This is just hard for me to visualize...as I've always used drop points for cleaning deer. I keep my index along the spine whereby the blade actually acts as an extension of my finger...2.5-4" blades. Reading your comments makes me think that my perspective is limited to white-tail sized game, as I've not ever shot a mule deer, elk, moose, etc. As an example, I don't "pop joints"...I slice through the cartilage and carefully slice the tendons, letting the hams just fall out with little effort.

Interesting conversation <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />