Real Steel Knives debuted a new fixed blade design, a compact outdoors knife called the Furrier. Designed by RSK stalwart Ivan Braginets, the Furrier brings the karambit finger ring into a totally different knife genre.
Although we called the Furrier an outdoors knife, it is, more specifically, designed for skinning. It will be available in two different blade shapes, one that is called a Skinner blade, and the other the Harpoon. The Harpoon shape speaks for itself, with a by-the-book drop point shape livened up by a raised harpoon swedge. This version of the Furrier looks to be a good choice for users who might want to use it in a more generalized cutting role as well as for skinning.
Meanwhile, the Skinner blade’s bellied-out drop point provides a more aggressive cutting geometry; the tip is high enough to pierce when needed, but dropped far enough to prevent accidental punctures (a particular problem for skinning). Both blades have a length of 2.99 inches, which keeps them nice and maneuverable too. N690Co steel is on both versions, in our opinion a very solid choice for the intended role, with commendable edge retention and lots of stain resistance.
Skinning is a specific, unusual role for a knife. Fitting, then, that the Furrier’s handle comes decked out with an unusual feature. It’s not the overall profile, whose basic cuts and curves won’t surprise or disappoint anyone, but the inclusion of a karambit-style finger ring on the back end. The choice is an interesting one, but makes sense after some consideration. Skinning is a delicate chore that demands not only high levels of control, but also maneuverability, flexibility; by keeping the pinky finger in the ring, users can rotate between different grips quickly, without any fear of dropping the knife. Beyond the presence of this finger ring, all the expected details and traits are in place: contoured scales (from either olive wood or Micarta), full tang construction, and even a suitably rustic leather sheath.
The Furrier will be available soon.
Knife in Featured Image: Real Steel Knives Furrier
