X3 on Lee’s fleshing knife. I have one and love it. I also have a Post but it just hangs on a hook now that I have one of Lee’s. Eric

Sounds similar to the cheap fleshing knife I started with. Eventually I bought some excellent fleshing knives from Lee Steinmeyer, a member here on Tman. they made a world of difference. Many members have purchased Lee's knives and I've never heard a complaint.

Thanks everyone I will reach out to him! If I’m gonna catch raccoon by accident, I might as well process them right.
Stinkin rotten bandits !

he is also a Scholar and a Gentleman!

Once you get a good fleshing knife,learn the correct way to sharpen it and how to turn the edge.
There was a good video by NAFA on beaver.One segment in the series dealt with how to properly sharpen a fleshing knife and how to maintain the edge.

When I deal with "greasers" I tie an old shirt around my waist, over the apron and then lean into the hide. The old shirt keeps the apron/hide from slipping around so much.

Put the coon in the freezer to harden the fat.

Did that too. Skinned a couple weeks ago and thawed overnight. Comes off nicely. Like peeling an orange! It’s amazing

I start at the head on old burly coons, otter, and the grizzly parts of a beaver with a razor sharp ulu knife so that I can start on that shoulder area on clean leather so that I can get under the horrible area.
You will need to school yourself up sharpening knives. When using an ulu knife, you are slicing off the grizzle as you ease down the hide. Let the knife do the work rather than brute force. Once you get under the tough area a ways, the fleshing knife will go a lot easier.

Check out Coon Creek Outdoors on the tube, he has an awesome vid on fleshing coons! With my Steinmeyer knife I don't even need the sharp side on a prime coon!

Greasers!!!!

Top row, on the left. That is me before I got really good looking.

Put on your waders the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) is getting deep in here. Lol

Although some people might recommend a necker, I wouldn't, even if it's a bit cheaper.

I used to be just like you, trying to flesh with some POS fleshing knife. I remember spending an hour and half trying to get off the stuff in your picture and not being able to. Back then Neckers were fairly new on the market and everyone on here told me to "get a necker" so I did. Go out there with my next big ol coon and.... same deal. Could not get that area clean to save my life. Said screw it for a few years and went back to selling everything green.

Then one day I bought a Caribou knife. (This was either before Lee made his knives, or before I knew about them, one). I took that Caribou knife out on my next big ol coon and it was like the heavens opened up and angels sang. That fat just peeled right on off of there with the sharp side of that knife. Went from spending over an hour TRYING to flesh a coon to being able to flesh one in under ten minutes almost instantly (or so it seemed anyways, lol).

If you're gonna put up fur, a good fleshing nice is not something that's nice to have, it's imperative.

As you can tell from my post above I love my Caribou, but wouldn't hesitate to try one of Lee's knives either, I've never heard a bad review of them.

I had my eye on the one in the Mickey Mouse tee

I've heard good things about Post knives too, but I can only recommend...

Smash get yourself a set of welding clamps to hold the critter your fleshing really helps. Eric

160 is right about the old T shirt wrapping around the waist, I use a piece of burlap.
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He is wrong about the guy on the left,..that guy is a ghost!

A ha!!!! Great! I’ll buy one!!!

Post is a great knife. I also have one of Lee's. I use the post more.