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Louis Martin Custom Knives

Louis Martin Custom Knives

Handmade Skinning Knives

A skinning knife features a curved, upswept blade designed for separating hide from game without cutting the meat. Louis Martin skinning knives are hand-forged with dedicated skinner profiles in Damascus and high-carbon steel for clean, precise field dressing.

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Quick Answer

A skinning knife features a curved, upswept blade designed for separating hide from game without cutting the meat. Louis Martin skinning knives are hand-forged with dedicated skinner profiles in Damascus and high-carbon steel for clean, precise field dressing.

The skinning knife is a specialist's tool — its curved blade geometry is designed for one purpose, and it excels at it. Louis Martin's handmade skinning knives give hunters a purpose-built blade that makes the most demanding part of field dressing faster, cleaner, and safer.

Characteristics & Construction

These notes describe skinning knives in general. Lot pieces are picked from stock, so features such as blade length, handle material and construction vary piece to piece.

Blade Curvature

Skinning blades feature a pronounced upswept curve that positions the edge parallel to the hide surface as you draw the knife, minimizing the risk of puncturing the hide or nicking the meat. Blade lengths vary from piece to piece.

Drop-Point vs Trailing-Point

Profiles vary from piece to piece and can include drop-point skinners (controlled tip, versatile) and trailing-point skinners (extreme upswept profile, maximum skinning efficiency, less suitable for field dressing tasks requiring tip work).

Edge Profile

Grinds vary from piece to piece. A convex grind, a smooth rounded bevel, slips between hide and tissue cleanly and holds up better than a hollow or flat grind.

Handle Position

Skinning work is palm-intensive. Handles vary from piece to piece; look for a palm swell and a tapered pommel, which lock the knife into a skinning grip and resist slipping when the handle is wet.

Skinning Knives 10-piece assorted lot In Stock

In-Stock Lot

Skinning Knives: 10-Piece Lot

A hand-picked lot of 10 skinning knife pieces from stock. No two are alike, and features vary piece to piece. Every knife ships with a sheath. Choose your steel below.

10% off Damascus $179 $161 10 pieces 10% off D2 Tool Steel $139 $125 10 pieces 10% off Assorted $159 $143 10 pieces

Assorted is a mixed lot of skinning knives, no two the same. 10% off all lots for a limited time. Free US shipping. 60-day returns. See our shipping and return policies.

Start Your Order Call (631) 898-4249 or send a written inquiry

Also on our eBay store (97.5% positive across 57,600+ ratings) and in our daily live Whatnot auctions (4.8★, 12,400+ reviews), at in-person shows, and for wholesale volume. Carry rules vary: see knife laws by state.

Care & Maintenance

Full care guide →
  1. 1

    Rinse immediately in the field

    Rinse blood from the blade immediately after field dressing. Blood is acidic and will etch and stain unprotected high-carbon and Damascus steel within 10–15 minutes.

  2. 2

    Dry thoroughly

    Dry the blade and handle completely before re-sheathing. Moisture inside the sheath is the most common cause of blade rust between hunts.

  3. 3

    Touch up with a strop

    A skinning knife dulls rapidly on connective tissue. Carry a leather strop in the field and re-strop the edge between animals for clean, efficient cuts.

  4. 4

    Deep clean annually

    Before storage at season end, wash the knife with warm soapy water, dry thoroughly, and apply a heavy coat of mineral oil or blade protectant to the blade and handle.

  5. 5

    Condition a leather sheath

    If your sheath is leather, apply a thin coat of neatsfoot oil to its interior annually. A dry sheath can actually scratch the blade finish as the knife is drawn and re-sheathed repeatedly.

Skinning Knives: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a skinning knife and a hunting knife?
A hunting knife is a general-purpose field knife that can skin, gut, and butcher game. A dedicated skinning knife has a curved upswept blade optimized specifically for separating hide from carcass — it's faster and cleaner for skinning but less versatile for other field tasks.
What blade length is best for a skinning knife?
A 3.5–4.5 inch skinner is best for deer and medium game. Larger elk and bear benefit from a 4.5–5 inch skinner. Longer blades become more difficult to control in the close quarters of skinning work.
Do I need a dedicated skinning knife or will a hunting knife work?
A good hunting knife with a drop-point blade can skin game effectively. A dedicated skinner is faster and cleaner for hunters who process multiple animals per season. Many experienced hunters carry both — a skinner and a utility hunting knife.
What is a trailing-point skinning knife?
A trailing-point skinner has an extreme upswept blade where the tip curves up above the center of the blade spine. This geometry maximizes the slicing surface available along the curve — ideal for skinning but not useful for tasks requiring controlled tip work.

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One of a kind

Each piece is the only one we made. Sold once, gone for good.

Hand-forged since 1993

Forged, ground, and finished at our own facility.

Warranty in the box

Every knife ships with our warranty card.

Free US shipping

Dispatched within 3 business days.

What Live Buyers Say

★★★★★
"Great knives, exactly the ones I picked. Arrived super quick and low price! Awesome knives I will definitely buy more!"
@crypticpsycho · via Whatnot
★★★★★
"Excellent build quality and craftsmanship!!"
@tankyardy · via Whatnot
★★★★★
"Nothing but beauty and fine quality..! Everyone should own some of these knives...!"
@the_beaver_inspector_69420 · via Whatnot
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