Question for the fur handlers,

Does anyone have a favorite or highly recommended skinning knife?

Also, I was thinking of trying the use of a scalpel or surgical scissors.

Has anyone ever tried making their cuts for skinning with medical equipment?

I have a friend who is a trade embalmer and he suggested the surgical scissors for nice clean straight cuts.

Sounds logical, but anyone with practical use information? -on animals!

Thanks guys,
Walter

This is what I use.There was a post awhile back on this I'll see if I can point you in the right direction.

Click on my name and then view my posts.About 2/3 of the way down the first page.I'm sure a scalpel would work good.

Does your friend hook you up with bait?

ATL Trapper,

I have used razor knives on squirrels many moons ago and I remember liking the results (except the tails).

I, too, would think a scalpel would work well (insanely sharp).

I have observed the surgical scissors "in action" and they cut through skin and flesh like butter. However, once the initial cased or open cuts are made, I really can't think of a use for the scissors. And, I would think a scalpel might be too sharp for clean skinning or skinning in general--one twitch and the pelt could be ruined.

I will check out your post.

P.S. Looking for a little "soylent green" bait? LMAO

Thanks ATL trapper,
Walter

I like the sheetrock knives for opening up pelts because you can adjust the depth of the cut after the initial cut I use the triangle looking pelting knife, depending on the critter I usually have a "muskrat" knife in my pocket sometimes I skin in the field.

a scapel works great for the opening cuts. I opened about 15,000 mink a year since I was 12 till I was 24 with a scapel now we have a machine that does it and the scapel still did a better job in my opinion.

Save the scaple for what's intended for. Use a hook bladed utility knife for the opening cuts and a Chicago blue for the rest. Works great for me.

~ADC~

One of those pencil handled, replaceable bladed hobby knives works easier for me skinning the tiny stuff, weasels and red squirrels. Just seems to be easier for my clumsy, stiff fingers on the little stuff.

I used whatever small pocket knife i had in my pocket for most of my life, then i moved to a place where they had beaver, my ist job on them was 4 big ones on a sandy rocky creek bank in december with a nice wind and a steady freezing rain with a half mile walk back to the truck. I got some them chicago blue type knives after that along with a couple green river heavy stamped steel knives and a good sharpening steel. Im convinced beaver will break any mans good or bad habits and test his religion as well.

i like to use those grey boxcutters. i like being able to get a new sharp blade whenever i want it. then i keep the scapel close by for the the head, works very good around ears, eyes, and mouth for me. scapels work great to clean up around a beavers head area after u have fleshed them on a beam also.

I agree with that. I have a few scalpels and other surgical tools, but don't see much a need for them with skinning furbearers.

Maybe for a taxidermist, or for tiny critters...

On anything else...if you're decent it's just not that delicate of a job IMO...

Thanks for the good info. I figured there wouldn't be much use for surgical gear after the primary incisions. Just more equipment to sharpen, break, or replace.

That Chicago blue looks like a really decent user friendly knife. Time to learn how to do coons this year, so I need a really good one. I like the hobby knife idea for weasels. Will have to try it.

Thanks again,
Walter

Ive used scalpels a few times but to mee they allmost seemed too sharp, and made it easier to nick a hole in the pelt, I like the knife to be sharp enough to seem like its seperating the hide from the carcass but not too sharp where I have to be extremely careful, thats my opinion, I think whatever works for you and you gotta try different things to find out.

All I use for everything from deer/bear to weasels/squirrels are dollar store box cutters...

...a dollar for a large one or two small ones for a buck and a package of 10 snap off blades for a dollar.

The only exception I make is to use a Dexter beaver knife to get a beaver started after it's opened up and the castors removed. Once this is done I switch over to the box cutter.