Boning style knife in kill kit?

[kolky]

I probably have too many knives and I tend to pick based on which one strikes my fancy on any given day. I mainly hunt whitetail and don't typically need to break them down in the field but I do drag them back and break them down in the shed.

Benchmade Meatcrafter 6" - Love the way this knife looks but I'm not 100% sold on it yet for how I want to use it. I don't carry it in the field with me because of size. If I was going to pack one I'd probably opt for the 4". It does work well for cutting around hind quarters and getting around the ball joints and I'll typically use it in my kitchen when breaking down quarters or slicing meat up for jerky. It's not my favorite for removing silver skin because its a little to thick and stiff for that (prefer my Victorinox boning knife for that). If I had to get rid of one knife this may be it.

Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter - Love this knife and its a great all around knife for skinning and break down. Its a little small for getting off the back quarters but it's stout so I can make it work. If I could only keep one knife in my field pack this would probably be it.

Benchmade Altitude - This is my go to for field dressing because its sharp and easy to clean. It also does well with breaking down game. My main complaint with this one is I don't like using it for extended periods of time. The handle (lack of any grips) makes it hurt my hand if I need to use it a lot. Considering selling this one and picking up a Steep Country mainly for the grip.

Havalon Piranta - Just used this for the first time this year and was really impressed. Super sharp and worked on everything from skinning to breakdown. My only complaints with it are the handle is still pretty small so can get uncomfortable with extended use and I felt like I was always at risk of cutting myself particularly when changing blades.

 

[Obsessed1]

You can just carry one of the ODE boning blades for your replaceable knife. Carry a couple in a small plastic case as your knife will not close with one installed. I have the 3.5" edc version of the knife and carry extra std blades as well as the longer " fillet/ boning " blades. Easiest lightes way to go since you already have the knife.

 

[gostovp]

You can just carry one of the ODE boning blades for your replaceable knife. Carry a couple in a small plastic case as your knife will not close with one installed. I have the 3.5" edc version of the knife and carry extra std blades as well as the longer " fillet/ boning " blades. Easiest lightes way to go since you already have the knife.

Great idea!

 

[rifletuner]

I know a lot of very experienced hunters in Australia that only carry a boner pattern knife for processing game. Its a pretty practical option for a lot of the work that gets done in the field.

 

[Obsessed1]

I could definitely do anything and all field cutting/ gutting with a victorinox 6" curved boning knife if i had to. Or even a paring knife with the tip reprofiled just a bit, But life's too short lol

 

[Slick8]

I've been a Havalon guy for field work for several years. Once you learn how to use it, it will the work.

I won this in a drawing and added it to my kill kit this year. It's a MKC Speedgoat. While not as long and flexible as a true boning knife, it's thin blade and tip design makes a great addition to the kit. I used it on a cow elk and 3 WT deer this year. Very happy with it.

 

[butcherboy]

I used to carry a victorinox boning knife and a smaller skinning knife. This was before anyone made a kydex sheath for the victorinox so I made a sheath out of a milk jug and duct tape. Switched to a Havalon for a few years but never really cared for it except using a small blade for caping the skull. Now I carry an MKC Blackfoot. Used it this year for skinning and quartering my elk. I much prefer a small fixed blade knife over everything else. Argali, MKC, Iron Will, etc all make a good knife.

 

[TaperPin]

I like the Victorinox/Forchner 5” straight boning knife in stiff or semi flexible thickness. The guys who work meat professionally I’ve known like a curved 6” flexible or semi flexible blade, but it’s easier to keep track of where the tip of the knife is if it’s straight. The downside is the handle is a bit heavy. 5” is easier to use for anyone not used to a long knife - I’ve just rarely needed anything longer.

I’ve seen an inexperienced guy with a six inch curved and it was too long for him so he was choked up on the blade - like had three fingers and a thumb holding the sides of the blade trying to take slicing cuts - crazy way to end up with stitches, or at least make it harder than it needs to be.

A boning knife is more dangerous than a bear, judging by the number of stitches and hospital visits they cause. Lol

 

[butcherboy]

I use a combo of victorinox knives everyday. 6” curved semi stiff, 5” curved, 6” straight, 8” breaking, 8” beef skinner, lamb skinner, etc. I choke up on my 6” curved sometimes but I also know what I’m doing.

 

[TagEater]

Threw a dedicated boning knife into the kill kit for this year. Nothing fancy, just wanted something with a more flexible blade for boning. @ under 4 oz it wasnt much of a weight penalty (got to have a sharpener as well of course). Amazon F-Dick knife
We doubled up on 2 bulls out of the same herd 4 miles in. The replaceable blades are great for everything else imo EXCEPT deboning. The knife was well worth it for me

 

[butcherboy]

I think starting this year will be my 34th year as a meat processor. I have never liked a flexible deboning knife. Always a semi stiff or a stiff knife. It doesn’t need to be 6” or even 5”. It’s not the size of the tool that matters, it’s the experience behind it!

 

[feanor]

I used this style for 3 elk this season and actually prefer it to most styles I’ve used before. The tip is very easy to get in between joints for popping knees, heads etc.

I think starting cuts through hide can be a little trickier without a drop point style belly, but it still works fine.

 

[huntsman22]

boners are all I use...

 

[rifletuner]

boners are all I use...

Nice. Those are some practical, well made knives