Field dressing is an essential part of almost every hunting trip. This is why picking the best field dressing knife for your needs is extremely important. We tried picking something for everyone on our list, so we could satisfy different types of hunters.
Whether you are looking for a single knife or a complete set, we’ve got you covered. Field dressing is something you should do on the field before too much body heat is lost. This is why you need to make sure that you have the best knife you can find.
Reviews Of The Best Field Dressing Knives
1. Buck Knives 113 Ranger Skinner Hunting Knife
Best overall
Extremely light
Made out of 420HC stainless steel
Excellent handle
Too small for some people
Some might not like the wooden handle
Many consider this knife to be one of the best options out on the market for all hunters. If you are looking for a field dressing knife, you need to look no further than the Buck Knives 113 Ranger Skinner.
This is a small compact knife weighing in at just 5.2 ounces. This makes it the lightest knife on this list, which could be a positive for some, and a negative for others. Still, if you know how to use a light skinning knife, this might be a good pick for you.
This knife is easily maneuverable, which is great for experienced users. The 113 Ranger Skinner is made out of 420HC stainless steel and will stay sharp for a long time. It is an extremely sharp knife that is resistant to corrosion, so you won’t have to worry about its longevity.
The handle is made out of American walnut and features an ergonomic design. This knife is easy to handle and most will find it comfortable to hold. Wooden handles are often a point of discussion among hunting enthusiasts because some consider them hard to grip. However, you won’t have any issues gripping this product.
Most agree that this knife is extremely easy to grip. The only downside to this product is its size. It might simply be too small for some hunters, so try it out before buying.
2. ESEE ES4PMBDE-BRK Model 4
Runner-up
A nice Micarta handle
Blade is made with high-carbon 1095 steel
Excellent for smaller animals
Not great for larger animals
Can have problems with rusting
ESEE is known for creating high-quality products, and the Model 4 knife is no different. It is a knife best used to field dress smaller animals, but you can safely use it as a knife for cleaning deer as well. Still, it works best with rabbits and other smaller animals.
The Model 4 is nine inches long overall, and the length of the blade is 4.5 inches. Just like most other ESEE products, it is made out of high-carbon 1095 steel. This guarantees a high-quality product that will satisfy most hunting enthusiasts.
However, this knife is prone to rust, which will be a big issue for many buyers. This is why you should take care of the knife and properly lubricate it after using it. Despite all this, this knife does not have a problem with durability.
Most users report that it is extremely hard to damage this knife, so if you require a durable product and don’t have a problem with taking care of it regularly, this might be the knife for you. The Micarta handle is always a nice bonus.
3. Gerber Myth Field Dress Kit
Best overall kit
Affordable
Can be used for small and big animals
Sharpener built into the sheath
Blades not of the highest quality
Knives dull easily
The Gerber Myth Field Dress Kit is known for being highly portable, which is always a nice bonus. It is an excellent field dressing knife set that should satisfy most hunting enthusiasts today. It features a nicely compact design, great rubber handles and a sharpener in the sheath.
The sheath keeps both of the knives safe from any outside threat, and should fit nicely on your belt. The smaller knife is light, weighing in at a bit under 5 ounces, and has a blade that is 3.75 inches in length. Some could definitely consider this the best knife for field dressing deer.
The bigger knife has a hook that makes it easy to open up the skin of any animal you can think of. The carbide sharpener that is built into the sheath is a great addition, meaning you will be able to sharpen your knives anywhere you are.
You can use this set for bigger and smaller animals, and its price is actually reasonable. However, the quality of the blades is not as high as in some other products. You will need to sharpen these blades quite often, because they dull relatively quickly.
4. Outdoor Edge Game Processor Hunting Knives
Best for solo hunters
Features all you need for field dressing
Includes a sharpener
Comes in a strong, sturdy case
Not all of the knives are full tang
The knives rust easily
Another excellent field dressing knife kit, the Outdoor Edge Game Processor Hunting Knives is a nicely designed highly functional set of knives that can be used for a wide variety of purposes. The design is the first thing most will notice when looking at these knives.
They are designed specifically to reduce the fatigue in your hand while you are using them on animals. The handles feature a non-slip grip which makes these knives incredibly safe to use as well. These knives were created with a high level of performance in mind, and it shows.
This set includes every type of knife you need for the dressing and processing of animals. You have your skinning knife, your gutting knives for hunting and the butcher knife. This set is made for hunters that like to do everything themselves. It definitely makes the job easier for them.
