Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 6-inch Skinning Knife (SB12-6)

Removing the hide from a deer or a steer takes a broad, sweeping blade. Dexter-Russell’s Sani-Safe 6-inch skinning knife has a stiff, wide blade with a broad curve that separates hide from fat in long passes with less risk of cutting through. Dexter recommends it for skinning and processing large game, and it also trims meat and cuts up fish.

For hunters who process their own deer, it handles the skinning and then trims the meat afterward. The blade resists rust in the field, and the textured handle stays secure in a hand that is wet or cold. Dexter-Russell knives have an especially strong following in the Northeast, the region around the company’s Southbridge, Massachusetts home.

Skinning Knife or Sheep Skinner?

The Traditional 5.25-inch Sheep Skinning Knife has a shorter, rigid curved blade in carbon steel with a wood handle, well suited to sheep and goats. For carrying in the field, see the Dexter-Russell Skinning Knife Sheath.