Small skinning knife?

[klause]

I am looking for a small, sharp and reletively cheap knife for skinning rabbits and squirrels.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you..

[Fletching]

Fixed blade or folder?

[Martin]

Opinel No8 in my opinion. Lovely little folding pocket knife that keeps a razor edge easily.

Martin

[klause]

Either Steve ! I haven't got a folder so maybe yes.

Thanks Martin i'll have a look..
They vary in price Martin from 6.50 (Ronnie Sunshine high carbon bushcraft knife) to 18.99 (axeminster - deluxe) both reasonable to be honest, which one do you have ? Thanks.

[Fletching]

Opinel's good in my books too but if you want something for purpose (and at more cost), try the Gerbers:

http://www.shop4gerber.co.uk/gerber_knives_knife.html

or the Spydercos:

http://lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Spyderco.html

Steve

[klause]

Thanks for the link Steve, how do you rate the specific 'skinning tool'?
http://www.shop4gerber.co.uk/e-z_skinner_gerber.htm

[Fletching]

Thanks for the link Steve, how do you rate the specific 'skinning tool'?
http://www.shop4gerber.co.uk/e-z_skinner_gerber.htm

Never tried one, but I believe you may find a review on BCUK. Don't forget to come back though!

...methinks this particular Gerber would be for larger game than you're after.

Steve

[Martin]

Either Steve ! I haven't got a folder so maybe yes.

Thanks Martin i'll have a look..
They vary in price Martin from 6.50 (Ronnie Sunshine high carbon bushcraft knife) to 18.99 (axeminster - deluxe) both reasonable to be honest, which one do you have ? Thanks.

I've got the bog standard carbon steel job. I've ground down the top edge to make it more of a drop point for no other reason than I prefer the look of it. Never had a specific skinning tool before, mainly I guess because its uses are limited and I don't do much skinning. Maybe if I was a better shot perhaps I'd think again. ;)

Martin

[Tony1948]

Hi,For Bunnys &Squirrls I use a bit of flint,you only need to make a small nick in the skin you can do the rest with your fingers.No need for a blade unless your doing foxes, badgers, or dear and sheep

[CanadianMike]

Lol, you just said "unless you are doing sheep"!!! :D

[Ben Casey]

And a Dear LOL Pull up a sandbag (In the Army if it was fresh enough you could do anything with your fingers) :)

[Tony1948]

You guys now wot I mean..........................you'v upset me now.

[Ben Casey]

Sorry Tony I didn't mean to :)

[Aaron Rushton]

i'd recommend a mora clipper as i use this for all my skining duties now. an opinel no8 is also very good and mroe discreet. those specific skinning tools are designed for deer and you'll have trouble doing something small like a rabbit or squirrel because of its size. tony i respect your opinion but i think you do need a knife, maybe not so much for rabbit, but definately squirrel squirrels are the hardest of all airgun quarry to skin and you need a good blade to be able to do it. don't rey and follow the american squirrel skinning vid on youtube where the guys puts his foot on it and just pulls all the sskin off. i've tried this several times and it never works. squirrels are 10x harder than a rabbit to skin and you get much less meat for your effort so i usually just take the back legs off a squirrel by 'trouser legging' a method i can show in more detail if your intrested.

[Tony1948]

Thinking back your rite Aaron dont want to put out any misleading info its been about 10 years since i did one,

[Realbark]

Squirrels i cant comment on. Rabbits however - i use a a stanley blade or retractable craft knife. All you need for skinning and gutting. And for feet and head removal i use a pair of lightweight tin-snips. About £5.00 the lot.

[klause]

Squirrels i cant comment on. Rabbits however - i use a a stanley blade or retractable craft knife. All you need for skinning and gutting. And for feet and head removal i use a pair of lightweight tin-snips. About £5.00 the lot.

Like the idea 'Realbark'.......Cheap is good !

[klause]

I've got the bog standard carbon steel job. I've ground down the top edge to make it more of a drop point for no other reason than I prefer the look of it. Never had a specific skinning tool before, mainly I guess because its uses are limited and I don't do much skinning. Maybe if I was a better shot perhaps I'd think again. ;)

Martin

I think i'll treat myself to one of these Martin, cheap and more than one person has recommended them...

[klause]

You guys now wot I mean..........................you'v upset me now.

Tony, if you did have a nice sharp skinning knife the sheep may very well be more accommodating.....hehe !

[klause]

Never tried one, but I believe you may find a review on BCUK. Don't forget to come back though!

...methinks this particular Gerber would be for larger game than you're after.

