Folding knife for field dressing deer?

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labnoti

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I figure at this point in the season, some people have fresh memories of dressing deer. While a fixed-blade is understandably the preferred tool, I'm sometimes in a jurisdiction where fixed-blades are at risk of legal issues. I don't want to get into the details of that, but instead, talk about what good folders are out there. The Buck 110's a classic, but it seems like a lot of more modern folders are focused on being tactical rather than practical for hunting. Others I can think of are the Victorinox Hunter Pro, maybe a Boker? Well, I've never used any of them, so I'd like to hear from users.
 
I've owned 2 Buck 110s and a similar Schrade Uncle Henry in the past, have moved on. They're heavy, non serrated, clip point, old school. There are much better folders now days for less money.

I still have the Schrade Uncle Henry. I never carry or use that brick. :D
 
My favorite is a clone of the Buck 110 - I think it's a Parker. I've had it almost 30 years and it has always done a nice job. I like the narrow profile of the blade and it holds an edge really well. Not tacticool but a classic.
 
My Buck 105 is my favorite deer skinning knife , but it is a fixed blade . My second favorite is my Buck 110 . I hate sharping a knife , so I bought an Outdoor Edge that you can change the blades in , it is very convenient . A couple people in my hunting club have gotten one since they saw mine . I will add one thing about it that I don't like , is that it is very hard to change the blade if you let the blood dry on the knife .
 
I take my original 110 with me and a Schrade fixed blade of the same length in a drop point shape. The drop point is, IMO, the better blade design for cutting open and skinning animals like deer. I place the blade along my index finger and can gut a deer without worrying about cutting open something I shouldn't!
 
That is also how I use to do it . I now use one of those gut hooks devices , mine is made by Browning . I like using it a lot better and I am faster with it . I saw a guy cut his index finger last Saturday while gutting his deer . I think it is easier to gut them on the ground than hanging , like we do at my hunting club . Hanging up the guts put a lot of pressure at the spot that you are cutting while falling out .
 
My wife picked up several blister packs of a Gerber folder which was made in the USA along with a mini-flashlight for $10/each at Sam's. I used that knife to gut, skin and quarter a buck on Thanksgiving. It held its edge throughout. I was amazed.
 
My wife picked up several blister packs of a Gerber folder which was made in the USA along with a mini-flashlight for $10/each at Sam's. I used that knife to gut, skin and quarter a buck on Thanksgiving. It held its edge throughout. I was amazed.

I used a Gerber Gator Serrator for years, loved it. The rubber grip material was great until it started deteriorating. I was thinkin' about sending it back to Gerber under warranty, but now I can't find the danged thing. Oh, well, I like this new Schrade a lot better. That Gerber served me well for a lot of years, though.
 
Hard to beat those outdoor edge or havalon folders that take the disposable scalpel blades. I have other stuff that I use, but if I were in your shoes (fixed blade not an option) I would use one of those. The downside is, they aren't really much good for anything else, so I would still carry my case pocket knife for just "regular knife use", and my gerber gut zipper hook knife thingy, cause its cheap and prevents me from making a mess from what is already a mess.
 
I’ve been using a rubber shingled Gerber Gator folding gut hook knife for somewhere 15-16yrs, maybe a little more. Dressed my buck today with it. No complaints in the least. Have a Gerber Grylls T handled bone saw too, zip the sternum with that. No complaints here either.
 
I've used Gators, and Kershaw Leeks and Onions quite a bit, and have had no issues.
I tend to loose pocket knives tho so Ive mostly switched to carrying cheaper folders.
Ive got some sort of Gerber right now, rose colored blade, black skeleton frame, bought it for bout 10bucks at Walmart.
I've used of to clean a couple deer, handfull of pigs and goats, and one decent size cow. Why? Cause I usually leave my fixed blade knives attached to my pack, and unless I'm hiking I offten leave it at home or in the truck.

I've honestly gutted using everything from a loose razor blade, to my very nice and functional buck 105 and other similar knives.
I've never felt there was much difference unless the blade was dull....or serated, which I also don't like.
 
Spyderco, Zero Tolerance and Bencmade all make dozens of models suitable for hunting.

A little more expensive, but generally far better quality steel in the blades than Buck, Schrade or Gerber.
 
unless the blade was dull....or serated, which I also don't like.

I tried using a serated blade once to dress a deer and threw it away .. really. I haven't used one since. A 3" folder will go through a deer's sternum if you go off-center a bit. And if you're good enough, I'm not, it will go through the pelvic symphysis if you can hit exactly in the center line.
 
I tried using a serated blade once to dress a deer and threw it away .. really. I haven't used one since. A 3" folder will go through a deer's sternum if you go off-center a bit. And if you're good enough, I'm not, it will go through the pelvic symphysis if you can hit exactly in the center line.
Yep 3-4" blade, but full size handle and cutting around the side of a sternum isn't too hard. I feel safer doing it with a fixed blade, but I've never had a lock back fail on me.

Oh for the folks that like the buck 110s, but don't like the weight there is lightweight version available, haven't tried it, just seen it at Wally world last night.
 
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I may be the only one, but I never liked the Buck 110. Too heavy for what it is, and the upswept tip is just perfect for snagging the gut when you flip it over to open the belly. Buck and Kershaw have some really economical dropped point styles that I would prefer if it were me.
 
I started deer hunting with a Shrade Sharpfinger fixed blade. In the last few years, I have been using the Buck 112 lockback. It is slightly smaller than the 110. I have been quite satisfied with the 112. My son gave me an Outdoor Edge Swing Blade last Christmas but I have not put it to use, yet.
 
The 110 is available with some modern features. I like these. No sheath needed. They are much lighter and slimmer than the traditional 110.

The 110 Slim Pro with either Micarta or G10 handles, pocket clip and S30V steel. About $90
https://www.buckknives.com/product/110-slim-knife-pro/0110FAM03/


With Plastic handles and the old school 420 HC steel. About $25. For about $25 it is hard to go wrong with these. I have a 110 and 112 with the 420 HC steel. May get one of the Pro models with S30V late

https://www.buckknives.com/product/110-slim-knife-select/0110FAM02/

The smaller 112 has had the same treatment.

https://www.buckknives.com/product/112-slim-knife-pro/0112FAM03/
https://www.buckknives.com/product/112-slim-knife-select/0112FAM02/
 
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