Archive for November, 2009
Knives and Primitive Skills
The most essential piece of camping gear that you can take out into the woods is a good knife. With a knife most of your survival skills are well at hand. A knife can make shelter building a breeze with a basic level of land knowledge. A knife can b valuable in each of these activities: cutting dead branches for firewood, filleting food so that the edible parts are uncovered, defending against wild animals. The applications of a good knife are endless. For those that are going to spend time nature, it is imperative that a sharp knife be present during your journey.
Investment in a good outdoor survival knife is just as important as those that we prize in our kitchens, and in terms of your comfort and survival in the woods, it is more important. The rigors of nature definitely certainly call to most of us, but do not make the mistake of venturing off unprepared.
Save Space with a Money Clip Knife
For years I have carried a pocketknife with me everywhere I go. Some people may view this as unnecessary, but I actually employ my blade for a variety of tasks and use it many times a week. Lately, however, with the need to carry a Blackberry, my keys, wallet and other essentials, I’ve found myself running short on pocket space.
Getting a man-purse was out of the question, so I needed to find another way to relieve my bulging pockets. Last week I was in my local knife shop and found a money clip knife. This handy tool allowed my to combined my wallet and pocketknife into one item, and open up some much needed pocket room.
Stay Sharp
A dull knife is a useless knife. Testing a knife can help you tell whether it’s sharp enough. Try cutting through a ripe tomato; if the knife is sharp it will cut through the tomato with ease, if it’s not it will smash the tomato. But don’t throw a dull knife away because it can be easily sharpened.
There are two main types of knife sharpeners; metal sharpeners and ceramic sharpeners. Knives made of harder metal require more sharpening but will stay sharp longer.
Metal sharpeners offer a great finish to an already sharp knife because of their fine grains. Professional chefs and butchers are likely to use these sharpeners. Ceramic sharpeners on the other hand, are used primarily to sharpen stainless steel knives. Sharpeners of this type are good at thinning knife points.
Diamonds: Not Just for Jewelry
Keeping your blade sharp is important for any knife owner, especially if you are using your knife on a consistent basis. There are several options for knife sharpeners on the market, and the one you pick will determine the sharpness of your edge. If money is not an obstacle and you are looking for the best quality, the clear choice is a diamond knife sharpener.
Diamonds are the hardest natural material known to man, rating a 10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale. As such, diamond sharpeners are the best option for creating a razor sharp edge. You can find great diamond sharpening kits that include safety holders, oil and everything else you need to sharpen like a pro.