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Basic Skinning Knife? #6811134
03/21/20 10:20 AM
03/21/20 10:20 AM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,207
Missouri
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HayDay Offline OP
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HayDay  Offline OP
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Am in the process of moving from trapping a few problem animals that are normally fed to the buzzards to trapping slightly larger hobby scale, which means harvesting the pelts. So thoughts turned to a basic skinning knife (coon, rats, coyotes to start). Then it occurred to me that my old pocket knife.......a Buck Trapper #311.......is still on the shelf. I can usually get it sharp enough to shave pop the hair off my arm. For starters, should that be OK?

If not, what is a good knife for an entry hobby guy?

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6811228
03/21/20 11:49 AM
03/21/20 11:49 AM
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Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Allan Minear Offline
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Allan Minear  Offline
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Oh boy I see you must enjoy opening a big can of worms too ha ha

I'm a fan of old case pocket knives the large sod buster or the double bladed old timer hunting knife or the 80T large stockmans knife .
Just as important is a sharpening system to help keep the knife sharp with a steel .

The bottom line is whatever knife fits your hand and the job you want it to do while you're using it is the one you want .
I hope this helps.
Allan


Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6811376
03/21/20 01:21 PM
03/21/20 01:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
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080808 Offline
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NNY
What Allen said. Get as much info before making a decision. Also if you know of any GOOD local fur handlers talk to them. Can’t wait for the fights here. lol

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6811415
03/21/20 01:44 PM
03/21/20 01:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,207
Missouri
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HayDay Offline OP
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The type of knife (probably common to others, but new to me) I'm seeing guys use to open up a coon, rat, coyote, etc, is one ........like this........

https://www.pcsoutdoors.com/ausable-brand-erie-pelting-knife.aspx

Short straight blade that would be easy to put on a stone......or strop. And carbon steel vs. stainless. I can usually do pretty well with carbon steel on my stones.......stainless don't rust, but never seem to get as sharp for me as a good carbon steel does.

Then there are others like it that have replaceable blades......like scalpel blades.

I guess for $15 investment, you get to find out if it works?

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6811547
03/21/20 04:05 PM
03/21/20 04:05 PM
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Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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I like a long thin blade for skinning land fur-similar to a filleting knife.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6811590
03/21/20 04:51 PM
03/21/20 04:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
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For an all a round basic skinning knife I would go with a 3 1/2 inch blade paring knife as shown at the bottom of this picture:

[Linked Image]

Last edited by bctomcat; 03/21/20 05:25 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6813179
03/22/20 05:28 PM
03/22/20 05:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371
North, MS
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TrapperCarl78 Offline
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Get a Havalon and a good smooth steel for touch up. After over a decade of handling fur I got a Havalon Piranha using the 60A Stainless blades. It is a nice set up and should have tried it years ago.


TC
Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6813207
03/22/20 05:47 PM
03/22/20 05:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,384
Pennsylvania
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Hern Offline
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Originally Posted by HayDay
The type of knife (probably common to others, but new to me) I'm seeing guys use to open up a coon, rat, coyote, etc, is one ........like this........

https://www.pcsoutdoors.com/ausable-brand-erie-pelting-knife.aspx

Short straight blade that would be easy to put on a stone......or strop. And carbon steel vs. stainless. I can usually do pretty well with carbon steel on my stones.......stainless don't rust, but never seem to get as sharp for me as a good carbon steel does.

Then there are others like it that have replaceable blades......like scalpel blades.

I guess for $15 investment, you get to find out if it works?


Yep try one out. See what works.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6813401
03/22/20 07:38 PM
03/22/20 07:38 PM
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Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
Hern that bottom one is a furriers knife for cutting tanned blocked skins.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6814064
03/23/20 11:03 AM
03/23/20 11:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,207
Missouri
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HayDay Offline OP
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Missouri
Looks like a lot of short, sharp, pointy knives are being used. In which case, my old Buck may be just fine........

[Linked Image]

That is the only pocket knife I've ever carried on a regular basis. Bought it about 50 years ago.........have field dressed deer with it.

Between that, a box cutter and my Rapala fillet knife, should have enough to get me started.

My kitchen steel is an old Shapleigh Hardware steel......pretty long.....and compared to a much newer Dexter steel, seems awfully smooth by comparison. So much so, I always assumed it was worn out and no good. Coming to realize that is not the case. A couple strokes on it and a good kitchen knife that is slowing down comes back to life.

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6814067
03/23/20 11:04 AM
03/23/20 11:04 AM
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Posts: 2,207
Missouri
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HayDay Offline OP
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Next question, has anyone ever used a wood workers draw knife for fleshing?

