What’s the real nightmare after harvesting the animal?
Bingu! It’s removing the hide from the carcass.
But nowadays hunters are much more fortunate than the ancient Man discovered millennia ago, we’ve got a wide range of skinning knife choices to choose from. And the article today will help you find out the best deer skinning knife in the market.
Here are the best deer skinning knives (Apr 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife
- Most Versatile: Old Timer 152OT
- Compact And Sturdy: Victorinox Beef Skinning Blade Fibrox
- Best For Serious Hunters: Buck Knives 191
- Best Overall: Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite
- Best For Sharp Precision: Havalon Piranta Z
| Top 6 Best Deer Skinning Knives | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife | Read Our Review |
Most Versatile | Old Timer 152OT | Read Our Review |
Compact And Sturdy | Victorinox Beef Skinning Blade Fibrox | Read Our Review |
Best For Serious Hunters | Buck Knives 191 | Read Our Review |
Best Overall | Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite | Read Our Review |
Best For Sharp Precision | Havalon Piranta Z | Read Our Review |
Fixed Blade
Best Overall: Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife
- Made of Swedish steel material for superior sharpness retention and durability -> last longer and require less sharpening times in the field
- Small and compact -> easy to carry along
- Grippy, high-friction handle -> full of control, safety, and handling
- The handle might loosen its grips overtime
Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife blows away the competition when speaking of sharp retention and rust resistance.
It’s made of hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel - a high-quality Swedish steel material, which is known for superior toughness and sharpness to carbon steel. The blade, according to that, can stay sharp longer no matter how much tinder cutting, food prep, or carving you’ve worked with it.
With a grippy, high-friction handle that is specifically patterned to comfortably sit in the hand, we believe this would be the best workhorse in the field, regardless of the weather conditions.
| Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel |
Handle Length | 4.5” |
Blade Length | 4.1” |
Overall Length | 8.6” |
Highlight Features | versatile fixed-blade outdoor knife with a 4.1-inch hardened Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade |
Being one of the most affordable knives here, the Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife stands out for its unsurpassed steel material with ergonomic handle design, making it the best overall option in our list.
Most Versatile: Old Timer 152OT
- Feature a clip-point shape -> highly versatile can work as a hunting knife and an EDC knife
- Made of 7Cr17 high-carbon stainless steel – much stronger and easier to sharpen than the 440C skinning knives -> bang for bucks
- The cheapest knife in this list -> money-saving
- The sheath is not leather
- The point is still weak a little bit
Old Timer 152OT is a special case to talk about.
It might not work as excellently in a certain task as other counterparts in this list but its general performance will wow you. From dressing, piercing, and slicing game to simply cutting ropes or preparing a campfire, it handles pretty well anything given.
We find it’s a kind of talent – A versatile skinner – that can be with you in any situation that life takes to, whether in the field or your daily use.
But unlike other cheap clip-point knives, the blade of this one is made of 7Cr17 high-carbon stainless steel, which means it’s much stronger and easier to sharpen. Skinning? No problem!
| Old Timer 152OT Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel |
Handle Length | 3.8” |
Blade Length | 3.3” |
Overall Length | 7.1” |
Highlight Features | 152OT Sharpfinger 7.1in S.S. Full Tang Fixed Blade Knife with 3.3in Clip Point Skinner Blade and Sawcut Handle for Outdoor Hunting and Camping |
If you’re looking for a perfect addition to your hunting pack as well as the best workhorse for daily use, Old Timer 152OT is a great choice, with price unrivaled by any other knives
Compact And Sturdy: Victorinox Beef Skinning Blade Fibrox
- Feature an unfamiliar curved edge blade to retain its sharpness longer
- The ergonomic, grippy handle keeps the knife securely in place with comfort for a long intended time of using
- Can fit both left and right-handed users
- Don’t have a sheath
When shopping for a skinning knife, the most important thing to consider is a knife blade that doesn’t dull easily. In this department, we’re seriously impressed by the Victorinox Fibrox.
With an unfamiliarly curved edge and sharp finish, it doesn’t require sharpening as regularly as other counterparts. It even can be used on most animals for skinning and gutting.
The handle which is intentionally created to contour to your hands provides an ergonomic grip so you can keep it securely yet comfortably in place during extended period of using time. Also, it provides a nice fit to anyone, no matter you’re a right or left-handed user.
| Victorinox Beef Skinning Blade Fibrox Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Stainless steel |
Handle Length | 2.5” |
Blade Length | 2.5” |
Overall Length | 5” |
Highlight Features | The world's most know brand for multi-tools and pocket knives Made in Switzerland |
Compact and sturdy, Victorinox Fibrox remains one of the best skinners you can buy, with the bonus of an ultra-sharp curved blade.
Best For Serious Hunters: Buck Knives 191
- Have a gut hook for field dressing game
- Provide a deep choil and integrated brass finger guard for extra safety and convenience
- Made in the USA, it ensures the quality
- The sheath is not quality
- Not true to color
Buck Knives 191, as its name defines, is a gut hook knife that works like a zipper.
The manufacturer provided it with a corrosion-resistant drop-point blade for unparalleled edge retention and versatility. With an added gut hook, it works decently in the field dressing game.
More significantly, they made the blade of supreme 420HC steel in addition to a deep choil and integrated brass finger guard. This makes the point much stronger than other drop-point knives at this price range so that it can handle heavy tasks like a breeze.
| Buck Knives 191 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | 420HC steel |
Handle Length | 4 ¼” |
Blade Length | 4” |
Overall Length | 8-1/4" |
Highlight Features | RAZOR SHARP & VERSATILE Full Tang Construction with Integrated Finger Guard and a Deep Choil |
Designed with functions and performance in mind, the Buck Knives 191 is an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts and serious hunters who appreciate quality.
