The purpose of Muskrat pattern knives?

MTHall720

MTHall720

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Sep 21, 2010
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I am still fairly new to traditionals and while I think I have a fairly good grasp on some of the intended uses of some patterns I am not too sure about others.
The Muskrat appeals to me when it comes to looks but not sure what the pattern is well known for in terms of use.
Any thoughts??
I tend to favor the really big blades in terms of length as well as the ones with large scales/covers like grandad barlows, huge toothpicks, and big clasp knives.
Thanks
 
The muskrat was a knife made for fur trappers. When it was skinning time, the identical blades allowed the trapper to switch to a sharp blade, when the first dulled, without switching techniques. As to muskrat pattern knives with two different blade, I'm clueless. :)
 
Thanks very much! Now it makes perfect sense. I tried to Google for it but only found out about some other patterns.
 
The "Muskrat Clip", also known as a Turkish Clip or California Clip, blades on a traditional style Muskrat Knife are ideally suited to the more delicate skinning of the head area on small animals such as raccoon, fox and of course muskrat. On the "Improved Muskrat" patterns one would assume the Spey Blade was used to more quickly skin out the body area, and the Clip Blade to do the fine work.
 
Really, most of the "skinning" on furbearers is around the head and feet.

I just hang them up and peel them down like taking a sock off once I get them opened up around the back end.

Then you have to skin out the head.

Muskrats are ideal for that.
 
Would it be hard to find a longer than average blade length such as abf 4 inches for the blade itself?
 
I believe the pattern you describe is a or the moose. Longer, heavier blades on the ends. Gec makes a few.
 
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