Beaver Skinning tip

[thekauz]

I finally got tired of always stopping to sharpening my skinning knives. After skinning a dozen beaver with greasy hands, losing my grip I finally came up with something that worked good. I buy a box of single edge razor blades from the hardware store. I clamp one blade in a small pair of vise grips. Works great, the vise grip is easy for these old hands to hold on too, easier than a knife. Plus you can spin the blades to the other side when the other gets dull. they,re not to expensive to buy, and of course they are always as sharp as a razor. I still use a knife from time to time but the razor blade trick saved the day for me.

[deerhunter65347]

Those razors wwill do the trick. I buy the taxidermy scalpel and blades. They give me better control on those hard to work beaver heads!

[thekauz]

Scalpels would work great but I like a big handle to grip and the small vise grip with a razor blade clamped in it works great for me what with the arthritis in the hands and all. Too many years tending to water sets in freezing water without gloves. Also I skin all kinds of critters and aren't those scalpels kind of expensive?

[deerhunter65347]

I think i gave 5 dollars for a hundred blades. The scalpel was 3 bucks. But i understand the arthritis all to well! Its the bain of my existence. Its another gift from my genetic line!

[thekauz]

Ain't that the truth. I guess when my hands quit working I'll have to pull them hides with my teeth!!!!

[deerhunter65347]

LOL I lost them too!!! LOL!!!!

[ozarkmountainman]

Hmmm... Glad that new health-care plan is workin' for you Tony!

Dale

[deerhunter65347]

What plan! LOL You have to make it with or with out a plan!!!! Thats why its hard to do away with us old timers.

[mullins]

hi guys new here you can go to a taxidermy website and they will have knife handles for razor blades ,used to use them for capeing when I was a taxidermist

[cypressoak]

I bought some scalpel handels on e-bay that were red plastic and pretty big,blades are pretty cheap also. I cut a piece of foam rubber that fit my hand and made a slit in it and stuck the scalpel in there. You can get a corn cob and stick a scalpel up in the center of it that works prety good also. I do this, grease up with some Ben Gay and take two asprins before I get started on the beavers. That makes me feel alittle better after clean skinning several of them.
Louis

[pearidgetrapper]

I like using a carpet knife, but I buy the curved blades instead of the usual straight edge. You can find them in a good lumber/hardware store. This set up is heavy duty compared to scalpels and the blade can be retracted.

[coontrapper2000]

i use the dexter russell beaver skinning knife works well and says sharp i used to use my buddies and i think he hasnt even sharpened it and weve used it for 3 yrs now