what knife do you use to gut deer

what knife do you use to field gut deer?

 

Seems I field dress a good number of deer.  I use a L L Bean two blade (3") folding knife, for the last 34 years. 

But I have for 10 years found the Sagen saw a MUST.  http://www.sageninc.com/ssi.html

 I have carried a single edge razor blade which does a fair job and light.  I carry one in my possibles bag when hunting with a flintlock.  It will be dull after one deer.

Anything over about 3" is a negative in deer cleaning.  The big 4-10 blades may look nice on your belt, but tough to cut the wind pipe close to the head with one.

  My Buck Croslok that Jerr gave me,it's my favorite

After many years I found the best knife for me is a buck pathfinder or woodsman. I like narrow fixed blade medium length knifes and buck is very good about standing behind their knifes. 

I replaced my buck folder, with a cabela's tri-blade folder, same size as buck, about 20yrs ago.  It's blade is good for gutting six or seven deer before needing resharpening, it's gut blade works well for splitting hide for gutting and skinning, saw is just long enough for quartering an elk, although it is less than ideal for the task.  I don't know if they still make them, it'a a copy of a puma knife my dad's had for 40+ yrs.

 

 

Edited by RobertMT

I had a Wyoming saw, but stopped carrying it for deer, as I don't need the weight.  A buddy got one of the Gerber folding saws9small with changable blades).  He gave me a demo on one of the deer I shot, and I must say...not good.  The blades on the knife type saws seem to be too short and too course to cut the pelvis bone.

Not sure on the model, but I have carried a Buck on my belt for about 20 years that is about 4" long in the blade but not very wide. It also has a shiny black handle and nice silver end caps.

Keep a Buck folder in my fanny pac just incase I lose the other on the trail or what not.

A couple of years ago somebody gave me the tip of using a utility knife with a hook blade for cutting shingles etc. as a sort of poor mans Wyoming knife. I treid it on a couple of deer for slitting them open without slicing into leaky parts etc. Started back between the legs and got all the way to the breastbone in one easy swipe. No fuss no muss. Problem is it's just another thing to carry as you still need a knife for the heavier work but it does zip em open. RD 

I have used my sharp finger for more then 25 years. Its nice to have the son inlaw hunting with me as he jumps right in.  We use the hooky thingy knife in the garage skinning. I have a variety of old soft steel butcher knives from the flea markets to butcher with ,easy sharpening. I never use a knife or ax in the field for deer. I have a beauty of an old meat saw I picked up at the flea market. 

Soft steel takes a really sharp blade.  And as you say they also sharpen quick.  I've got some german steel that is so hard it take hoours to sharpen.

'It's also about 1 foot long and hollow ground. It's sharp as hell, but will not hold a shaving edge. The handles I made of delhrin and riveted the escutcheons..............................."

that oughta warrent a nice picture for us KP.........hint hint