Patent ID: 8267754

Claim:
A skinning knife, comprising: a handle, having a forward portion, a grip portion disposed behind said forward portion, an upper portion and a lower portion; a slitting blade disposed at said forward portion and having an upwardly- and forwardly-directed cutting edge so as to cut material encountered as the knife is thrust forwardly; a first spreading member disposed at the forward most position of said forward portion so as to spread apart two portions of a first material that have been separated by said slitting blade as the knife is thrust forwardly, said spreading member having a three-dimensional forwardly convex surface for engaging and spreading said two portions of material; and a retractable punch blade disposed at least partially in said forward portion beneath said slitting blade for opening a hole in said first material when said knife is thrust forwardly, said punch blade having a forward end and a rearward end, said forward end having a cutting edge, said first spreading member having a slot therein for receiving said punch blade, and said handle having a punch blade actuation mechanism for selectively moving said punch blade forwardly through said slot in said first spreading member and in front thereof and moving said punch blade rearwardly through said slot so as not to protrude forwardly beyond said forwardly convex surface of said first spreading member.