Anybody here cut yourself?

[Ranger99]

If you use standard traditional
butchering tools?
Not saying cutting your free hand,
but has your knife slipped while
making a cut? ( not talking about
cutting ribcages or pelvises, but
cutting through muscle and gristle
and tissue as intended)
A good while back, I got to where I
started using the tools as a professional
meatcutter used to use back when they
didn't use bandsaws.
I've since had more than a few declare
to me that I'll cut my fingers off, or worse
without guards, or textured handles,
or rubber/rubberized handles, etc. etc.
Well I've yet to do that, and I don't think
the butchers of old did that, and none
of the naysayers that chastise me have
ever did that ( except when trying to use
their knife for something it wasn't intended
to do )

Anybody personally know of a fella who's
short a finger or two?

[tunnug]

Not yet but a buddy of mine who was a butcher had an old three fingered chainlink glove that tied off on your wrist, more like two fingers and thumb, told me it was a safety glove from back in the day so you didn't slice your fingers or hand while working.
Makes you wonder how often it happened if someone had to invent the safety glove.

[Lloyd Smale]

i gut and butcher at least 50 deer a year many times 3 a day and by the end of season my hands about look like i stuck them in a sharks mouth. Believe me. Deer blood and cuts dont go well together. One thing i have learned is the sharper the knife the least i cut myself. Its usually on the second or third deer i gut in a night or when im getting tired and sloppy cutting them up. but do enough of them and your going to cut yourself.

[Land_Owner]

Yeah...similar to lloyd...hurriedly, and carelessly, I cut myself, slicing through some cartilage on a knuckle, and a couple of stitches.  I didn't do it on purpose or because "I liked it".  In all carelessness, stuff happens.  Do I do it differently, knowing what I know now?  YES, of course!

[Ranger99]

Well I have cut myself before.
Not often, but enough to know how
bad it sucks. Yeah, blood in a cut
is bad news.
It's always been while skinning, and
cutting the off hand.
But I've never ever cut my knife hand
because of losing my grip on the knife
I was using.  I've known people that
did, and every one was using the knife
wrong, using it as a prybar, trying to
chisel through bone, etc.
Once the hide is off, it's just a few
minutes from carcass to cooler.
I do all that with a boning knife.
All my final cleanup and deboning
is done in the comfort of home
on the counter.

I was mainly asking because I have
several friends and acquaintances
that struggle every year ( just like
I used to) trying to get their deer
whacked up and on ice, and end
up looking like either a professional
cat bather or an amateur chainsaw
juggler. I've never had the severe
problems those folks have.
Maybe I'm just lucky

[Land_Owner]

I was mainly asking because I have
several friends and acquaintances
that struggle every year ( just like
I used to) trying to get their deer
whacked up and on ice, and end
up looking like either a professional
cat bather or an amateur chainsaw
juggler.

That right there is funny. 
ROFLMAO
You're killing me Smalls!

[O-mega]

I've nicked myself now and then, but never anything that needs more than a Band-Aid.  For the most part I agree a sharp knife is better/safer than a dull one, but on one of my last deer, I used the Havalon Piranta and managed to stick myself a couple three times.  It wasn't really the edge, but the tip, it is sharp as a needle and goes into the meat so easily that your hand best not be even close.  I switched from the pointy blade to the rounded edge so I should be good now.  But honestly, I think I will stick with my go to $10 (or cheaper, I found it) knife, which has a great rounded edge and can pretty much debone the entire deer.
This is the 60A blade for the Piranta, tip is much too sharp IMO.

This is the 70A, the blunt tip should make it better/safer to use.

But this is my go to, cheap blade but works great, I don't use the holes, the handle and jimping keep my hand in place.

[ironglows]

 .
     Being as I use knives as often as the next guy...and forge/grind knives also, I have had my share of nicks & slices.
  If it is just a nick..i like to use that "liquid bandage" or "new skin" paint on stuff to stop the bleeding and seal the wound.  Stings like fire, but does a good job.

  I prefer to forge blades that are reminiscent of the 1800-1840 fur trade..just solid working knives..while my grandson reaches for the "work of art' models.

Some of my blades..some of my very early ones. My later ones are much improved, but i have no photos.

 I learned early on, that when working with an already sharpened blade..to duct tape the edge..twice !

[Dand]

oh I have cut myself butchering moose caribou and fish.  For fish more and more I use cut resistant gloves that also help hold the fish.  My grip isn't as good as it was and why not be a little safer. I usually cut about 100 salmon per summer as well as 2-5 halibut. One day the knitted kevlar glove realy saved the base of my thumb when I slipped badly. 
As lloyd says - sharp knives are better.

I cut up my moose and caribou - usually boning it out. Sometimes use a hand saw or even a sawzall a little.
Maybe I'm getting smarter,  the last fiew times I don't recall even getting a nick!  But I go slow and sharpen often .

My favorite knives for all are an old 10 inch Old Hickory butcher knife for fish and meat, a rapala fillet knife - I use this more for meat than fish. Recently I added a Russell Dexter 10 inch butcher knife for fish and meat - I like the grippy plastic handle,  and a Victornox boning knife with scallops in the sides of the blade - incredible steel in this knife - gets and stays SHARP and just the right lenghth and good handle. Oh and always on stand by is an Alaskan Native ulu made by a neighbor - there are times when nothing else will do. But I can't do fish with one like the ladies here in town - they are amazing.  The ulu is really good when I have to cut off the heads of bigger king salmon and this one has great steel and a very adaptable handle.

[ironglow]

.
  Using an Ulu is a work of art in itself..and those ladies can do it !

  Here, a lady demos the Ulu..and she seems to have personality plus ! 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0EXRKpDVeM

[BUGEYE]

.
  Using an Ulu is a work of art in itself..and those ladies can do it !

  Here, a lady demos the Ulu..and she seems to have personality plus ! 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0EXRKpDVeM

That was amazing.

[Dee]

All of my knives, from pocket knives, to hunting knives, to butcher knives, to straight razors, all are razor sharp.
I rarely do cut myself, but on that rare occasion it's usually a minor because I subconsciously know what I'm using.