Since the question seems to keep popping-up as what 'kind' of knife to use for Shaving (Fleshing) hides and capes...get a wide blade paint scraper.
Dull the sharp edge and round off the corners to eliminate cutting holes in the skin.
A smooth round fence post from Wal-Mart or local lumber supply yard will do nicely.
For a two-handed knife...use one of the ole standards...a Fleshing Knife available from one of many Taxidermy Supply Catalogs or Trapper Supply catalogs.
Here's the largest Trapper Supplier in the Country...
Northern Sport Company Premium Supplies Phone: (440) 986-3366...Fax: (440) 986-2072 <www.molnaroutdoor.com>
Ed Molnar started selling traps and lures from his garage as a teenager...now has the biggest supply company in the Country (US). Great guy...Tell'em ED Cherney sentcha.
~ ETCC
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good advice Ed, i buy most my trappin supplies from molnars
have for yrs. good reliable company. as far as tax. quality skins go im learnin but fleshin, i got quite a bit of time at, and send a lot of fur to market and lot are graded select. theres no easy way to learn how to but do it. thats why it is stressed to start on low value hides. stay at it you will get the feel for the tools ya use. i have a english fleshin knife i like a lot now. but all the tools work.
its one of those things that once you learn ya make it look easy.
in the fur trade theres an old sayin the 1st hundred beavers are tough, then its a piece of cake.hope this helps, sincerely Mike Wise
ps a good fleshin beam is a plus.
Do you live in Ohio? Just curious...Molnar's is only about 8-miles from me.
~ ETCC
no ed im in central ill. dewitt little town of 200 in between decatur & bloomington. just low money in trappin. big suppliers with low prices are spread out. as i tell the wife its a good thing i cant walk in one. we would be in trouble. lol in the early 80s i built aboveground swimmin pools in ohio. a few up in eliyra area tho nice country & people. molnars is quick with there shippin. ussually
have order in week. and can say i"ve learned to plan well this way.
take care Mike ps never met the folks but nat. trappers assoc. is in bloomington this yr ,they have a booth so after 10yrs of dealin with em i"ll meet em.know i wont be dissappointed