{"product_id":"damascus-skinner-knife-burl-wood-resin","title":"Damascus Skinner Knife with Burl Wood and Resin Handle, Hand Forged Drop Point","description":"\u003cp\u003eA skinner earns its keep once the hunt is over and the job is hide. The blade is short and broad with a deep rounded belly, so the cut is drawn along the curve rather than the tip, and the low point stays clear. This one is hand forged Damascus with a 4 inch drop point blade, full tang through burl wood set in black resin, and a tooled leather belt sheath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched layer pattern, mirror polished bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle material\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBurl wood stabilized in black resin, brass pins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTooled leather belt sheath, hand stitched\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLaser engraving, 20 dollars per blade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 4 inch blade is pattern welded Damascus over a high carbon core, etched so the light and dark layers show, with a mirror polished bevel. No two patterns repeat, because the pattern is forged in, not printed on. It is a drop point skinner, the spine curving down to meet a deep rounded belly. The belly does the work, since skinning is a sweeping cut, and the low point keeps the tip from catching. The trade is the carbon steel underneath, which patinas and can rust if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe handle is burl wood stabilized in black resin, 4 inches long, held by brass pins through a full tang. Burl is the knotted grain from a growth on the tree, so the figure runs in swirls and eyes, and the resin locks the block solid. That is what makes it good for wet work. It will not swell or soak anything up, a cold damp hand still grips it, and the tang runs unbroken from the tip to the butt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather sheath\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sheath is vegetable tanned leather cut for this knife, so the blade sits where it should. A wide belt loop is stitched to the back and rides flat, and a strap crosses the handle with a snap so the knife stays put as you walk. The edge is welted, so a strip of leather sits between the stitching and the blade and the edge never reaches the thread. All of it is stitched by hand, and the face is hand tooled with a diamond lattice stamp inside a carved border.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a working knife that happens to be good looking. The Damascus is what most people pick it up for and the burl handle is why it gets given as a present, but the shape underneath is plain and useful.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHunters who process their own game\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who wants a pattern welded blade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomeone buying a gift for a hunter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Damascus skinner knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tooled leather belt sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA free laser engraving quote on request\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach knife is forged, ground, heat treated and sharpened by hand in small runs. The Damascus pattern, the color and grain of the burl and the tooling on the sheath will differ from the photographs. Yours will be its own piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWash it by hand and dry it straight away. Never the dishwasher, since that damage voids the warranty. The gray patina Damascus takes on is normal and protects the steel. Sharpen on a whetstone at roughly 20 degrees per side, then strop. No pull through sharpeners. Oil the blade before storage, and never put the knife away wet inside its sheath. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per blade. Around 30 characters fits on a blade, and a longer message sits better on the sheath. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. Clean line art engraves well, photographs do not. Free on orders of 10 pieces or more. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a skinner knife for?\u003c\/strong\u003e Taking hide off an animal with the curve of the edge, not the tip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a drop point skinner?\u003c\/strong\u003e One whose spine curves down to meet the belly, giving a low point.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the Damascus real?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, forged and welded layers over a high carbon core.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this steel rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, so dry it after use and oil it before storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill my knife look like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, the pattern and burl figure change on every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow sharp is it out of the box?\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharpened by hand and ready to use.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a plainer wood, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-skinner-knife-olive-wood\"\u003eDamascus skinner with an olive wood handle\u003c\/a\u003e, while the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-gut-hook-skinner-stag-antler\"\u003eDamascus gut hook skinner with a stag antler handle\u003c\/a\u003e adds a hook for opening hide. More sit in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/skinner-knives\"\u003eskinner knives\u003c\/a\u003e, the pattern welded blades in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e, and presents in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gifts-for-hunters\"\u003egifts for hunters\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44134055444598,"sku":"VEF-SKN-DAM-DP-158","price":179.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-skinner-knife-burl-wood-resin-handle_fb0fff0f-9cd0-46aa-af27-67433f0334ef.jpg?v=1788736487","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-skinner-knife-burl-wood-resin","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}