder and stomach), but provides enough knife to get through that thick skin and fat. I just lost a really great little Schrade, and replaced it with a little Buck. You don't have to spend a fortune.

My brother is hell on wheels with a gut hook knife, though, and although I've never used one myself, it seems to really work.

And there's always the utility knife. A lot of guys swear by it, and for the price and the fact that you can flip, then replace, the blades, I can see the benefits.

So hold on for the ride, and be ready for lots of ideas.

 

[Arrowslinger]

I prefer a folding knife w/ gut hook (opens the cavity quickly), saw (cut bone-pelvis), and knife blade (skinning & everything else the other two can't cover). I'm partial to my browning Kodiak:

It cuts deep!!

 

[Franklin3]

Try Bark River Knives.
they make an assortment of good quality steel at affordable prices.

 

[Rancho Loco]

I just use a fixed blade schrade with a rubber handle..."OldTimer" I think.


I like it because it was cheep, I don't feel too bad about using one of those pull type sharpeners to thrash the blade, and I can just throw it in the dishwasher after it gets super-funky skinning and gutting a hog.

 

[Wild1]

Thanks for the comments fellas - keep 'em coming. I'm taking a hard look at the Buck Alpha fixed blade, can't decide on whether or not to get the gut hook. Appreciate any other suggestions/advice/comments. Thanks again.

 

[Sporty]

I've never used a gut hook but they kinda scare me. I'm worried that I'll catch intestine and have a big mess. Has this happened to anyone? My buddy uses his to skin squirrels and it seemed to very well.
Good luck to all,
Sporty

 

[Franklin3]

A gut hook controls the depth of cut while opening the cavity like a zipper.
they dont get in the way but the only cut its used for is opening the cavity or cutting through the hide the same way. I use one and wouldn't be without it.

 

[Uncle Ji]

I have a variety of knives I like prefering a fixed blade knife though I do use both. I still have my original BUCK Pathfinder 106 a gift from Dad 30 years ago, a sentimental favorite but also a very effective tool. My current favorite is a BEAR MGC Guthook Hunter with Damascus Steel blade. The guthook actually reduces the chances of hitting internal organs and makes splitting open the belly a breeze. You'll need a round diamond file or small diameter ceramic rod to sharpen the guthook though with the superior Damascus steel the sharpening with fewer and father between, this steel the best edge holding steel I have ever used, I highly recommend all BEAR MGC knives with Damascus steel blades.

 

[SDHNTR]

I've run the gamut with my knives. I've used gut hooks and plenty without too. I've now settled on a good old Case pocket knife. The smaller size is much more manueverable and manageable and it comfortably fits in your pocket. Case's Tru-Sharp blades are awesome too. They really hold an edge.

You also can't go wrong with the Buck 110. It's on the heavy side but the balance and blade design makes it very user friendly.

I still have a Buck Zipper with the gut hook and while the knife is OK, I've found that the gut hook gets in the way more than it helps. The hook works great at first but after a few uses it dulls and becomes pretty much useless. It just hangs up on the hair. And it is difficult to resharpen. For other tasks (like slicing the heel for a gambrel hook) the gut hook just gets in the way.

For all around usage and versatility, a good clip blade in the 3.5" range is hard to beat.

 

[Gyopo]

I have a Schrade Sharpfinger(fixed blade).
The blade has a good shape for skinning and is not too big.
The metal is kinda soft and usually needs to be touched up in the field if one plans on dressing, skinning and cutting up in the field.

I also have a Spyderco Tim Wegner smooth blade (folder) I found on sale for like $50.
The blade holds its edge better than the Sharpfinger.
The blade is a little bigger than the sharpfinger's.
I Think Spyderco disnotinued this model.


I haven't any experience w/a gut hook on the blade, but I bought one of the Gerber gut zipper things at Walmart. I think a regular blade works just as well.

 

[Orso]

I'm a big fan of the Case Trapper pocket knife. A spey blade, which I mostly use, and a clip point blade. They cost about $50.

 

[oregoncritters]

Hey,
My taxidermist just gave me a knife that came with 12 replaceable blades.. All i know is it's called a "Pirhana." This is the most incredible knife i have ever used.. It's all he uses for caping and fleshing.. We killed several hogs in South Carolina this week. I used one blade on every inch of a 280lbs hog and used the same blade to cut the meat up.. It's a folding knife with a three inch or so scalpal for a blade.. Check them out or i can get you more info..

 

[Orso]

Oregoncritters,

Will you please post the link for the knife you mention, I'd like to check it out.

Thanks,

 

[oregoncritters]

Orso,
I'll see what i can find.. If not i send me an e-mail and i will get you his phone #.

 

[oregoncritters]

Orso,
go to www.havels.com. You can see the blade type under products and he just told me this is where he orders them from.. He also said they are backordered until march.. They are 50.00 bucks , at least that's what he sells them for. After using one i will surely have one for every pack.. I guess you could call them and ask about the Pirhana knife.. Hope this helps, it will surely be worth the call..

 

[Franklin3]

Then what do you do with the fifty other knives ?

 

[jaehunt]

My wife bought me the Kershaw Alaska Blade Trader set a couple of years ago and I absolutely love it. Between my father, mother, brother, and I this thing has been throught at least 10 hogs and it still works great. It comes with a big gut hook, a straight blade, and a bone saw... all in one convienent belt sheath. I think this is a link to it at Cabela's (for pic purposes only):
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...equestid=124547

Jason

 

[EvBouret]

I prefer to use a paring knife and a normal skinning knife. The paring knife works better than anything I've ever used (utility knife, skinning knife, gut hook) for gutting the animal and is incomparable when it comes to cutting the butthole area free. A machete works great for splitting quarters or cutting ribs off the backbone.

 

[Orso]

Thanks Oregoncritters, I'll check it out.