As a hunter, you likely understand the importance of properly field-dressing your kill—why else would you be looking for the best skinning knife?
While they can be used for a multitude of tasks, the main purpose of a skinning knife is to separate the hide from the flesh. Not all knives serve that purpose equally. A good knife can finish off a buckskin in twelve strokes, and a bad one—it might take all afternoon. When every minute affects the flavor of your future dinner, efficiency counts.
With that said, let’s get down to it. Here are the best skinning knives in order:
- Best Foldable: Havalon Piranta Z Folding Blade
- Best Set: Mossy Oak Hunting Field Dressing Kit
- Best Classic: Buck 113 Ranger Skinner Knife
- Best Fixed Blade Skinner: Buck 0103 Skinner Fixed Knife
- Best Gut Hook Knife: Mossberg Fixed Gut-Hook Knife
Types of Skinning Knives
There are two types of skinning knives: one with a fixed blade or a folding blade. Here’s a brief description of the two.
Fixed Blade Skinning Knife
Stronger than a folding type because of fewer or no movable parts and is perfect for heavy-duty stuff. This type of knife lasts longer and can take a beating. It’s also easy to clean because hide, blood, or fat won’t get trapped within a folding mechanism. While not as portable as folding knives, fixed hunting knives are easy to carry in a nylon belt sheath or belt loop.
Folding Skinning Knife
Although skinner knives are small, the folding ones can be even smaller. However, they’re easy to carry around and safer than the fixed blade ones. This type of hunting knife has a locking mechanism that holds the blade in place, whether folded or opened. It also offers a one-hand opening to guarantee you’re always ready for swift skinning or cutting tasks.
Gut Hook
A blade-style featuring a semi-circle “C” form on the spine with a sharpened interior section. A gut hook is not a type of skinning knife but rather an extra feature some knives have. The purpose of a gut hook is to open the abdomen of deer or elk while avoiding muscles in a clean gutting operation. Nonetheless, a gut hook blade is harder to sharpen, and it may not even be necessary. With great edge sharpness, a field dressing knife with a simple drop point blade or clip point blade can do the same tasks.
10 Best Skinning Knives to Buy – For Small and Big Game
Here is a list of some of the best quality skinning knives that you can get your hands on right now. Rest assured, these are the best out there.
1. Havalon Piranta Z Folding Blade Skinning Knife, 2.75″ Blade
In the folding category, the Havalon Piranta Z takes the cake. This right here is the very definition of a folding type skinning knife. It has a 2.75″ long stainless-steel blade that’s perfect for everyday use in the field.
Long and wide handle for easy grip and provides perfect control. The sharpness rivals that of a surgical knife. The super-sharp 60XT blade will be cutting those skins like butter. It’s crazy sharp. Perfect for making some fine-looking clean cuts.
The Piranta Z by Havalon is made in the USA. This one is my top choice for a skinning knife, and I’m sure you’ll also feel the same when you get your hands on one of this. Do keep in mind that it isn’t strong enough to break bones.
If you are looking for some durable and compact pocket-size knife for some serious game processing, you’ve found the right one. No need to waste time sharpening blades when you can get 12 of them included in the package.
Features I liked most:
- This one comes with 12 replaceable 60XT scalpel blades.
2. Buck Knives 0103 Skinner Fixed Blade Knife with Leather Sheath
Next up on this list is a fixed blade knife. Told ya! I’ve compiled this list for every type of hunter. Who knows, you might find your next skinner on this list. With that being said, the Buck Knives 0103 skinner ain’t no joke. It’s pretty strong and one of the high-end skinners.
This one packs a 4″ long, extra wide 420HC razor-sharp steel blade. This blade has a perfect combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and great edge retention. Being a full tang blade, the durability of this one is off the charts. This one can take a lot of beating.
Specifically crafted of pro-level skinning game. The only knife you’ll need to skin a deer or elk. The narrow tip with the help of the wide curved belly is perfect sweeping through thick layers.
The sleek-looking handle gives it a luxurious look. Two-color options are available. The curved-shaped handle has palm swells for comfortable grip hold. It comes with a sheath too. Finally, all I have to say is that, in the fixed blade category, the Buck Knives 0103 Skinner takes the lead.
Features I Liked Most
- The knife has a black phenolic handle that is comfortable to hold.
- Has a nice design to get through thick layers.
