We all have our favorite knives. My personal favorite is a folding knife I carry almost everywhere. However, to make big game processing a little quicker out in the field, you want a couple of good processing tools at a reasonable price. For me, I like the Gerber E-Z Skinner and the Gerber E-Z Saw. Unless you are processing a lot animals, the most hunters have to choose tools based on price and budget. In my case, I’m lucky to process more than one deer or elk a year, which means that a basic and solid knife will last me years.
The Gerber E-Z Skinner is a knife for making the skinning of large animals like elk a little easier and faster. I appreciate the design effort that went into the blade. The soft-grip handle is easy to hold and the shape of the blade helps you make smooth and accurate cuts while skinning. The gut hook is effective, too. This is not a multi-function knife, but it is great at what it is designed for — skinning animals.
Characteristics:
- Overall Length: 5.39″
- Weight: 4.4 oz
- Handle Material: Co-Molded SoftGrip and Thermoplastic
- Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
- Sheath Material: Ballistic Nylon
- Price: Typically less than $20
Pair the Gerber E-Z Skinner with the E-Z Saw
The Gerber E-Z Saw is a little small for elk but perfect for deer. It will cut through bone and cartilage with ease. For elk, you may want the E-Z Saw II, which is slightly longer. The saw teeth are designed to increase sawing efficiency by 1/3 as compared to traditional saws. The rounded edge on the blade helps to decrease the chance of puncturing internal organs while cutting through a pelvic bone.
Characteristics:
- Overall Length: 5.75″
- Weight: 3.2 oz.
- Handle Material: Co-Molded SoftGrip and Thermoplastic
- Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
- Sheath Material: Ballistic Nylon
- Price: Typically less than $20
These two specialty knives are easily attached to your hunting pack. If you have a young hunter that needs some gear this year, these are affordable choices with solid design characteristics.
