Best Skinning knife for $200

[catnthehat]

The original question was for skinning, and I like my Grohmanns for that, but I do 't carry them in the field as a rule for field dressing and gutting .
I cry several several knives for that, A Puma folder has been with me sincex1992.
I also carry a heavier Marttinni belt knife , a hatchet , and myeatherman is always on my belt .
Cat

[bessiedog]

Hmmmm… no luv here for Kershaw??

Wierd.

Holds an edge super well…. Second of two knives that I’ve skinned and parted up a deer and elk before sharpening….

I gots a grohman fish/bird knife… I like it alot…. But for the life of me I can’t get a good edge on it and it sure seems to not keep an edge on it.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Hmmmm… no luv here for Kershaw??

Wierd.

I also own two Kershaws. Both were gifts from many years ago.
One is a small boning style blade and the other is a
bird / small game knife .
I like them both but only occasionally use them these days.
Cat

[marlin1]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Hmmmm… no luv here for Kershaw??

Wierd.

Holds an edge super well…. Second of two knives that I’ve skinned and parted up a deer and elk before sharpening….

I gots a grohman fish/bird knife… I like it alot…. But for the life of me I can’t get a good edge on it and it sure seems to not keep an edge on it.

I have the trout and bird knife as well . Mines still sharp but I did notice the single bevel could be tricky to sharpen when the time comes .

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Hmmmm… no luv here for Kershaw??

Wierd.

A Kershaw is my EDC.

[Positrac]

I have a Grohmann 100 for skinning. Works great and keeps an edge but wouldn’t work well for breaking an animal down because it chips very easily. I watched a buddy take two chops to take a Whitetail tail off once before I could say anything. When he handed it back to me there was 2 chips where he hit bone. I spent some time sharpening the chips out and it’s worked great ever since for its intended purpose.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by chuck

This is what I pack for knives. But, I have taken care of so many game animals with a Havalon that I know when told they don’t work I understand I’m being fed some form of untruth. Are they for every scenario? No, but I know they work.

Nothing slicker than a Havalon unless one is in real cold weather. I knew when I read Battle Rat’s post that some of your other knives were going to make an appearance. Lol. Out of the three others in the picture, how would you rank em?

[catnthehat]

These are what go into the field with me.
The Lleatherman is my EDC.
The Marttiinni Lapp knife was a gift and has turned out too be a fantastic knife.
The Puma has worked on everything I have killed or been involved in killing since 1992.
The hatchet I have owned for many years as well.
Cat

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by sns2

Nothing slicker than a Havalon unless one is in real cold weather. I knew when I read Battle Rat’s post that some of your other knives were going to make an appearance. Lol. Out of the three others in the picture, how would you rank em?

I love the Ingram, but I think he has quit taking orders.

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by chuck

I love the Ingram, but I think he has quit taking orders.

After seeing yours I did a Google search and it looks like he is still in business.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by MK2750

After seeing yours I did a Google search and it looks like he is still in business.

He is, but I think he took his last custom orders in November.

[Demonical]

I checked out the Grohman knives, I am not a fan of the style handles they use.

Btw, it looks suspiciously like Grohman might produce the Crappy Tire 'Huntshield' knives.



I think the other thing a guy needs to consider is the accessory axe/hatchet/saw.

For me the Wyoming Saw is a must have accessory, plus an old Eastwing hatchet.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Demonical

I checked out the Grohman knives, I am not a fan of the style handles they use.

Btw, it looks suspiciously like Grohman might produce the Crappy Tire 'Huntshield' knives.



I think the other thing a guy needs to consider is the accessory axe/hatchet/saw.

For me the Wyoming Saw is a must have accessory, plus an old Eastwing hatchet.

It is a widely copied design, even Knives of Alaska makes one .
One must actually try using a Grohman to realize just how ergonomic they are!
Cat

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

It is a widely copied design, even Knives of Alaska makes one .
One must actually try using a Grohman to realize just how ergonomic they are!
Cat

This is exactly right. I had to delete my initial response as I don't understand people bad mouthing good people with made up stuff.

Huntshield is made in China with AUS-8 steel. Grohmann knives are hand crafted in NS with a minimum of 440C steel.

[jungleboy]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Hmmmm… no luv here for Kershaw??

Wierd.

Holds an edge super well…. Second of two knives that I’ve skinned and parted up a deer and elk before sharpening….

I gots a grohman fish/bird knife… I like it alot…. But for the life of me I can’t get a good edge on it and it sure seems to not keep an edge on it.

I bought a grohman once and did not like it at all. Would not keep an edge for anything. Nice butter knife I suppose.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

I bought a grohman once and did not like it at all. Would not keep an edge for anything. Nice butter knife I suppose.

I have had quite a few over the years that I got from gun shows, etc., and the stainless steel on some seemed to be not too constant as far as hardness or sharpenability went.
My favorites were always the carbon steel originals.
Cat

[Smokinyotes]

Ever since they came out I’ve been using outdoor edge razor blades. I can gut and skin an entire moose or elk with one blade. When I’m done I wash it off real well, remove the blade and throw it in the garbage. Wash out the groove where the blade sits well and let the knife dry. I then install a new blade and it’s ready for the next animal..

