Lets Talk About Knives

A knife is a invaluable asset in a survival situation. As I have stated several times in many of my other blog post that having a knife is one of the most valuable things that you can carry. If you ask just about any survival expert they will tell you that If there Is one tool that they could pick when going out into the wild they will always pick the knife.

Choosing the Knife that's right for you...
A multi-bladed folding knife is a useful tool, but, if you carry only one knife, you need something stronger, a general purpose blade that will do all likely tasks efficiently and comfortably, from cutting trees to skinning animals and preparing vegetables. Some have a compass built into the handle or have the handle hollowed out so that you can carry survival kit inside it. However, these features will be offset by the possibility of  a hollow  handle breaking and a compass may soon lose its accuracy after the knife has been used on a hardwood tree. If you lose this kind of knife then you also lose your survival kit. So its much better to keep the kit in a separate pouch on you belt or on the sheath.

REMEMBER... YOU ARE ONLY AS SHARP AS YOUR KNIFE. Your knife is such an important piece of survival equipment, that you must keep it sharp and ready for use. Don't misuse your knife. Never throw it into trees or onto the ground. Keep it clean, and if you don't intend to use it for a while, oiled and in its sheath.
When walking though close, or difficult terrain, get in the habit of checking your knife This should become an automatic reflex especially after negotiating difficult terrain. A check of all pockets and possessions should be second nature.

Folding Knives.... A folding knife that has a serrated edge, and which can be opened one handed is valuable, provided it has a good locked position. Always carry one. A blade in a wooden handle is usually more comfortable. It will not slip in a sweaty hand and, if the handle is made from a single piece of wood, is less likely to cause blisters.

Sharpening a knife... Any sandstone will sharpen tools. A grey, clayey sandstone being best. Quartz though more rarely found, is good and granite can also be used. Rub two pieces together to make them smooth. A double faced stone with a rough and a smooth surface is ideal and should be carried in the sheath pocket. Use the rough surface first to remove burrs, then the smooth one to get a fine edge. The object is to get an edge that will last and not chip.

   * To Sharpen the blade, hold the handle in the right hand. Use a clockwise circular motion and apply a steady pressure on the blade with the fingertips of the left hand a you push away. Keep the angle constant and make sure you push the knife into stone so that the edge is sharpened rather than rounded. Keep the stone wet. Rock particles on the blade will show the angle you are obtaining. Don't drag the blade towards you under pressure. This will produce burrs. Reduce the pressure for a finer edge. Work counter clockwise on the other side.

Thanks for reading and come back for more valuable information. Don't forget to bookmark this page or add it to your favorites as I will be posting more each day. Also check out my You Tube Channel by visiting http://www.youtube.com/user/ruffsurvival.

All comments are welcome and encouraged. We appreciate your support!! Thanks Again...
Eric From Ruff Survival.