Why we should always remember the fundamentals

StuntDouble

StuntDouble

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Apr 26, 2004
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I certainly learned my lesson today. I was whittling a small keychain trinket for my girlfriend, and at one point I ended up cutting toward myself. Even though I know better, I was putting quite a bit of pressure on the blade while I was pulling it toward me. The knife ended up cutting through the piece of wood, and cut into my thumb. I ended up cutting vertically through the tip of my thumb, slicing off about a 1/16" off my thumbnail. A trip to the ER and $100 later, and I ended up with 5 stitches putting my thumb back together.

I just thought I'd post this as a reminder, that no matter how long we've been using knives, it only takes a momentary distraction or lapse in reason to seriously hurt one's self.

Chris
 
Thanks for the reminder StuntDouble. I also learned a similar lesson the hard way a few years ago. I was whittling a ball and cage project with a freshly sharpened Old Timer stockman. I was pushing with the spey blade like a chisel. My wife came home and we started up a conversation as I was working away. I pushed the blade the wrong way and it closed on my finger. I also ended up going to Urgent Care and had a few stitches. I finished with a little locking Byrd knife which, while not so traditional, makes a fantastic whittling knife. Especially the Meadowlark. My daughter was going to finish the ball and cage with drops of red paint.

IMG_4222-1.jpg
 
thanks for the reminder! I remember years ago I was doing a paper cut test with an old knife of my dads and I was getting a little to crazy with trying to cut it faster and faster....ended up chopping the bowie right into my finger, stopped at the bone of my index and cut into my thumb/nail where I was holding the paper, hurts a lot less with a nice sharp blade though.
 
StuntDouble said:
I certainly learned my lesson today. I was whittling a small keychain trinket for my girlfriend, and at one point I ended up cutting toward myself. Even though I know better, I was putting quite a bit of pressure on the blade while I was pulling it toward me. The knife ended up cutting through the piece of wood, and cut into my thumb. I ended up cutting vertically through the tip of my thumb, slicing off about a 1/16" off my thumbnail. A trip to the ER and $100 later, and I ended up with 5 stitches putting my thumb back together.

I just thought I'd post this as a reminder, that no matter how long we've been using knives, it only takes a momentary distraction or lapse in reason to seriously hurt one's self.

Chris
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OWWW! :eek:

I can feel your pain, blade brother.

I've been there. In 1983 I had 7 stitches right index finger doing what I knew better not to do. Sometimes the red gods of fate like to remind us in ways we'll remember for a long time.
 
Jackknife my mishap was only about a year and a half ago but it also cost me 7 stitches as well. No worries I was also doing something I knew I shouldn't.


HAK
 
Yep, know just what you mean. Check out this link to see my latest adventure.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=745495&highlight=mini+trapper+thumb

The next time you cut yourself try squeezing it together and putting a Butterfly Bandage on it. I haven't tried it yet but the next time I cut myself (which will surely happen) I am going to try Super Glue to hold it together. Don't laugh. I've heard of others doing it and I hear from a local nurse in the Reserve that they use it in the Military. At any rate, it just might save you a trip to the Emergency Room and $100.00.
 
Modoc,

Oh, it certainly crossed my mind, but after looking at it, a trip to the ER was definitely needed. The cut actually goes down about an inch, almost to the joint on the pad, and about 3/4 of that on the nail side. I feel pretty lucky it wasn't a horizontal cut. Otherwise I may have been on hands and knees looking for the tip:p
 
Wow!! That sounds like a bad one. A tip though -- if you ever find yourself on your knees for any reason, keep your butt down!! You never know who or what might take a swing at it.
 
Ouch!
Thanks for the reminder. I am guilty of cutting myself every once in a while too. Hope you heal up quick.
 
Dang! Sorry to hear that. I'll pay close attention and use safe cutting techniques. Thanks for the warning.
 
Yeah, thanks for the reminder, good advise, every time ya get it.

I never stop amazing myself with the things I realize I'm forgetting. Do you ever feel like your life is a long series of near misses and you should have known better on at least most of them?

