Producing a Blade from natural materials.

dartanyon · Feb 9, 2003

I wonder how much we rely on having a blade when we really need it. What if we don't have it? What then? Do we survive??
I say yes. We are here to learn and or share knowledge.
The first type of natural material that comes to my mind for maling a blade is possibly one of the oldest - stone. The art of flintknapping or chipping flakes off hard stone to produce a cutting edge is one of the most fascinating primitive skills for me on the subject of knives.
Are there more ways of producing a blade from natural materials?

MyNamesUsed · Feb 9, 2003

It is much more controlled than the percussion form of flintknapping and is quite easy...provided you don't kill your self in the process.

Sharptooth · Feb 9, 2003

A little OT, but due to the lack of people taking the time to clean up their own trash, 100% of the places that I hunt, explore, wander around, I am able to always spot an alumminum can or two which, when torn produce a rather sharp edge. Just something that might help out in a pinch.

dartanyon · Feb 10, 2003

Whats pressure flaking? Is that when you press a soft material on the edge to produce a flake?
The aluminium or steel can - for sure. I have even tried using bits of glass bottles found in a fireplace.
Does anyone know about knives made from bone? I imagine it wouldn't hold an edge for long.

coyotlviejo · Feb 10, 2003

Knives can be produced from bone, but as you note they don't hold keen edges. However, bone is easily serrated, which will make up some of the difference in some jobs like cutting meat.

Pressure flaking is exactly what you said. Modern flintknappers use copper to press the flakes off, traditionalists prefer antler and bone.

Some stones can also be formed into excellent blades by grinding (i.e. jade).

Bamboo and cane grass will hold a razor edge, and are commonly used in SE Asia for knives and arrow heads.

dartanyon · Feb 11, 2003

Ahhh ..... a knife from bamboo, yet another good idea.
I suppose a blade can be fabricated from any hard wood, or even shells.

A blade from ice ....... now that'd be good.

coyotlviejo · Feb 11, 2003

Uh, that would qualify as a multi-tool. A knife and fire-starter all in one!

scotjute · Feb 13, 2003

Does anyone know if it's true that a sharp piece of green wood can be made harder by heating it in fire? Say for example for a spear tip?

MyNamesUsed · Feb 13, 2003

scotjute,
Yes its true to an extent. Heating it rids of the excess moisture in the wood and changes the grain structure a little(expands it I believe), however if you get to the point that it starts to turn black you've ruined it. Done right heated wood becomes almost as hard as bone and heated bone becomes almost as hard as stone. does wonders when treated right. I need to try this on bamboo as that stuff is wicked sharp and hard anyways. As a side note if you are heating bamboo make sure that you are not heating a sealed section. Bamboo has a tendancy to explode if heated and doesn't have a hole in it.
Take it easy,
MNU

coyotlviejo · Feb 13, 2003

A cool thing about bamboo and cane reeds is that you can sharpen it by peeling off the dull edge as long as your blade edge is parallel to the grain. No grinding or carving necessary. I don't know about hardened bamboo, though. Maybe the fibers wouldn't separate easily enough to peel.