How to Use a Knife for Bushcraft

Examples of primitive knifes date back to Paleolithic era, and they still are valuable tools if you ever must survive in the wilderness, far from the conveniences of home. Not every knife can be used for brush craft. It takes a special blade.

Instructions

The Knife

1. Choose a knife for bushcraft. According to Andrew Price, the knife's blade does not need to be more than 4 inches long to be extremely useful in bushcraft. The blade can be fixed, and reside in a good, quality sheath that will protect your knife when it's not needed.

2. Pick what metal you would prefer your knife for bushcraft to be. One made of carbon steel would be good for bushcraft because it holds its edge for a very long time. Care must be taken to keep the blade from getting excessively wet as carbon steel can rust. One prerequisite: the blade should have a full length tang that extends down through the entire length of the handle for the greatest stability and durability.

3. Get a knife with a comfortable, sturdy handle. Various handles are made form wood, antler and composite materials. Pick the handle that suits you best for bushcraft.

4. Check out the blade itself. The best blade for bushcraft is one with a single beveled edge, which allows you to sharpen it to the extreme sharpness that you need for bushcraft.

Tent Pegs

1. Create tent pegs by holding the knife in a firm "fist grip" and extend your arm, the knife blade facing outwards as you use the knife for bushcraft. By holding the knife in this manner, you have a great deal of control over the blade.

2. Place the edge of the blade on top of the wood where you wish to begin cutting, and pull back on the hand holding the wood.

3. Repeat this process until you have the point that you wish for the tent pegs.

Notches

1. Hold the knife so that your thumb rests on the back of the knife's blade when you use it for bushcraft.

2. Grasp the stick you have fashioned into a tent peg and push against the back of the knife blade with your other thumb. You should have both thumbs resting on the back of the knife blade.

3. Push against the blade with both thumbs, and cut angled slivers into the wood then end with a straight cut down that will be the top of the notch. Take your time doing this as you use your knife for bushcraft. You want to be in control of the knife's blade at all time.

4. Finish cutting when you have reached the depth of the notch that you require.

5. Use notches when making hooks for suspending pots over the fire when cooking, pot hooks, traps, and more. The knife is extremely useful in bushcraft.

Stripping Bark

1. Kneel down on one knee and hold the knife so that the back of the blade rests on the soft portion of your knee.

2. Hold the knife firmly in place there as you use the knife for bushcraft. Rest the thumb of the hand that's holding the knife against the flat of the blade for further control.

3. Pull the stick against the blade in a backward motion as you strip the bark from the stick as you use the knife for bushcraft.