OPEN, PRE-ORDER 3 1/2" SKINNING KNIFE

Nathan the Machinist said:
This pre-order will unlock at 5:00 eastern time

I plan to leave it open for one week unless the numbers get crazy.

Please limit to 3 knives. (A set of steak knives counts as one)



The Skinning knife was my first real "pattern". It was made in tiny micro batches a long time ago. It has been a favorite for me for a long time but we have never revisited it before because it isn't really a "CPK" style knife.

My tweaks to D2 were unusual, controversial and somewhat groundbreaking at the time and have been widely adopted. I cannot claim to have invented the low temperature tweaks and pre-quenching and optimized application of cryo, but I most certainly was a primary contributor to the development and normalization of these processes with these materials in knives. People like Cliff Stamp, back in the late 90's, helped me on this journey, but I did the trial and error and I did the homework. That was me. There are people using variations of this approach to heat treat today that don't realize where it came from.


We used optimized D2 in Kevlar fiber cutting industrial equipment used in the fiberoptics industry, increasing average cuts from 15K to well over 100K. It was groundbreaking and it made pretty good skinning knives too. And ultimately lead to Delta 3V.


These knives were made so friends and family could have a knife that was made for the way we process a deer and have a nice knife that would hold an edge all season long. Back then, you'd sometimes even have to stop and sharpen in the middle of a deer, but these would do 5-10+ deer without touchup.

We don't use gut hooks. They'd bunch up and get hair on the meat and were difficult to sharpen. They also made the blade too fat to fit up in the pelvis and too fragile to hammer through the sternum. We turn the edge out and use a well refined drop-point shape to unzip a deer lickety split. It's a skill.

We don't split the pelvis. There is a clean incision around the bits that are pulled out a little and tied off. Once the skin is off, the animal (hanging by the rear legs with head off) is opened at the belly (being careful not to nick any organs) and the intestines are disconnected up inside of the pelvis and then pulled through. Then down to the ribcage (not through the middle, but to one side), through the ribs and into the chum bucket. So, the digestive track is intact from one end to the other, and the meat is clean dry and sterile, making it suitable for aging.

This dictated a longer narrow scalpel sharp blade with all the belly at the tip and an almost straight drop point, with a round butt that allows you to hold the knife like an extension of your finger and some geometry between your finger and that "scary sharp" edge.

Here is a picture of that knife:

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^ That's not what it is going to look like.


Here are some more pictures of what it won't look like:

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I began to use one as a steak knife. And it is a good useful all-around knife that would serve a tradesman who wants an elegant small fixed blade.



Probably inaccurate specs:
Rearward balance, behind first finger.
Tweaked 3V Delta, 62 HRC*, .135" at ricasso
Total length 7 7/8"
Blade length 3 5/8"
Weight 3.8 oz!
Edge angle 18 DPS
Grippy 3D machined scales in micarta or wood
Custom 6AL-4V titanium fasteners (high strength grade 5, 6-32 (smaller than our standard))
Freakishly sharp

*(unlike other "3V at 62", mine is actually 62.)

Standard configuration is flat ground tweaked 3V Delta, field grade, milled ground and tumbled, with visible tool and grind marks.

Basic vanilla configuration, includes a very nice kydex sheath, does not include shipping:

$340 in canvas micarta, black or natural

Scales, substitute for basic micarta:
Double Black canvas micarta $10
OD green canvas micarta $10
Blue canvas "micarta", unbuffed $20
Double Black Linen micarta $20
Double "Red" canvas micarta (maroon color) $20
Tri-Color Canvas micarta $30
Burlap micarta $20
Double Red and Black Linen micarta $30
Vintage canvas micarta (International Paper) $30 <---- you should probably get this one
Crusty Vintage (International Paper) canvas micarta $50
OD green or Orange or Black G10 $10


Other options:

Anodize the Titanium fasteners Blue or Gold add $20

Optimized Magnacut instead of 3V Delta (same price)

Optimized D2 (best option for a dedicated skinner, and take $20 off the price)

Make mine a signature series (satin ground flats and primaries, hand hollow ground by Mark, any scales of your choice including Edge Cut Antique Micarta or Hardwood (probably American Osage), high quality leather sheath) $650 (total)

Make mine steak knives (Magnacut, Delrin scales, machine washable, qty 4, no sheaths, still probably going to stain some) $1,000 (total)
^ who the hell has $1000 steak knives?

These might start to ship by the end of this year but don't look for complete delivery until end of 2027. If that wait is a problem, this pre-order is not a good fit for you. In fact, pre-orders are a bad idea regardless and you should probably just wait for the Friday sales.

We no longer ship overseas except to old existing established customers. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

Here is the order process:

I'm going to take full payment non-refundable in advance. Once your order is confirmed there are no refunds, changes or cancellations other than accommodations for change of address.

These will ship as they're finished in mostly the order that they are ordered in this thread. As I'm building them, half of them will go to this pre-order and the other half will be sold in regular sales. This means you will see knives being sold while you're waiting for yours.

If you're ordering a knife in this pre-order: post in this thread first and then send an email to Jo at jocarothers (at) gmail (dot) com with this subject line: "Skinner preorder" and include your post# in that subject line.

Please include the following information in your email:

1: Your post number on this pre-order thread.

2: Bladeforums name. (for example "Jo the Machinist")

3: Real Name.

4: Email address so we can send a SwipeSimple invoice from AIM Industrial (or ask about other payment options). Beware of scammers, we're not using PayPal on these sales.

5: Shipping address.

6: Any special instructions.

Once we receive this information, if everything is there, Jo or Abby will send you a SwipeSimple invoice. If information is missing or you have additional questions, someone will reply to your email. When your email is read and processed we will send you a reply letting you know we've received your information.

Please pay your invoice within one month, otherwise we will need to cancel your order.

Jo, Bo, Mark, Chris, Tanto, Trevor, Abby, Harrison and Freck and I appreciate all of your continued interest in our work and your support.

Jack does not

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Jack don't GAF
Click to expand...
 
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