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Knife steel preference and style? #6646297
10/22/19 08:30 PM
10/22/19 08:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
D
Dezmond Offline OP
trapper
Dezmond  Offline OP
trapper
D

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
Hey Everyone. Wanting to get some opinions on skinning knives. I plan to make a few for the shed this year and wanted to see what your preference was on blade material (hi carbon steel, stainless, etc.) as well as overall design. Planning on trapping rats, mink and coon.

Thanks for your opinions and advice smile


Dezi

Trap Season Totals & Goals

Muskrat 8/20
Coon 7/20
Mink 0/5
Beaver 10/20
Skunk 0/0
Ducks 0/0
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646304
10/22/19 08:34 PM
10/22/19 08:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Depends on how often you want to sharpen your knives...I like D2 but if you arent the patient type in sharpening, go high carbon.

Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646310
10/22/19 08:40 PM
10/22/19 08:40 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 56
idaho
H
Howser Offline
trapper
Howser  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 56
idaho
Have several Damascus that I sharpen when I feel guilty. Not that they need it. Get what you pay for.

Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646312
10/22/19 08:41 PM
10/22/19 08:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
chas3457 Offline
trapper
chas3457  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
D2, or O1, as far as 'tool steels', I like 1095 high carbon steel. Maybe cheaper and easier to get, depending on your supplier. smile




Charlie


Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

NRA Life Member ~ GOA Member ~ NFOA Member ~ UNMLA Member
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646314
10/22/19 08:44 PM
10/22/19 08:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
D
Dezmond Offline OP
trapper
Dezmond  Offline OP
trapper
D

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
I like 1095 and also 5160 spring steel. Easy to work with and sharpen. And cheaper to buy. Figured if it’s being used in the shed all the time, it is well greased from the fat. But of course they should be cleaned and looked after. wink


Dezi

Trap Season Totals & Goals

Muskrat 8/20
Coon 7/20
Mink 0/5
Beaver 10/20
Skunk 0/0
Ducks 0/0
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646318
10/22/19 08:47 PM
10/22/19 08:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
As for blade style, i prefer the filet style. Skinny profile with a needle-like point for opening cuts.

Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646320
10/22/19 08:51 PM
10/22/19 08:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline
"On The Other Hand"
G

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
D2 steel. For the three furbearers you mentioned, all you'll really need is a pelter (short triangle blade) and a skinner (short drop-point), as well as a 2-handled fleshing knife on a beam.

Good luck, sir...

Jack


Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646560
10/23/19 04:32 AM
10/23/19 04:32 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
I don't know beans about knife making but these are not only cheap but great pelters for rats mink coon coyotes cats and fox.
https://www.katom.com/135-11113.html

I like these for beaver
https://www.katom.com/135-06123.html

great price and easy to sharpen. touched up regular with a few strokes from a good steel and they don't need sharpened very often.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646644
10/23/19 07:53 AM
10/23/19 07:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
T
the Blak Spot Offline
trapper
the Blak Spot  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
1095 is great all around, but D2 gets the nod for me in skinning. A2 not bad either


the just shall live by faith

member FTA, ATA, EAFT
1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator
Caveat ater macula
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646800
10/23/19 11:51 AM
10/23/19 11:51 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 17
Chalmette, Louisiana U.S.
B
Bigoledude Offline
trapper
Bigoledude  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 17
Chalmette, Louisiana U.S.
I like D2 and would love to have one made in style of the Canadian Belt knife.


I want to die peacefully in my sleep just like my Grandfather did. Not screaming in terror like his passengers did.
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6646906
10/23/19 01:21 PM
10/23/19 01:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 990
iowa
T
trappinia Offline
trapper
trappinia  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 990
iowa
I also like D2 .

Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Bigoledude] #6647011
10/23/19 03:34 PM
10/23/19 03:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
D
Dezmond Offline OP
trapper
Dezmond  Offline OP
trapper
D

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by Bigoledude
I like D2 and would love to have one made in style of the Canadian Belt knife.