Steve

I agree Steve, it would be overkill...

[wisemen]

Whatever is to hand as long as it is sharp will do for rabbits, preferably something heavy ish to do legs / head / tail.

[Ben Casey]

I have to admit I have got a couple of one sided razor blades from the chemists for jobs like skining.

[Matt]

Svord Peasant http://www.heinnie.com/Knives/Svord-Knives/c-1-92-695/ and if it was purely for dressing game I may even go for the plastic handled one.

Regards, Matt.

[Fletching]

They're lovely little knives, Matt. Might have to nab one myself! ;)

Steve

[fish]

why would you need a skinning knife for as rabbit? the skin just pulls off.
heres how to do it and just usinf a pocket knife for the cuts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0I1PIunco&feature=related

[Matt]

They're lovely little knives, Matt. Might have to nab one myself! ;)

Steve

A cracking little knife Steve, the wood handled version is the one I went for although it will need a sand and oil to get rid of the hard lines and cheapy varnish. I also got the suede sheath and now wear as a neck knife, love it.

Matt.

[Realbark]

why would you need a skinning knife for as rabbit? the skin just pulls off.
heres how to do it and just usinf a pocket knife for the cuts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0I1PIunco&feature=related


agreed. You can get too kit heavy imo. I dont mean the weight, just the quantity.

[Martin]

agreed. You can get too kit heavy imo. I dont mean the weight, just the quantity.

Really? Can't say I'd noticed. ;)

Martin

[Realbark]

Really? Can't say I'd noticed. ;)

Martin

You ought to get out more mate ;)

[Martin]

You ought to get out more mate ;)

Good point but when would I get to order more kit? The wife only lets me out at weekends, and a maximum of twice during the week. :D

Martin

[klause]

hahaha...She must realy miss you Martin !
Good point but when would I get to order more kit? The wife only lets me out at weekends, and a maximum of twice during the week. :D

Martin

[Fletching]

A cracking little knife Steve, the wood handled version is the one I went for although it will need a sand and oil to get rid of the hard lines and cheapy varnish. I also got the suede sheath and now wear as a neck knife, love it.

Matt.

Got my Svord today. I see what you mean about the varnish and hard lines, but it'll clean up a beauty!

I'm going to make my own sheath as I've some deerskin left...

Thanks again for the tip Matt.

Steve

[leon-1]

For rabbits you can get by with anything with a sharpish edge. Derma-Safe are in US issue survival kits (basically a razor blade with a handle) they're small and relatively cheap. 2 small nicks and peel. If you have broken the bunnies neck before you skin just twist the head off, Once you've dropped the guts out, twist the tail off which will remove the anal tract. Snap and twist off the paws. Bunny prep'd.

[Matt]

Got my Svord today. I see what you mean about the varnish and hard lines, but it'll clean up a beauty!

I'm going to make my own sheath as I've some deerskin left...

Thanks again for the tip Matt.

Steve

Hey Steve, what was the finish on the blade like? I've heard that recent purchases have had quite a poor blade finish, may have been just a bad batch though.

Matt.

[Fletching]

Hey Steve, what was the finish on the blade like? I've heard that recent purchases have had quite a poor blade finish, may have been just a bad batch though.

Matt.

Not too bad actually Matt. Give me something to do over the next couple of days! :D

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5410005744_2b8c66db22_b.jpg

Steve

[Aaron Rushton]

does it lock, or is it just the pressuer of your hand holding it which keeps the blade in place?

[Fletching]

does it lock, or is it just the pressuer of your hand holding it which keeps the blade in place?

Yes. This type of knife is called a 'friction folder'.

Steve

[Aaron Rushton]

Yes. This type of knife is called a 'friction folder'.

Steve

hmm, not sure i quite like the sound of that. i would prefer the security of a locking or fixed blade knife.

[Fletching]

***Update***

Following Matt's lead, I filed away the rough on the blade - final cleaning up to be done next - and sanded and oiled the handle. Feels really nice in the hand and it's going to be a beauty when finished.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5422097462_7184e8fdcc_b.jpg

Steve

[Tony1948]

Aaron, All the time you'r holding the knife in you'r hand the blade cant fold back on it's self,you'v got the back of the blade in the parm of you'r hand.Its an extension of the blade,have a look at the NB vid

[Tony1948]

Nice work steve did you take the knife apart to do it?

[Fletching]

Nice work steve did you take the knife apart to do it?

Yep, sanded away quite a lot so it's nice and rounded. Just finishing off the blade now before re-assembling.