I've never even seen one, but when I was trapping I would have bought one had I been able to afford one.
Years ago a friend bought one, he loved it. He bought his from Halford's and I believe it was electric.
The thing that convinced me was this friend was well known for being one of the best and fastest beaver fleshers around. If he loved his machine, I figured it had to be fast and it had to do a pretty good job.
I couldn't see him selling a poorly done hide. That just isn't in his nature.
And I know he loves his down time. It had to be fast right from the get go or he'd go back to doing it old school.
This guy did a lot of beaver. up to 300 a year, or maybe a bit more.
Like me he learned to flesh them on his knee. We preferred that to other methods because all it required was a sharp knife and a pair of old jeans. Best of all it could be done anywhere, any time. Like while waiting for another beaver to surface while spring hunting for example.
Guys like him could flesh a beaver in under 15 minutes, it took me upwards of an hour.
For me a fleshing machine that could potentially put me in the same class as my friend, was something worth saving for.
But back then I was married to a woman who could keep "The Donald" in the poor house.
I never put together enough cash to make the purchase.
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Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.
George Bernard Shaw
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