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? about Bamboo as a cutting implement

fishshooter

fishshooter

Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
1,466
I've seen several passing references to using bamboo as knife, and even that it can repeatedly be sharpened. I also have read it is the only wood suitable for cutting implements. We have a lot of it growing around here and have used it for several things, including fishing spears. My question is when using it as a knife, is it best to use green, dried or fire hardened pieces? Also, should the edge be with the grain or across it?
 
with the grain! thats how it really cuts. As far as green or dry? Both should work.
kiyo1.jpg
 
Im' not sure if the above is all bamboo, but it shows the grain style either way.
 
I've heard that any hard wood can be fire hardened into an effective edge.
 
I have a book about primitive tools called, "Practicing Primitive" by Steven Watts. The following info comes from that book.

"The Southeaster Indian Split Cane Knife: used all over the Southeast both as a weapon (dagger) and as a tool for cutting fruits, vegetables, fish, and fresh meats." ..."can be dried or green. Fire harden the edge in flame not coals."

The shape is a lot different than the one posted above... I will look for pictures.

Well I looked. You can actually find large excerpts of this book online but the Chapter called "To Hunt and Fish" is always off limits. It shows the Cane knife.
 
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That's cool Gov. Actually what I am going to try to use is what is called cane around here. I have an old book that refrences the Creek Indians in the area using it, but doesn't go into any detail.
 
I also tend to think that that kiridashi posted above is isn't bamboo as well, just made to resemble it. Wicked cool though.

I have heard though that there are certain remote places up in the mountains where certain tribes use a bamboo cutting implement to cut the umbilical cord from a newborn.
 
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I can't wait to show that to the guys in the morning !:thumbup:
That means instead of carrying a survival knife all i have to do is put a bigazz rock in my pac........Oooops:D:D:D
 
I have been cut very deeply by split bamboo in which nothing was done to create an edge, I was just working with it. Its sort of like getting the mother of all paper cuts.

The outer skin of bamboo is very hard so if you carve away the softer inner material and shave it so the cutting edge is composed of that hard outer layer you have a pretty good chance of getting a sharp edge that may hold up for a while. The blades I have made kind of remind you of those non-metallic daggers, pierce for sure but don't expect a deep slash. Mac
 
pict said:
I have been cut very deeply by split bamboo in which nothing was done to create an edge, I was just working with it. Its sort of like getting the mother of all paper cuts.

The outer skin of bamboo is very hard so if you carve away the softer inner material and shave it so the cutting edge is composed of that hard outer layer you have a pretty good chance of getting a sharp edge that may hold up for a while. The blades I have made kind of remind you of those non-metallic daggers, pierce for sure but don't expect a deep slash. Mac
Click to expand...

As everyone knows, you can't even take a tiny razor blade onto an airplane now-a-days, but I've always wondered how the TSA would handle my check-in and walk-through the metal detector if I were carrying a piece of bamboo and some 80 grit sand paper.

For that matter, can I carry my tooth brush on in my shirt pocket along with some 80 grit?

For that matter, how about if I just carrying on some 120 and 320 grit paper in my wallet (along with some cash and my credit cards ;)). It's pretty easy to get a razor edge on a credit card in about 5 minutes....:D

By the time the plane had pulled away from the gate, I'd have been able to produce a fine shiv to protect myself from any sort of "goings on" which might endanger me or the other passengers....

Hmmm.... Would it be wrong to try it?;):D
 
worrying in that one day some terrorist is gonna try it.
i know what you meant , as a defense against hijackers , and i know it was just a joke.
 
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