Taxidermist info needed

Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
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I need to make a daxidermy knife. Any suggestions on steel, thickness, hardness, grinds ect?
 
Something like a scalpel? Or maybe a small caping knife? Or something more suited to scraping hides? Actually I can imagine the average taxidermist probably uses several knives.

One of the local members of the Florida Artists Blacksmiths Asso. is a taxidermist. Let me see if I have his email and I'll ask him.

I take it someone has asked you to make a knife for a taxidermist? Or has knifemaking lost it's luster and you need a new hobby?:D
 
Guy, One of my bosses is a taxidermist. He drew a picture of a nice little scalpel and a simple handle but knows nothing of steels. I have some BG-42, ats34, 440c, 440v, d-2, 1084, 5160, ect but am wondering if S30v may be better suited?
 
I don't really know about grinds or thicknesses or anythign else on this design, as not sure what the blade would be, but I would say to go with something with really good corrosion resistance. have had cheaper hunting/skinning knives discolor/corrode too often in the blood and stuff(I dont' hunt, but use them for kitchen knives, and cutting up the top round for beef jerky gets blood all over them).

And no, I dont' know which alloys have best corrosion resistance, so can't even help on that. I have very limited input here obviously. :)
 
I do some trading with our local deer stuffer. Really tho, he is very talented in his field. His main requirements are thin, bad sharp, and easy to sharpen. If he can't touch up the edge in a few seconds on a strop or steel he considers it wasted time. As most professionals he takes pretty good care of his tools. his knives are almost all carbon steel. Make him one of some kind and let his needs take you in the right direction. m
 
I have a carving knife from Diobsud forge made of W2. Its got a thin (but wedge shaped) profile with virtually no secondary edge bevel. Takes a really wicked edge and can easily be maintained with strop and fine white ceramic stone. The best thing for your purpose though is that it seems to have pretty good stain and corrosion resistance. I really don't put any effort into keeping it oiled or clean and it still looks like new.Never had a problem with it chipping or rolling either.
 
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