Ok guys I know that this is just based on preference and everyone skins a bit different but, I am trying to decide what style to get I want to buy a high quality for all critters.I am looking for one or a few knives that you wouldnt live without in your trap shed?

I have a 3 blade "Old Timer". Cuts everytime I want it to and even sometimes when I don't.

I will agree with the Old Timer, I have the 2 bladed Improved Muskrat model. Make sure it is one of the old Made in U.S.A. ones the newer imported ones are junk and don't stay sharp like the old models.

Outdoor Edge caping knife..

An old pocket knife ive carried for 3 years

x2.

I've got a fillet knife I sometimes use and I've tried a lot of different knives, expensive ones like the Buck Skinner and cheap Imperials, but the Old Timer is my work horse.

Anyone tried these knives? They use replaceable scalpel blades.
Havalon Piranta

Ill agree with the american made old timers and if anyone is looking for one pm me Iv got a line on some of them

Thats all I use!Even good for quartering elk. Look out, some blades are junk, and everyone you know will want one,maybe a good x-mas gift!

I have an Shrade Old timer Sharp finger that I use for everything. Skinned an entire deer with no sharpening. Cleaned and sharpened it and did a lot of the butchering with it. Always with me in the field. My was a hand me down from my dad but you can still find some American made ones out there. They are getting harder to find though.

This is what I have, it works well on everything, and it's very sharp.

Skinning Knife

I don't take it in the field, I only use it at home skinning, but does a great job.

The Old timer is great and I keep one in my pocket when in the field. My favorite knife in the shop is the cheapest costing knife I've purchased. Got it from Minnesota Trapline Products. It is the black handled skinning knife they carry for less than 10 bucks.

My wonderful wife is great at picking up subtle hints and bought me a Dunn Small Skinner for Christmas a few years back. Best blade I've ever owned, and my kid will use it long after I'm gone.



Husker

Wow those dunn knives are pretty:) Thanks for all of the recommendations now i will have to do some shopping.

What Husker said... Dunns. It's all I use except for a serrated pelter on coon heads.

Hooked blade utility knife.

I have the Dunn full skinner and have done a couple hundred beaver with ti and love it. I clean skin so I am really using the thing. I recently noticed a crack in the blade after finishing up with 50 beaver. I called them up sent it in and within two weeks I had a brand new one. I can't wait to use.
My favorite beaver knife though is actually a Gerber Flayer problem is they are no longer made and hard to find. When you do find one in good shape be ready to pay a premium price

I skin with my pocket knife(old timer)everything but beaver. I have a homemade knife for beaver made from the blade of a pipe cutter...i have pics i think...shane

A little black plastic Gerber with a finger slot in it.I got it for getting a 4 year subscription to the trapper and predator caller about 12 years ago.

Case Trapper!

I've been using a Bolen pelting knife lately, I like it and it holds an edge real good, cheap too, about $15.

Chicago Cutlery blue handle like jimbo4 has a link to.

chicago cutlery wood handled paring knife. 3 1/4 inch blade.

5 dollar 6" fillet knife from walmart.

This is my homemade beaver knife. I was gonna change the blade shape but i like it like it is. Its like having a razon for a finger...lol...shane

I could not be without my Bolens but I also like this custom skinner.

Nice looking knife right there...shane

Shane, you and 2 poor both are bragging! Wish I had either one of those knives. My dad sold my grandpa's old knife.

It was something like this, with a homely garden hose and copper rivet handle;

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=119_299_381&products_id=623

No need to be fancy to cut, right?...lol..an employee decided to buy a new blade for my pipe cutters i've had for 18 years with nothing wrong with the old one. So i slapped a "temporary" handle on it to see how it woked for skinning and aint put it down since. Growin up about all our butchering and kitchen knives were homemade and somehow i managed to keep up with em all these years. They are made like your grampa's i imagine...made too work and made to last....shane

The handle isn't the business end. That old piece of a pre WWII canvas garden hose and copper rivets were ugly, but comfortable and the knife part did what it was designed to do. I see people pay big bucks for knives that have pretty handles and sheathes and the blade has a shape they like and they don't even know what kind of steel or how it was tempered. Might not hold an edge long enough to skin a mouse, but it sure is pretty!

I have about 6 knives I use in the shed for different stuff. Mostly boning style knives and a couple of 4" skinning knives and I have one beaver knife (don't even know what brand). I don't care what kind of knife you use, as long as it's sharp and you have a good sharpening system. Much more important than the knife you use (except on beaver).

I cant say nothing, i have a few of those myself...lol...Pocket knives are the same way. Im set with old timers though...my dads boss used to buy him a new one for christmas and his birthday every year but he used the same old one for long as i remember. I got a bunch of brand new "old" old timers still in the box....shane

blade is D2 and it will hold an edge long enough to skin a Buffalo. Besides I have spent more on a good drunk in my earlier days !

"cub Bear" made by knives of alaska.

I'm with you . I bought 4 at the 2008 convention at Evart. They were sale priced at $7.00 or (4 @ $20). Mine have black handles ??
An occasional steel and crock-stick on edges, and has worked on everything that goes thru my shed.