Posts Tagged ‘hunting knives’

If you have just purchased your first bowie knife, or even if you have been an avid collector of these blades for a number of years, it can be difficult to determine exactly what all the different parts of the blade are supposed to be used for. Part of this confusion stems from the myriad different styles of blade out there. For instance, you’ll find modern bowies that have saw-tooth edging on the spine, while historically accurate models do not include this feature. What are the different parts supposed to do?

For instance, some knives include a saw-tooth edge along the spine of the knife. This is a modern development and hails from the Vietnam era military knives issued to helicopter pilots and foot soldiers alike. The saw teeth can help cut through wood, plastic and other materials, as well as being used for scaling fish or sawing through bone. However, novice users should beware these bowie knife models, as the saw can often get in the way of general use. Injury to the knife owner is not uncommon.

Saw Teeth – You will undoubtedly encounter other bowie knives that feature a saw-toothed design on the spine of the blade. Ostensibly, this is used for sawing wood, or scaling fish. However, most users find that it actually gets in the way and can even injure the knife’s wielder if they are unwary. If you choose to purchase a knife with this feature, be very aware that the saw-tooth portion might not be as handy as you first think.

Spanish Notch – Some bowie knife models include a Spanish Notch, while others do not. The true use of this feature seems to have been lost to the mists of time, but today, it serves as a guide to show where sharpening should begin. Some people attest that the notch was placed there to help catch an opponent’s blade, but most collectors and historians are skeptical of these claims.

Guard – The guard, or quillions, of the blade serve several purposes, as well. You’ll find that traditional blades have angled guards, with the upper guard angled forward toward the point and the lower guard angled back, toward the butt. These provide protection for the hand, as well as allowing the wielder to trap an opponent’s blade (the upper guard only). The guard also serves to keep your hand from running off the handle and onto the blade when stabbing with the knife.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knife store featuring the jim bowie knife as well as lighters for camping.

Air travel has certainly become more troublesome since 9/11. However, most travelers would agree that the new restrictions are not without cause. That said, understanding these new restrictions can be a bit problematic. For instance, are you allowed to carry a bowie knife aboard a plane? You might be surprised by the answer to that question – yes, you can. However, you’ll have to follow some special rules setup by the TSA to maintain safety aboard planes.

The answer to that question is “yes and no.” How can that be? First, you have to understand the difference between carryon and checked baggage. For instance, any carryon bag must be sent through a metal detector, before you are allowed to board a plane with it. In addition, any item within that bag will be within easy reach during the flight. Therefore, you cannot carry your bowie knife in your carryon luggage.

Next, you will need to pack your knife appropriately. You would think that just placing it in your suitcase would be enough, but the TSA demands more stringent measures. You’ll need to make sure that your bowie knife is sheathed, first and foremost. You will also need to make sure that the knife is secured within the sheath in some way. Some sheaths have a buttoned strap for this purpose. However, even a simple piece of twine can serve your purpose here.

What if you are not taking any checked luggage? If you’re only going for a short trip, or just like to travel light, it’s pretty common to only take carryon baggage with you. If this scenario sounds familiar, you should consider shipping your knife ahead, through UPS or FedEx. However, you should check the freight carrier’s weapons policy before attempting to ship that bowie knife ahead.

Carrying your bowie knife with you is more convenient than you might think, but it will necessitate that you plan ahead and prepare for any contingencies that might arise. That said, with a bit of forethought, you can arrive at your destination and have your bowie knife with you at the same time, which is better than many travelers assume.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie hunting knives store featuring the Cold Steel training knife. Additionally, Dylan is also the President of an online humidors store.

If you own a Bowie knife, you’ll certainly want to know how to sharpen that blade. While Bowie knives are certainly larger than most other types of knife, sharpening them is really not very different. In fact, you will be able to use the same whetstone as you use for many other types of blades.

Generally, novice knife owners opt for the all-in-one type of system, as this allows them to control the angle of the blade, without having to do so by hand. However, those more familiar with the sharpening process often choose to use a series of whetstones or a whetstone and a strop. This results in a much better edge, though it takes considerable practice before you can call yourself an expert. As a note, if you choose to go it alone, practice with some inexpensive blades before you attempt to sharpen your Bowie knife, or any other knife that might represent a considerable investment.

The process of sharpening a knife is all about removing metal from the blade, but doing so in a controlled pattern. The angle at which you hold your knife will determine some of how much metal is removed, as will the duration of the sharpening process. If you choose to use a sharpening system, make sure that it offers several different angles in the guide, so that you can achieve the sharpness and blade shape that’s right for your knife.

Once you have your sharpening system purchased, you will need to know how to sharpen that bade. Bowie knives are quite large, so the best way to sharpen your blade is actually to grind it in circles, down the length of the blade (heel to toe). Make sure that you are able to hold the blade at the correct angle while doing this, or your knife will not take a good edge. The angle is quite important; the entire reason for purchasing an all-in-one sharpening system is so that you don’t have to guess at the angle of the blade to the whetstone.

Once you have a solid burr along the blade, you’ll need to switch to a finer stone. You can even use a strop here. The purpose of the second grinding is just to remove the burr and polish the edges of the blade a bit. This will ensure a clean cut each time (as the burr will catch during the cutting process, leaving ragged cuts). When removing the burr, it’s best to go heel to tip on the knife.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knife store featuring sog bowie knives. Additionally, Dylan is also the President of a specialty butane lighters store.

There are many different types of knives available, and as with many other tools, if you don’t have the right one, it’s likely to cause problems. A good quality knife will last a lifetime with minimal care. Here are a few tips for choosing the right knife for your outdoor sport.

The majority of hunting knives are designed for skinning. If you would like your knife to be favorable for skinning, the primary thing you should note is the blade form. You want a rounded or drop point so that when you are “ripping” the skin, the point of your knife will not dig into the meat. Also, you’ll likely want a nonmoving blade knife, as folding blades have too many crevices to trap blood and mess in.

Determining a knife for camping can be challenging because you need a knife with various uses. You may rely on this knife for preparing food, trimming branches, amending gear, as well as a hundred other purposes. Because of the many needs, you’ll discover that a Swiss army knife or multi tool may live up to your needs best. Also, you may opt to pack a saw, hatchet, or machete in your gear before setting out, for harder cutting jobs.

You should probably get a fillet knife for fishing. A fillet knife is well designed for cleaning fish, and it can also cut fishing line well, which is the other main task for a fishing knife. There are also electric fillet knives available for the fisherman that is constantly catching many fish. If you plan on fishing in salt water, be sure your knife is designed to withstand the corrosion of saltwater.

Trappers will commonly want a skinning knife, much equal to a hunting knife. A fixed blade or a foldable knife will work equally well; this would be a first choice of the sportsman. Tougher tasks are normally completed with an axe, so a second knife isn’t usually required.

A boater’s chief motive for a knife is cutting line. You’ll want a sharp knife that is convenient and promptly deployed, in case you need to cut a line quickly. Make certain that the knife will stand up to water, too. It is apparent that each outdoor sport calls for a particular knife. Purchase a quality knife and your undertakings will be easier and a quality knife will often be handed down to your kids.

Author Ethan O. Tanner shares his knowledge on diverse kinds of knives for outdoor sports and how to select the best knife for your sport.