Thread: Skinning Knives

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.

This is a bark river skinner similar to the old style Green river.

S35vn stainless steel. Its a beautiful knife to use.

Originally Posted by Tahr

This is a bark river skinner similar to the old style Green river.

S35vn stainless steel. Its a beautiful knife to use.

What model is that Thar? I don't recognize it.
They have just released a new skinner (damn it!) https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-...unter-cpm-154/

Originally Posted by Tahr

This is a bark river skinner similar to the old style Green river.

S35vn stainless steel. Its a beautiful knife to use.

Now thats a nice knife

These guys have super sharp prices....

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

What model is that Thar? I don't recognize it.
They have just released a new skinner (damn it!) https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-...unter-cpm-154/

Its a Wolf River. It was a limited edition and there don't seem to be any left at the dealers.
The Classic Trailing Point looks ok and CPM154 is a good steel. The only thing about the trailing point is they can be a bit "pricky" if you do a lot of gutting.

Yes 7mmsaum Knives Shipped Free are good, but their freight to NZ is very expensive. DLT are good, and their freight is cheaper.

Here's another nice skinner I've go. Its a Cross custom knife (both of the above dealers have them). A2 steel and Bark River type convex grind.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Here's another nice skinner I've go. Its a Cross custom knife (both of the above dealers have them). A2 steel and Bark River type convex grind.

What do you think of A2 Tahr?
It seems hard when sharpening but doesnt seem to hold and edge like its hardness on a stone would suggest.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

What do you think of A2 Tahr?
It seems hard when sharpening but doesnt seem to hold and edge like its hardness on a stone would suggest.

For me its ok for one deer without touching the edge. Mainly the hardness of A2 is in the 58-60 range.
Its not so hard that you cant use a steel on it, so I have a little one in my belt pouch. I find a fine steel is best with A2. I rub my steels on a brick to get the course-ness off them (its a silly hang over from my shepherding days. I guess you could use sand paper).

The steels that are even harder like 3v and Elmax you can't seem to steel, but they last a lot longer. I can do 3 deer with those steels, then I strop them with compound. It takes a bit of pissing around though.