I now just use these ceramic paring knives.

https://www.amazon.com/Farberware-Handle...ic+paring+knife

At $7.57 a pop, they will skin more deer in a season than I will ever kill, and a bunch of hogs to boot and never need to be sharpened. They are very light, so I carry 2 in my pack. When they finally get dull or break, I just throw them away. I own several very nice knives that if I ever lost them, would make me sick. They usually stay at camp or at home.

I've never used ceramic knives, so I just bought a couple to try out in the kitchen. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have one that ponch0 built me a couple years ago that hasn't seen anything but a leather strop. Don't know how many deer I have field dressed and skint with it , but I skint twenty one night at my brothers processing plant and it would still pop hair. A good blade is worth the money in my opinion...

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1879249/Axis_Deer_knife_For_Member.