Case Ridgeback Skinner

By  Steve Hanner

If I told you today you could get a US made fixed blade for under $50 would you beleive me? How about if I told you the knife was produced by W.R. Case and when shipped included a sheath? I can’t wait to tell you about this knife! If you are a hunter  you most likely need a good skinning blade when on the trail. A good knife can make a skinning job go quickly and save you hours.

First let’s look at the requirements of a good knife for skinning:

• A sharp blade, preferably a good fixed blade knife
• Good rust resistance 
• A non slip handle
• A sharp tip that gets in all the small spots
• A wide belly for scraping

This Blackie Collins designed Case Ridgeback skinner really fulfills all those requirements and more. The size of the knife is a handy 8 1/2 inches long. It is very important that the knife you use for the job is not too large or too small to get the job done. A knife used for skinning will need to be cleaned and when it is cleaned you don’t want the knife to rust.This Case full tang blade is brushed Tru-Sharp Surgical Stainless Steel. The knife has an upswept blade, a sharp point, and a wide belly. The handle is Zytel Camo.

  
For detail work, on the top of this 1/8 inch wide blade are some grooves called gimping which allow for choke up on the knife. All in all there are three potential hand positions on this knife.

• The first position is grasping the handle with a regular grip
• The second position involves moving the thumb to the first set of gimping and placing your index finger in the choil. (Illustrated)
• The final position involves placing your thumb over the second set of gimping, much closer to the tip of the knife. This grip greatly increases your control of the Case knife.(Illustrated)

Here are some samples of the last two positions:

    
History

Knifemaker and designer Blackie Collins worked with Case to design this knife. Who is this designer? His actual name was Walter Wells Collins (1939 -July 20th, 2011) but went by the name Blackie. He was an American knife maker who designed and popularized the assisted opening mechanisms and various automatic knife designs within the art of knifemaking. Other knifemakers and collectors call him one of the most innovative knife designers in the world. He was an author and founder of what became Blade Magazine. Collins died July 20th, 2011 in a motorcycle accident.
The Case Ridgeback Skinner is handcrafted in the U.S.A. And comes complete with the Case Limited Lifetime Warranty. The working knife was designed for a hunter. The handle is large with a rough surface and flared at the base to assure a good grip. A lanyard hole, another great feature of the knife, let’s you secure some paracord or leather to help you maintain control of the knife when skinning.

  
A nice black nylon sheath comes with the Case Ridgeback which provides a way to secure the knife for carry. It can be worn on a belt and is marked with a Case XX. A snap closure keeps the knife securely in place.

  
This knife is an excellent value at twice the price. Fit and finish of the knife were just beautiful. This is a hard working knife I am proud to carry.
Where to purchase: Smoky Mountain Knifeworks http://www.smkw.com