Spyderco Forums

I love a good big game field dressing/skinning knife. I’ve used a Spyderco Shaman in the past for some of that business. It’s a prefect knife for the job. I primarily used a “custom” S90V Shaman with blaze orange G10 scales in the past with a deep carry clip. It’s an absolutely perfect knife, but I worry about the edge a bit when hitting bone as S90V can be chip. This new MagnaCut Shaman is probably a better option than S90V as it has better corrosion resistance and is a bit tougher. Believe me as an S90V nut, that was hard to say.

We all want a cool looking camo knife or something that “blends” in when we’re hunting, but in all reality these aspects of a knife are the same things that will get it lost and really don’t matter because it’s in your pocket or pack. Believe me, I’ve had to take metal detectors out to a kill spots to find a lost knife in the leaves, grass, and guts. Throw the idea of an all dark knife out the door. The knife has to be blaze orange so you can see it in that gut pile. Add some black accents for coolness and BOOM the world’s best big game cleaning folding knife.


A deep carry clip is beneficial because I’ve had the but stock of my rifle, when on a shoulder sling, tap the top of my knife every step I took for a mile once. A deep carry clip of some sort would to it off.

What am I missing?

So there you go Spyderco. Give us a “Hunter’s Special” Sprint run as described above. I’ll wait for your DM, Sal. Lol

I’m always puzzled why anyone wants to ever use a folder for this kind thing. It’s an application where a fixed blade is clearly superior in every way and there’s no particular issue with carrying a fixed blade. Makes no sense.

zhyla wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 19, 2025 1:16 pm

I’m always puzzled why anyone wants to ever use a folder for this kind thing. It’s an application where a fixed blade is clearly superior in every way and there’s no particular issue with carrying a fixed blade. Makes no sense.

Nah, folder in the field works fine for the kind of hunting I do. Fixed blade is extra bulk and something else to have to remember that I don't need when I've always got a folder in my pocket anyway. Tried fixed blades in the past, didn't like them, went back to a folder. Fixed blades come out for butchering later.

Probably a different story if I was going after bigger animals or having to break an animal down in the field and pack it out but I'm not so...folder works great.


@jmj3esq seeing Spyderco lean more into some hunting-targeted/branded stuff seems like it would fit for them and orange versions of Magnacut Salt models seem like a logical way to start. Benchmade is doing well in that space, for example (full credit to them, they haven't just turned existing models orange but released new hunting-specific models, kept the consistent dymondwood + orange accents aesthetics, brought Rinella on, etc).

Heck I bought my wife a Mini Crooked River last year after she mentioned liking the way it looked seeing one at a sporting goods store. Of course, she forgot it and looked at me for a knife after she shot her deer last season.

But that was ok, PM2 works well and blue still stands out pretty well against the leaves.

I won’t use folders for this kind of work. Different strokes I guess. I own a few fixed blades that are no heavier than a shaman.

I haven’t lost a knife yet while dressing game. I live in New England and we are known for our fall foliage. Lots of orange around here. Blue would be easiest to find since it’s rare in nature.

Field dressing isn’t demanding on edge retention. Any steel will get you through the few cuts it takes to get all the gooey bits out.

Last year I dressed my buck with a Bark River North Country EDC in A2 and I dressed my son’s buck (he’s 9 so I did it for him) with my magnacut Mule. I’ve used all sorts of knives over the years in everything from 1095 to S110V. This year I have my Micarta Street Beat in my Fanny pack. No luck yet but I put an arrow through a nice gobbler last night. I actually processed that with my Kabar Wrench Knife.

Once I get home and get it hanging in the woodshed I usually break out my Southfork. I have never had any issues with the edge on that S90V and it has skinned, quartered and deboned quite a few deer.

That’s a good looking Shaman!


I tie a longer lanyard to my hunting specific knives with Blaze paracord. It has saved me effort in the past when I have set down knives in leaves.

Now, I set out a gallon ziplock with all of the things I need in one place. and put dirty items in a second ziplock for cleaning later. Keeps the pack clean

I use a Police K-390 fully serrated LW. Awesome knife long enough to clean deer’s personal parts.

