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Top 5 knife skills....
- Thread starter j williams
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Picture taking:thumbup::thumbup: 
Firesteel scraping (spine or edge, your choice but make it work)
Notching
Basic carving (The spoon, but it don't have to look purty)
Proper way to cut a sapling (the Kestela way)
Splitting
Oh I like the other suggestions too! - Food prep, cleaning animals, splinter removing.....
Last but not least - clothesline...
Firesteel scraping (spine or edge, your choice but make it work)
Notching
Basic carving (The spoon, but it don't have to look purty)
Proper way to cut a sapling (the Kestela way)
Splitting
Oh I like the other suggestions too! - Food prep, cleaning animals, splinter removing.....
Last but not least - clothesline...
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- Oct 8, 1998
- Messages
- 8,917
Oh! A red over the shoulder boulder holder! Jeff will be all over that like white on rice! Put that in the RAT NEST man! 
Mumbelty peg, if it's the same game here, we called it "stretch." You were face to face about three feet away from each other and chunked the knife in the ground and you had to play cutlery twister with the thing. A couple of us got chunked in the top of the foot too!
Mumbelty peg, if it's the same game here, we called it "stretch." You were face to face about three feet away from each other and chunked the knife in the ground and you had to play cutlery twister with the thing. A couple of us got chunked in the top of the foot too!
Old CW4
BANNED
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Lathes and milling machines are termed 'noble machines' because they can be used to make other machines. I put a simple knife in the same category. A 'knife,' a sharp piece of knife-like obsidian or flint was probably the first real tool of our forebears and civilization stems from it. Knife skills? Wow! What a great question because THE knife and all its derivitives is still a--or THE--primary tool of mankind! Scissors, axes, hoes, swords, spears, lathe and mill cutters, saws, and countless others are all, in their basics, knives. My answer---what can't a thinking, careful person do with a knife? I'm answering a question with a question, I know but just my .02. You did get me to thinking. Thanks.
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Brandishing Menacingly
Slicing Paper
Finger Nail Cleaning
Picture Taking
Mumblety Peg
-- FLIX
Now, we're talking!
I'll add:
- spearing tightly-packed Vienna Sausages out of that little can
- carving a block of SPAM into single serving sizes
- rehearsing for the local production of "West Side Story."
- opening mail
- removing screws without breaking the tip off! (Relax... just kidding!)
Stay sharp,
desmobob
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,484
G'day Don
I agree, when these terms are applied to working in wood, they can rightly be lumped together as whittling. I also agree that whittling is a very useful bushcraft skill :thumbup:
To be honest I wouldn't class scraping a ferro rod, or scraping flesh from an animal hide (ie fleshing) as whittling. To me it's scraping not whittling.
I wouldn't class gouging the Kino from eucalypts (the tannin rich red crystals in the pics) to make a natural antiseptic paste, or gouging an oyster shell open as whittling either.
So I guess from my point of view, there are differences between scraping, gouging and whittling.
Kind regards
Mick
I agree, when these terms are applied to working in wood, they can rightly be lumped together as whittling. I also agree that whittling is a very useful bushcraft skill :thumbup:
To be honest I wouldn't class scraping a ferro rod, or scraping flesh from an animal hide (ie fleshing) as whittling. To me it's scraping not whittling.
I wouldn't class gouging the Kino from eucalypts (the tannin rich red crystals in the pics) to make a natural antiseptic paste, or gouging an oyster shell open as whittling either.
So I guess from my point of view, there are differences between scraping, gouging and whittling.
Kind regards
Mick
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- Dec 10, 2007
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- 2,152
1) Throwing
2) Prying with the tip
3) Batoning, using a metal baton like for example a hammer
4) Flipping, spinning or other cool one handed juggling tricks
5) Stirring hot coals for fun,
I would regard as the top 5 first skills you should avoid at all costs.
Five skills I would suggest you do learn are pretty much in line with what others have said:
1) Batoning
2) Notching
3) Feather stick making
4) Efficient cutting (see bending saplings over and cutting them)
5) Sharpening
I'm with Ray on types of grip (about 5mins in) when using a knife, this video pretty much goes through the basics and would be the way I would teach someone who is either afraid of knives or new to them:
2) Prying with the tip
3) Batoning, using a metal baton like for example a hammer
4) Flipping, spinning or other cool one handed juggling tricks
5) Stirring hot coals for fun,
I would regard as the top 5 first skills you should avoid at all costs.
Five skills I would suggest you do learn are pretty much in line with what others have said:
1) Batoning
2) Notching
3) Feather stick making
4) Efficient cutting (see bending saplings over and cutting them)
5) Sharpening
I'm with Ray on types of grip (about 5mins in) when using a knife, this video pretty much goes through the basics and would be the way I would teach someone who is either afraid of knives or new to them:
[youtube]0a2Jm3pkXqk[/youtube]
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- 9,680
Might not be in the top five knife skills...
This technique is great for shaving bark off of root cordage, shaping arrows and preparing tinder. the knife is held rigid against the leg, blade down and the work piece is slid under it... kinda like a bush planer... lol.
Although I'm using a crooked knife here... this form holds true for any draw cut. Keep your elbow tucked against your side so if the blade slips, it is braced,,, keeping you from committing involuntary seppuku...
