Intro to camping knives:

One of the items considered essential on any camping gear list is a knife. For practical purposes, it should be made of quality steel and able to hold a sharp edge.

Pocket Knives
Whatever kind of pocket knife you carry, you need to do two things: always keep it clean and sharp, and always handle it safely. A dull knife is a dangerous instrument; it will slide when you want it to cut, and then it will cut when it stops sliding, which is usually somewhere that you didn't want it to cut, like your hand.

Fixed Blade Knives
Most people don't see utility in a fixed-blade knife (a.k.a. sheath knife, hunting knife, camping knife, and even survival knife and, wait for it, combat knife).

Although the original manufacturer of the Bowie knife is not known for sure, the look and style is highly recognizable. The blade is straight until the tip, where the point is chipped on one side. They were highly utilized from the 1840s through the Civil War and were noted for their simple wood grips and 12 7/8 inch blades.

The Bowie knives of today feature the same look and incredibly powerful feel of their former ancestors, but also include modern design technologies. Today's manufacturers utilize top of the line stainless steel, wood and other handle materials to create an incredible array of unique designs, from alien carvings to ivory-inlaid handles. Some are too beautiful to actually utilize for menial cutting tasks and are usually mounted in glass cases or hung on walls as decorative touches.

Bowie knives can also be extremely useful to hunters, hikers, campers and anyone interested in providing themselves with a method of self defense. Proper training in knife handling is recommended before using a knife with any great rigor. It is also important to regularly clean and sharpen a Bowie knife in order to maintain its usefulness and high quality standards.


Here are some tips on knife handling safety:
-- a pocket knife is a tool and not a toy
-- keep your knife clean and sharp
-- hold the knife firmly by the handle
-- never press on the blade when cutting
-- never use a knife to pry or as a screwdriver
-- always cut away from your body
-- close your knife before passing it to others
-- if you can't close it, lay it down to be picked up
-- when you're done using it, close it and put it away
-- instruct your children in proper knife handling