Stompy:
I routinely whittle with a blade facing me, but I would not tell a scout just learning that a knife can cut things that doing so is a good thing. It is a skill that must be learned, and would be a good thing to teach in the Woodcarving merit badge, as opposed to basic safety.
I do remember an old scout chaplain who was whittling, with a borrowed knife, when he slipped, and jabbed it into his chest. He calmly wiped the blade off, closed it, and handed it to the man he had borrowed it from, and then asked his neighbor where the camp medic was, because he had cut himself. The neighbor was the camp medic, and after some hee-hawing, the chaplain stepped out of the circle of people, and, quite embarrassed, showed the medic about a 3/4" cut on his chest. The doc decided it needed stitches, and began the process (Namely a 45 minute drive) of getting him into town for stitches. About halfway into town, the rest of the story came out. Turns out the chaplain had done much more than cut himself, the two-and-some-odd inch blade had been stuck most of the way into the guys chest. The medics foot became mysteriously heavier, and his heart picked up the pace a wee bit.
Fortunately, the guy was lucky. He was more than a bit overweight, and had plenty of stored energy cushioning a major artery from the steel intrusion. Just enough to spare nicking said artery. He survived, with a miniscule scar, doing something and old chaplain, and the fantastic wood carver he was, thought of as normal.
It's a skill, and even then, is not a skill to be taught or shown lightly. Definately not something you want to teach a group of 9 year olds. Something I may show a particularly adept individual, with the admonition that it is a very easy way to cut oneself, and maybe even show off a scar or two on my hands. Goodness knows I have enough.
Stryver