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6814208
03/23/20 12:15 PM
03/23/20 12:15 PM
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Posts: 3,384
Pennsylvania
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Hern Offline
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Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by Boco
Hern that bottom one is a furriers knife for cutting tanned blocked skins.

I use it on Mink & Weasel. Really just a razor blade with fancy holder.

Originally Posted by HayDay
Next question, has anyone ever used a wood workers draw knife for fleshing?

I haven't.
Two different knifes designed for two different things.
A fleshing knife is used to push away and has a dull and sharp edge, a draw knife is used to pull towards one's self and only has a sharp edge.
Handles straight out on flesh'n knife, handles are angled downward on draw knife.
I use draw knives quit a bit, most weeks. Just can't see me using one on a pelt.
If I'd modify a draw knife to do pelts, for the time it took, I'd be better off buying the right knife for the right job, a flesh'n knife.

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6814502
03/23/20 03:03 PM
03/23/20 03:03 PM
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Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Allan Minear Offline
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HayDay yes your old buck knife will work the one old timer hunting knife I mentioned is a larger version of it.

Myself I'd spend the money for a different knife to use as a skinning knife but that's just me.

As for a fleshing knife Lee Steinmeyer makes a darn good knife or there's always less expensive one's offered by some trapping suppliers . Lee makes 3 different types all of them are quality knives feel free to tell him I said so if you like ha ha


Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6814635
03/23/20 05:14 PM
03/23/20 05:14 PM
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Idaho
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bearcat2 Offline
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It'll work, my dad uses one, used to use Case Trapper, knives and one year I bought him a Buck Trapper. He used it for a while and then lost it for a few years them found it again and is using it. I don't like Havalon's myself. I know quite a few people who use them but they are flimsy bladed to me, and I don't like the shape of the blade. Also while sharp new, they are like a blade sharpened on a coarse stone, they are "burry" use a steel or fine stone to touch them up before using them.
Personally I use an old Buck 112 pocket knife that I've had since high school. I broke the tip of the blade using it as a screwdriver and ground it down to a point again, making it probably 3/8" shorter. It has been sharpened so much over the years that closed you can see between the middle of the blade and the handle. I have a new one but don't like the shape of the stock blade as much and am still using the old one. Can't say it is the best, but it is the knife I am most comfortable with. I've skinned everything from weasels to moose with it and it has quartered an awful lot of elk. Clients look at you funny when they get up to a big bull and you pull out a 2 1/2" bladed pocket knife and go to work on it smile

I probably own fifty knives and prefer a fixed blade Buck that used to be my grandpas for skinning beaver, a small needle tipped knife (usually and Old Timer I have laying around) for weasels, but about everything else gets skinned with my old reliable pocket knife.

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6818734
03/26/20 10:35 PM
03/26/20 10:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 776
MN, USA
star flakes Offline
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MN, USA
Make sure it is a straight blade, no serrated blades. I have an old Schrade that I purchased from Garold Weiland back in the day, and am still using it.

You want something with a blade of this shape for ripping and skinning.


[Linked Image]

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6975019
08/27/20 02:31 AM
08/27/20 02:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
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Iowa
Send a member named Horn a PM he'll set you up with some very good resharpened butcher shop knives that work excellent for skinning. Its all i use. I have a whole box of them.


Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6977674
08/29/20 06:22 PM
08/29/20 06:22 PM
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MT (Big Sky Country)
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Allan Minear Offline
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Horn also has a good selection of F. Dick sharpening steels which once you learn how easy it is to keep a edge after a few soft strokes across the steel you'll wonder why you didn't get one sooner !
Yes I'm guilty of this myself even if it was many year's ago when i finally figured it out ha ha
Allan


Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: ~ADC~] #6997377
09/22/20 06:06 PM
09/22/20 06:06 PM
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NC
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Tailhunter Offline
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NC
Originally Posted by ~ADC~
Send a member named Horn a PM he'll set you up with some very good resharpened butcher shop knives that work excellent for skinning. Its all i use. I have a whole box of them.


Thanks for the info. Just ordered some.

Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6997856
09/23/20 09:55 AM
09/23/20 09:55 AM
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Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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Pay attention to ADC and the box cutter with the hooked blade. That Is the ultimate tool for making those opening cuts. Open 15 or 20 critters and then turn the blade around do 20 more then throw away the blade and put In a new one.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Basic Skinning Knife? [Re: HayDay] #6997883
09/23/20 10:35 AM
09/23/20 10:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 36
WI
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AliciaK Offline
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WI
I use the replaceable blade knives. They work very well for me and I use them to skin everything. I am also new to fleshing but they are very useful for taking off thin pieces I can't get from the fur.


You can't go wrong with being outdoors.
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