How to Make a Knife

A knife can be something simple or rather elaborate. But a basic knife consists of just a few parts. These parts combine to form a valuable tool for a wide variety of circumstances. In a survival situation, the ability to make your own knife could possibly save your life and maybe the life of someone you know.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Material for blade, such as metal or stone
• Handle material (wood, plastic or wrapped metal)
• Binding material (leather, cloth and glue)

1. Decide on what you are going to use for the knife blade. If you have metal nearby, you must take the metal and shape it using either other pieces of metal or strong stones to flatten and sharpen the edge. If you are using stone, ensure it is a strong stone that will not crack when you attempt to use it.
2. Locate a material to use as the handle; this should be something sturdy yet not uncomfortable to grip. If you are in a wooded area, a strong piece of wood will suffice, assuming you have a way to insert your blade. A strong piece of plastic would also work; however, it would already have to be the correct size and shape since shaping plastic requires a lot of resources. Metal will also work as a handle in a pinch, but you would need a soft grip.
3. Assemble the blade and handle; if it is a tight fit, you might not need any binding agent. If your handle consists of more than one piece, you will need something to hold it together. Leather is very popular as a binding agent; however, it is difficult to tighten it enough to prevent the blade from being loose. A strong glue would be a great first step in this regard, but in a survival situation it may not be available. Cotton cloth or string layered underneath the leather will allow you to hold the blade tight as well as provide a nice, cushioned grip.
4. Inspect your knife regularly. In a survival situation, you might be using the knife extensively, so you will want to make sure that it is always sharp and not falling apart. Since you have built the knife yourself, don't be afraid to make adjustments as necessary to keep it operating at an acceptable level.