Thread: Skinning Knives

Saw this thread when searching a different topic.

My grandfather was a butcher during the depression, raising stock on the family farm in the back of Huntly and butchering them for market. My dad was a farmer all his life, moving to Northland at the age of 16. A pocket knife was an essential tool of the trade in those days, as was a Green River skinning knife and a boning knife. Every farmer I have ever known did their own home kill, both sheep and beef for the freezer.

I can still remember the day when feeding out hay as a kid off the back of the tractor, when my dad handed me his pocket knife to cut the bail strings my self rather than have him pre-cut them. Handing over his knife came with a warning that loosing his knife would result in a fate worse than death! No instructions about "don't cut yourself ......." just "don't loose my bloody knife .....". It was a true right of passage to be given dad's knife to complete a task.

Another reason for the use of the old style skinning knife was that at one time, the drench companies were giving them away as part of the enticement to buy their particular brand of drench. I think it was Thiabenzole (or something like that) that did a big run on them. Most farmers were using the product at the time so ended up with a few spares in the shed. I know my old mad did.
I am lucky enough to still have two of my dad's skinning knives, and a couple of his worn out pocket knives, and one of my grandfathers pocket knives as well. They are well cherished due to the memories they bring back.

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

Saw this thread when searching a different topic.

My grandfather was a butcher during the depression, raising stock on the family farm in the back of Huntly and butchering them for market. My dad was a farmer all his life, moving to Northland at the age of 16. A pocket knife was an essential tool of the trade in those days, as was a Green River skinning knife and a boning knife. Every farmer I have ever known did their own home kill, both sheep and beef for the freezer.

I can still remember the day when feeding out hay as a kid off the back of the tractor, when my dad handed me his pocket knife to cut the bail strings my self rather than have him pre-cut them. Handing over his knife came with a warning that loosing his knife would result in a fate worse than death! No instructions about "don't cut yourself ......." just "don't loose my bloody knife .....". It was a true right of passage to be given dad's knife to complete a task.

Another reason for the use of the old style skinning knife was that at one time, the drench companies were giving them away as part of the enticement to buy their particular brand of drench. I think it was Thiabenzole (or something like that) that did a big run on them. Most farmers were using the product at the time so ended up with a few spares in the shed. I know my old mad did.
I am lucky enough to still have two of my dad's skinning knives, and a couple of his worn out pocket knives, and one of my grandfathers pocket knives as well. They are well cherished due to the memories they bring back.

Here's a couple of photos of the old man's skinners.
The top one was the "drench giveaway" and was actually supplied by Nilvern drench (the name is impressed on the leather sheath) and the bottom is a genuine Green River. I can only imagine how many animals these have dressed out over the years.