Saw for gralloching/breastbone etc

[Antonyweeks]

I know there have been lots of threads on this but does anyone use the folding Opinel saw for field work (when a saw is needed as I appreciate many of you don't do anything with the breastbone in the field!)? They look decent to me and I've had opinel knives over the years and always liked them. I just saw (pardon the pun) a link to one and thought it might be good to have in the field kit. I don't really get on with the T shaped field saws that are also popular.

 

[FISH BOY]

Personally hate folding Opinels having almost taken my fingers off as a kid.

Would recommend one of these everyday.




For a folder - the Camillus Cloak is very good - on special at Blades.Co.uk

 

[John Gryphon]

Using a six inch green river sheep skinner gripped in both hands one can whilst straddling a sambar hind on her back rip up towards the neck through the brisket, the smaller species should be no problem at all with this method....stags are another matter though lol.

 

[willie_gunn]

I'd second the recommendations of @FISH BOY

If needed I use the Camillus out in the field, otherwise it's the Dave Stretton in the larder.

 

[Stevie/P]

Another vote for David Stretton Brest bone saw had mine over 10 years works on the pull stroke.

 

[Steff]

The point is that most saws sold as bone saws especially for gralloching are way too coarse. Any fine toothed saw as from 18 TPI (Teeth per inch) upwards will do the job. I use a Silky Pocket Boy with 22TPI.

 

[jthyttin]

Like said, bespoke bone/meat saws work on pull stroke. Also look for design that you can clean and sanitize properly, especially if used in field.

Knife works also, especially if used on one side not center of breastbone. But I've understood game dealers in UK usually want the chest split right in the middle.

 

[Cyres]

Make your own.
All you need is a receprecating saw blade. Metal cutting one best and a length of old copper tube.
Crimp last 1 inch insert blade in and squash up in vice. If you want to be v posh you could solder the blade in
That's it
Simple cheap and dead easy to make. Dish washer safe.
Blades from Screw fix or Toolstation.
D

 

[paulbshooting]

I use the castrom saw. Longer one for fallow, shorter one in the roe sack for munties and roe

 

[VSS]

Like said, bespoke bone/meat saws work on pull stroke. Also look for design that you can clean and sanitize properly, especially if used in field.

No, butcher's bone saws work on the push stroke.
It's only breast saws for use in the field that cut on the pull stroke, so that you're pulling the debris out of the carcass, rather than dropping it in.

 

[Overlay]

to be honest a field gralloch is fine to minimise the risk of contamination bleed it, tie off the anal and food pipe whip the green out apart from the bullet only 2 little openings leave the head and feet on nice and tidy to extract
use a proper butchers saw , ( not a hacksaw type) to do a tidy breastbone cut your carcase will look better for it
i’ve given it some thought and my mate uses this method on all deer and i'm thinking it’s the best way, over the years i’ve gradually shifted around to minimal cuts in the field it does make sense

knife wise i use a sharp small blade and upside down knife in the field and that’s it with some food grade clips to seal the anal and food pipe work - less is more sometimes, save the major stuff for the larder

 

[VSS]

to be honest a field gralloch is fine to minimise the risk of contamination bleed it, tie off the anal and food pipe whip the green out apart from the bullet only 2 little openings leave the head and feet on nice and tidy to extract
use a proper butchers saw , ( not a hacksaw type) to do a tidy breastbone cut your carcase will look better for it
i’ve given it some thought and my mate uses this method on all deer and i'm thinking it’s the best way, over the years i’ve gradually shifted around to minimal cuts in the field it does make sense

knife wise i use a sharp small blade and upside down knife in the field and that’s it with some food grade clips to seal the anal and food pipe work - less is more sometimes, safe the major stuff for the larder

Exactly this ^^^
The less cutting you do in the field, the better.

 

[Cyres]

Cable ties!

 

[Overlay]

Cable ties!

best one i’ve found are the slaughter man’s clips for lambs

 

[big ears]

best one i’ve found are the slaughter man’s clips for lambs

Cable ties!

We should stop using plastic and leaving it in the environment.
Cable ties are great but I now use Jute garden twine which is biodegradable.
You need to learn to tie proper knots but that is not too difficult to learn,

BE

 

[VSS]

We should stop using plastic and leaving it in the environment.
Cable ties are great but I now use Jute garden twine which is biodegradable.
You need to learn to tie proper knots but that is not too difficult to learn,

BE

Nice idea! I like that!

 

[Overlay]

We should stop using plastic and leaving it in the environment.
Cable ties are great but I now use Jute garden twine which is biodegradable.
You need to learn to tie proper knots but that is not too difficult to learn,

BE

FMOB. who said anything about leaving it in the Environment, you cut em off after you’ve cleared the carcase and it’s in the waste bag with your gloves on top of the gralloch tub
jesus christ man wake up

 

[VSS]

FMOB. who said anything about leaving it in the Environment, you cut em off after you’ve cleared the carcase and it’s in the waste bag with your gloves on top of the gralloch tub
jesus christ man wake up

It's still a nice idea though.
I don't leave cable ties or weazand clips in the environment either, but all the same it would be good to use a biodegradable alternative.

 

[big ears]

FMOB. who said anything about leaving it in the Environment, you cut em off after you’ve cleared the carcase and it’s in the waste bag with your gloves on top of the gralloch tub
jesus christ man wake up

Bit harsh.
I know many who leave them behind. Still waste plastic. Moving to natural biodegradable materials has to be the right way.
I’m sure the son of god would agree as well.

BE

 

[Overlay]

Bit harsh.
I know many who leave them behind. Still waste plastic. Moving to natural biodegradable materials has to be the right way.
I’m sure the son of god would agree as well.

BE

the estate I lease and ones I work for or i look after, have a no footprint policy, my making, you leave a glove or gralloch on the ground you wouldn’t be asked back again, everything regardless is either re cycled or incinerated to keep environmental impact to a bare minimum, when i go to other estates I operate to what they have as their policy and there is some very different views as to levels of working you will find, I do my bit that’s what counts for me