I hope my mistake can help some one

[22-rimfire]

Knives are not toys. We who handle knives frequently get a bit casual about them. They can hurt you if used improperly. One of the lessons I learned is NEVER try to catch a knife that you fumbled and dropped. You may be lucky, but more than likely you will get cut and possibly cut real bad. If the knife breaks somehow from dropping it, consider it fate and a lesson learned.

Was hoping to turn this thread around to what's important and ignore all the previous noise.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I just batoned a bunch of kindling tonight too, SAFELY and still have all my limbs! It’s not hard to use a sharp knife properly and for its intended purpose. Mall ninjas and all lmao

It's comical that "batoning" is thought to be the intended purpose of a knife.

 

[BigWillie]

It's comical that "batoning" is thought to be the intended purpose of a knife.

I think it's a pretty reasonable thing to want out of an all purpose bushcraft knife tho.

I have personally never batoned with my fixed blades....But if you're really out in the middle of no where a knife that can process some wood isn't a bad idea. Being able to baton wood pretty much guarantees you're gonna be able to bust fire if you can avoid the wind/rain/snow long enough.

Just crack a medium sized branch open and make some kindling no matter how soaked through everything around you is

edit - also helps in making a fire kit if you have no other means. Although GL getting that to work in the wet

 

[DocJD]

The word "toy" is often used in the description of adult , serious and potentially lethal/ dangerous objects .

This use of the word "toy" simply indicates that the ultimate purpose is primarily to amuse and entertain .

Swords , firearms , supercars, jet skis , fireworks , antique working warplanes and tanks etc are all owned and used primarily for FUN and called "toys" .

Care should be taken to use them safely , of course .

First aid / emergency kits and proper training are highly recommended .

 

[Cooter Brown]

I think it's a pretty reasonable thing to want out of an all purpose bushcraft knife tho.

I have personally never batoned with my fixed blades....But if you're really out in the middle of no where a knife that can process some wood isn't a bad idea. Being able to baton wood pretty much guarantees you're gonna be able to bust fire if you can avoid the wind/rain/snow long enough.

Just crack a medium sized branch open and make some kindling no matter how soaked through everything around you is

edit - also helps in making a fire kit if you have no other means. Although GL getting that to work in the wet

Just giving a hard time, really, bored on a rainy Sunday. Probably came off kind of snotty.

The "batoning" concept was something that never even occurred to me until I found this place. My outdoor mentors would have smacked me in the head if they saw me treat a knife like that, at least as soon as they were able to stop staring in disbelief at the sight. Kind of akin to using a wood chisel as a pry bar or screwdriver.

I guess if you're stranded somewhere by a plane crash or perhaps the apocalypse or rode out of town on a rail or something, but if I'm camping I have a boy's axe at least, and at home more effective stuff than that. Backpacking I've never needed anything other than to make shavings with a pocket knife to get started and what we used to call "squaw wood", feeding it into the fire as it burned. Of course these days the term "squaw wood" is certainly some sort of mortal sin. But it's a good description.

I reckon it is something of a test for a knife's toughness.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

seems there's been more going on here ... but for my 2 cents worth ...

I've been a first responder and was a certified EMT 1 before life took me in a different direction ...

but I have a good cover all first aid kit in my go bag ... and I have smaller emergency kits in my vehicles ...

those are great ideas but most of the time injuries occur we aren't in our vehicles and sometimes nowhere near them ... I carry a small kit hunting, hiking, fishing etc ...

but there are times I don't have anything because a simple short walk turned into a long day or someone else had been injured and I happened to be near by ...

so I highly recommend you put some thought into what you have and can use to improvise at least for a short time until help can get to you or you can get to help ...

I have probably improvised more than used good supplies through the years ... a calm head and knowing what things you can use that you have on you is really IMHO a huge asset.

 

[22-rimfire]

It's comical that "batoning" is thought to be the intended purpose of a knife.

I think it's a pretty reasonable thing to want out of an all purpose bushcraft knife tho.

I have personally never batoned with my fixed blades....But if you're really out in the middle of no where a knife that can process some wood isn't a bad idea. Being able to baton wood pretty much guarantees you're gonna be able to bust fire if you can avoid the wind/rain/snow long enough.

That is pretty much the deal with batoning a knife to split wood. You're improvising with a knife a task that a hatchet is better suited for generally, but since you have the knife with you, you're saving yourself carrying another cutting tool. I do not make it a habit batoning wood with a knife. Might do it for fun however and that translates to knowing how to do it when you really need to make a fire to keep warm or some other important reason.

.... but I have a good cover all first aid kit in my go bag ... and I have smaller emergency kits in my vehicles ...

those are great ideas but most of the time injuries occur we aren't in our vehicles and sometimes nowhere near them ... I carry a small kit hunting, hiking, fishing etc ...

but there are times I don't have anything because a simple short walk turned into a long day or someone else had been injured and I happened to be near by ...

You must carry a fairly substantial first aid kit with you in the woods if the smaller kit is inside the vehicle. A goodly proportion of my woods wandering is done within a half-mile to a mile of my vehicle. It is always possible to be injured that distance away and not be able to make it back. Good common sense generally saves the day and other than perhaps a twisted or turned ankle, most of the time you're fine. Having a knife might just help you fabricate a crutch if you need to or at least a stout walking stick that you can put some weight on.

Accidents do happen even to the best of us and it pays to be prepared somewhat.