knife collectables Basic Hunting Knife Sharpening

Being prepared is the keystone to any successful hunting trip. That means having the right gear ready when you need it. It also means having that gear in working order for the tasks at hand. You can own the most expensive hunting knife on the market but if it is not properly sharpened, it will be useless. Knife sharpening is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of hunting trip preparedness. With just some basic sharpening knowledge and a couple of simple tools, however, any hunter can be sure to have their knife ready.





Testing Your Blade


A number of simple tests exist to test the sharpness of your hunting knife. Some outdoorsmen test a knife's sharpness by shaving a small patch of hair on their arms or hands. This test is quick and effective but, let???s be honest, a little dangerous for a novice. For those not confident that they can tell their blade is dull, there are blade edge testing kits available at through outdoor equipment retailers. These kits can be expensive.





Experienced hunters can often tell if a blade is dull just by looking at it. To visually look for dullness, hold the blade with the edge in line with a strong light source and move it back and forth a bit. If you see a reflection or glint then you have a dull blade. If all else fails, walk into your outdoor goods store and ask a professional to help you assess knife sharpness.





The Right Tools


Once you have concluded that your knife needs sharpening, you will need to get your hands on the right sharpening equipment. Sharpening stones are effective, commonly used, and come in a variety of styles and sizes. When purchasing a stone, look for one made from compounds with a relative hardness of 9 or higher. Stones made from bonded aluminum oxide or silicon carbide work very well, as does silicon carbide sandpaper glued to a wooden block or something similar.





A sharpening guide is a clamp-like tool that attaches to the blade of the knife and aids in controlling the angle of the blade. This may be helpful for notice knife sharpeners because they are the only way to guarantee an accurate sharpening angle. More advanced hunters may find them unnecessary.





Sharpening The Blade


There are two basic steps to correctly sharpening a blade. The first is to develop a burr, or, a rough, ragged edge on the surface of the blade. Once that is created, the blade then needs to be polished until the edge is smooth.





To develop a burr, first set the angle of the blade correctly and then grind one side until you have removed the old edge. Continue grinding until you can feel the burr with your thumb; it should feel jagged and serrated. Once you have a nice burr on one side, flip the blade over and raise a burr on the other. Keep in mind that some knives (ceramic and very hard steel primarily) will not raise a burr. If you've tried raising a burr on your blade without any success, you may have one of these kinds. Consult a professional for information on sharpening these blades.





Once you've raised a burr on your blade take the time to put some finishing touches on your knife by polishing the blade. There are three basic polishing strokes you can use to finish the sharpening process - on-stroke, off-stroke, or circular strokes. The off-stroke is the easiest technique for beginners. Begin to grind away the burr made by the first stone you used. The burr should gradually begin to fade. Once it is almost undetectable, switch to the circular stroke and finish grinding off the old scratch pattern. Finish up by using light strokes to get rid of the remaining burr. At this point your blade should be extremely sharp, with no burr and only micro-serrations.





Don???t be afraid to ask professionals for help. Woodworkers and butchers are usually more qualified in the art of sharpening than knife makers or collectors. Ask one in your area if they can assist you or provide you with some simple techniques.





It is important for all your hunting tools to be in prime condition before you go on a trip, and your knife is no exception. With these tools and proper techniques you can effectively sharpen your knife before or during your trip and not have to worry about the problems a dull blade can cause.

Ben Anton lives in the Northwest.

Ben Anton invites you to learn more about hunting equipment essentials like the Arkansas Sharpening Stone and other Hunting tools at our site for deer hunting equipment.

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knife collectables: knife collectables

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knife collectables presents Choosing a Reliable Survival Knife

The main purpose of having a survival knife is, in all its' obviousness, to survive in a rough situation. Whether you're hunting deep in the forest or camping high in the mountains, if a situation arises where you need to act on your own for survival, you want to be as prepared as possible. For this reason, you want to choose a knife that gives you the best chance of accomplishing any task in your way. Let us review which characteristics to look for and which to avoid when purchasing your next survival knife.





What to Look For:





* A Full Tang Design: A Full Tang knife means that the blade and the handle of the knife are one solid piece. Often times the handle has side panels or scales attached to it for improved grip, however the fact remains that both the blade and handle are one piece made of the same material. Full Tang knives are also referred to as One-Piece knives or Integral Design knives. Full Tang knives make for ideal survival knives because they provide maximum durability, strength, and utility.





* Blade Size: When choosing a survival knife, you want to make sure the blade is at least 4 inches long. Knives with blades of at least 4 inches are able to take on most tasks you'd come across when in a survival situation. Choosing a larger blade is a matter of personal preference. That being said, if you plan on being in the tropics with jungle thicket, you'll want to carry a machete or a large bolo in addition to your standard survival knife.





What to Avoid:





* Hollow / Plastic Handles: You want to avoid a hollow / plastic handle knife when making your selection. Hollow handle knives are often held together by pins, nuts and sometimes even glue. If you're putting your knife to the test in a survival situation, hollow handle knives could easily break leaving you without your most important tool. The same thing goes for plastic knives. Not only are these knives more easily broken, they're also less effective for tasks such as hammering and digging.





* Double Edged Knives: Double edged knives do not make for ideal survival knives and are primarily constructed for combat thrusting and slashing. The blades are relatively weak (especially the tip of the blade) and will often break when under the stresses of heavy survival tasks. Double edged knives are not built for performing the field chores needed to survive and can even cause injury when attempting to do so.





When purchasing your next survival knife, keep these tips in mind and you'll find yourself with a knife you can truly rely on when you find yourself in a survival situation.

Jeremy Bowe is a survival expert / consumer reporter who puts survival knives to the test in actual survival situations. His most recent excursion was to the Everglades where he tested a variety of Buck Knives, Gerber Knives and Benchmade Knives.

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