sharpening skinning knives

[lil_hunter12]

how do u guys sharpen ur knives i use a leather strap and an arkansas stone i also have a question how do u guys flesh ur hides for tanning

[OldCoon]

In recent years I've been using one of those diamond sharpeners to keep my knives sharp.   The secret to keeping a knife sharp is to never let it get dull.  A roll of paper towels in always in my skinning kit.  I use them to clean the blades of my knives.  I don't want gunk and gore transferred from my knife blade to the surface of my sharpener.  Even when skinning muskrats or mink,  every 2 animals I wipe the blade clean and give it a few swipes of the sharpener.  That way there's never any reduction in my blade's sharpness.

[Wackyquacker]

http://razoredgesystems.com/  Here is a link go there and buy there book on sharpening before you purchase and stones / diamonds.  I have no better description on proper sharpening techniques.

[lil_hunter12]

i know how to sdharpen my knives i was just wondering what techniques u guys used to sharpen yours i use an arkansas stone and a leather strap to sharpen mine

[Wackyquacker]

There are many different ways to sharpen different tools.  A lot depends on the intended use of the tool and how focused that use.  Skinning knives are on the same plain as any knife in the meat cutting/ butchering trade.  I suggested the book because it was written by a fellow that sets up sharpening stations in packing houses.  In the meat cutting trade a "steel" is the tool used to finish / restore your edge.  If you edge is developed prorperly the knife dosen't need to see a stone more than every few days to a week, and that is on a killing floor.