Alrighty you happy campers,riddle me this. It's that season again(yard-sales),and I want a skinner,,what do I need to look for in a blade that will stay the course? And be specific!!
Thank You for your time & input wtch Mike
Any "good" old butcher knife with enough blade to shape into what you want. That's what most originals were.
Mark
Carbon steel
Solingen is always good if you can find it. Sheffield is another to look for.
does it rust ,does it have a nice brown, grey ,or black patina . good old fashioned carbon steel . the older , old hickory knives are great , and sometimes you`ll find an old beat up green river knife ! just avoid stainless, while there is good stainless , it does`nt fit in with the whole rondy , black powder ,living history thing ! I recently bought two old butcher knives at an antique shop for a buck , one is at least a century old , the other one is pre world war II paid a $1.50 for the pair ;D
To me it depends on several factors:
1. Is it just a part of your persona?
2. Are you going to any juried events.
If the answer to these questions is No - then consider a high quality stainless steel blade, but if you are going to a juried event then carbon steel is a must - Old Hickory or Green River blades especially if you can see the makers marks!
and remember there is nothing wrong with a hand forged knife made by a craftsman
sometimes you can find a piece that`s all beat up that you can rework into something else . this started of as a huge french chefs knife , had chips missing from the edge and a half inch of the point missing ! a little careful reshaping and it`s now razor sharp , and a not only useable , but pretty decent looking bowie ! made it for a friend who`s had it for several years now
I reckon with my personal outfit,it needs to be carbon steel then,,I try to maintain a 1750 persona.
Had an excellent skinner,but a camp-robber from WY,decided he needed it more than me hdslp
Ya kaint beat old hickory for functionality! Get yer self one o them, grind it back some so it looks very used, an put a bone er antler handle on it. dntn
I know about function, cause when I was in Jr. High, it was my job to drag th carcasses of dead feed lot caves out ta th 'bone pile'. I would skinum out an salt th hides for resale later. Bought many things a young man would need that way!!! thmbsup
Old cleavers are nice. Often get two or three blades from one..
Doug
thmbsup By golly Beowulf That bowie looks awesome
Quote from: Hawken50 on May 11, 2015
thmbsup By golly Beowulf That bowie looks awesome
turned out nice , the blade is a reworked french chefs knife , and the handle is made from a dog treat ! one of the bones they sell with fake marrow in them . it`s good steel , takes a razor edge . and I agree with sweed , hard to beat an old hickory , but look em over good , they are making them in stainless now . find an older one at a yard sale ,flea market or such ! bone or antler slabs really set them off !