DIY Survival Knives

Make a pocket survival knife from a hacksaw blade.

Browse through an outdoor store catalog or surf the Internet for survival knives and your head might just start to spin. A wide range of survival knives from "Rambo" Bowie knives to folding knives can be purchased. However, the old adage holds true that the best survival knife is the one you have with you at the time. Make a small survival knife that easily can be included in a pocket survival kit or carried in a wallet or purse. A survival knife can only be used if it is carried.

Things You'll Need

• Hacksaw blade
• Wire cutters
• File
• Whet stone
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Select a hacksaw blade with fine, medium or coarse teeth. Choose the type of saw edge based on availability or personal preference.

2. Cut the hacksaw blade in half with a pair of wire cutters. Locate the middle of the blade and place the cutting jaws of the wire cutters across the blade to create two equal lengths of blade with a hole in one end.

3. Hold one half of the hacksaw blade and begin shaping the blade into a small knife with a file. Shape the blade with a fine metal file, creating a tapered blade shape opposite the end with the hole.

4. Form an indention, 3 inches from blade end with the hole, for a finger notch that can help provide a better grip when using.

5. Sharpen the cutting edge of the saw blade on a whet stone. Begin with the rough side of the whetstone to roughly create the edge and then hone the edge sharp on the smooth side of the whetstone.

6. Wrap the handle end of the survival knife with duct tape. Apply several wraps of tape to provide a more comfortable grip and to also store a length of duct tape for emergency use.

References

• M4040: 10 Cent Survival Knife