I'm sure the Post and Steinmeyer are excellent knives but I'm wondering how they are better than a well sharpened Necker? Are they easier to sharpen, or hold an edge better/longer? Can anyone explain the advantages?

My post knife stays sharper longer than my necker,but I like the curve of the necker for otter tails, haven't used Lee's knife but he gets great reviews,no matter what knife you get learn to sharpen it like a razor and fleshing will be easy.

All fleshing knife roads lead to > CARIBOU <. I wish i'd listened when i was shopping for fleshing knives ,would have saved hundreds of dollars !!!

Again, what specifically does the CARIBOU provide that a Necker, Post or Steinmeyer does not?

The Caribou is a little bit flexible. I didn't care for that. Not much different from a post otherwise. Wiebe makes one almost identical to the post too. All good knives. I use my steinmeyer the most now though, and I scrape year round, mostly deer hides.

Have any of you used a Wiebe? I have an Elite and it works well. It was a gift.

I use a Wiebe. I like it.

This was my first year fleshing coyotes. I went with Lee's because of his reputation. Love it. I had a very short learning curve with his 10 inch knife. Was proficient (though slow) very quickly.

To start out, I would consider going through the 2nd hand stores in your area. You will find a good draw knife for under $25. Look at straight and curved blades. I use a straight blade most. My soninlaw bought a brand new ,in the box, straight blade draw knife in a 2nd hand store this fall. $10.

I started fleshing with a good quality draw knife. Should be able to pick one up at an Antique Store. Not as good as a Post or a Steinmeyer but better than the cheap ones available at a trapping supply store.

Just saw your post loup loup. Great idea. Lol

I use a zepf.

I started with a necker and tried this Dexter made from PCS and I love it.

PCS knife

Do you know who currently sells them?

Don't buy the cheap ones, at least buy a necker.

The necker is really all you'd ever need. Those really cheap ones are not sharp at all and will only hinder your learning curve.
All the custom ones mentioned above are good too.

https://www.facebook.com/mtatrappers/videos/499697367609992/?t=43

Here is the 10" Steinmeyer in action, if you can see this vid.

For rats, mink and even red fox a single handle fleshing tool is great. I now use a metal small trowel. Just use one side or edge. As to coon, otter, beaver, coyote and others there are several higher quality double handled fleshing tools. I also agree that I would not buy a lower cost or lower quality knife. There are persons that have used high quality knives for many decades. I bought a Necker 600 about 20 years ago and still use that. My trapping partner used Neckers for years and bought one of Lee's knives two years ago. I have used it a couple times on coon and find that it is a flatter knife and I cant tell I don't need to apply as much pressure to push off the fat. Especially with the duller edge.

Bryce

Thank you, everybody! The recommendations are great! Keep 'em coming!

I just bought the Sheffield fleshing knife that was posted in the Trap Shed forum. Read a review on it on Trapping Today and someone on here sent me a PM and said it's a high quality knife. So, I decided to go for it. At least now I'll have something for the rest of this season if I catch anymore fur (trapping season here ends Feb. 29, but beaver trapping season ends March 31).

Definitely putting in an order with Mr. Steinmeyer in the spring and may still get a Post at some point. You can't have too many fleshing knives in the fur shed, especially starting out, in my opinion.

Kristin, yea, prolly safer that way. Shop from home. Last time I went to the 2nd hand store I came home with a rocking chair, and three, yes three, cute lil 45 lb recurve bows.

Zepf custom knives
36 englewood place
Kitchener,Ont.Canada N2H-4S6

Phone-226-747-1931

e-mail info@zepfknives.com.

Thanks, I'll give them a call.