Patterns with two identical blades

R

randomlooker

Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
671
I've noticed that some patterns (Muskrat, for example) have two identical blades -- same shape and size. Why is that? Wouldn't it make more sense to have an assortment of blade styles like most of the multi-bladed designs?
 
Because the blades on the Muskrat are redundant, I sharpened the two blades differently.
The thinner blade is sharpened at a very fine angle to an extra fine stone, so it is a sharp slicer.
The wider blade I sharpened at a more obtuse angle with a courser stone, so the edge is a much tougher rougher cutter.
 
The muskrat was originally intended for trappers who were skinning umpteen little critters every day -- they were always doing the same task with the blades, so it made sense to have two nearly identical blades - when one started to dull, switch to the other (if the blades were two different shapes, they would have to change their technique every time they had to switch to the other blade - which would be annoying). In practice, on most old muskrat knives, the blades were not quite identical -- although very similar, most had one blade that was a bit deeper than the other - sometimes with one blade being sabre ground while the other was the more typical flat ground - though the blade profiles would still be quite similar.

I rather like having the backup blade -- think of it as two single blade knives in one package. It's also handy when you need to use one blade for some grungy task -- but you can keep the other blade blade clean for peeling and cutting up apples and such.
 
zerogee said:
The muskrat was originally intended for trappers who were skinning umpteen little critters every day -- they were always doing the same task with the blades, so it made sense to have two nearly identical blades - when one started to dull, switch to the other (if the blades were two different shapes, they would have to change their technique every time they had to switch to the other blade - which would be annoying).
Click to expand...

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.
 
Here's a history short for the less aged and rural forums viewers.......the Muskrat and some other skinner patterns were introduced and made popular in times past because of the rural nature of our nation. Young men, and yes some girls, would run short traplines before and after school. Muskrat, mink, raccoon,beaver and some other furry critters could be sold for hard to come by cash at the local hardware or feed store. Transportation being what it was you needed to skin your take and prepare a quality hide till you could make it to town to sell. Traplines and equipment were handed down to younger brothers and sisters as older kids left home. Fur pelts were valued and needed by the fashion industry. Seems it may have been colder back then as warm winter fur coats were in demand. So from all that we have the Muskrat pattern and other trapper and skinner models. You'd be suprised how many new generation people don't know that lots of kids back then made money fur trapping instead of mowing lawns.......Good or bad, for all kinds of reasons, it is becoming a lost tradition of our society.
300Bucks
 
Last edited:
300Bucks said:
Here's a history short for the less aged and rural forums viewers.......the Muskrat and some other skinner patterns were introduced and made popular in times past because of the rural nature of our nation. Young men, and yes some girls, would run short traplines before and after school. Muskrat, mink, raccoon,beaver and some other furry critters could be sold for hard to come by cash at the local hardware or feed store. Transportation being what it was you needed to skin your take and prepare a quality hide till you could make it to town to sell. Traplines and equipment were handed down to younger brothers and sisters as older kids left home. Fur pelts were valued and needed by the fashion industry. Seems it may have been colder back then as warm winter fur coats were in demand. So from all that we have the Muskrat pattern and other trapper and skinner models. You'd be suprised how many new generation people don't know that lots of kids back then made money fur trapping instead of mowing lawns.......Good or bad, for all kinds of reasons, it is becoming a lost tradition of our society.
300Bucks
Click to expand...

This is great stuff. I love learning about the history of different patterns and why they are configured the way they are. Now I get to tell my kids about it, like I had first hand knowledge of it all, as I gift them with a Muskrat.:D
 
Compulsively led to skin fresh road kill...Because I want to live the dream!

There's all the reason you need to buy your self a Muskrat pattern. :p Or a few. ;)

300Bucks, thanks for the history lesson. I didn't know that. :thumbup:

thx - cpr
 
I,m 49 and grew up in the country on a farm. I milked cow,s churned butter and such. My best freind and i :

"would run short traplines before and after school, lots of kids back then made money fur trapping instead of mowing lawns "

Muskrat and fox were mainly what we targeted. We were getting about $60.00 per red fox pelt and around $6.00 for muskrat. We happened to live where a bunch of fox hunters had bought and released them. We caught a LOT of fox and made HUGE bux for 14-16 yr old kids.


I used an 80t that i bought after making a few dollars.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top