I have always liked Grohmann knives. Good quality and well made wink


Dezi

Trap Season Totals & Goals

Muskrat 8/20
Coon 7/20
Mink 0/5
Beaver 10/20
Skunk 0/0
Ducks 0/0
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6647013
10/23/19 03:34 PM
10/23/19 03:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
D
Dezmond Offline OP
trapper
Dezmond  Offline OP
trapper
D

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Ontario, Canada
D2 can be a bugger to forge. I hear it’s pretty hard.


Dezi

Trap Season Totals & Goals

Muskrat 8/20
Coon 7/20
Mink 0/5
Beaver 10/20
Skunk 0/0
Ducks 0/0
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6647021
10/23/19 03:47 PM
10/23/19 03:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 294
Montana
A
Antelope Montana Offline
trapper
Antelope Montana  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 294
Montana
Anyone got a link for Gulu's * sp.knives

Last edited by Anaconda canoes; 10/23/19 03:48 PM.
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6647034
10/23/19 04:12 PM
10/23/19 04:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,023
ND
grumley701 Offline
trapper
grumley701  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,023
ND
Though not my skinning knife I've got a ZT with S35VN steel and boy does it hold an edge, couple swipes on the steel and its razor sharp again.


Pure Blood
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6652477
10/29/19 08:08 PM
10/29/19 08:08 PM
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 35
Mo.
J
JimEvans Offline
trapper
JimEvans  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 35
Mo.
As a beginner at trapping I am in need of a skinning Knife.
My problem is I have no idea what D2, A2 1095 or 5160 stand for or mean?
I stopped at our local knife store in Branson and he has like 30 different knives?
I have no idea what I will need.

I am hopping to catch coons, cat's, fox and coyotes.
I plan on freezing the carcasses until I have several coons to practice on.
I have every thing to build a skinning stand.
I just don't have skinning knives just 2 fa lay knives.

Thanks for any help.
Jim


Jim Evans
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6652485
10/29/19 08:12 PM
10/29/19 08:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,738
carolina, Alabama
The Possum Man Offline
trapper
The Possum Man  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,738
carolina, Alabama
I use this for skinning. Mine is a dexter russell brand
https://www.minntrapprod.com/Triangle-Pelter-Fox-Mink-and-Muskrat-Knife/productinfo/BOL-TRI/

having one of these around for everything else or when i need a longer blade
https://www.minntrapprod.com/Resharpened-Skinning-Knives/productinfo/RESP-001/


"If you're gonna be stupid you better be tough"
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: JimEvans] #6652508
10/29/19 08:24 PM
10/29/19 08:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Originally Posted by JimEvans
As a beginner at trapping I am in need of a skinning Knife.
My problem is I have no idea what D2, A2 1095 or 5160 stand for or mean?
I stopped at our local knife store in Branson and he has like 30 different knives?
I have no idea what I will need.

I am hopping to catch coons, cat's, fox and coyotes.
I plan on freezing the carcasses until I have several coons to practice on.
I have every thing to build a skinning stand.
I just don't have skinning knives just 2 fa lay knives.

Thanks for any help.
Jim


I wouldn't get to caught up unless you want green stuff or plastic flying away from your wallet. I've got way more money in knives than what I care to think about. Starting out, anything resembling a filet knife will do you great for everything except maybe beaver.

If you do want to learn a bit more, you should check this page out: https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Steel-Types--332

Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6652509
10/29/19 08:24 PM
10/29/19 08:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,020
ohio
J
jctunnelrat Offline
trapper
jctunnelrat  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,020
ohio
D2, A2, 01, 1095, etc. are different steels. The percent of elements in the steel varies which gives the different steels different properties. Some are flexible, some are hard and some are brittle. Books have been written on alloy steel. A good place to start would be the "Machinery Handbook" or as commonly called "The Machinist's Handbook".

Old chain saw bars make great blades. Use coolant when grinding them.


jim
Re: Knife steel preference and style? [Re: Dezmond] #6652537
10/29/19 08:39 PM
10/29/19 08:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
For general skinning starting out stick with the inexpensive dexter-russell. Learn how to keep them hair popping sharp. Then decide whether that extra bit of edge retention higher grade steels offer is worth the extra coin.
My preference is ats-34/154cm and D2 though D2 is a mother to bring back an edge on as it's pretty dang wear resistant.
For everyday beaters that's easy to bring back cold steels version of krupp stainless is hard to beat.


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