finleyh89•19d agoProlific Poster

Watched a 70 year old butcher break down a whole hog at the NC State Fair demo tent

I was standing there for maybe 20 minutes watching this guy work, and he barely even looked at the knife. Just let the joints tell him where to cut... I've been fighting with bone saws and forcing things for like 4 years and that dude made me realize I've been using way too much force this whole time. Has anyone else had a moment where watching some old timer made you totally change your approach?

2 comments

2 Comments

hall.nina19d ago

real talk, once you stop forcing it and start reading the bones instead of fighting them, everything changes. try going in with a flexible boning knife and let the tip find the seams, game changer.

dixon.spencer18d ago

yo @hall.nina that tip about reading the bones is something i been telling people for years but nobody listens. once you stop muscling through it and let the knife do the work it really changes everything. question though - do you find that works better with younger animals or does it not matter that much? i feel like older tougher cuts still need some force behind the blade but maybe im just not trusting the seam enough. curious what your experience has been on that.