Best Small Game Skinner

[Deets]

I’ve hunted and skinned squirrels all my life but I have never had a designated knife, I’ve always used whatever I found first and I’m ready to get a pocket knife specifically for the job, I am looking at cold steel blades but if any of you have better options, throw em to me

[Thomasg]

I’ve hunted and skinned squirrels all my life but I have never had a designated knife, I’ve always used whatever I found first and I’m ready to get a pocket knife specifically for the job, I am looking at cold steel blades but if any of you have better options, throw em to me

I like the muskrat pattern for small game . Perfect for squirrels.

[woodwalker]

I skinned alot of squirrels with a Victorinox. A small bird and trout would do the trick as well!

[Dinadan]

Welcome to the Forum, Deets!

Back when I was an avid small game hunter I usually used either a Sharpfinger or the clip blade on a 3.75" or 4" Stockman for skinning squirrels. If I were picking one for today I think I would go with an original Sharpfinger made in USA with carbon steel. Small enough for a squirrel and big enough for a deer; still easy to find.

[cudgee]

Welcome to the Forum, Deets!

Back when I was an avid small game hunter I usually used either a Sharpfinger or the clip blade on a 3.75" or 4" Stockman for skinning squirrels. If I were picking one for today I think I would go with an original Sharpfinger made in USA with carbon steel. Small enough for a squirrel and big enough for a deer; still easy to find.
Sharpfinger11.jpg

[Ridgegrass]

Those old Sharpfingers can take a wicked edge. I like a Muskrat, It's small and handy. J.O'.

[1967redrider]

I skinned a road kill racoon several years ago and I think I used a Remington Muskrat.

[FRJ]

I've never skinned a critter although I have come across a few scruffy two legged ones that I thought needed it.

I think this Western would get your hide for ya.

Welcome here, Deets.

[Mumbleypeg]

The trapper and muskrat patterns were designed for the purpose of skinning small game. But I’ve skinned and cleaned many a squirrel using a three-blade stockman. Here’s a couple of “experienced” skinners.

Ken

[FRJ]

Two beautiful knives, Ken.

[cudgee]

Seconded to what Joe said. 2 beautiful Case work knives.

[Modern Slip Joints]

I'd offer my 2 cents worth except I have so little experience cleaning small game that 2 tenths of cent worth would be over pricing it. For deer and salmon I prefer a fixed blade. Using a small fixed blade would eliminate any need to clean blade wells.

I think the replies above ignored part of what Deets wrote he wants.

[...] I’m ready to get a pocket knife specifically for the job, I am looking at cold steel blades [...]

In pocket knives Cold Steel is known for modern one hand opening knives.

[Mumbleypeg]

I'd offer my 2 cents worth except I have so little experience cleaning small game that 2 tenths of cent worth would be over pricing it. For deer and salmon I prefer a fixed blade. Using a small fixed blade would eliminate any need to clean blade wells.

I think the replies above ignored part of what Deets wrote he wants.

[...] I’m ready to get a pocket knife specifically for the job, I am looking at cold steel blades [...]

In pocket knives Cold Steel is known for modern one hand opening knives.

I suspect you’re right. He didn’t capitalize “cold steel” so I didn’t catch that.

I’ve never owned a Cold Steel knife, but I think they're a jobber whose knives are made for them by others. Looking at their web site I found this two-blade trapper https://www.coldsteel.com/trapper-jigged-bone/ which looks like trapper patterns made by Case and others. So if he wants a Cold Steel as a skinner that would work well. In the end, it’s whatever suits his fancy - small game can be satisfactorily processed with a lot of different blades.

Ken

[Modern Slip Joints]

Mumblypeg,
You are correct. Cold Steel does not make their knives. I'm curious who made their trapper you posted a link to. With match strike pulls and a $40 price that they are eager to discount 20% I think we can rule out Case. Its specs write 8Cr13MoV steel so most likely it's Chinese.

[Mumbleypeg]

Mumblypeg,
You are correct. Cold Steel does not make their knives. I'm curious who made their trapper you posted a link to. With match strike pulls and a $40 price that they are eager to discount 20% I think we can rule out Case. China?

I had the same thought. Looks a lot like a Chicom Rough Ryder to me.

Ken

[Modern Slip Joints]

I looked again and found the Chinese blade steel. You quoted me before I got that edited in.

On the good side its 8Cr13MoV is a step up from Rough Ryder's standard 440A. While I have not done comparison tests 7Cr17MoV is supposed to edge hold about the same as 440A. The 8Cr to 9Cr alloys get into 440B territory. Yesterday SMKW had Chinese Marbles Trappers with D2 blades on sale for about $16. In January SMKW sold me a modern one hand opening Rough Ryder with a D2 drop point blade for about $17. I'll guess any clip point, spear point or drop point would work for squirrels.

[Thomasg]

I looked again and found the Chinese blade steel. You quoted me before I got that edited in.

On the good side its 8Cr13MoV is a step up from Rough Ryder's standard 440A. While I have not done comparison tests 7Cr17MoV is supposed to edge hold about the same as 440A. The 8Cr to 9Cr alloys get into 440B territory. Yesterday SMKW had Chinese Marbles Trappers with D2 blades on sale for about $16. In January SMKW sold me a modern one hand opening Rough Ryder with a D2 drop point blade for about $17. I'll guess any clip point, spear point or drop point would work for squirrels.

I don’t know much about china knife blade steel .But if a some one wanted a knife to skin a squirrel or two on a budget this old timer with the easy open thumb stud and liner lock for safety purposes might do the job .