[Ken3134]

I use a Grohmann #1 in carbon steel, a Buck Vanguard and a Buck 112. Both of the Buck knives are in S30V. Edge retention on Grohman isn’t that great in my experience and I’ve owned a few, but they get razor sharp and are easy to bring back to that after some use. In my opinion the design of the Grohman #1 is just about perfect.

[Ken3134]

I see Cabelas has the “Alaskan Guide” version of the Buck Vanguard with the S30V steel on sale for $143. That is a good buy, not sure if you care for the logo they felt needed to be stamped on it?

[Smoky buck]

And as seen by this thread when it comes to knives opinions vary a lot so you just need to find what works for you

All I can promise you is there is positives and negative’s to all

I know this much everything that has been recommended will work

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

I bought a grohman once and did not like it at all. Would not keep an edge for anything. Nice butter knife I suppose.

I have a #3 Boat knife that resides on the top of my tool box. I should have sent it back as it is a dud. Will not hold and edge and took a chunk out of it for no apparent reason cutting a little bush for a shooting lane. I am going to try reheating one day when I am bored.

I have two #4s that are both the regular stainless. I try to use them equally but I can tell one from the other just by the feel. Both are nice knifes but one is most certainly better than the other for holding an edge.

[CanuckShooter]

I have used one of these Gerber Flayers for years and years and years....if you can find one buy it up, best skinner/steel going.

[Demonical]

What's an edc?

[Ken3134]

Originally Posted by MK2750

This is exactly right. I had to delete my initial response as I don't understand people bad mouthing good people with made up stuff.

Huntshield is made in China with AUS-8 steel. Grohmann knives are hand crafted in NS with a minimum of 440C steel.

I use Grohman knives I’ll say that first…… Grohman stainless steel knives are made from 4110 German “Krupp” steel. This is certainly not a high end stainless and isn’t anything close to 440C. Even their carbon steel knives are C70. Not a lot of carbon in that carbon steel. Truth is these are very low knife steels, Grohman does an absolutely amazing job with there heat treatment to turn these steels into very usable functional knives. Everyone wants high end steel, but they don’t want it to rust and they don’t want to learn how to sharpen their knife, so for the majority of people, these Grohman knife steels fit the bill easy to sharpen, and if you have their stainless it probably won’t ever rust on them. Buck knives same thing, that’s why they are 420hc. Functional and they fit the needs and abilities of most people.

[Ken3134]

Originally Posted by Demonical

What's an edc?

Every day carry

[Ken3134]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I have had quite a few over the years that I got from gun shows, etc., and the stainless steel on some seemed to be not too constant as far as hardness or sharpenability went.
My favorites were always the carbon steel originals.
Cat

I believe in years gone by they used different stainless steels, none of them were marked to know what it was, but that is likely the reason you found them inconsistent. I am not sure if they used different carbon steels over the years or not. I have a carbon steel #1 that I would say can hold a decent edge. To me no big deal few swipes on the knife steel stands the edge back up, and back to razor sharp.

[BigPapaBear]

Post Knives out of South River, Ontario.
Ron Post delivers a superior product and service and usually he has a lot of trapper orders ahead of you, so you know the knives are dependable and stay sharp a long time. They have a website. I have a half a dozen on their knives.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by MK2750

That is an opinion or perhaps a sales pitch not shared by all knife manufacturers. 440C is still the standard but I do like a harder blade myself. There is not a knife made that will hold an edge 5 times longer than a high carbon Grohmann for skinning. There may be a small number of knifes that are slightly better but 99% of people couldn't tell the difference.

440c was the standard stainless in 1995 and AUS8 had it beat even then. For over a decade 154CM has been the base and 420 and 440 cannot take an edge that compares nor hold an edge comparatively with the quality of heat treats being equal. Today 440 and even AUS8 isn't sold to hobby or custom makers because there isn't ​demand.

S30v and S35V will easily hold an edge 5x longer due to abrasion resistance alone over 440c. And the base 1084 carbon Grohman uses is just fine. But at 57 Rockwell (the norm for a carbon Grohmann) a metalurgist with experience would be happy to tell you they can name at least 10 steels that will hold an edge 5x longer than the best treated 1084. I use 80CRV2 when I chose a carbon (a recognized improved version of 1084) and treat it to 58 Rockwell. It's edge retention is noticeably better than the 1084 I've used.

There's a larger number of knives greatly better and that's the reason you can jump on waiting lists for makers that have production levels of output. Because people can tell the difference and they're willing to wait for it.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I have had quite a few over the years that I got from gun shows, etc., and the stainless steel on some seemed to be not too constant as far as hardness or sharpenability went.
My favorites were always the carbon steel originals.
Cat

In general Carbons are far easier to heat treat. For general use and toughness in most scenarios 80CRV2 and W2 (W2 can be less forgiving) are great.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by BigPapaBear

Post Knives out of South River, Ontario.
Ron Post delivers a superior product and service and usually he has a lot of trapper orders ahead of you, so you know the knives are dependable and stay sharp a long time. They have a website. I have a half a dozen on their knives.

I'd expect that someone with that experience has his treat down pat on 154cm and this knife would be a workhorse. This is a classic looking knife and a dandy price.

https://postknives.com/product/drop-point-skinner/