Best Skinning Knives in 2023

We’re going to help you choose the best skinning knife for you! You’ll be guided through what to look for and learn to recognize the most important and essential features of quality skinning knives. We’ve taken the guesswork out of it and brought you some awesome knives to choose from.

You won’t need to browse through the hundreds of options on the market. You’ll have 7 of the best skinning knives laid out and dissected in an easy to follow way. By the end of the guide, you’ll be ready to make your choice, or at least have a very clear idea of which skinning knife best suits your needs. Let’s jump into the guide!

Top 7 Best Skinning Knife Reviews in 2023

We’ve carefully selected these 7 knives based on a bunch of criteria such as price, performance, features, long-term durability, uniqueness, and more. You’ll find what makes each of the knives stand out above the rest and why they’re worth paying attention to.

We’ll also lay out what we did and didn’t like about each of the knives so that you can get a good idea of how they’ll perform in the real world. Our goal is to get you informed and confident enough to make a smart purchase and get the best skinning knife that’ll last for years without letting you down. Let’s get started!

Snake Eye Tactical Skinning Knife

This is a sleek and capable-looking knife. It’s been designed with a gorgeous slim black profile that’s perfected by an ergonomic and ultra-non-slip handle. With a 9” overall length, you’re getting great cutting power and accuracy. Despite the blade looking quite thin, it’s exceptionally sturdy and durable. You can slip it under the hide easily and get swift and smooth cuts.

The gradual bevels lead to an extremely sharp edge that helps retention and gets the blade to an even finer point. You’ll have no trouble making quick work of thicker and heavier hides that are usually tough to peel back. You’re getting great corrosion and rust resistance which is exactly what you want in the best skinning knife.

We loved the piercing power of the tip and the low-key curvature of the blade’s spine keeps the tip from accidentally piercing deeper down. The handle is one of our favorite features of this knife and gives you an excellent grip. Even if your hands are bloody and wet, they won’t slip. It helps to keep the overall balance of the blade and give you all the accuracy and control you need for skin like a pro.

Dalstrong Gladiator Series Skinning Knife

Here’s another excellent quality Dalstrong blade. You’ll immediately notice how visually appealing this knife is. Its sleek polished profile and contrasting handle and blade make it one of the most attractive skinning knives at this price point. You’re getting a razor-sharp edge that glides through flesh and under the skin with a silky-smooth action.

It’s a full tang knife, so you’re getting high-level durability. Edge retention is boosted through the 16-18 degree sharpening angle and the high-carbon content. This steel is tough and has all the resistance you’d need from an outdoor hunting or skinning knife. At 8”, the blade and overall profile of the knife has a hefty feel to them.

This is made even more impressive by the excellently well-balanced handle. It’s a triple-riveted handle with a full-bolster and finger guard. It’s also laminated and polished to keep it bacteria resistant and hygienic. Overall, you’re getting possibly the best knife for skinning at this price point with huge value for money and robust, durable performance.

Bone Collector Skinning Knife

If you like unique but functional knives, here’s an excellent choice for you. The standout features of this knife are the bone handle and the exceptionally sturdy blade. The knife is full-tang and sits at an overall length of 6.25”. While this might not seem like much compared to the Dalstrong we just looked at, it’s an incredibly capable and versatile knife.

We love that the thicker blade quickly tapers off to an exquisitely sharp edge that holds well and is easy to sharpen. You’ll find the leather sheath fits perfectly and straps around the handle for an even safer grip. This knife is all about robustness and it isn’t cutting any corners when it comes to durability and longevity.

It would make an excellent addition to a collector’s kit, or a highly functional addition to an active hunter’s carry. Overall, you’re getting a resistant and durable blade that’s a top pick for the best skinning knife without breaking the bank.

Mossberg All in One Skinning Knife

Here’s a lightweight, durable hunting and skinning knife. It’s shorter than most other hunting knives and this makes it incredibly easy to handle. You’re getting a 3.5” stainless steel blade with a razor edge and fantastic edge retention. It’s reliable and consistent enough for you to take on any hunt and can be carried easily and effortlessly.

The black Mossberg sheath fits well and straps the knife in for added security. Despite being quite small, this is an incredibly versatile knife. There’s a sharp and nifty gut hook or the reverse side of the blade and a finger hole in the blade (near the handle) for added pulling power.

This knife is perfect for skinning dear and other small-mid size game. We wished the handle was a little larger and longer, but it makes up for this by giving it a textured and rounded profile that’s non-slip and easy to hold. It’s one of our favorite picks for the best skinning knife for the budget in this price range.

Havalon Piranta Z Folding Skinning Knife

This knife would make an excellent backup hunting and skinning knife. The foldable design means is super-compact and easy to carry. While the blade is very small, it’s extremely capable. The razor’s edge can glide through meat and skin like a larger blade. You’re getting fantastic value for money as you’ll have 12-spare blades coming with the knife.

