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Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:36 am
by 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
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:20 pm
by Thomasg
Deets wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:36 am
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.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:39 pm
by woodwalker
I skinned alot of squirrels with a Victorinox. A small bird and trout would do the trick as well!
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:13 pm
by 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.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:33 pm
by cudgee
Dinadan wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:13 pm
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
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 2:58 pm
by Ridgegrass
Those old Sharpfingers can take a wicked edge. I like a Muskrat, It's small and handy. J.O'.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 4:53 pm
by 1967redrider
I skinned a road kill racoon several years ago and I think I used a Remington Muskrat.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 5:13 pm
by 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.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 6:02 pm
by 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
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:03 pm
by FRJ
Two beautiful knives, Ken.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:52 pm
by cudgee
Seconded to what Joe said. 2 beautiful Case work knives.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2026 10:40 pm
by 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.
Deets wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:36 am
[...] 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.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2026 12:01 am
by Mumbleypeg
Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 10:40 pm
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.
Deets wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:36 am
[...] 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
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2026 1:08 am
by 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.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2026 1:10 am
by Mumbleypeg
Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Feb 15, 2026 1:08 am
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
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2026 1:38 am
by 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.
Re: Best Small Game Skinner
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2026 2:33 am
by Thomasg
Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Feb 15, 2026 1:38 am
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 .