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Posted by Jim S on May 18, 2008 at 6:07:24 pm EDT
In reply to Re: knives and hiking posted by kutenay on May 10, 2008 at 12:33:34 pm EDT

Kutenay, Bill S, Tom D
Hi all
I suspect that some of the postings reflect a sort of heated thread in another forum group. It seems that a HUGE percentage of American Males feel the NEED to carry a big sharp knife for self defense in the woods. A lot of really frightened ones need to carry automatics.

I carry an old Victorinox swiss army knife with cork screw - the full sized knife - 3.7 oz. I NEVER sharpen a knife unless a kitchen knife is too dull to cut its intended, then I put a bit more edge on it with a steel.

I have always heard that the first rule of knifes is to NEVER point it towards yourself, so that if it slips, you won't get cut. The second rule was to keep it sharp. My contention is that if you ignore the first rule, then you should also ignore the second rule, or risk being very badly cut with a sharp knife. Or to put it another way - I can hold my swiss army knife a foot above my hand and drop it and just get knicked - what would happen with say a commano knife or a scalpel?

Still everyone writes to assure me that a sharp knife is safer and I have to think that this is the same wishfull ignorance that makes some think that taking less gear is safer cause it weighs less. If you want to believe that all you need is a quilt and a bowie knife, then your fantasy world is greater than your personal experience in the real world.

I carry dull knives and have a nick name Dull Knife in another forum. I claim a dull knife is much safer when solo camping. Since I do follow rule one, I do not need a sharp knife to cut my foot or open a plastic bag. In fact I cannot actually concieve of a real world camping activity with a higher probability of happening than being struck by lightening, that you need a big sharp knife for. I never split wood backpacking, I do not shave fuzz sticks, I do not whittle, I do either attack nor defend myself from big game. I do cut meat for dinner and spread peanut butter and I contend that a butter knife sharp enough to cut a steak is all the knife actually required for camping - wine cork optional.
Jim YMMV

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