Mama told me don’t play with sharp objects

[M R Dux]

I’ve been down much of the week with a bad sinus infection. I was going cabin crazy yesterday so I got back into the taxidermy studio. I had a couple of small bucks to do European mounts on so I broke out a brand new German bird-beak knife to do the trick.

I had a client sitting nearby talking to me as I took the tissue off the skulls. Suddenly I made a mis-cut and hit the side of my thumb with the side of the blade. It left a tiny cut that barely bled. We both laughed about how lucky I was. Not one minute later I made the exact same mistake but this time it wasn’t the side of the blade. Instantly we both knew I had screwed up royally. One look at the cut showed it was to the bone deep.

I went to the sink, grabbed the Dawn dish detergent, and scrubbed both the deer and my blood off the best I could. We then wrapped it up so I could drive to the local ER.
The doctors there said I was extremely lucky it wasn’t an inch lower into the ball of my thumb.

5 stitches and a tetanus shot later and my day was over. We talked about taxidermy the whole time the Dr sewed me up while a Med student watched. The Dr did a great job of sewing with a stitch different from what I would use to sew up a critter.

I’ve warned folks dozens of times how dangerous the bird-beak knives are. I now will have the scar to prove it.

BTW, Rickie and I will be on the Ohio River Friday, sauger fishing with Justin, a member here. A latex glove over the bandage on the thumb should do the trick. I just hope I don't end up with a similar cut from a gill plate on a sauger.


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[Boa3]

Ouch! Glad it won't slow your fishing down. Momma was right

[catchncrisco]

Geez Doug glad it wasn't worse....let Rickie land and handle your fish for you Friday

[trypman1]

Ugh! Sorry for you, I have been there.

[Hanr3]

Ouch! Did something similar with a wood chisel. Scar is gone now, but the lesson remains. Post up a fishing report.


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[Slab]

I hate when anyone uses the term "bone deep" when describing accidentally cutting themselves. ROUCH!!!!!!!! It made me wince, cause that's never ever happened to me! NOT! I'm looking at my hands right now counting the times! lol

Glad you're OK. Heal well my friend.

And show us a pic of that Bird-Beak. Dono what you're talking about. I guess I could google it...

[mccowan]

Ouch!!! I would like to see the knife also, never heard of them.

[Beavz]

Amazing how quickly it happens...
Hope you heal up quickly! (OUCH!)

[M R Dux]

The top knife is brand new. The lower has been used for quite a while. The magic and danger of a bird-beak knife is the cutting edge is on the INSIDE of the turn instead of outside. My main use is cutting capes off of skulls by prying under the skin, back edge of the blade on the skull. It allows me to get up under antler pedicals without tearing up the skin.


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[Slab]

I still see some of your finner on that one! Lol


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