- It has a quality leather sheath.
- American made fixed blade skinner.
- Affordable and very sharp.
3. Victorinox Cutlery 8-Inch Curved Breaking Knife, Black Fibrox Handle
A butchering knife made by Victorinox surely won’t disappoint you. It comes with a curved blade. Perfect for breaking down huge chunks of meat into smaller pieces. Chefs and butchers would love to get their hands on this one.
For maximum sharpness and edge retention, the Victorinox Cutlery uses high carbon stainless-steel blade. High carbon blades are preferred by hunters all over the world because of their ability to maintain long-lasting sharpness and durability. The blade is ice tempered to further sustain sharpness.
The blade has a bolsterless edge which means you can use the entire blade for cutting. It’s also easy to sharpen. The handle is non-other than Victorinox’s own signature Fibrox. This patented handle is textured, ergonomically designed, comfortable and slip-resistant.
The coolest part of this blade is the price. It’s really inexpensive considering other skinners on this list. In my opinion, you’ll get the best value for money out of this one. Learn how to use this steel, treat the knife well, and you’ll end up saving a lot of money.
This brand offers plenty of good quality boning knives too, check out the link to find out more.
Features I liked most:
- Solid steel blade at an inexpensive price range.
4. Victorinox Beef Skinning, 6″ Blade, Black Fibrox Pro Handle
Another skinning knife from Victorinox and this one is a beauty. Just look at the curve on the 6″ Blade, perfect for skinning small to medium-sized animals like mule deer or whitetails. This one has been a long favorite of many butchers, and you can clearly see why. It’s solid and simple, just the way I like it.
Fixed blade simple construction design makes this one a reliable skinner well suited for any skinning game. This economic knife uses high carbon stainless steel blades. This feature alone separates this knife from the rest at this price point. If you are on a tight budget but looking for ultimate reliability, this is the one.
Fibrox handle. Just like the previous one. Same shape, same performance. And, for the title of the “Best skinning knife for the money,” this one takes the lead. A six-inch blade is meant for big game animals like elk, brown bear, or moose, where a lot of knife-work is required. Perfect for wild boar, elk, deer you name it.
I’ve seen butchers use it more than hunters. Some of them use this one on a daily basis for processing meat. You can save on groceries with this one. It makes good cuts of meat. Beef, chicken, lamb, if you do your own butchering, the curved edge is perfect for skinning.
Features I liked most:
- Best 6″ high carbon steel blade at an affordable price.
5. Buck Knives 113 Ranger Skinner Hunting Knife
Buck Knives! Processing big game for more than a decade. And, the Buck Knives 113 is crafted specifically for the job. Made with a corrosion-resistant 420HC Drop Point Skinner blade which is serviceable and well hardened. It has great edge retention. Sturdy blade for long-lasting performance.
The Buck Knives 113 skinner offers ultimate simplicity and practicality. You can trust Buck to provide top-notch quality and performance. Speaking about performance, it’s the combination of Buck’s famous Ranger and Vanguard knives. If this doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.
This skinner has an ergonomically designed American Walnut Handle with Brass Bolster. It looks solid and fits in your hand comfortably. The knife comes with a genuine leather sheath that looks as dope as the knife itself. When it comes to skinners, I’m a big fan of Buck Knives especially if it’s in the fixed blade segment.
The 113 Ranger is a very nice knife for everyday use.
Feature I liked most:
- High carbon steel perfect for skinning medium game.
6. Dexter-Russell 6-inch Skinning Knife
When you are looking for a skinning knife, you want to get a versatile knife that will help you skin almost any animal that you want. In this case, I would recommend you to try the Dexter-Russell 6-inch Skinning Knife which is highly rated for skinning tasks. The knife works well regardless of what you are skinning. Whether you want to skin trout, filleting fish, deer, chicken, or any animal, you can count on this skinning knife.
The knife provides you with an easy operation because of the curve blade made of steel. This means that you only require very little effort when you are skinning. Again, the 6-inch blade has an individually ground and honed edge. This tough and sanitary knife features a textured slip-resistant polypropylene handle that offers perfect and comfortable grip when you are working with the knife.
Features I Liked Most
- Designed with a very comfortable handle
- The knife is tough and durable
- Perfect for skinning any animal
- Very easy to sharpen
- The blade is very sturdy
- It is easy to clean
7. Victorinox Lamb Skinning
If you are a butcher or a home chef who loves enjoying fresh meat, owning a skinning knife is a good thing to do.
