How do I flesh furs without a fleshing knife?

Hello, I don't actually have a fleshing knife and was wondering if anybody has done any good with something else or if it's even possible to do with something else? I'm needing to flesh a few skunks here soon lol.

I used a couple draw knives for a number of years.

I know some people use a beaver knife and flesh like clean skinning a beaver right on the stretcher. Never tried myself.

What is prohibitive to obtaining one?

I use a couple dexter russel skinning knives. I flesh over my knee or leg, much like some do beaver. I’ve never had a fleshing beam or fleshing knife. It’s just how I was taught.

Like the guy in the video, he starts fleshing about 6 minutes in.

Butter knife, paint scraper, credit card, where there’s a will I want to be in it.

If you have to you can do this:

Yes if you are careful you can flesh with just a good curve blade knife. Many years ago I sold most everything I caught green except fox and rats. They were easily fleshed with nothing more than a spoon. But I caught two nice small raccoons in my yard at kinda of an odd time in season for me. So thought maybe I should try fleshing them seen as I never had before. I wasn't going to buy a fleshing knife for two coon. So I used the beaver knife I already had pretty much fleshed them like I did the few beaver I fleshed. Put them each on a wire fox stretcher I bent out wider. That was back in late 70s and them two small December coon fetched me $30 each. Probably only get buck or two if that now. Anyways if you pull the hide tight over something flat. You can probably widdle it clean. I've always been pretty good with a knife though. If you're not used to working with something like that you may end up with nothing but mess.
So unless it you first fur and you looking to save it. Now with fur having little value. Good a time as any to give it a try. See if you can do it.
If you plan to keep fleshing things. Just spend the money get half way decent fleshing knife and beam learn it the easy way.
My first fleshing knife I bought was crap just not sharp enough only good to push fat off a rats. I did flesh a pile of coon with a fleshing knife I made from a lawn mower blade. Back in 1990 something I watched Greg Schroeder flesh a coon with a Necker knife. Went bought me one and have used it every since. Mower blade and the other things hanging on nail in garage.
So anyways like said. Unless you got a reason don't want mess them up. Pull hide tight see can you shave it clean.Good of time as any money wise to play with things.

Mac

Natives fleshed bison and never had a Necker 600 . Gotta want it.

Lol LIKE!

I'm 16 and can't buy one myself...

Might want to put one on your Christmas list!
A good fleshing knife is not all that expensive and is something you can use for decades.

One of these and 100 pack of razor blades will set you back less than $10.
I've fleshed hides with it before, and thinned for taxidermy as well.




Old draw knife, ask around, farm sales, etc

Sharpened shin bone from a deer.

Thought it was only in Canada you had to be 21 to buy sharp instruments....
Sorry that one was for my friend Boco

I fleshed with an axe for years, that is what grandpa used and my dad still uses. Went to a fleshing knife a few years ago. I scrape clean skinned beaver with an ice cream spoon (the flat kind, not the scoops that bring out a round scoop) to get the milk fat out of the hide. I think it would work on a skunk also.

Main thing is make sure whatever your fleshing implement is that it has no burrs or nicks that will catch, and make sure the fur doesn't have any burrs in it either or you will tear a hole there.

A friend of mine uses a power washer. Plenty of videos on YouTube.

Yes they did and them folks had some pretty sharp piece of rock for some of that stuff they did too. Told they used their teeth break some that leather too. Bet that was taste had to aquire lmao.
I like boco's bone idea I'm kinda person might try something like that just because.
One of the advantages of being ADD.. always moving on... Squirrel???

The kid could probably flesh his skunk with broke pop bottle if had the finesse.?? He didn't say where or how he lives. If he is on a farm got to be something there to use. Heck Maybe.kid needs see can get hold of or make Ulu. Pretty sure I could flesh a skunk with my moosetrot made Ulu. Or sharpen his mother's best metal spatula.
Like you said gotta want it.


Mac

Draw knife, Blade from a sickle, machete, Lots of stuff out there......jk

Watch coon creek outdoors on YouTube, learn HOW to flesh, then choose your tool. I started with a thin meat cleaver, and after 5 seconds decided that I needed a tool for the purpose. But I didn't really know HOW to do it. I could probably use just about anything now, cuz I know a little more.

An old lawn mower blade.

When times comes that you are getting one I'd strongly recommend one from Lee Steinmeyer on here. I'm normally a tight wad but a good fleshing knife is worth every penny and makes learning to flesh easier in my opinion.

After DECADES of cheap and or improvised knives, I bought one from Mr. Steinmeyer.
Ruined my first couple coons and beaver with it,lol.

Took me a few to get used to a GOOD knife!

Wouldn't part with it now!

Just get a fleshing knife. It is the right tool for the job.

Will power, that's how I get things done when money or skill is in the way

power washer

Pm me your address. If its ok with your folks.

Ill send you a fleshing knife.

We just came into some extra trapping supplies and ill fix ya up a box and send it out to you. No charge.

I also know someone who will buy all the skunks you can catch for a dang good price if you're interested.

I'll send you his contact info when youre ready to sell them if you'd like to contact him.

And THIS is why I love this place!

Another 16 year old down the tube.

i started my coon fleshing career using a large kitchen spoon . There was no much future in that method .So I parted with the best part of a Ben Franklin to get a Zepf .I have ask myself how long did it take for me to see the very obvious. Having a good tool makes every job easier and most of the time you get a better result ,Getting a ZEPF fleshing knife made me a good coon trapper because now I could put up coon hides much quicker .There are many other good ones out there Find one you like and have fun. Good tools might cost some money but they are not expensive

Thawkinson06, I have trapped for nearly 60 years, (first trapline experience was fall of 1963) plus made my living most of my adult life as a taxidermist. I always fleshed all my pelts and also my taxidermy studio hides and capes with nothing more than a curved knife sorta like the guy in the above video. I used a flat fleshing beam that resembled a small ironing board. Still have the same one I made back in the early 1980's. Me with a fleshing knife like most use..........I cut stuff all to tatters!

I'd suggest you try to make your own. Find a piece of scrap steel somewhere. Ask a knowledgeable father, brothers, uncle, teacher, neighbor, etc. for advice on design, materials, and construction techniques.

You'll probably end up with a substandard fleshing knife. But you will have learned a ton in the process and have the pride of using a tool you made yourself. At the age of 16 years, a man needs to be concerned about becoming competent at a wide range of skills - including both fleshing pelts and working with metal.

You can do it! It will be worthwhile! Once you develop your skills, thinking, and problem-solving abilities, you will one day be able earn enough money to buy a top-of-the line custom fleshing knife made by a real specialist if you want to.

Skunks are really easy to flesh you could do one with a piece of angle iron and a pocket knife. Most of a skunk will be just pushing off the fat. Probably the most profitable to trap this year lol.

Where are you at in Nebraska? I've got an extra laying around that you can have. PM me if you want.

Nicely done, Cathryn!

Easy, wasn’t it? He’s learning so much at 16.

because you would have to order it online and don't have a way to pay for it online?

like others pointed out lots of things will work

the old school way to order stuff was to mail in the order and send a postal money order.
now pre-loaded visa cards are an option you can get them at most stores and banks.

American Indians used a flint stone.
just

Guess what’s on your Christmas wish? Not a fleshing knife as it looks
like it’s been addressed. More traps!

I trap quite a bit and have never owned a fleshing knife. Beaver I clean skin, everything else including otter with a 2.5" Hyde paint scraper. Been doing that way for nearly 50 years.

Hats off to Cathryn !