Survival Skills: Knifecraft
You should know how to do more than just open your Amazon packages with your trusty blade, and every time you use your knife – you should be handling it safely. Whether you are packing a pocketknife or a huge survival knife that would make Rambo blush, this part of your kit can perform many remarkable tasks if you get stuck in the woods. Your knife can also cut you to the bone. Trust me, you’ll have enough problems in a survival situation. You don’t need to add “knife wound” to the list. You can minimize this risk by understanding knife safety. Always cut away from yourself and away from your neighbors in camp. Keep your folders closed and your sheath knives tucked into their sheaths when you’re not using them. Never rush when carving (keep each move slow and controlled). Use your situational awareness and stop carving if anyone comes within the reach of your blade. Finally, keep your knife sharp. A dull knife takes much more pressure to slice and this extra effort can cause you to slip.
To me, knife sharpening is a little bit like cooking. Not everyone wants to do it, and some folks just aren’t good at it (but it’s probably just because they haven’t spent much time working on the skill). Since your knife is one of the premier tools in the wilderness, it makes sense to keep it in top condition. That means keeping it stowed away safely when it’s not in use, and sharpening it after any use that would dull the edge. I’ve really enjoyed learning how to work with round river cobbles as improvised sharpening surfaces. After all, the first sharpening stones were actual stones, and you’ll just need to find the right “grit” for the sharpening task. If you’re just touching up an edge that’s still relatively sharp, a very smooth stone may provide all the abrasion you need. For more intensive work, you’ll need several different stones with different surface textures (mimicking store-bought stones that are coarse, medium and fine). Everyone has a little different style when it comes to moving the blade against a stone, but I’m a firm believer in making little circles in equal numbers (on each side of the blade). I also like to keep water on the stone. That’s not why it’s called a whet stone (different spelling – not “wet”), but it’s a good reminder to keep it wet. This keeps the stone dust and steel particles from clogging up the abrasive surface of the stone cobble.
Our Bushcraft and Wilderness Survival classes will show you many ways to safely use your knife. Check out the course details to find out more.
Written by Tim MacWelch First draft published on outdoorlife.com