Hunting for a furry or large ungulate beast is considered a specific occupation that requires certain skills. The main thing is not just to track down and shoot the beast, you also need to know how to process the trophy so as not to spoil it. Any hunt includes such procedures as refreshing the mined, skinning, evisceration, butchering of carcasses for transportation. In this case, the cartilage and meat are separated from the bones, the skull, horns, fangs and other trophy parts are sampled.
All these operations are impossible without the use of a knife. Since almost all the work is carried out by the hunter on his own, questions regarding the convenience of the blade, its shape, size, are quite acute, since a good choice can significantly increase the speed, quality and efficiency of the work.
History
The classic hunting knife has proved its effectiveness in solving everyday problems arising during a stay in the forest. It’s convenient to chop branches for a fire with such a tool, open a tin can or cut something. They can do the hard work without much difficulty: remove the skin of the hunted beast, extract the entrails or divide the carcass along the ridge. But for use in subsequent procedures related to refreshment and requiring special subtlety, classic hunting knives are not suitable. For such work, it is necessary to use special averaged versions of weapons that combine all the advantages of hunting models.
In the process of searching and developing such blades, a new specific option appeared - the Skinner knife. It was developed by white professional hunters in Africa. In their activities, they were forced to use all kinds of models: teardrop-shaped, with a false blade or hooks on a part of the butt, with a not completely falling tip, etc.
Hunting knives “Skinners” are considered to be an ideal version of the tool, designed exclusively for sanding the prey. They got their name from the English word “skin”, which in translation means “skin”.
Features of the structure of the knife for sanding and cutting
The presence of a “skin arc” is considered to be a distinctive feature of this tool. According to reviews, Skinner is a knife, very convenient for ripping and trimming the skin, its separation from meat and cutting tendons. The longer the “skinner arc” of the knife used, the more comfortable it is to work with such a tool. The Skinner knife has a blade sharply bent to the tip, significantly increasing its cutting properties. Due to its special shape among hunters and connoisseurs of edged weapons, it is called a “crooked hunting knife”.
Usually it is ground with a “wedge”. Such a sharpening for such a knife is considered the most optimal, since it excludes additional straightening of the blade when cutting a deer or equal in size to another large beast.
The skinning process can be considered ideal if the skin is easily separated from the entire game. The ease of this procedure is significantly affected by both the sharpening method and the good choice of steel from which the knife is made. The Skinner has on its handle a special emphasis under the index finger. This emphasis is located on the blade in the part where the blade acts as a guard - a limiter that prevents possible slipping of the hand and its damage.
The butcher knife for carcass cutting also has emphasis with notches under the thumb.
Such a knife, in addition to the tip upturned, can also be equipped with a special hook used when tearing.
Skinner knives can have various sizes. It all depends on the task for which they are intended. Mostly medium-sized tools are used for sanding animals, and for poultry smaller knives are convenient to use.
Many experienced hunters know that wide and long knives are completely unsuitable for working with a fur-bearing animal, since one wrong move can ruin valuable fur. The Skinner folding knife is considered ideal for such work.
Often experienced hunters carry with them, despite their considerable weight, several knives, each of which is adapted for a particular operation.
Knife requirements
It is desirable that the knife contains as little metal parts as possible. This will protect possible freezing of the skin to the handle when working in the cold.
- The thickness of the blade must withstand lateral loads during the cutting process.
- The design of the gun should contain stiffeners, increasing its resistance to all loads acting on the blade perpendicularly.
- The curved shape of the blade will save power during cutting.
- The edge of the knife should be thin. This will provide the opportunity for delicate work.
Skinner knife: classic
The classic form of a knife for skinning among hunters is considered to be a knife, the narrow elongated blade of which has a tip upturned. Particular attention should be paid to the balance of the knife: the degree of fatigue of a specialist in the process of skinning depends on this factor. A well-balanced knife allows the hunter to work for a long time without feeling any fatigue.
The classic Skinner knife is not a dangerous cold weapon under the law if its tip is raised 0.5 cm above the butt. This is due to the fact that blades of this form lose their piercing properties and are effective only when sanding or cutting. The Skinner knife, the photo of which is given in the article, refers specifically to such products.
How to make a knife yourself?
Many experienced hunters prefer to work with homemade knives for sanding. This can be partially explained by the desire to save. But in most cases, preference for "Skinners", made with their own hands, is given because of the possible consideration in their design of the individual characteristics of the specialists working with them. The authors of the reviews believe that this is especially important when sanding, since hunters mainly have to do this without outside help.
According to reviews, making a Skinner knife with your own hands will not be difficult.
To do this, you need to have an idea of its design and parameters: determine the length of the handle and blade.
In the manufacture of materials are used:
- A piece of steel strip. The most optimal option is the brand X12MF. This steel is considered the most suitable for hunting knives.
- Brass or aluminum for the safety stop and the manufacture of a pommel on the thread - in the case if the knife is supposed to be set, not a riveted handle.
- Pieces of leather as typesetters for the handle.
- Epoxy adhesive. Used to glue the skin.
- Stain and varnish for processing wooden handles.
The design of the Skinner knife, made with one's own hand, may slightly differ from generally accepted classical standards. The main thing in a homemade tool is ease of use, taking into account all the features and preferences with the ability to fix possible shortcomings in the future.
What should I look for in the manufacture?
One of the main requirements for skinning knives is the width of his blade. By generally accepted standards, it should not be less than three fingers.
Of no small importance for the knife is its thickness. With considerable thickness, the blade can become heavier, it is also possible that the cutting properties of the gun can be reduced. This is not particularly noticeable for short knives, but for long it becomes a big problem. You can cope with this by forging, gradually reducing the thickness of the knife to the tip, thereby ensuring a reduction in the mass of the gun. You can also equip the blade with dales in parts closer to the butt.
Ceramic knife
Blades, in the manufacture of which ceramics are used, are not uncommon in our time. The advantage of such knives is their high hardness, which extends the life of these products. The second advantage of such a tool is its high corrosion resistance. The ceramic knife is lightweight and not magnetically attracted. The disadvantage of knives is their weak flexibility, which makes products vulnerable to kink.
