A caping knife.

[ricky_arthur]

I had some requests for a knife for caping/skinning. The guy who wants one does a lot of hunting and has more animals in magazines than anyone I know. So I listened very carefully to his discription and theory for a good capping knife. Here is a prototype. The stag will need to be cut differently and I didn't particularly like working with aluminum for the guard. What do you think?

[pcpc201]

It's a beauty.

[Hunter10139]

And the roll of beautiful knives continues! Great work man.

[jmccustomknives]

I'd agree with the aluminum guard. Other than that you hit the nail on the head. I always get a kick from the "would be" hunters who want those big knives, or gut hooks. That knife will do pretty much every thing a hunter could ask. What steel?

[BCROB]

Nice Ricky

what pin material on the guard ?

[toolmkr20]

Nice.

[C Craft]

Originally Posted by ricky_arthur

I had some requests for a knife for caping/skinning. The guy who wants one does a lot of hunting and has more animals in magazines than anyone I know. So I listened very carefully to his discription and theory for a good capping knife. Here is a prototype. The stag will need to be cut differently and I didn't particularly like working with aluminum for the guard. What do you think?

OK first let me say this I love the knife! '

On that note the rest of this goes more to your client and your understanding of his need.

While I have never caped a mount, if the knife is modeled on his description, I am thinking your design hits the mark pretty much right on. Googling "caping knife" shows a similar design to your design, however there are pic's that is all over the place, in size and shape.

As stated I have never caped an animal for mount but, as a youngin I skinned many an animal for their fur, after running my trapline. I usually kept two knives available at skinning time. One was my pocket knife with a nice point and the other was a pretty much a dedicated skinner. Something along the lines of a Green River Skinner. The idea is to skin the animal without damaging the pelt. Pretty much the same idea when caping an animal for mount!

The knife with the point is for area's the dedicated skinner doesn't work well in as well as for establishing that beginning point at which the skinning starts. (Similar to this pic),


The dedicated skinner, (similar to the pointed blade in this pic).


That blade is for, that rolling stroke, you make to separate the skin and the carcass without cutting the skin. The rounding shape of the blade, allows for you to do this quickly and easily!

Your design seems to marry both elements into one knife,..........well done!!

[C Craft]

One question I forgot to ask in the other post. Why the Aluminum guard?? Was it a weight issue??

[ricky_arthur]

Yes. he wanted it light weight. And I had some scrap aluminum handy and wanted to try it.