What knife to process game - post field

[n2horns]

Once you get your game back to camp/home, what knife is everyone is using to process their game? Filet knife or Boning knife, what size, maker, or even multiple sizes.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

I use a 7 and 9 inch fillet knife at home. Bought them at restaurant supply store for 20 bucks each years ago. I tend to use those to trim and break down the main cuts then when I slice into steaks I use my main chefs knife.

[azslim]

I have 2 flexible blade boning knives, 2 stiff blade boning knives and a 10" butcher knife for cutting steaks, they are Victornox by Forshner

[rossislider]

I have found that fillet knives work the best for me. I previously used some of the cheaper ones, but the light thin metal of the cheaper ones require lots of sharpening and didn't have the heaviness to cut through a thick quarter. A few years ago bought a Knives of Alaska Coho fillet knife (about $70) for a fishing trip up north. That thing has been THE BEST processing knife I have ever used. It uses a harder heavier steel (440C Stainless) than most fillet knives and holds an edge for much longer than anything else I have used. The heavier weight and solid feel in the hand helps a lot. I can usually process a whole elk without a resharpen. The only issue I have run into with it is that when processing animals with my buddies, they are constantly trying to steal it from me when I am not paying attention. Most of them have since bought one. Last summer I took my kids up to the White Mountains fishing and we got into some nice sized trout I wanted to fillet them for the smoker, but left the fillet knife at home. So I went into Sportsman's in Show Low and picked up the Coho's little brother, the Steelheader ($55). It is slightly smaller than the Coho but I may like it even better. You can't go wring with either and I love having both as my wife helps a lot with the processing, and like my buddies, tends to steal my knife when I am not looking.

 

https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Knives-of-Alaska-Coho-Fillet-Knife/productDetail/Fillet-Knives-and-Processing/prod9999000095/cat101133

 

https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Knives-of-Alaska-Steelheader/productDetail/Fillet-Knives-and-Processing/prod9999000096/cat101133

[n2horns]

Ah sharpening i guess comes up too. what tool/stone are you all using to keep sharp? I have used the 6inch Forchner medium flex boning and the yellow hand grip sharpening tool you slide your knife thru. At home, I use sharpening steel rod with the same boning knife and a chef knife to finish cuts. I do use the small pairing like knife from Victorinox too that is about 4 inches, small to get into bone area and not ding up big knife.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019WXPQY/ref=asc_df_B0019WXPQY5385918/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0019WXPQY&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167145808484&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1165406796670765163&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030021&hvtargid=pla-273934829022&th=1

[oz31p]

A cutco 5719 strait edge orange handle. Life time sharping by cutco.

[elkaholic]

cutco or bubba fillet knifes -- on ly need 3 knives size 4" 6" 8" handle any type of butchering or processing

[azslim]

I carry a foldable Outdoor Edge filet knife to take game apart in the field, works good

 

I like a med grit diamond hone for sharpening

[Heat]

Victornox by Forschner x2