This high-quality knife is designed with durable material to provide you long-lasting use.
It features an ergonomic handle design to offer you comfort and control when you are skinning. The knife also brags of the right blade hardness and laser-tested cutting edge that assures you of high edge retention. The blade is also very sturdy, and you can get it in different shapes.
Features I Liked Most
- Works well when skinning deer, lamb, and sheep among others
- The textured handle provides a good grip
- The knife is compact and sturdy
- Comes at a great price
- The knife is very sharp
- Easy to sharpen
8. MSG6241-BRK Guthook Skinner Knife
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you need to have a perfect skinning knife to help you skin your catch with ease. All knives are not designed the same so looking for a perfect product can be troublesome. But with the Mossberg Fixed Skinning Knife, you are sure of an incredible performance when you are out there.
This is a knife that is top-rated by most outdoor enthusiasts for its outstanding performance. The knife is designed with a non-glare stainless steel blade that offers precise cutting. The blade is strong and feels sturdy when you are working with it.
It is also designed with a comfortable grip handle that allows you to get effective control when you are using the knife. With its blade length, you can be sure to handle skinning tasks at hand. It also comes with a protective ballistic cloth sheath to keep it protected when you are not using it or when you are on the go. Its thick and dull gut hook can also be used as a bottle opener in the field.
Features I Liked Most
- It has a quality stainless steel blade
- The knife has a comfortable handle
- Easy to use
- It comes with a cloth sheath
- It is easy to clean
Things to Consider for Buying a Good Quality Skinning Knife
The purpose of a skinning knife is to skin animals, many times right there in the field. Here’s what you need to consider to find a knife that completes your hunting gear.
Blade Material
The blade of a skinning knife must be durable and resistant to withstand regular use. Carbon steel and stainless steel are capable of offering those benefits.
Stainless steel is the most resistant, capable of withstanding blood and water to avoid rust and corrosion. However, it’s not as strong as carbon steel, and it may nick if you hit a bone when skinning deer. Stainless steel is also harder to sharpen. You may need a diamond abrasive sharpener tool that is not easy to come by, especially when you’re out hunting.
Carbon steel isn’t as resistant as stainless steel or high-carbon stainless steel, requiring constant maintenance to prevent rust and corrosion. It’s not the blade material you want if you don’t care or don’t have the time to maintain knives. However, carbon steel blades are our favorite because they’re stronger and offer high-edge retention. As a result, you never have to worry about a dull blade when put down and skin your game.
Blade Design
One of the most important things you should check when buying a Skinner is the blade design. It can change the outcome of your performance.
There are two blade shapes you must consider for a skinning knife: a drop point with a curved blade, and a clip point with straight edge.
The drop point is a blade with a prominent curvature and solid blade thickness. I prefer this one for hunting because the belly allows you to use the full cutting edge and not just the tip. Therefore, you can remove animal hide faster and smoother. This type of blade also passes as a saw, hatchet, or caping knife if you need to split ribs, pelvis, and other bones.
A clip point blade is thin, flat, and the tip is pointier than the drop point. As a result, this blade style is better when you need to pierce animal skin while starting a cut. The tip makes it easy to cut in hard to reach areas, and the blade is good for dressing or processing game but not as effective as the drop point.
Consider the clip point more like an all-purpose knife blade whereas the drop point is especially for skinning or meat dressing.
Handle Material and Shape
Skinning an animal can be nasty, usually soaking your hands in blood or feeling slimy after gutting them. Therefore, the knife handle should be ergonomic.
Ergonomic handles are essential because you can accommodate them in your hand comfortably. This way, you can spend a considerable amount of time skinning the game without feeling fatigued. If the handle shape isn’t ergonomic, you won’t feel comfortable and may risk damaging the meat or hide of your prey. You will also feel less encouraged to use the knife, which is a problem if you have a large animal like a deer to work on. Look for handles featuring ridges or elements that make it non-skid, too. You will have an easier time getting a firm grip on it even if blood makes it slippery.
Three types of handle material are mostly available in a hunting knife, such as synthetic, bone, and wood.
Wood handles like an ebony handle look better than a rubber handle or TPR handle, but they’re likely to crack or chip under pressure. Bone also looks great and can last a decent amount of time with minimal care, but handles made with this material can be expensive.
