Just a note here. There are devices readily available through which you can abrade the metal of a knife and return to it a keen edge.

Hal

To that effect, I have gone and purchased a diamond steel/ stick that I use just for that purpose. However, I think that my technique with that still leaves room for improvement.
Just skinned another beaver the other day (I have more beaver than I have time to skin), and I swear,
you give me a deer, and I'm a skinning champ, but you give me a beaver, and I'm a chump!

Thanks for all of the good knowledge that gets freely given out here.

GHG

Dated for search.