The set also features a ribcage tool for butchering, a sharpener and all of it is kept inside of a strong case which keeps everything safe. The sharpener has a V-shape design and has a nice handle that is comfortable to use, meaning you will be able to sharpen the knives quickly.
While the knives in this set are quite durable, not all of them are full tang, which might bothersome. Some knives in the set are full tang, while others are not, which is one of the flaws of this set.
5. Mossy Oak Hunting Field Dressing Kit
Best design
Fixed blade design
Lanyard holes
Cutting board and sharpener included
No non-slip grips on the knives
No skinning knife
We are ending the list with another kit, this time one that features everything besides a skinning knife. Other than that it will fulfill every function you can think of. The set is nicely designed in two colors, so fans of aesthetics should be on a lookout for it.
The knives in the Mossy Oak kit have lanyard holes in them, which will prevent bystanders from getting hurt if an accident happens. While some might consider this an unnecessary addition, we think safety is important and welcome this feature.
The knives have a fixed blade design, meaning they are sturdy and can perform strong cuts. With these knives you can expect to finish dressing animals quickly, their strength will take care of a large part of the work for you.
Of course, you will also get a knife sharpener as a part of this set, so you won’t need to get your knives sharpened before going hunting. Another nifty thing included in this package is the cutting board, which will make the job of processing meat much easier.
The biggest flaw of this set is the missing skinning knife. That knife would complete the set and make it almost perfect, but this way you might always feel like it’s missing. The handles also do not have non-slip grips unfortunately.
How To Choose The Best Field Dressing Knife
While we do have an overall winner on our list, the Buck Knives 113 Ranger Skinner Hunting Knife, some might prefer a different product to it. This is because of all the different factors that are important to some hunters when picking their knives. Some might look for the best deer gutting knife, while others want an overall good product.
Choosing the best field dressing knife can be quite an ordeal for some. There are several factors you need to take into account when choosing and we will talk about them in this part of the article.
Knife Type
When choosing a field dressing knife, the first thing you need to do is decide between a fixed blade knife and a folding knife. Folding knives can do a decent job, especially ones that are of higher quality and sharp, most will opt to go for the fixed blade knives.
These knives are generally more durable and they are known to have almost no failure points, as opposed to folding knives. Folding knives can become loose and this might slow down your field dressing process or you might even injure yourself.
Blade Length
While most beginners might believe that a larger knife is better, those with experience know that this isn’t true. Using a large blade won’t do anything but give you higher chances of hurting yourself. Dressing knives can have blades that are anywhere from 3 to 11 inches in length.
Of course there are knives that are longer than that, but experienced hunters will always avoid them. Shorter knives give you more control and are easier to balance during the dressing process. This is extremely important, and is the reason most hunters use knives that are only up to 5 inches long.
However, it all depends on the person using the knife. Some might prefer a blade that is just 5 inches in length, while others might like those that go up to 11 inches. It is important to test the blade out yourself to find out what you are comfortable with.
Handle
The ergonomics of the handle are an important factor when picking a field dressing knife as well. While a lot of people focus on the aesthetics and will pick a knife with a nice looking handle, the feel is much more important. The ESEE ES4PMBDE-BRK Model 4 for example features a high-quality handle.
You should feel comfortable holding the knife and it should be easy to grip. The danger of your knife slipping from your hand while working is something you should always keep in mind. This is why you should pick a knife that fits your hand nicely. Luckily, most handles nowadays feature excellent designs as well.
Blade Composition
Finally, the blade composition is another one of the most important factors when choosing a field dressing knife. Most knives are made of stainless steel or high carbon steel, which are extremely sharp and durable materials.
While this is great in most cases, keep in mind that you will need to take care of your knife regularly. Maintenance is important, otherwise your knife will rust and become unusable. Some knives are less prone to rust than others, so you might want to keep an eye out on those. For example the Buck Knives 113 is resistant to corrosion.
FAQs
Conclusion
Having a good field dressing knife is extremely important for hunters. It is something you will use on all of your hunting trips. We had this fact in mind when picking the best field dressing knife.
Our overall winner is the Buck Knives 113 Ranger Skinner Hunting Knife, a great product that will satisfy any hunter. It is light, easy to use and made with great craftsmanship.
The runner up is the ESEE ES4PMBDE-BRK Model 4, another excellent knife. If you are looking for a set of knives, you can also check out the Gerber Myth Field Dress Kit.