I prefer synthetic handles made with materials like G10, Micarta, or Acrylic because they’re affordable and resistant. You can get under the skin of large animals like deer, elk, and even bears with a solid grip. These handles are also lightweight for more comfort. Plus, they’re durable enough that you can forcefully press the scales if you ever need to defend yourself or cut tough materials like wood.
Type of Game
Skinning knives come in different varieties, so your needs will highly determine the type of knife you want to get.
For instance, a drop point folding knife that works well with rabbits might not work well when you are skinning a deer, moose, or elk. In those cases, you may need a larger and sturdier skinning knife with a fixed blade. If you need a knife that does a little bit of everything, then a fixed or folding knife with a clip point shape will suffice. Depending on the type of game that you are hunting, look for a skinning knife that will best do the job.
Comfort
A good skinning knife should provide you with a comfortable grip such that the knife doesn’t fall off your hands. A knife that is comfortable to hold helps you remove hide with accuracy. You can finish up your job without taking much time, and you won’t tear or pierce into the meat.
Blade Length
The type of game that you are hunting will determine the right blade length that you should get. If you are hunting big game (elk, brown bear, or moose), you need to look for a skinning knife that is up to 7 inches. However, if you are up to a medium-sized game like mule deer, coyote, or whitetail, then a long blade of up to 5 inches will be enough. Blades of 3 to 4 inches will be great for small game like rabbits and squirrels or dressing upland birds and waterfowl.
Blade Sharpness
You do not need to keep on sharpening your skinning knife. It should have the ability to hold its sharp edge for a long time. It will save you time instead of pausing during the skinning or dressing process to sharpen the knife.
The best skinning knife should always stay razor-sharp for a long time for convenience and also safety purposes. When you use a dull blade, you have to apply more pressure. As a result, it could cause accidental slipping and hurt you or damage game meat. Besides, you will reduce the weight in your hunting backpack because you don’t have to carry an extra sharpening tool or replacement blades. I would recommend to choose a knife with high carbon steel blade as it holds its edge longer.
Durability
Who wants a knife that won’t last long? I know it’s tough to determine the durability of a knife by just looking at it. This doesn’t mean that you cannot get a quality skinning knife. There are quality ones like those that I have reviewed that will give you longer durability.
One of the best ways by which you can determine the durability of a knife is by checking what other customers have to say about it. That way, it will be easy for you to know the durability of a skinning knife before you buy it.
Fixed Blade or Folding Blade?
Choosing between a fixed blade and a folding blade is a personal preference for most hunters.
A knife with a fixed blade is usually stronger and ideal for heavy duty work, whether you’re skinning a rabbit or a deer. This blade runs all the way to the handle, giving you a sturdy hold of the knife to get under the game skin and cut tendons or separate joints. This type of knife is also easier to clean because hide, blood, or particles are less likely to get stuck within moving parts.
Folding knives may be harder to clean if deer fat gets inside the crannies, but they’re lighter and fit almost anywhere. You can keep them in your pocket and pull them out at a moment’s notice. Plus, you don’t have to buy other accessories like a nylon sheath or nylon holster to carry the knife.
In some cases, you can find some hunters who prefer to carry both knives so that they can use the folding knife to cut around the abdomen and down the legs and then use the fixed blade knife for removing the hide of the animals.
What is a Skinning Knife and What is it Use For?
In short, a skinner is a special kind of knife that has a very sharp edge and is made for skinning animals with ease. If you are a butcher, you’ll greatly appreciate the fact that it can keep flesh damage at a minimum.
There won’t be any accidental poking to the hide, and you can easily re-use the skin as you want. The unique blade shape allows you to remove meat from the skin effortlessly. It’s the perfect tool if you want to skin a deer or other animal.
These are small in size and fit in your pocket. They are not meant for those big jobs and certainly not for bush-crafting.
That doesn’t mean that they are not useful. Ask any hunter, and they will tell how important a proper skinning knife is. I personally don’t like a huge knife. They are a hassle for me. It’s just my personal opinion. Those huge fixed blade knives can be a pain in the ass when things get slippery. And, those are not suitable for skinning either.
Here are some of the different types of skinning knives that’ll see in stores. Don’t stress about it; everything comes down to personal preference. I’ll make it short and simple so that you can get the basic idea.
