My old mentor pulled me aside at the Austin stockyards back in '09

He showed me how he broke down a whole steer with just a boning knife and a cleaver - no saws, no power tools. Made me realize I was overcomplicating every cut I made. How many of you still break down primals by hand instead of using a bandsaw?

2 comments

2 Comments

faithg261mo ago

Your mentor wasn't wrong about the skill part, but a lot of folks think "no power tools" means that's the only proper way. A boning knife and cleaver are great for learning feel and working around bone, but a handsaw or even a good scimitar has its place when you're breaking down a whole steer. It's not about being a purist, it's about knowing when each tool saves you time and keeps the meat in better shape. Bandsaws are fine for breaking down frozen blocks or precise portions, but they ruin a primal's texture if you use them wrong. The real lesson is efficiency and respect for the animal, not ditching your saw.

taylor.phoenix1mo ago

I read somewhere that old school butchers used to say a handsaw is just a cleaver you can't sharpen.