The Skinner, the Knife That Can Handle any Skin

There is one thing that the book of Genesis and Darwin both agree on: man was born naked and soon realized the need to clothe himself, not only to hide certain organs of which he had become aware, but also to replace his hairy coating that had been gradually thinning out as he evolved away from his primate ancestors. There was nothing quite as similar to a furry coat than another furry coat. So it was logical that man turned towards animals that had not undergone the same evolutionary process and which had remained furry. Pelts are consumed neither by hominids nor other predators, and it is clear that those with which our ancestors clothed themselves were taken from dead prey encountered by chance. Apart from the fact that only skins without a single ounce of flesh left could be used, these pelts must have been atrociously stiff, since tanning techniques had not yet appeared.

As he became more skilled, man learned to “fashion” any skins he found by using flint scrapers. With the development of hunting came the necessity to actually remove the meat without damaging the precious skin, which was separated from the flesh with the aid of a sharp fragment of flint like a razor, the first “skinner” in a long line.

A great Greg Dash Skinner

The size of the knife thus depends on the size of the animal, but the choice is truly infinite as regards to the shape. The operation actually consists of removing the skin in a single piece without accidently piercing it, which would considerably reduce its value, and cutting so as to leave as little flesh and fat on the pelt as possible. The blade thus needs to be as wide as can be so that it forms the ideal and constant angle, when placed on the body of the animal, required to successfully complete the operation. In addition, the point is clearly upturned and often rounded so as to make it as non-aggressive as possible. The presence of a guard is not at all necessary, since no great effort is required. As for the handle, it takes the shape and forms that suit the user best, according to his technique and hand.

Another wonderful Greg Dash Skinner

These days, even if the number of bison that once roamed the great plains of the West are no longer what they once were before the construction of the railroad. Although the profession of trapper is no longer what it was, American hunters are still particularly attached to this practice of skinning, which explains why there are still a wide variety of skinners to offer. From models with small blades and handles for three-finger use to enormous “cake server” models, and a whole range in between, every taste is catered for.

The skinner is an integral part of the legend of the American pioneers.