Good skinning knife??

i may be way off base, and i do not skin all that many critters in a season..usually around 10-20 coyotes... 5 or so bobcats....around 20-30 coons... but the one thing i noticed that all the posts had in common was the word "sharp" and the word "edge" maybe we need to look more closely at how we keep our knife sharp than what kind of knife we buy.. kinda like cutting wood. you can cut a bunch of wood and then sharpen your chain, or you can "touch up" the chain after each tank of gas.. touching up the blade will keep an edge for a long time.. my best skinning tool is a little sharpener i pick up at wally world.. it has a v knotch in one end and a handle.. when my knife gets a little dull i just drag it across a couple of times and i am back to work.. i also use two knifes when skinning.. one for fur only and one for popping near bone whick dulls the knife in a hurry.. just my opinion..
 
I use a BenchMade 941. The blade is made from 154CM steel. I skinned an elk out with it last year and when I was done skinning, it would still shave the hair on my arm. I also use it at work and cut wire insulation with it. Using it daily, I sharpen it once or twice a month. I use a Lansky with the yellow (fine) and blue shaphire stone. Twenty strokes with each stone and it's done. The best knife I have ever had. At $160.00, it must be good.
 
I have three that I use. My favorite is made by Brock in Colorado, I also use a Sclingen (German) I keep a rope edge on this knife to use for fatty animals. The other is a very old hand made skinning knife that my Great Grandmother had. I wouldn't doubt that was carried by a buffalo hunter, lol. It holds a great edge and is easy to touch up. Marbles also makes a great knife. The problem I see with a lot of knives these days is that they are made of the latest greatest steel and is so hard they are hard to sharpen. I only use the three knives above for skinning nothing else. That way I know I won't ruin the edge.
 
I have a couple of the 94X series from Benchmade. Gotta love the Axis Lock! 154CM is a good steel also. I hope you didn't pay $160 for your knife, they're available for considerably less than the MSRP.
 
I have used a few different knives I used a Buck knife but it was a little too big.My favorite is my Cold Steel knife that thing is very sharp.But I have a cheap knife from Wal Mart that I use now.Its smaller plus I cut myself too easy with those really sharp knives when skinning out the eyes and such.I cut myself 2 times with the Cold Steel knife and didnt even notice it.But if your looking for a really sharp knife I would go with a Cold Steel they stay sharp for quite a while.But be careful. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Quote:
Get a Bob Dozier with D2 blade steel. You'll do more than three before sharpening if you skin correctly, more pulling than cutting. www.dozierknives.com



I took a look at Dozier's website. Those are some good looking knives! I might have to buy one.
 
I bought a Havalon knife from Allpredator calls this past fall because I also am tired of having to sharpen a knife once or twice while skinning a coyote.
They are the cats a$$. The knife uses a repacable scapel blade that is scary sharp. The 12 pack of extra blades cost 4.99 and the knife comes with 12 blades for 34.95. One scapel blade will skin out a coyote. I really like mine.
 
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