Good cheap skinning/deboning knife

[FredBear86]

As the title states. What's a good skinning/deboning knife that don't break the bank.

 

[deltadukman]

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Any of these victornox knives are good cheap knives.

 

[RyanH]

Dexter-Russell or Mercer are equally good options. They hold an edge well, sharpen easily and are very affordable.

 

[jolemons]

Tens of thousands of beef and pork carcasses are cut up each day using Victorinox and Dexter Russell knives by packing plants that prioritize efficiency. Hard to argue with their logic in selection.

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[thinhorn_AK]

victory 10cm drop point

 

[TaperPin]

For most things I like a 5” Forschner semi flexible boning knife ($35) and a tiny Gerber ultra light folder to skin ($35). I saw a Wustof kitchen knife at the thrift store with a thin 6” blade and bought it for ($1). When one of the young kids asks for a boning knife I’ll give it to them. The steel and shape is very good. lol



If doing a lot of skinning and weight isn’t an issue I’ve skinned a few hundred animals after school for a processor with an old school Buck skinner and find it works great with no complaints, and as easy to keep sharp as a Forschner. Many skinners are less expensive and if it had this basic shape and held a nice edge it would be just as usable.

A skinning knife is never going to be good at unzipping legs (cutting from under the hide quickly in one continuous motion), the point is just not the correct shape. That’s where a “caping” knife is ideal. It is the correct angle to get between hide and meat. I smooth off the non cutting side of the point so it doesn’t dig into meat. In between animals these two knives would get a couple of very light strokes on a sharpening stick to stay shaving sharp. No need for more than that.

If someone likes to tinker you could cut down good quality kitchen knives from the thrift store ($2) or a set that’s being replaced ($0) to these shapes.



I would never carry one in a backpack, but if you skin animals at home a boning hook speeds up the process considerably. It’s kind of like a small hay bale hook that makes it easy to grab the hide and pull much harder than you could with just a handful of hide.