NRA FAMILY – Knives are important tools that we all use for a number of tasks in our everyday lives—from opening boxes to field-dressing game.
Knives are everywhere. Knowing how to handle, use, and store knives are critical skills that we should all possess as outdoor enthusiasts, because your gear will only take as good care of you as you take of it.
Sharpness
One of the first lessons to learn is that the safest knives are actually the sharpest ones. That might sound a little contradictory, but the truth is that a sharp knife cuts more easily than a dull knife. This means it’s less likely to move in a direction you don’t want it to.
How do you know if a knife is sharp? One method for testing sharpness is to hold a piece of paper, then draw the knife across the limp edge of the paper.
A sharp knife will bite into the paper and cut it easily; a dull knife will deflect the paper and will not cut the paper; a marginally sharp knife will tear the paper.
Sheaths
There are a variety of sheaths on the market. Sheaths are designed to hold, carry and protect knives until they are needed.
The most common sheath materials are leather and kydex. Kydex is a heavy plastic material that is molded by heat. It’s very durable, and lighter than leather. Other sheath materials include wood, metal and molded plastic.
One of the primary ways people get cut while using knives is when they’re removing or inserting the knife into its sheath.
When removing a knife from a sheath, pay close attention to where your hand is on the sheath, and if the cutting edge of the blade could possibly contact your fingers or hand while the knife is being removed …
KNIFE SAFETY FUNDAMENTALS
HEADLINE HEALTH – This video, published in 2014, remains one of the best we’ve seen on avoiding serious injuries while working with a hunting knife.
More unfortunate news involving hunting knives …
An 11-year-old boy was accidentally stabbed by an actor in an Ohio haunted house.
September 25, 2021
NEW YORK POST – A hard-to-frighten 11-year-old boy was accidentally stabbed in the foot by an overzealous actor in an Ohio haunted house last week.
The unidentified actor, 22, reportedly agreed with police that it “was not a good idea” to use a real hunting knife instead of a prop knives.
The boy was treated at the scene and continued his tour of the haunted home. SOURCE.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s son sentenced to 180 days in jail in hunting knife attack
Nov. 13, 2021
NBC NEWS – Adam Abdul-Jabbar, son of basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was sentenced to 180 days which can be served as house arrest Wednesday for stabbing his Southern California neighbor with a hunting knife last year during an argument over trash cans, prosecutors said.
The victim, Raymond Windsor, who was 60 years old at the time of the incident, June 9, 2020, suffered injuries to his head, back, neck and side. Prosecutors said that Abdul-Jabbar’s actions were so severe that he fractured Windsor’s skull and that Windsor nearly died of blood loss after he collapsed outside the hospital. SOURCE.