If'n ya didn't get it from that, yeah I've cut myself once or twice. The superglue thing actually works really well, has it's limits but for what it works for it's a real neat trick. Clean cut skin, works a treat. Cut into muscle? No, head to the ER my friend, yer screwed.

And a note to the folks with any pride left at all... The look on an ER doc's face when he looks at something that is obviously his job and the edges of skin have big ol globs of super glue hanging off of them? Yeah, ego? taken down a notch, big ol notch. yeah.... ok.... I'm a dumn *ss, just stitch it up and give me a break huh? Oh and the wife? Yeah, she's in her frickin' glory!

Well, I mean.... so I heard, ya know, a friend of mine.... yeah, that's it.

Syn

PS, hope it heals up well friend, end of a thumb hurts like the dickens.
 
Modoc ED said:
Yep, know just what you mean. Check out this link to see my latest adventure.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=745495&highlight=mini+trapper+thumb

The next time you cut yourself try squeezing it together and putting a Butterfly Bandage on it. I haven't tried it yet but the next time I cut myself (which will surely happen) I am going to try Super Glue to hold it together. Don't laugh. I've heard of others doing it and I hear from a local nurse in the Reserve that they use it in the Military. At any rate, it just might save you a trip to the Emergency Room and $100.00.
Click to expand...

I've heard of using Super Glue, which is fine & well if you're in the wilderness (or wherever) & a hospital isn't close by.
But inflicting a severe cut on yourself & not going to the ER (when you can) wouldn't be a wise thing to do.
Just my $.02.
 
About a month and a half ago, i had just received a S&M file and wire congress, with seriously stiff springs. (Some would find it a nail-breaker i'm sure.)
I had sharpened the blades to my preferred angle, and was looking over the knife, opening each blade after another, taking in the views etc. Then somehow, my thumb slipped onto the blade, and i ended up cutting the end of my thumb almost clean off. Only retained by a bit of skin and flesh. Bled quite a bit, but i just forced the end back on and put considerable pressure onto it. It's healed up nice actually, but it definately reinforced the lesson in me, that i should always be aware of what my fingers do around sharp tools. My dad's lost the tip of his right index finger, up to the second joint, and there's lots of tiny stuff he struggles with because of it. (He caught the finger in a circular saw i believe.)
Awareness is key.
 
About a year ago I was whittling some kindling at the hearth to build a fire, and was using a large, heavy leverletto to split the dried pine pieces. Whether through distraction, inattention, whatever, I swung down cutting toward myself, missed the end of the target and hit my left index finger at the middle joint.

It has taken about an entire year to regain nerve feeling in the finger, and it's been a constant reminder to never cut toward yourself. Like the Rules of Safe Firearm Handling, this is a basic law of using knives and very unforgiving when violated.
 
Is there a list of rules for safe knife use, like the NRA's 4 rules of safe firearm handling? If not, there should be.

Here's a few to get started:

1. Never assume a knife is dull. Treat every knife like it is a sharp knife.

2. Pay attention to what you are cutting, and be aware of what is around it.

3. Whenever possible, cut away from yourself.
 
StuntDouble said:
Is there a list of rules for safe knife use, like the NRA's 4 rules of safe firearm handling? If not, there should be.

Here's a few to get started:

1. Never assume a knife is dull. Treat every knife like it is a sharp knife.

2. Pay attention to what you are cutting, and be aware of what is around it.

3. Whenever possible, cut away from yourself.
Click to expand...



Ya got that about 98% right.

That rule number 3 ought to read; "Cut away from yourself". Period. Finis.

Every time the lightning ever hit for me, thats the rule I was ignoring. Now I'm paranoid. If I can't cut away from me, then I'll move myself, or what I'm cutting on to a better angle.
 
I made that mistake last year, after all these years of telling my scouts and my sons not to cut toward themselves. Even though it was on a tricky spot that would have been very difficult to cut away from myself, I should have know better. You got off easy - I cut the tendon in my left index finger, and the total cost (and still not back to 100%) was considerably more than what you spent at the ER.
 
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