The most important thing when using any tool is -Safety, Safety, Safety.
The Guide to Safe Scouting states "A pocket knife ... is an invaluable backcountry tool. Keep it clean. Avoid sheath knives... Since its
inception, Boy Scouting has relied heavily on an outdoor program to achieve its objectives. This program meets more of the purposes of Scouting
they any other single feature. We believe we have a duty to instill in our members, the knowledge of how to use, handle, and store legally owned
knives with the highest concerns for safety and responsibility.
Remember safety first, and safety always! When used improperly tools can be very dangerous. We can replace tools but we cannot replace eyes,
arms, legs or people...
Pocket Knife
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Selecting a pocket knife. |
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1. Should have a minimum of; 1 or 2 cutting blades, can opener, flat bladed screwdriver. |
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2. A locking devise for all cutting blades. |
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3. Should be made of a material which will not rust. i.e.; Stainless steel |
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4. More accessories are not usually good.
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Care of the pocket knife |
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1. Wash with soap and water, and rinse after using to cut food, make sure to dry. |
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2. Keep inside clean of dirt. |
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a. Open all blades and accessories. |
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b. Using a toothpick and a small patch of lightly oiled rag, clean the blade storage area. |
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c. Using a light oil, slightly oil all hinges. |
Do's for pocket knives. |
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1. Keep blades closed except for when using them. |
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2. Keep your fingers clear of the sharp edge as you open and close the blade. |
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3. Cut away from your body. |
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4. Close the blades before you pass the knife to someone else. |
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5. Keep the knife sharp and clean. A sharp blade is easier to control then a dull one. |
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6. Obey any school regulation that prohibits carrying knives on school property.
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Don't for pocket knives. |
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1. Don't carry any knife with the blade open |
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2. Don't throw a knife. |
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3. Don't cut toward yourself, or toward anyone else. |
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4. Don't strike a knife with any other tool or pry with the point of a cutting blade.
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Sharpening of knives. |
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1. Use a whetstone or oilstone. |
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2. Hold the blade at a 30 degree angle to the stone, 1/3 from vertical. |
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3. Using a circular motion move the blade around the stone using moderate pressure. |
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4. Wipe the blade clean with a cloth. |
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a. When looking straight onto the blade in sunlight or a bright light a dull blade will look shiny. A sharp blade will have no shine at
all. |
Demonstrations: |
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1. Using a whetstone or oilstone, demonstrate the proper method of sharpening at least one blade. |
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2. Using proper technique and safety, have the student demonstrate how to make a fuzzy stick, using his pocket knife. |
Camp Saw |
A. Camp saw is the proper tool for most outdoors wood cutting.
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B. Types of saws. |
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Folding saw has a blade that folds into the handle of the saw. |
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Bow saw has a metal frame that the blade is tightly suspended between.
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C. When cutting downed wood (firewood). |
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Brace the piece of wood against a chopping block, sawhorse, or other solid support. |
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Use long, smooth strokes. |
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Let the weight of the saw pull the blade into the wood.
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D. When cutting standing wood (Tree trimming). |
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Never cut from a live tree without the permission of the ranger, property owner, property manager, or scoutmaster. |
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First make an undercut on the bottom of the limb to be cut, then cut from the top. This will keep the saw from binding and bark
stripping. |
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Cut close to the tree trunk. |
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When cutting saplings cut close to the ground.
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E. Do's for camp saws. |
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Do keep the saw sheathed whenever it is not in use. |
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Do Carry a saw with the blade turned away from your body. |
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Do replace blades when they become dull. Sharp saws are easier to use and control. |
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Do use care when passing a saw to another person. |
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Always turn the blade away from both persons. |
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Do Wear gloves and protective eyewear whenever using a camp saw.
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F. Don't for camp saws. |
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Don't cut any trees, alive or dead with permission. |
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Don't allow the saw's blade to cut into the ground. Soil and rocks will quickly dull the teeth. |
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Don't leave a saw lying around camp. |
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Note: Always sheathe and put away the saw, gloves, and eye protection when finished.
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G. Demonstrate the proper and safe way to cut firewood of at least 3 inch diameter.
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The Axe |
An axe must be in top condition. If the head is loose, handle is cracked, or the blade is dull, DON'T USE IT.
