Fleshing Knife?

D

dan97526

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Joined
Oct 17, 2005
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Anyone ever make a double-handled fleshing knife? I anticipate having coyote hides to scrape. I think it might be a good first project.

Thanks,

Dan
 
Never made one but I have purchased two of them. A 18-24" double edged blade with a radius to match your fleshing beam is one heck of a lot to chew for a first project.
 
You might be able to find an old draw knife at a flea market or at an antique/ tool shop. I got one for 20.00. Haven't used it on hides yet; just got it a few weeks ago.
 
I made one thirty years ago using a pc. of hickory from an old broken axe handle and used a pc. from a power hacksaw blade about fifteen inches long. I was young and it was crude but it fleshed alot of deer and bear hides (I was a taxidermist in a previous life). Good luck with your project. Paul
 
dude I promise you those draw knifes suck for fleshing the best one I have found is large buffulo skinner and use the roundest part of the blade thats the only fleshing knife we use
 
Does the draw knife have too much of a wide area for fleshing?
-Thanks.
 
Troop said:
Does the draw knife have too much of a wide area for fleshing?
-Thanks.
Click to expand...

no they just seem to be too large and bulky and they tend to rip holes If you flesh alot you know that its mainly by feel.A good taxidermist should be able to flesh with his eye's closed well not really but you know what I mean. With a large draw knife you can't feel it ,and the tanneries really don't like it because unless you tumble your hides a draw knife tends to leave to much crap thats hard to rehydrate
 
Dan, I have a necker fleshing knife I'll make you a good deal on if you're interested. FWIW, I grew up trapping muskrats,mink,coons,fox, beaver, wolves etc., blah, blah, blah, and skinned critters by the thousands for the local fur buyer after dark when I was a young kid. I found that a good beam is just as important as the knife and a ding, chip or imperfection in that beam is one of the primary reasons a guy will create a hole in the hide. Draw knives are used, just as the name implies, by drawing them towards you, whereas a fleshing knife IMHO and experience is best used by pushing. I have my beam mounted at ~ 30* angle with the tip up. I put the fur on the beam and while leaning up against the beam and fur, flesh by pushing downward. Gravity helps keep all of the flesh/fat etc. moving down hill and out of your way while the pressure of you leaning against the beam keeps the hide where it needs to be. I've found that most canines require very little fleshing........compared to a coon :eek: The pic I attached shows the necker knife and my beam. I have it mounted in my fur shed on a hinge which allows me to tip it up and out of the way when not in use. It works quite well :) BTW, that isn't rust on the necker knife, its spooge from a bear hide I fleshed a few weeks back. Knife is in great shape and has had the factory edge (BAD) re-worked by me so that it performs ;)
 
Better jump all over Davids offer there Dan! One of mine is the necker 600 that David has pictured and it's a fine fleshing knife at a reasonable price.
 
I don't know what size I need at this point. I'm planning on building a fleshing board after I come up with a knife. I guess making one before I have ever even held a fleshing knife may be a bit of cart-before-horse.

Thanks for the kind offer, David. PM sent,

I appreciate all the replies.
 
It seems I'm having some difficulty getting an email sent, David. I'll send you one via your website tomorrow, 12/5.

Dan
 
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