Whatever you buy also purchase something to sharpen it with so he can learn how to do it while you’re here to help him it’s little things like that that make that stuff easier.

yea I have a 700 thats been a good knife, done a lot of beaver

Thanks to everyone that replied.

Can you explain the differences between the 400 and 600?

Post
I never have used one of Lee's fleshing knives but hear nothing but good about them.

I had a Necker which I liked until I stepped up to a Caribou. Holds an edge longer than a Necker and is more flexible.

I have used a Necker 600 for more than 3 decades. I have two. I have used poorer ones and have tried out others that may well be better. To me for a young person starting with say coons, coyotes, possums, etc. The Necker is a step up from the lower grade ones but is to me safe to use and learn with. Once one gets the main gist of fleshing then finding those knives that are sharper, more flex etc or have the dull and sharp edges on the same edge may be better. For rats and mink I use a small steel trowl about 5 inches long 2 inches wide and it works well. I am a pusher when it comes to fleshing and not a puller.

Bryce

The 400 is very similar to the 700 model with the wider flatter curved sharp blade where the 600 is more of a basic bar design. During the boom years a lot of products were on the market back then to fill the demand at the time. The difference might be the 400 has wooden handles the 700 looks to have poly handles not sure about the earlier 700s.

I bought my knife from Lee Steinmyer a couple years ago at John Grahams Coyote Days convention. I got the parallel model and love it. I had been using a Necker 600 for at least a decade. I thought I liked the Necker but haven't used it since.
Lee's knife makes fleshing easier on my old tired back.