The Skinning Knife

Certainly skinning knives rated as among the most important tools in the frontiersman’s kit, yet little information is available to the enthusiast about these austere blades.

M.H. Cole, a pioneer in the field of knife collecting and the author of four volumes of U.S. military knives, has compiled what is destined to become a standard reference work on these hunter’s utility knives. Don’t think this a treatise on the skinning knife’s history, because this tome is encyclopedic, using clear, hand drawn representations of more than 100 variations of skinners, along with descriptive text, revealing maker, dates sold and other pertinent details. There’s also a handy section depicting trademarks. The Skinning Knife is a worthwhile addition to any blade collector’s library. —Phil Spangenberger