[Very] Nice looking knife,
BUT...

Isn't the Stretch (family) designed & made from the ground up to be the ideal folding hunter/field dressing/etc... knife?
And So,
Perhaps a HHG or FFG, Stainless (Say S90V, or LC200N, or Magnacut, or ____________ fill in the blank)
Stretch 2 XL LW be a suggestion worth considering?
In a hi-viz color of course.
Maybe even narrow the point a little more like the "drop-point" style, to make cutting around the vent better..
And it don't gotta be stainless (thought that might be best), I have used my K390 P4LW to field dress & process deer(s). Worked very well.

I'd likely buy one of those if available...

u.w.

Nice idea and concept , but prefer a fixed blade . MG2

I always carry a folder into the field when hunting, but I always have a fixed blade or two on me as well, either in a bag/pack or on a belt sheath.

I’m not sticking a folder up into the chest cavity to cut the trachea and getting other various blood and guts into the nooks and crannies unless I really have to. A fixed blade is by far the superior choice here IMO, even a small one. If you only carry one knife with you while big game hunting more than a mile or so away from camp or your vehicle, you’re just asking for trouble.

I always use the fix blade. I think they're superior to folders. However, I have known a number of people who used folders because they liked the compactness. For a white tail and below a smaller bladed knife is superior.

Fixed blade is 1000x better for field dressing. A Moran is the way to go, infinitely better than a Shaman for that kind of work.

Fixed blade all the way for use on game/butchering. I've done plenty with folders, but if it's at all in my power, a fixed blade is preferrable. The best Spyderco I've used for deer is the Bill Moran (drop point) by a large margin. I'd love a more wear resistant steel, but especially if you're just doing field dressing VG-10 will get you through just fine. If I'm dreaming, a Bill Moran drop point in MagnaCut with a micarta or G10 handle would be ideal. I kinda prefer G10 actually as it is less porous than micarta and cleans up easier.

Wandering_About wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 05, 2025 3:46 am

Fixed blade all the way for use on game/butchering. I've done plenty with folders, but if it's at all in my power, a fixed blade is preferrable. The best Spyderco I've used for deer is the Bill Moran (drop point) by a large margin. I'd love a more wear resistant steel, but especially if you're just doing field dressing VG-10 will get you through just fine. If I'm dreaming, a Bill Moran drop point in MagnaCut with a micarta or G10 handle would be ideal. I kinda prefer G10 actually as it is less porous than micarta and cleans up easier.

You nailed it ! I would love to see an upgrade on the Moran myself . I may set my Randall’s aside this year to give the Bushcraft a go if I’m lucky . Going to be a tough year . MG2

Step 1 - Used a Delica 4 K390 PE to open the buck and remove the internals along with a Sagen Saw to cut the pelvic and breast bones.

Step 2 - drug the buck back to camp whole, raised it with a hoist and skinned it with a Buck Woodsman 102 my dad gave me when I was a kid.

Step 3 - took the skinned buck whole to the butcher.

Step 4 - pick up flash frozen packaged steaks, burger, and sausage products from the butcher next week.

Step 5 - eat an assortment of deer meat for the year and repeat steps 1-5 next season.

CG

That’s a killer looking Shaman and I’d buy one in a second but I gotta go with a fixed blade for field dressing/skinning/butchering…no muss no fuss

Today's success , Subvert CF

Fharing45 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 08, 2025 5:27 pm

Today's success , Subvert CF

LETS GO!

I’ve used a spy27 mule on a few deer and ended up picking up a beater Spydiechef for field dressing (skinning and quartering). It’s not the perfect solution but it works if I do my part.

I like the Subvert blade size/shape but can’t justify the price for a knife I won’t use that often. Good to see one being put to work, though

Fixed for me 100%. I would probably have to completely take a folder completely apart after field dressing a deer. I know folders have been used thousands of times but I want a better clean on a knife after field dressing and I am far from a germaphobe.