Knife for Workshop Demos

[LDS]

Well, it's time to plan the gear for the summer workshop. The crew gets together for 10 days of fun and games. Last year we had 70 camps and I had 11 people in the newcommers class.

I have developed a rotation class that includes knives the first year, shelter/fire/campsite the second year, improvised weapons the third year and this year it will be traps and snares. I will probably continue this rotation into infinity, or as long as I last.

I use a "grab it and run" knife as my only cutting tool for the entire program. Two years ago I used an Old Hickory paring knife. Last year I used a $2.98 Faberware from Wallmart if I remember correctly. I remember using a box cutter one year. Surviving with whatever one has is the theme i am after. Perfect gear is nice, but not necessary.

I have decided to do a diferent deal this year. I will use a forged blade I made several years ago. It is a "ten minute knife". I hammered it out of hay rake tine, rough filed the blade and drilled a lanyard hole in the tang, then heat treated the whole unit. Start to finish was probably about 10 minutes. I was in the shop at that time but the knife could have been made on a home made forge just as easily.

This is a knife that one could hammer from any "found" tool steel on the most primitive equipment. A broken wrench, an old file, the tie rod end from a car, an old pair of scissors or hedge trimmers. Even a hardened bolt.

Right now the handle is a paracord wrap, but for this camp I will replace that with a leather thong. This is an entirely primitive camp.

The biggist problem I have with new charges is convincing them that the knife they use needs to be SHARP!! Most arrive with chisel edges on their blades or a round blunt edge. Most have not realized that their knives are not decorations and must be used for their intended purpose of cutting. Some even had sharp knives out of the wrapper, and dulled them so they would not hurt themselves.

[coon4492]

they dulled their knife because they didn't want to be cut I guess some people do think knives are just decorations. They need to spend a day in the woods with kingoftheflock he beats knives up they certainly get put to the test with him. I met him in the local park and I found him cutting branches off with a tiny knife in his leatherman multi tool. I couldnt believe he managed to get these branches off the tree with the knife we made a good shelter.