One thing that I’ve learned working with kids is that having proper technique for handling knives makes a world of difference in a lot of the traditional skills we teach them. Most adults don’t even necessarily use their knives effeciently or with maximum control, and for the most part it seems wilderness skills and survival guides don’t go over it much. So here’s a couple tips to get the thread started.
Positioned with one knee on the ground and one up, an easy way to shave down a small to medium piece of wood is to hold the spine of the knife to your knee to stabilize it, holding the knife in your dominant hand, and the drawing the piece of wood backwards across the blade to cut.
Again while on one knee, you can cut into a piece of wood, say while making a feather stick, by keeping your dominant arm straight, knife at a right angle to your arm in your hand, and use your upper body weight to drive the blade down. It gives superb control.
Anyone else got some good tips? I can come up with a few more.
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