You Should Avoid These Blades
Now that you know what to look for, how about the things that you must avoid? Let’s talk about some knife elements that may affect your performance.
- Heavy Large Blades
Skinning game hide or processing meat requires precision and fine cuts, which only a small blade can offer. More so if you want to remove a cape that you’ll use for mounting projects. Larger and heavy knives won’t give you the finesse needed for these tasks because they’re harder to maneuver.
- Serrated Edge
Knives with a serrated edge are not good for skinning, as the blade pulls from the meat instead of slicing in clean cuts. Also, meat, hide, membranes, and other particles are likely to get stuck within the serrations. It creates a mess almost too hard to clean.
- Blades That Do Not Hold an Edge
Steels that don’t hold an edge are a no-no. They’re dangerous, and they will mess up your field dressing. Avoid materials like 420 steel or 440 stainless steel for this specific reason.
- Multi-Tools
Multi-tools are decent at many things but not excellent at something like skinning. These tools have many moving parts that are hard to clean if blood or hide bits gets in there.
- Slick Handle
Slick or smooth handles without a grippy texture become a problem real quick. While skinning a deer, blood and gunk can easily cover the handle and make it slippery. Suffice to say that this issue might compromise your grip on the handle and put you in any knife injury.
FAQ ( Questions Reader Asked Often)
1. Best Skinning Knife For The Money?
As the hunting season begins and if you are a trapper, once the season gets rolling and you’re pulling in catches every day, only the best skinner can get you through the day. You don’t want to break your bank for a skinner, but you also don’t want to waste money on cheap wannabe skinners. If you are not sure which one to pick, chill. Here are two of the best skinners that you can get your hand on at an affordable or should I say low price.
- Victorinox Beef Skinning, 6″ Blade.
- Victorinox Cutlery 8-Inch Curved Breaking Knife.
Both of these are cheap yet highly reliable. I’m sure you’ll be getting the most out of them.
2. How Do I Keep My Skinning Knife Sharp?
There is a trick to keep your skinner sharp. You need to keep it uniformly sharp. As you approach the sharpening stone, keep the blade relative to the angle. You need to be extra careful not to change the angle of the edge as you go on sharpening. It’s difficult if you have never done this before. Try consulting a pro before doing this on your own.
3. What Kind of Knives are Best for Skinning Deer?
The best knife to skin a deer is a knife with a fixed 3-1/8-inch drop point blade with high carbon steel. A knife with these features can slice deer hide while giving you outstanding precision. It can also carve hard materials like hog hide, so you definitely get some versatility from it.
Ka-Bar knives and the classic Buck knife for hunters are clear examples of good skinning knives. If you’re a beginner, consider a knife with a finger guard. This way, it’ll be safer to field-dress game until you gain more experience.
4. What Makes a Good Skinning Knife?
A good skinning knife should be able to make clean and precise cuts without putting too much stress on your wrist and hand.
High carbon steel blade should be a top priority. A stainless-steel blade with high carbon content can also be considered a good blade. A drop point is a must with a nice curved edge that has excellent edge retention. A good ergonomic handle with proper grip and traction should be preferred.
5. Who Makes High-Quality Skinning Knives?
It’s a huge industry out there, and if I had to pick only one, a lot of popular brands would be left out. Don’t want to hurt your feelings guys. There are actually quite a few brands out there that have been making them for years, and they know what users want. Some of the popular brands are:
- Havalon
- Buck
- Gerber
- Cold steel And many more.
All of them have some decent knives out on the line, and it’s really difficult to point out just one. Take your time, pick the one that suits you the most.
Wrapping It Up
Not every knife will serve you well when you are removing the hides of big game animals. You should get the best skinning knife that is designed to give you an exemplary performance.
After taking the above considerations and the reviews of the best skinning knives, I believe it will be easy for you to pick a perfect product. With any of the knives that I covered, count yourself as a lucky hunter.
All the above skinners pass durability, comfort, sharpness, and maneuverability among other things. Just pick the right one that suits your needs.
CRKT the Bridger is really a retro fit for me. Just recently within say 1 1/2 yrs. found one in mint condition @ gun show. Really you probably would not believe some of my actual pics from Walmart????? some brand name some not. actually yrs. ago my uncle sent a Buck Kalinga, really sorry don’t still have that one. a couple of Colt knives too……