Folding Blade
Best Overall: Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite
- Provide various choices of colors, sizes, and blade numbers for highest customizability
- Built with multiple blades with easy and safe replacement -> versatile and functional
- Include a sturdy pocket clip -> convenient
- The rubber surface is not as durable as its blade material
- Wish the pocket clip was a bit tighter and longer
- Not really suitable for left-handed users
We assure you, this knife set will be the most often in your pocket.
It provides different functional blades that are all made of razor-sharp, heat-treated, hand-finished 44J2 stainless steel. Each plays a certain role and they are easily replaced by just pushing a button. The price also includes a pocket clip that is incredibly sturdy and reliable.
What we love the most about this is the lightweight Grivory handle with rubberized TPR inserts. This combination wise makes the knife not just well-balanced but also easier to hold and use for a long time.
The choices are various as well, with multiple choices of sizes, colors, and blade numbers.
| Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | heat-treated, hand-finished 44J2 stainless steel |
Handle Length | 4.5” |
Blade Length | 5.4” |
Overall Length | 9.9” |
Highlight Features | Sharpest Strongest Replacement razor knife available |
Providing you with a fully functional blade set with easy replacement and durability, the Outdoor Edge Razor will surely make your purchase well-worth every penny.
Best For Sharp Precision: Havalon Piranta Z
- Perfect for small games, fowl and so on with higher precision
- Lightweight and very balance -> easy to use and less hand fatigue
- Can’t use it for throwing, wacking, or hacking
- No backbone
Compared to blocky prettier hunting knives, you won’t regret buying this Havalon Piranta Z at all, we promise.
It is a perfect compact knife for small games, fowl and so on for some reasons, and possibly deer skinning with unbeatable precision – something that a pocket knife with a backbone or a stubby bone saw can’t do.
Speaking of the most favorite, it’s surely the ergonomically balanced design despite its lightness. Another big bonus is no caked-on membrane, fat, or blood anymore, just replace the blade and keep up your projects.
| Havalon Piranta Z Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | stainless steel |
Handle Length | 5.5” |
Blade Length | 2.75” |
Overall Length | 7-1/4" |
Highlight Features | Rugged stain-resistant ABS plastic handle
Right for both skinning and field dressing; |
If your outdoor projects require more precision, look no further than this Havalon Piranta Z.
How To Choose The Best Deer Skinning Knives?
Type Of Blade
- There are some animals featuring tightly attached skin whereas the others don’t, which requires different skinning process. As a result, different blade types have been created.
- Two common options are:
- Trailing point blades
- Clip point or drop point blades
- The trailing point blades featuring deeper bellies and longer cutting edges than the clip point are best for skinning animals with tightly attached skin. The drop-point blades, on the other hand, are suitable for the loosely attached skin of animals, according to their specifically designed blade tip.
Fixed-Blade Or Folding Knife?
- Each of them gives you different functions.
- For example, fixed blade knives are much more rugged and durable than the folding blade, they are perfect for removing the hide from the animal’s carcass or other heavy-duty tasks.
- But to handle those initial cuts around the neck and along the abdomen and the legs, a folding knife is more functional.
- So we highly recommend bringing both of these styles, if possible.
Blade Materials
- Different types of steel can make a huge difference in performance, especially in terms of their ability to hold a sharp edge, ease of sharpening, corrosion resistance, and hardness.
- Three highly-recommended steel grades are:
- S30V – good at sharp retention and corrosion resistance abilities, making it a nice choice for skinning big game like moose and elk.
- 420HC – good at the ease to sharpening and corrosion resistance
- H1 – the most durable and corrosion-resistant steel grade out of the bunch so knives made of this material can resist salty environments. Their biggest drawback is prone to dullness than other counterparts.
Which Brands Make The Best Deer Skinning Knives?
Morakniv
- Morakniv is a 129-year long-standing brand specializing in producing knives of all ranges. Each product is under carefully chosen characteristics, under scrupulous control, to ensure the highest quality before given to the market.
Victorinox
- Victorinox is another Mr. Giant in this industry, founded in 1884 as an independent family company in Europe. They’ve been well-known as a reliable supplier of the Swiss Army for the first time and up to now, this market leader still keeps up their excellent performance, especially in innovations and quality.
Buck Knives
- Behind every Buck knife is an over 110 years’ craftsmanship and experience. Their knives are trusted by worldwide outdoor people based on their outstanding technologies and materials. The best thing about this brand is a provided lifetime warranty for each product.
FAQs
What is a skinning knife used for?
It’s used for skinning big game animals but nowadays, these skinners are commonly versatile enough to do other hunting tasks or even EDC chores.
How to properly use a skinning knife?
When skinning animals that have tightly attached skin, like pigs, wild boar, or feral hog, you should carve away their skin literally from the carcass.
But for animals that have loosely attached skin, like deer, goats, rabbits, and squirrels, while using the tip of your skinner to slice their thin membrane attached the skin to the muscle tissue, grasp the edge of their skin and pull it away from the carcass.
How thick should a deer skinning knife be?
0.12” to 0.14”
What is the best steel for survival knives?
1095 Carbon steel because it’s easy to sharpen, with decent toughness to handle heavy abuse in the field.
How thick is a knife-edge?
30 microns, equal to 1/1000 of an inch
Conclusion
There are so many options on the market these days that picking the best deer skinning knife can present a real challenge. Even after choosing the right one, you should be knowledgeable about how to use it to make your knife particularly useful.
We hope the information presented here has helped your make choices easier. Thanks for reading!
Bryan Listor
