Dexter-Russell Traditional 8-inch Flexible Fillet Knife, Beech Handle (S2333-8)

Before plastic handles came to the fish house, a fillet knife had a wood handle and brass rivets, and Dexter-Russell still makes this one that way. The Traditional 8-inch fillet knife has a flexible blade with just enough give, in Dexter’s words, to glide under skin, and Dexter designs it for commercial and charter boat fishermen who skin and fillet larger fish.

It is the most visited Dexter fillet knife page on our site, and Traditional knives like it are especially popular with our customers in the Northeast. Stiff enough to follow the backbone without deflecting and flexible enough to skin a fillet flat on the board, it handles bluefish, sea bass and striped bass equally well. The wood handle feels warm in a cold hand and gives a secure, familiar grip.

Wood Handle or Sani-Safe?

The Sani-Safe 8-inch Narrow Flexible Fillet Knife has a comparable blade with a textured plastic handle that can be sanitized. Dexter’s leather sheath for 8- and 9-inch fillet knives suits this knife for carrying.