Unsavory topic, what happens to the rest of the badger?

[PaulL]

I am just full of curiosity. I guess shaving brushes have been made from badger hair for a long time. Apparently the British were big on it, and now that end of the business seems to have moved to China.

What did the British used to do with the rest of the badger?
Are there any UK knots anymore, or is it 100% Chinese.

My imagination needs little stimulation with what the Chinese do with it. Probably hot and sour badger, or Badger Hot Pot.

I wonder how many shaving brushes they get from one badger?

 

[BladeDE40]

It is BBQ season....

 

[DunEdinRanger]

It tastes just like Chicken! You want extra MSG?!

 

[mblakele]

Read http://huntergathercook.typepad.com/huntergathering_wild_fres/2009/09/badger-roadkill-burgers.html and http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3581 at your own risk. The meat has been compared to pork and to lamb, but I can't provide any personal experience.

 

[Topgumby]

Two all badger patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Read http://huntergathercook.typepad.com/huntergathering_wild_fres/2009/09/badger-roadkill-burgers.html and http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3581 at your own risk. The meat has been compared to pork and to lamb, but I can't provide any personal experience.

Can't be as bad as the article I read on Mongolian Marmot.

 

[TheSweep]

Honestly? Jokes aside, the animal is most likely wasted. I doubt there is a market for the rest of it.

I use boar brushes.

 

[BladeDE40]

Now boar meat is quite tasty!

 

[PaulL]

I'm sure they are not wasted in China. As they say "anything with four legs except the table"
But in the UK I'd bet you're right.

 

[antoine1]

The European badger is a protected species throughout UK and Europe, any legally made knots will be made with Chinese hair.

 

[TheSweep]

I'm sure they are not wasted in China. As they say "anything with four legs except the table"
But in the UK I'd bet you're right.

The people gathering badger aren't homesteaders carving out a place for themselves on the frontier. The animal is probably quickly skinned so they can harvest the max amount of hair a day. In a factory.

 

[PaulL]

Good call Antoine1.

Under the Protection of Badgers Act of 1992 it is an offence to kill a badger or to interfere with a sett without a licence from Natural England. Wikipedia

 

[BladeDE40]

All kidding aside...this topic is why I chose to go synthetic.

 

[PaulL]

All kidding aside...this topic is why I chose to go synthetic.

I see your point. Thinking of heading in that direction.
Are the synthetic brushes treating you well?

 

[Klarion]

Really? There's always the boar then! You know the rest of that little piggy is being put to good use.

 

[BladeDE40]

I see your point. Thinking of heading in that direction.
Are the synthetic brushes treating you well?

I have bought one so far...a Parker synthetic, and am very satisfied. I find it to work extremely well, it holds water well enough for me, lathers very well (both face and bowl), and has very soft tips. The biggest plus for me is that there is no smell. I looking an Omega synthetic for my next brush.

 

[mmack66]

The people gathering badger aren't homesteaders carving out a place for themselves on the frontier. The animal is probably quickly skinned so they can harvest the max amount of hair a day. In a factory.

I would imagine that the badger hair is a secondary byproduct of badger processing. Why do folks that kill badgers for food have to be homesteaders?

 

[prophetic_joe]

There was a huge discussion on this awhile back and the brush companies informed some of the members here that the badger is a food source in China so that the hair is actually a left over of the food industry. I am sure this isn't always the case but I can't really complain about badgers when I wear leather apparel from time to time.

 

[kooshman7]

Two all badger patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun.

That would be an improvement if it were true most likely.

 

[xriley]

The same thing happens to the badgers as does to the other animals used for fur.

I like my badger brushes.