Rapala 6" presentation knife have used it from bear and deer fish for 40 years, it isn't the knife it is who is using it with experience.
Maybe as a general rule, but when it comes to high quality boning knives I have to disagree with you a bit.
As a general rule an old guy with a knife processing a deer that somebody else shot, their knife selection is seldom questioned. I like processing deer I am picky no fat no silver skin I take a long time but the results are good. My grandson and I it has become a tradition he helps me process the deer his Dado shot. So my perspective is based on my little 6" knife in my grandsons hand when he cuts to release a hind quarter while I hold the joint open.
I have several I carry. An old Buck/Schrader folding knife I've had since my early twenties. An older Gerber from back when they were still decent, it has a gut hook and has opened up quite a few animals. This is my main gutting knife. I will say it does not keep an edge very long, but I love the grip and ergonomics of it. It handles a deer itself but I often switch to my Buck halfway through to finish if doing an elk. And then I have an Outdoor Edge with the replaceable blades, I really like it for skinning work.
I carry the Bone Collector knife from Havalon. Has a regular 3" blade that folds out the one end and a scalpel that folds out of the other end. For me its a win win. I do also have a Outdoor Edge Razorlite 3.5" with replaceable blades that is always in my back pack for when my kids "forget" the knife that I gave them for hunting to use.
I didn't realize this thread was still alive! I ended up making three more of these knifes, different combinations for guys. Really happy with how they turned out and damn do they feel good!
Nice! What steel? If you ever make some to sell to random strangers on bowhunting forums let me know!
Just a cheap 8CR13mov. Stainless that holds an edge really well but also allows me to acid etch it for stonewash.
Cool some of the best knives are the easy sharpening ones. Which that one is. Super steels are nice but regular blade maintenance enables a cheap steel to perform
I keep a little 4" fixed blade knife and a folding saw in my pack for field dressing. Use saw to split the pelvis and sternum. When I get the deer home, skin and process I do everything with a 7" blade Cutco boning knife and keep a coarse and smooth steel on hand to keep it touched up. To make bone cuts during the breakdown I use a cordless Milwaukee sawzall. I've seen a few folks using fillet knives on deer but would not recommend. They are too flimsy and not made for that. Would be easy to break one.
A gut hook is probably the best feature of a hunting knife for deer, makes skinning so much easier, that and a skinning pliers.
