Butcher knife
A butcher knife or butcher's knife is a knife designed and used primarily for the butchering or dressing of animal carcases.
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Use
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Today the butcher knife is used throughout the world in the meat processing trade. The heftier blade works well for splitting, stripping and cutting meat. The French chef's knife is a derivation of the butcher knife, and is used as a general utility knife. Other similar meat-cutting knives include the carving knife and the cleaver. The carving knife usually is designed for slicing thin cuts of meat and often has a blunt or rounded point, with a scalloped or Granton blade to improve separation of sliced cuts of meat. The cleaver is similar to the butcher's knife, but has a lighter and thinner blade for precision cutting.
History
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From the late 18th century to the mid-1840s, the butcher knife was a key tool for mountain men. Simple, useful and cheap to produce, they were used for everything from skinning beaver, cutting food, self-defense, and scalping. During this time John Wilson, of Sheffield, England, was a major exporter of this type of knife to the Americans.[1] These knives can be identified by brand markings and the stamp I. Wilson.[2] Heavy cleavers were traditionally hung on a hook blade up for ease of access. Hook through the blade keeps the blade under control and leaves easy access to the handle when hung at chest height or a little bit higher.
References
- O. Ned Eddins. "Traders and Trappers of Beaver Pelts". thefurtrapper.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-24.
- "Sheffield and Beeley Wood Steel Works" (PDF). The Portland Advertiser. 1 (60). March 11, 1831. p. 4 – via http://ScandinavianMountainMen.se.