Can we talk about the skinner blade for a second?

E

Exeter354

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Jun 13, 2012
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I get that it's a very traditional blade shape for a very specific task. But let's be honest...most people aren't going to be skinning anything. So what else can that blade be used for? Maybe it's just me, but when I think of most of the tasks that I use a pocket knife for, I usually need a point on the blade. Maybe a skinner could be used for cutting fruit...I don't know, any other ideas? What do you guys use it for? Does it spend most of the time in the closed position?
 
I actually do use it for skinning and whatever other cutting tasks don't require a needle point. As a auto technician I also find it works great cutting heater hose and the likes. Many things are possible if the blade has good edge geometry and is sharp.

Chris
 
Are we talking about a spey blade here? I am cornfused, which has been known to happen.
 
I wasn't talking about the spey blade. My understanding of the intended purpose of the spey blade was that of castration of animals. Perhaps I am confused as to the blade profile in question here also but, I was thinking The blade in question would be a clip style blade. Something along the lines or what is seen on the Muskrat pattern.

Chris
 
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OK, cornfusion over, thanks.
I'm always on the lookout for a spey/wharncliffe combo, I like the huge belly of a spey for whittling, but love a wharncliffe for most tasks.
 
I thought the OP was referring to the type of blade found on the Sod Buster type of patterns. That's a "skinner" blade to me. Mostly flat spine, blade has a lot of belly that curves up to meet the spine with a nearly quarter-circle curve.

I was put off of the Sod Busters for a while myself due to the lack of a point. I eventually tried one and really like the knife. For things that don't require piercing, it's a very useful blade pattern. Great slicer, due to the rather tall (spine to edge) blade which allows for a very gradual thickening to the spine, making it a great slicer. However, if your daily needs require piercing cuts, it may not be ideal in a single-blade knife. Depends on the individual.
 
jc57 said:
I thought the OP was referring to the type of blade found on the Sod Buster type of patterns. That's a "skinner" blade to me. Mostly flat spine, blade has a lot of belly that curves up to meet the spine with a nearly quarter-circle curve.

I was put off of the Sod Busters for a while myself due to the lack of a point. I eventually tried one and really like the knife. For things that don't require piercing, it's a very useful blade pattern. Great slicer, due to the rather tall (spine to edge) blade which allows for a very gradual thickening to the spine, making it a great slicer. However, if your daily needs require piercing cuts, it may not be ideal in a single-blade knife. Depends on the individual.
Click to expand...

I stuck myself in my finger with one of my Bull Nose knives and it pierced me just fine John. Haven't stuck myself with a Case Sod Buster yet but when I do, I'd bet it'll pierce me just fine too.:)
 
I really like the belly on the clip point of my #57. At first it looked a little blunt, but it sweeps nice when whittling.

But OP, I'd have to agree that a spey isn't as handy as a clip, or a wharncliffe for most tasks.
 
Ed, I did a pretty good job of sharpening up the curve of my Case Sod Busters so that the front of the tip is quite sharp. I have no doubt it would draw blood if I pushed it straight into my skin with decent pressure behind it.

Other than my (three) Case versions, my only other Sod Buster type pattern is the Queen Country Cousin. I got that one because the blade profile has more of point to it. Which it does, but it also has a thicker blade overall so not quite the same slicer as the Case.

Really depends on the individual's daily needs. I usually pair a knife that has a lot of belly with another knife (or second blade in the same knife) that has some point to it, usually a clip blade, to cover all the bases. I've found that when I really need "piercing" what I actually need more than a pointy knife is an awl/punch blade like on a SAK Pioneer.
 
I usually carry a Buck 055 in my pocket along with another knife as it is both a lock back and has a nice point. It is so small and thin that it isn't noticeable in the pocket now matter what else I'm carrying in that pocket.

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Regardless, I do see your point above.
 
Thanks guys. This is the blade I'm referring to in case anyone is unsure...it's S7:

Spey_zpsddznqsgi.png


I'm also wondering if the end of the spey blade is sharp enough to cause damage to fingers or the inside of a pocket when closed. For example, in the image below you can see how the point of the spey rises up when the blade is in the closed position. Is it sharp generally?

saddlehorn-spey_zpsmhvrz1fl.jpg
 
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Never sharpened, That would negate its purpose as a spey.
 


I've never thought of a Spey blade as a skinning blade, but I guess anything with enough belly will work. It might be worth editing the thread title though :thumbup:
 
^^Agreed. What I'd call a skinning knife is what Jack posted.
As to Spey blades some folks love them. The Day's Work Barlow was also quite popular for a while if memory serves. I've no personal experience with them but they strike me as being capable of any task where belly is preferable but a sharp tip might be either too delicate or potentially damaging in the space the knife is being used in. Not to mention it provides quite a serviceable looking stretch of "straight" blade to use. Different blade shapes are very much a "different strokes for different folks" thing for me. I'll use anything I've got on me at the time really.
 
The classic skinner blades are slender pointy blades such as on a muskrat pattern. The trapper is sort of an in between skinner and everyday use design. The blades on the larger trapper are big enough for most any normal task from edc to hunting chores. The Trappers are very useful knives.

To me, the spey blade is a secondary small blade, not something like the folder in your post #14. If the point sticks out above the handle closed, the knife is dangerous and not carried in the pocket. This happens mostly when blades are grown down after years of repeated sharpening and use.
 
I like the Spey blade, especially the long Spey found on most Trapper pattern knives. It is good for skinning and gutting animals and I have also used one to skin and cut up a few catfish.
It's also good for food prep, peeling and slicing,that sort of stuff. I often use the Spey blade of a Trapper at work to peel apples and such as the blade doesn't raise many alarms.
It's a straight edge with a strong rounded tip, really pretty durable if you think about it. So even tho I use it for delicate stuff like skinning and cutting up fruit, it is also at home around the work shop or out on the job site.

Jim
 
Unfortunately, I always called the long blade you are referring to on a trapper as a spear vs spey. So, I'm really confused.
 
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