These can be easily touched up and installed in just a couple of seconds. We loved the military-grade polymer handle. It’s exceptionally easy to hold and has a non-slip texture to keep you working with oily or bloody hands. The knife can be safely kept and carried in the nylon sheath.

It’s compact and lightweight enough to slap on a belt, boot, or bag. You’ll be able to fit any Piranta blade onto the knife. This is one of the best skinning knife options if you’re into foldable and ultra-compact versatile knives.

SZCO Supplies Small Skinning Knife

The Pakkawood handle on this knife is stunning. You’ll love the look and feel of the wood grain finish. The ergonomic design helps is fit into your hand and gives you fine control over your cutting. There are a bolster and a large finger guard. This helps keep your finger away from the ultra-sharp edge and gives you a better and more comfortable grip.

At 7.25” in overall length, this knife has a great balance between size, portability, and functionality. It’s easy enough to carry around on a long hunt and gives you excellent cutting and skinning performance. We loved the leather sheath and how well it fits the knife. Thankfully, a clip is used instead of a Velcro strap (which tends to stop working well after a couple of months).

The blade is highly resistant to corrosion and rusting, as well as being able to hold a very sharp edge for longer. This one of the best skinning knives with an awesome balance between size, versatility, and performance.

Sani-Safe Skinning Knife

Here’s a white best skinning knife that’s built to be sanitary, tough, and robust. You’ll find the handle is extremely easy to hold and feels very comfortable. It’s non-slip and gives you excellent control over the sharp curved blade. The cuts extremely smoothly and the thinner profile of the blade slips cleanly under the hide for effortless cutting.

You’ll find the handle very easy to clean and maintain to a hygienic standard. The blade is resistant to corrosion and rusting, as well as being easy to clean and maintain. You’ll want a quality stain-free for skinning – especially if you’re going to use it professionally.

These knives will excel for commercial use as each blade is ground and honed to an ultra-sharp edge with top-tier performance in mind. You’re getting a top pick for the best hunting skinning knife for the money.

How to Choose an Epic Skinning Knife?

We’re going to take a quick look at some of the most important considerations when you’re on the hunt for an epic skinning knife. We want your hunts and fieldwork to be as safe and consistent as possible. Take a look at these features and think about which of them best suits your unique situation and needs. Let’s go!

Folding Blades vs Fixed Blades

This can be quite a controversial one as there are many die-hard folder fans out there. With that said though, we’d encourage you to go for a fixed-blade skinning knife if you can. While folding knives offer an unparalleled level of portability and compactness, they often lack the heft, power, and balance that a full-tang fixed-blade knife has.

Dirt and blood get into the locking system which becomes a nightmare to keep clean in-field. There is also a great chance that the folding knife accidentally catches onto some skin or sinew.

Gut Hooks

This is part of blade design, but we want to address it directly. Gut hooks aren’t necessary if you have excellent knife technique and experience. They’re kind of superfluous and increase the chance of hooking the skin or accidentally piercing something it shouldn’t.

Blade Type and Size

If you’re working on a smaller game like fowl and rabbits, a blade between 2.75” to 3.25” is sufficient. Any larger and you might struggle with more intricate cuts. 3” is the sweet spot for general-purpose small-game field dressing. For larger animals like deer and moose, you need a larger blade that’s at least 5” long.

As for blade type, try to get a one with a relatively deep belly (for the larger and deeper cuts). This is especially important for larger game like deer. You also need the accuracy of a sharp and narrow tip. This combination offers the best balance between brawn and finesse. Clip-point and drop-point blades offer this feature in a well-designed form.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What to Look for in a Best Skinning Knife?

A: Perhaps the most important feature is the sharpness of the blade. You want something as sharp as possible, on a blade that’s thin but still sturdy. That was it’ll slip right under the hide and cut smoothly. You should get a high-quality handle that’s comfortable for your hand size, and has a non-slip texture.

The blade should be resistant to corrosion and rusting, as well as having a curved profile to avoid the tip puncturing the animal’s organs or flesh. A finger guard will stop your hands from sliding onto the blade accidentally. The final thing you should look for is a decent sheath that fits well and clips into place – as opposed to friction-held sheaths and Velcro straps (as they wear out quickly).

Q: Any Maintenance Tips for Skinning Knives?

A: Keep the edge honed and as sharp as possible. Always keep the knife dry and clean. The handle is even more important to keep clean as it gathers bacteria pretty quickly. Always wash the knife by hand and dry it thoroughly. Keep it in the sheath between uses and avoid using it for any utility and general use (like box cutting, or clearing weeds, etc.) as this will dull the blade.

Final Thoughts

Congratulations on taking the time to get better value for money. Choosing the perfect knife can be a slow process with a little trial and error involved. With a little experience, you’ll start to figure out exactly what you need to get the most out of your skills. Getting the best skinning knife is the first step – and one of the most important – when it comes to honing your skills and getting the results you want. Good luck!