The down side of a razor sharp knife

bladeprince

bladeprince

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
956
I've always wanted my knives to be razor sharp. Anything less was like an unloaded gun to me. I use a Sharpmaker on them, 30 degrees for a few of my favorites and the "standard" 40 degrees for the rest. Well, last night I played the price. It's not the first time nor will it be the last, I'm sure. While doing some Philippino style "live hand blocking", then a fast replacement of the block with the knife, then a slice down and return to ready with the knife as I withdraw the block hand, I manage to cut most of the end of my little finger off. I let it bleed for quite awhile (and man, did it ever bleed) while I contemplated the need for an emergency root visit. It was sliced in such a way (no tendons or ligaments, thank god) that I thought I could just lay it back in place, add some Neosporin (a knife collectors best friend), and secure it with a couple of fairly tight band aids. Butterfly bandage and steri-strips would not work in this case. I changed the dressing this morning and it looks like it's going to work. One of the problems I see is that it took me 3 times as long to write this post without the use for my left little finger. I'm a systems programmer so Monday should be fun too.

The moral of the story? Use those nice trainers we all purchased for self-defense practice, especially when practicing at "real-time" speed. If you don't have any, make some or buy some. I was using an S30V Blur sharpened to 30 degrees. If I had caught my finger farther back and also started to cut on the blade near the choil, where the serrations begin (I just caught the tip of the blade), I would have sliced one side of my finger right off from palm to tip. Maybe even cut it completely off. Makes me sweat thinking about either scenario.

Now, where did I put those darn trainers?

Regards
 
Knives are more dangerous than guns IMO.I worked in a numer of retail Gun stores (the last one had a 1200 gun inventory).Knives are always loaded if you know what I mean.That does not mean you do not have to be carefull with ANY firearm and follow the basic rules,I always hold sharp knives with high reguard.
 
patrickjames said:
Knives are more dangerous than guns IMO.I worked in a numer of retail Gun stores (the last one had a 1200 gun inventory).Knives are always loaded if you know what I mean.That does not mean you do not have to be carefull with ANY firearm and follow the basic rules,I always hold sharp knives with high reguard.
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I like that. Very original: "knives are always loaded".

Funny how laziness (not getting one of my trainers, in this case) can put an abrupt stop to even simple common sense.

I was very lucky I didn't do some sort of crippling, permanent damage. Since we all get complacent from time to time, sharing my experience was only to remind everyone exactly what you said, Patrick: "knives are always loaded" and need to be treated with respect and caution.

Regards
 
I just got my Snopes.com update, with another warning about sharp objects: Dishwasher Demise.

... on 22 January 2003, a five-year-old Kentucky girl died of wounds received when she fell onto a knife exposed in an open dishwasher. The fatal accident befell Payton Michael McElroy during a visit at her grandparents' house in the company of her mother and brother. The two children were playing while the grandmother was unloading the dishwasher, and somehow during this play session the girl tripped and fell onto a knife housed on the open dishwasher's door. The blade punctured the child's heart and left lung.
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This tragedy serves as a sad reminder for the need to always load utensils into the dishwasher with their sharp ends pointing down. Forks, knives, scissors — all should be placed in the cutlery basket with their blades or tines down.
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You don't need to buy a trainer. You can make one (if the original knife is reasonably priced enough), just round of the edge and blunt the tip. And, you can always sharpen it back....
 
robertmegar said:
You don't need to buy a trainer. You can make one (if the original knife is reasonably priced enough), just round of the edge and blunt the tip. And, you can always sharpen it back....
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What?? Make one, sure, out of wood. Or even dull an unused knife and leave it that way. But to dull one and resharpen it? Sorry, that's off the map. A good trainer is even duller than a butter knife. How do you resharpen that? On a grinder? Not very good good knife care. Besides, that wasn't the point of my post anyway.
 
Hey bladeprince...

We all cut ourselves from time to time....
Hopefully int's not always bad...

Ask Glockman about getting cut!! He did a number on himself awhile back...

Just be glad you don't play with loaded guns the same way!! LOL

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Normark said:
Hey bladeprince...
We all cut ourselves from time to time....
Hopefully int's not always bad...
Ask Glockman about getting cut!! He did a number on himself awhile back...
Just be glad you don't play with loaded guns the same way!! LOL
ttyle
Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

Very true. Countless times I've sustained much more serious injuries. The irony of this one was interest (but not unique, I know). Almost cutting off a finger while training the protect myself against such a thing. Made me feel pretty stupid, especially since I had 2 rubber training knives (they're scattered around the house) in a drawer, not more than 5 feet away.

As a side note, I gave a pretty nice folder to a friend a couple weeks ago who had owned nothing but SAK's and a FB hunting knife before that. He called 3 days ago to tell me he had to get 4 stitches in his thigh after stabbing himself with his new folder. I guess I didn't learn from his mistake.

If Glockman would like to share his experience, I like to read it.

Regards
 
 
I've never believed that old wive's tale about how dull knives are more dangerous than sharp ones. I've never cut myself on a dull knife yet.
 
More like the downside of being dumb:foot:

I've been downright stupid(with knives) a few times, and have a couple of scars to show for it.
Come to think of it, I've got several scars from being stupid without knives, too:rolleyes:
 
Last week I managed to depress the lock on a Byrd Cara Cara while using the tip to shape a piece of wood. Knife folded on my hand...cut over half way through the middle knuckle of my right index finger....my trigger finger. A bit more pressure and I woukdve taken a glass of milk with me to the ER.

Had to go to a hand specialist...he said I should be fine, minor nerve damage, but severed most of the tendons and ligaments.

Im scheduled for a followup next week to see if I need surgery.
 
Hey J..

Yaa man,, that sucks...

I cut partially through a tendon a couple of years ago..
hospital said,, "No problem,no tendon damage" a Week later while in therapy for my arm, I was told something was wrong with it...

Went to the hand doc and he said "Definate Tendon Damage!!" F-ing Dumb Ass ER doctor!!!. Lost the majority of the use of my hand for 8 months, and a hand brace to keep it straight....

Be VERY careful and let that tendon heal properly...Don't overdo it!!

Best of luck to you guys..

Eric
O/ST
 
I put a nasty gash in my hand trying to fold a 4" razor sharp CS tanto. The lock pin jammed in a half cocked position while i was trying to demonstrate how quick it can be opened. Luckily they had some sterile adhesive that is applied over an open wound to keep it closed.

Once i had a big piece of glass go into a finger and broke off. I had to get it out so i went home and dug it out and stitched it with 3 stitches without a local. I now have some lidocaine and benzocaine in the form of bee sting relief and toothache pain releiver to put on first.

It is good to get these stories so we can avert having it happen to us.
 
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