The Complete Skinning Knife Buying Guide

Hannah Baker
4 min readOct 23, 2019

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A skinning knife is an essential tool for hunters who are involved in the game butchery after the great hunt. It is an especially designed fixed-blade knife used to separate the flesh from the animal’s skin without triggering any damage to the meat.

Hence, choosing a good skinning knife mainly relies on the type of hunting that you will perform and the category of prey that you will hunt. For many hunters, the knife selection is a daunting task.

Skinning Knife

So, we are here to help you out in this matter. Continue reading the article and make an informed selection!

Don’t forget to know about the best fixed blade knives during survival situations!

How to Select the Best Knife for Skinning?

It is a fact that the great skinning knife that will match your requirements primarily depends on for what purpose you will use your knife. For example, if your purpose is to skinning a deer, you can’t use a knife that is used for skinning a rabbit; it will not work the same.

So, different hunting applications require different blades and you must keep in mind while making a purchase.

Once you decide your hunting needs, there are some other factors you should not ignore before buying a skinning knife. Let’s have a look at some of them below:

1. Types of Skinning Knives:

After deciding your purpose, the first and foremost thing you should take into account is what type of knife you require.

The best knives for skinning are divided into three main categories which are discussed below. Read their details and choose the right one for you!

Spear Point Knives:

The main feature of these blades is their double-edged blade. They are highly distinct because of their symmetrical structure.

Spear point knives are the best option for chopping hides in an upward position as well as in a downward position.

Drop Point Knives:

You can easily recognize them because they have a blade that is deliberately curved down towards the tip of the blade. However, these knives have a handle that provides a very firm grip as well as, it also provides the user with a broader cutting ground.

Another plus point is that drip point knives don’t puncture membranes that are found in the animal’s stomach.

Clip Point or Bowie Knives:

These knives have an upright spine that is towards the length of the blade, creating a round-shaped curve moving to the tip.

Clip point knives are specially made for hunting deer because they have a large cutting surface.

Did you know the bowie knife is a dream knife for hunters? Click here to know about this.

2. Consider Its Blade Style:

The blade design of this tool is not just the appearance but is a lot more than that. The blade styles are also very important to consider when you are about to use your knife. Because it helps you to perform your tasks easily and safely.

If you search for them in the market, you will find different blade styles, such as straight or curved ones, or even some of them have a barely bent back. Moreover, they are sometimes the same as an axe’s edge.

Now it’s up to you what you choose for your hunting game.

3. Blade Length:

Apart from the blade style, you should also understand the required blade length that best suits your needs. Never utilize a similar knife for the big or small games; it will not work effectively. The reason is that skinning knives come in different sizes.

Knives that have a length of about 3 to 4 inches are excellent for skinning small animals like rabbits, squirrels, and numerous other animals.

Still, you can’t use a 3-inch blade to skin larger games like deer as it will not work perfectly. Basically, the length of the knife should be 5 to 7 inches for bigger games.

4. Blade Sharpness:

Though sharpness is an important factor to consider in the case of all kinds of knives, when it comes to skinning knives, the value of sharpness becomes double.

As you are aware that you can’t really stop in the middle of the forest only to sharpen your blade — any wild animal might strike you!

Besides this, sharpness is also a must-consider factor because, during the skinning process, dull blades may damage the animal’s meat.

5. Durability:

A skinning knife should also be competent to perform appropriately for a whole lifespan! Of course, it is not possible. Because of how expensive the blade you may buy, but one day its sharpness will decrease and it will be less helpful.

Nevertheless, the good quality skinning knife is eligible to conduct a task without failing during its lifetime. It will stay sharp for a longer duration. Even if you are using your knife again and again, the sharpness would not fade away.

Thus, buying a good quality knife is very important because they will come with very huge durability that will save your time and money.

Also Read: Top 5 Reasons Why Pocket Knives Are Necessary in Your Weapons Arsenal

From Where Should You Buy A Skinning Knife?

Last but not least, every hunter should have this question to their mind while they want a skinning knife. Prefer to look for a reputable wholesale dealer because only they can provide you with a wide range of quality knives at affordable prices.

So, buy your desired knife today!

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