Fleshing Knives Opinion

It’s time for me to upgrade my fleshing knife. I just have a cheap pusher right now since we only have fox, coyotes, and bobcats around here to trap. With that in mind I want something with a sharp edge to help flesh around the head, but still has a pushing side so I don’t tear the thin skinned fox and bobcats.

What your opinion on a good knife for my situation?

Post. Still learning to be efficient at fleshing, but this is what experienced guys were telling me to buy. I really like it. Well made and sharp!

Get in touch with Lee Steinmeyer. He sells top notch knives. I flesh on pvc. When I ordered he asked about my beam and my fleshing method. He sent me the absolute best quality knife. It was so nice I sent him an extra 25 dollars over what he charges. It will rip right through the toughest gristle backed coyote or badger. Here is a link to his web site. You wont regret it.
http://www.lptraplinesupply.com

Looks very promising. Can’t beat custom and hand made!

I too have a Post and I'm totally happy with it. However, I've talked to and heard from several trappers who also like the Post but don't use it because they also have a Steinmeyer.

If you get anything other than a Steinmeyer, you’re messing up.

If you get a Post and feel you’ve messed up then I believe you have problems with your feelings.

If you go to Lee, make sure you order 2 or 3. Your buddies will end up wanting one.

Gee...thanks, guys, you just cost me $90 bucks, lol. I really like the looks of that parallel knife.

Once you’ve used it you’ll thank everyone again, great investment !

Lee makes top notch equipment. I use his parallel knife on everything from bobcat and fox to beaver and otter. Man is a true craftsman.

The funny thing is, I'm so new at trapping I haven't had the pleasure of fleshing my first animal as of yet. And you guys most likely just cost me some money. But then again I highly respect craftsmen who make such items and just love the personal touch of such things. I'll definitely be ordering one before my opportunity to do so is gone forever.

I've got Lee's parallel knife. I won't ever need anything else. I will buy another 1 or 2 just to have in case something happens to mine, or to pass on to my sons.

I bought one of Lee's knives that he donated to the NTA Auction but have not used it yet. I have a Post that is my go to knife now. Before the Post, I used a Necker 600 but I rarely ever pick it up now. I need to give Lee's knife a try and see how I like it compared to the Post. Caribou is another I would like to try.

Knives are like guns, you can not have too many.

Does anyone know if Lee takes Credit Cards, or only checks? I noticed his website doesn't do orders. It's just more of a "this is what we have". I'm an anti social snowflake who doesn't like talking to people so I prefer buying products that take no human interaction. Haha totally joking about that last part. But if anyone knows if he takes plastic it would be great.

Be better to call Lee and talk with him. Can't remember if he takes plastic.

Sheffield

Have a caribou and no regrets...

I have a post and love it but if your only doing fox coyote and cats,you do not need a sharp knife.If your doing coon,badger,beaver or otter then thats where a post comes in.If you use a sharp knife on fox,coyote or cats your going to be sorry.JMO

Our fox and cats have very little to scrape.I use a one handed flesher on a solid forming board before pinning.I scrape up from the base to the armpits.This keeps any fat or fluids off the skirt. Then down from the ears to the shoulders.Only takes a couple minutes.

That’s why I want something with a pushing edge and a sharp. I only need the sharp edge for the head. Right now I use a razor for the heads but know a sharp edge of a fleshing knife will be easier.

I have a Post and it is really sharp, but would like to get one of Lee's knives to try for pushing fat on coons.With it being a heavier knife.

I love my post knife,but the shape of the necker is better for otter tails.

This is why I’m leaning towards the necker. It’s a little cheaper then everything else and don’t have an coons, otters, or beaver to trap. Just need a nice scraper with a decent sharp edge for heads.

Steinmeyer

i use a necker 600, having a good knife is always good but learning how to use the knife you have is better...........just like any knife learn how to use it.
i can flesh anything i trap from rats to beaver to cats with the same knife.

I have 2 of lee stinemeyers knives i love the parallel knife from coon to beaver they are very nice and not much more than the necker 600

A friend of mine in idaho had a necker 700. Once I got the hand of that I could flesh a beaver in 10 min. It was nice.

My first knife was a necker. What a waste of money. Buy a good knife, it won't cost that much more. Invest in a Post or one of Lee's knives. Both are excellent .

Lee Steinmeyer. I jsut did two otters during my lunch hour from work. Best knife I have used so far. To be honest I didn't even have to use the sharp side on the otters. The dull side what just right.

I bought Lee's broad knife for beaver. It works great.

I use a caribou, has a thin blade with a little flex in it. The knife Comes sharp as a razor and very good for cleaning around the head. I love that caribou knife and have used necker #600, #700 and a post. Never used a steinMeyer but wouldn't hesitate to buy one with all the good things mentioned.

Steinmyer parralel

I’m getting ready to order a couple from him soon. I want one of his short knives for myself, and I have been gifting one at Minktoberfest every year so I might as well keep up the tradition.
I’m also in the market for a 2ft Death Ray this year. I should have listened to him the first time when I got mine and got the 2ft instead of the 3ft.

Ron Post makes the best fleshing knife I have ever used. It is lighter, stays sharp longer, has two sides, one that is very sharp, and one that is almost as sharp. Hint: practice on a rubbed, or damaged pelt until you get the feel of using it, to me it is almost effortless to use.

I have used the same necker since the early 80"s fleshed hundreds of ranch fox that were as fat as coon ,all the critters I trapped ,many deer hides deer capes ,full-size bear wolves mt. lions ect….for taxidermy. My opinion is it is what you get use to using .My knife out lasted my shoulders!

Got mine Tues. Very well built an sharp as could be. Looking forward to using it soon. Got a few coons left to put up

If you never used a knife like me then I would suggest a necker 600 first. I could not flesh a hoot till a guy showed me and then it took awhile. I then bought a caribou and it is razor sharp and learning curve is starting again. Caribou is a flexible knife vs necker is much stiffer. Once you learn the caribou the fat and gristle will slide right off.

I bought a caribou this spring and love it. I've used the real cheap knives, you get what you pay for, I also have a MB cutting edge. The MB is a great knife, but the caribou is flexible which I really like.

Has anyone sharpened there Post fleshing knife? Mine is a couple years old now and due. Just wasn't sure if there is any do's or don'ts when doing it.

Contact Lee on this site. He will build you the last one you will ever need.

NY Delta,look up the NAFA series of utube vids on beaver.Flowage to fashion is the title.There are 6 of them,not sure which one covers the sharpening.
There is a good segment there of a bald headed guy showing the proper way to sharpen and turn the edge on a fleshing knife.