Knife 'skills' . . .

[spannulman]

When I was 7/8 years old and my two brothers were older teenagers our father bought us all knives. Both brothers received what we then called ‘sheaf knives’ which I later found meant sheath knives whereas I, as the baby, was given a small penknife with beautiful pearlescent blue scales, as I remember it. Probably on safety grounds at mum’s behest.

They were given to us for our first camping trip to Youlgrave in Derbyshire So we had useful tools for the trip. (Little did I know I’d end up living nearby 40 years later) we used to walk the mile to the village and buy warm crusty bread and then slice bits off whilst sat on a dry stone wall on the way home. At least one of us would slice our jeans In the process. But I imagine social services would be called in now if a parent bought knives for their children and allowed them to carry them around every day? But they were just tools that every young lad needed.

Dad did exactly what that photo shows- the right way to carry a knife and pass it to someone. And how to keep it sharp. Basic stuff. Which sticks with you. I recall a gun shop ( long gone) in Sheffield where, as teenagers, my cousin and I paid a few quid to use pistols in an indoor range at the shop. People would be shocked today (outside this forum) but they were very clear on safety, and how to carry a revolver with fingers through the frame so the cyLinder was seen to be open, and hand it to someone butt first. Little things but that and the knife safety never left me. It’s good that some people still teach this sort of thing instead of letting kids fear knives or think they are only used as weapons.

 

[spannulman]

The majority of kids when I was growing up picked up these skills (and many others) while in the cubs, then scouts. Generally taught to us by our peers!

Like how to throw them into trees? And how playing chicken with them either put holes in your shoes or dulled the blade throwing into the ground. Those were the things older brothers or your mates taught you,not Adults.

 

[shooter]

If I am ever unfortunate enough to have children, my parenting style will be 'hands on but gloves off' ala what some Scandinavian countries practise:



I like what the lady says, they are taught that knives are tools and not weapons.

If we take the same approach to firearms then that would be good too.

Another thing, I learnt to drive a car and ride a motorbike at 12 in a rural area.

Accidents were very difficult to achieve and you had to be trying to cause one.

The idea that a 17/18 year old can hop in a car, take a few lessons, pass your test, and away you go, seems crazy to me.

What a bulls*** title to an amazing video.
10+ minutes long. Knives only feature for 40 seconds;

this video could have had a different title; this kind of schooling has got nothing to do with knives at all. Even to have to make this statement that knife is not a weapon but a tool is a reflection of the times.
Long ago about 20 years ago some continental friends from Germany told me about the concept of forest nursery and i was impressed. They said their reason was also medical; being exposed to the dirt etc strengthened the innate immunity from a young age as opposed to the baby wipe, hand gel, ofsted (equivalent) hygiene rating classrooms of classical schooling.

 

[Klenchblaize]

No one taught me how to use or indeed handle a knife correctly as a rougue child. I simply ‘grew into them’ and with no doubt many mistakes along the way. Knife throwing in-the-woods competitions after school with the classic Scout Knife would have been one of them.

Got my act together though when purchasing my first Puma as that hurt big time. The price I mean.

K

 

[Ade8mm]

Been using knives all my life. Often get a cut but that is down to me. Never serious , just a knick, and usually when sharpening them.
I have had more than a few bolloxings from Mrs Ade8mm over the years.
"Why have you sharpened these knives ? They are now dangerous"
(Stating the fact that "blunt knives do not cut you" simply does not wash. Counter intuitive. I step away from the argument.)

Only pick the battles you can win etc.

Just state facts

"No" says I "They are knives, they are for cutting and slicing and work better when they are sharp, you should learn how to use them"
Pointless saying that of course.
Might as well howl at the Moon.
So I will continue sharpening the knives and my Dear Wife will keep cutting her fingers.

 

[willie_gunn]

We start off with basic safety (how to carry, don’t leave it into soapy water, don’t prod anybody with it etc) then simple cutting techniques (bridge & claw).

Where were you when I was growing up

I am clearly now at the stage where I’m reverting to childhood.

I put a knife into a sink-full of soapy water in the larder the other day, thinking as I did so “I must remember that’s in there”.

My short-term memory is not what it used to be.

 

[eldon]

I'm slowly working the wife around to sharp knives and how best to use and look after them. She appreciates me sharpening them but initially insisted on using the worktop glass surface savers to cut and chop on

We have progressed onto now getting the plastic chopping boards out and shes surprised how much longer they stay sharp.....

Watch an incompetent person use a steel: one of the most effective ways of rounding stuff off but they can do it fast and even look like they know what they are doing

 

[Utectok]

I was teaching a friend how to break down a carcass yesterday, and her knife skills (or lack of them) truly terrified me. How the hell she escaped with all her fingers intact is a mystery. How the hell I escaped with all my fingers intact is a mystery, come to that. Halfway through though, it struck me that this really isn't an uncommon phenomenon in my life these days. My own wife scares the beejesus out of me when I happen to watch her do anything with a knife (even something like slicing cheese) Invariably she'll pick the first one that comes to hand, use it incorrectly, and show a cavalier disregard for the lovingly-maintained edge by chucking it into the sink once she's done with it

Seems to me it's part and parcel of an overall dearth of even the most basic life skills in a large proportion of people these days

A ghillie buddy of mine on a remote Scottish island told me it can happen to anyone he put a deep gash in his hand while gralloching had to get airlifted to hospital not a good look for the clients! Now he always wears a Kevlar glove under his plastic one on his left hand when he’s gralloching as do I now!

 

[Basil H]

As ever, many experts on here telling us how good they are. O.K.guys, I am impressed but really don't know what you are on about (bridge and claw ?) so how about posting some clips or stuff for us ill-informed thickies ......... please ?

 

[LuckyEddie]

I have 3 females in the house (4 if you include the dug but she doesn’t count in this scenario).
They are all happy to cut bread with any knife on a glass worktop protector!
No matter how many times I explain that glass blunts knives, or that there are specific knives for specific jobs, I get ignored.
When I say I’m not going to keep sharpening knives I get “Oh dad come on it’s only sharpening a knife!”
I would love a wooden chopping board but get told ”it’s not hygienic and who’s going to make sure it’s clean?” So we’ve got 4 thin plastic boards that keep slipping all over the place and needing washed.
So I’ve decided to get my own knives and chopping board and see what happens!

 

[Overlay]

That's my wife! To a 'T'. She says it stops her worrying about cutting herself . . . . . .

Same as mine, doesn’t want to cut herself With a sharp knife

 

[User00035]

I would love a wooden chopping board but get told ”it’s not hygienic and who’s going to make sure it’s clean?” So we’ve got 4 thin plastic boards that keep slipping all over the place and needing washed.
So I’ve decided to get my own knives and chopping board and see what happens!

You can tell your good womenfolk that they have been misinformed. In fact, wood is more hygenic than plastic as it has natural anti-bacterial properties, and unlike wood, the cuts made in the surface of plastic never close up again and plastic boards harbour more bacteria than wooden ones.
There's a reason butchers shop still use wooden butchery blocks.

Wooden Cutting Boards and Bacteria - What You Need to Know

Learn the science of wooden cutting boards and bacteria, plus other benefits of wood, and why I only use wood cutting boards in my kitchen.

commonsensehome.com

 

[NP435]

I clean my plastic board with Clorox bleach, nothing to fear by doing so. Bleach just works.

 

[Mungo]

Glass cutting boards!!!

My wife had one when I first met her.

It took 5 years to persuade her it was a nonsense on every conceivable level.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Glass cutting boards

The work of the devil himself