I’ve got one of those too but I feel those carbides are a bit much.. I use either wet stones or I have a lansky sharpener, the type that has the alignment jig...not real fond of it though.

Check out Dunn knives. Very good metal and they stay sharp. They ain't cheap though

Why not just get a Powdered High Speed Steel skinning knife. WAY more expensive, but stays sharp a lot longer.

I bought my Improved Skinner from Melvin Dunn at the NTA Convetion in Cookeville, TN about '84 or '85. Skinned 3 deer & clean skinned 5 beaver before I even had to touch it with a crock stick. Used it quite a bit up until I slowed down about 3 years ago. He touched it up for me at several conventions before he sold the business. Just might pick up another 1 of their knives before next season.

The Russel Green River, 5" curved skinner will, you might use a steel on it.

That's the Green River Pattern, not the round nosed knife used by amatures and wannabees .

my post full skinner will do a beaver or two witih just a touch up on the steel

If you would like a beaver skinning knife that is a step up from a Dexter but not the money of a Dunn take a look at the 5" Caribou. It has a nice long curve for big sweeping cuts. You can knock out a beaver pretty dang fast with it. Less complicated for sharpening than a Dunn can be. Edge can be realigned with a good quality steel (can't use a steel on a Dunn).

They cost about $60

I have a couple Mora knives that are great for holding a very sharp edge. If the make a skinner and I was in the market for one I check them out first.
I like the carbon steel better than stainless if it's offered in both types of steel.

Thank you all for the replies!

So, i dug out one of my carbon steel russell beaver knives and put a good edge on it(shave sharp). Skinned a small beaver without resharpening. Ran it over a tramontina steel. Will see how it does on the next one.

Great knife. I like the carbon too. Very easy to sharpen and stays sharp and will take a bunch of abuse.

been using my Gulu beaver skinner. Use a steel to touch up and can usually get one beaver rough skinned without using the steel again. (I dont use it on the feet or to open belly).

Once had a bark river wolf river in 12c27, that lasted a beaver and a half. Thought that knife would have been the cats meow, but alas to know avail.

I found this in the compartment on my wheeler about ten days ago. I don't remember putting it in there and had forgotten about it. It puts a razor edge back on my beaver knife with just a few strokes. I went out and bought two more just in case. Smith's

I use a Havalon to cut tail to chin, loppers for feet, a Beef Skinner for the tail, a Dexter 1674.5 for the body, and another Havalon for the face.

I love the cheap Dexter. It takes of 95% of the hide. And when sharpened on a belt sharpener, 3 beavers is no problem. Maybe give it a quick lick on a steel between beaver.

I've never tried my Havalon on feet and tail...gotta try that
Too sharp for the body work

Back in the 50's 60's iirc, was a man named Frank Richter. Built a blade that could be pounded through a steel pipe and still shave hair afterward. He died and never left his metal process to anyone.
Always wondered how many beaver could be skinned with that blade

Hard to tell as those knives weren't exactly consistent

I used a Lansky system for years. Now I use a worksharp.

I use a worksharp. Real fast. Then finish up on an Arkansas oil stone. Dont need to sharpen very often. Most knives stay sharp a looooong time if you touch them up while working on a good steel every so often.