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Parts of the axe. |
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1. Handle |
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2. Belly |
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3. Knob or Deer's foot |
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4. Butt or pell |
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5. Back |
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6. Front |
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7. Face |
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8. Toe |
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9. Heel |
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10. Bit
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Swing of the axe. |
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1. Wear gloves and protective eyewear whenever using an axe. |
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2. Securely hold the belly of the handle in one hand, (right handed people hold with the left hand). |
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3. With the other hand grasp the handle just under the head of the axe. |
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4. Position the axe about eye level. |
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5. Bring the axe down with a smooth motion allowing the upper hand to slide down the axe handle to meet the stationary hand which on the
belly of the handle. |
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6. Allow the weight of the axe to do the cutting.
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Limbing. |
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1. Cutting branches off a log. |
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2. Stand on the opposite side of the log as the limb to be removed is. |
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3. Cut close to the log. |
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4. Keep the log between you and your cuts. |
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Bucking. |
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Cutting through a log. |
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Cut a "V" notch twice the width at the top as the log is thick. |
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Use proper swinging technique. |
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Keep you eye on the spot you wish to cut.
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Use a chopping block. Flat wooden surface. |
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Stand the log to be split on the chopping block. |
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Select an age crack. |
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a. An age crack is a natural split through the diameter of a log caused by the drying of the wood. |
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Using proper swinging technique bring the axe down striking the log at the age crack. |
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Remove the log from the axe, reposition on the chopping block, and use the swinging technique again. |
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Select an age crack. |
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Never swing the axe while the log is still attached to the blade.
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Contact method for stick splitting. |
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Used to split a small stick of wood. |
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Best to use a hand axe. |
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a. Place the bit of the axe against the end of the stick. |
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b. Bring the axe and stick down together against the chopping block. |
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c. Twist the axe to break the pieces of the stick apart.
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Carrying of the axe. |
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Always place the sheath on the axe before carrying. |
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Grasp the axe by the handle just under the head of the axe. |
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Carry the axe with the blade turned away from yourself. |
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Never carry and axe over your shoulder.
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Passing the axe. |
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Always place the sheath on the axe before passing it to another person. |
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Grasp the axe by the knob of the handle. |
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Turn the blade away from the two persons. To the outside. |
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"Thank you, I have it". The receiving person always uses the line, "Thank you, I have it" before the axe is
released to him. This is an indication that he has total control of the camp tool.
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Sharpening the axe. |
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Use a 8 or 10 inch mill bastard file to sharpen the axe. |
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Wear leather gloves to protect your hands and use a knuckle guard on the file. |
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Place the axe head against a log of about 6 inches diameter. Use 2 pegs or tent stakes to secure it at the butt. |
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Place the file at a 30 degree angle against the blade and push it into the bit. |
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Sharpen with firm, even strokes. |
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Lift the file from the bit when recovering from a stroke. |
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Turn the axe around and sharpen the other side of the bit. |
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a. When looking straight onto the bit in sunlight or a bright light a dull blade will look shiny. A sharp blade will have no shine at
all.
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Do's for axes. |
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Do keep the axe sheathed whenever it is not in use. |
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Do Carry an axe by the handle just under the axe head, and with the blade turned away from your body. |
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Do keep your axe sharp. Sharp axes are easier to use and control. |
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Do use care when passing an axe to another person. Always turn the blade away from both persons. |
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Do Wear gloves and protective eyewear whenever using an axe.
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Don't for axes. |
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Don't cut any trees, alive or dead with permission. |
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Don't allow the axe blade to cut into the ground. Soil and rocks will quickly dull the axe. |
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Don't leave an axe lying around camp.
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Demonstrations: |
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Using a mill bastard file, have the student demonstrate the proper method of sharpening. |
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Using proper technique and safety, have the student demonstrate limbing, bucking, and splitting wood. |
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Using proper technique and safety, have the student demonstrate the proper carrying and passing of an axe.
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Safe work area. |
A. Emphasize the fact that the pocket knife, saw, and axe are TOOLS not play things. |
B. A safe work area is a necessity for use of an axe and saw.
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C. A safe work area consists of: |
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An area which is free of brush and branches. |
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An area which is at least 10 feet in diameter. |
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An area which provides all the safety equipment necessary, gloves, eye protection, tool storage. |
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Only the person operating the camp tools is allowed in the safety area or Axe Yard. |
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When finished the safety area is cleaned of all wood chips, bark, and other debris. |
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Make sure that all tools are properly stored when finished.
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D. Axe Yard |
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a. On long term camps or when lots of fire wood is required, construct an axe yard. Rope off an area large enough to provide a safe
working area. |
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Only enter the axe yard to saw or chop wood. Again apply all rules to the axe yard as you do to the safe working area. |