Don't mix binge drinking with camp craft.... or you may end up with a pic like this....
This technique is great for shaving bark off of root cordage, shaping arrows and preparing tinder. the knife is held rigid against the leg, blade down and the work piece is slid under it... kinda like a bush planer... lol.
Although I'm using a crooked knife here... this form holds true for any draw cut. Keep your elbow tucked against your side so if the blade slips, it is braced,,, keeping you from committing involuntary seppuku...
Don't mix binge drinking with camp craft.... or you may end up with a pic like this....
Last edited:
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- May 25, 2007
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- 15,113
Food prep
Trail clearing
Cleaning game
Batoning
Fuzz Sticks
fire(striking firesteel)
notches & Traps
Trail clearing
Cleaning game
Batoning
Fuzz Sticks
fire(striking firesteel)
notches & Traps
Using your knife to make shelter
Skills to make fire (Feathersticks, collect factwood and whatnot) with the aid of your knife
Learning to make Traps and methods of gathering game with your knife.
Game Cleaning, and food preperation with a knife
Intricate Carving with your knife (My favorite!)
Defending yourself with yer knife
Skills to make fire (Feathersticks, collect factwood and whatnot) with the aid of your knife
Learning to make Traps and methods of gathering game with your knife.
Game Cleaning, and food preperation with a knife
Intricate Carving with your knife (My favorite!)
Defending yourself with yer knife
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2008
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- 886
fuzz sticks
carving
sharpening
food prep
batoning
those are my top 5
carving
sharpening
food prep
batoning
those are my top 5
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2007
- Messages
- 12,294
Picture taking:thumbup::thumbup:
Firesteel scraping (spine or edge, your choice but make it work)
Notching
Basic carving (The spoon, but it don't have to look purty)
Proper way to cut a sapling (the Kestela way)
Splitting
Oh I like the other suggestions too! - Food prep, cleaning animals, splinter removing.....
Last but not least - clothesline...
Please tell me that's not yours Ken !!!!!
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2007
- Messages
- 144
This is really an interesting question. I'm new (sort of) to this forum but I'll take a stab at it.
I'd have to say that the priority of the skill set would differ, depending on what time of day it is, where in the world you happen to be and what time of year it is when you are confronted with your survival situation. What sort of clothing / gear you have on your immediate person will also influence the importance of each skill's priority as well.
The biggest problem however, is that these skills are ALL important. The only thing that says otherwise is if someone's coming to rescue you. For example: Who cares if you are well fed and freezing to death? Or similarily starving and warm? Time until you are hurting from the lack of is therefor the deciding factor for the immediate prioritization. 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. Fire may outweigh shelter and take top spot here for its instant warmth and signal benefits.
In short, to prioritize the skill groups on my list:
1) fire craft - within this we have multiple sub skills; knowing how to start a fire in all conditions is essential. From humid, to arctic.
2) shelter building. In the arctic / north or anywhere without trees... this is priority one. It is paramount to impossible to sustain a fire in certain regions unless you bring a basic kit with you.
These first 2 are in a sort of a tie for first place, it could go either way depending on where you are in the world.
3) hydration (you've got 3 days according to most) This could be as simple as melting snow in a pop can over an open flame or knowing what vine to cut - but we needed a knife to cut the vine and the pop can so this makes the list at number 3!
4) construction of non shelter related things which will directly improve your situation ie: trap or snare making, tool making (spears / rods for fishing), rope making, the list goes on...
5) food prep / fish and game cleaning (now we're past survival and into capming!)
6) fashioning bedding / clothing from animal skin / hide. - This is a little long term, and it is all but a lost cause to take big game without decent archery equipment at minimum, but still a noteable skill in my opinion.
I'd have to say that the priority of the skill set would differ, depending on what time of day it is, where in the world you happen to be and what time of year it is when you are confronted with your survival situation. What sort of clothing / gear you have on your immediate person will also influence the importance of each skill's priority as well.
The biggest problem however, is that these skills are ALL important. The only thing that says otherwise is if someone's coming to rescue you. For example: Who cares if you are well fed and freezing to death? Or similarily starving and warm? Time until you are hurting from the lack of is therefor the deciding factor for the immediate prioritization. 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. Fire may outweigh shelter and take top spot here for its instant warmth and signal benefits.
In short, to prioritize the skill groups on my list:
1) fire craft - within this we have multiple sub skills; knowing how to start a fire in all conditions is essential. From humid, to arctic.
2) shelter building. In the arctic / north or anywhere without trees... this is priority one. It is paramount to impossible to sustain a fire in certain regions unless you bring a basic kit with you.
These first 2 are in a sort of a tie for first place, it could go either way depending on where you are in the world.
3) hydration (you've got 3 days according to most) This could be as simple as melting snow in a pop can over an open flame or knowing what vine to cut - but we needed a knife to cut the vine and the pop can so this makes the list at number 3!
4) construction of non shelter related things which will directly improve your situation ie: trap or snare making, tool making (spears / rods for fishing), rope making, the list goes on...
5) food prep / fish and game cleaning (now we're past survival and into capming!)
6) fashioning bedding / clothing from animal skin / hide. - This is a little long term, and it is all but a lost cause to take big game without decent archery equipment at minimum, but still a noteable skill in my opinion.
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