Having access to a knife can be essential for survival. It can be used to help you shave, cut rope, skin an animal, and more. But what if you were lost in the wild without your own blade? Luckily, there are a few ways to make a knife out of natural materials so that you can get back on your feet.
1. Make a Stone Knife
Making a knife out of natural stone is an excellent way to create a functional tool that can be used in the wild. The process requires very little skill and can be mastered by anyone with basic hand tools.
2. Find and Use Raw Materials
In order to make your knife, you will need to find some raw materials that can be easily gathered in the wild. Two common materials that you can use for this project are obsidian and flint. These rocks are incredibly hard and will make your knife tough and durable.
3. Sharpen Your Knife
Keeping your knife sharp is important when you are in the wild. A dull blade can make it difficult to cut through food, shave, or even whittle wood. You can shave your knife with a rock or some mud and strop it to keep it sharp.
4. Draw and Shape Your Slot
The first thing you will need to do is to draw a slot in the base of the stone. This will help you orient your blade when you want to use it. It will also give you a place to grip the stone, so that it does not fall out of your hand.
5. File Your Steel
After you have the slot drawn and shaped, it is time to start filing your steel. This may take a while, so be patient and don’t try to rush this step. Depending on the size of your stone, you may need to re-position the knife and work it a few times as you go along.
6. Attach the Slot to the Base
Once you have your blade and tang ready, it is time to attach the slot to the stone. This will be the handle that you will hold your knife. You can find a variety of different handles, or you can make your own.
7. Secure the Rock and Edges Together
Once your blade is in place, you can secure the sides of it with a small piece of bark or a knotted string. This will ensure that the edge will not come off when you are using it and make it easier to sharpen.
8. Connect the Ends of Your Knife
After the blade is in place, it is time to attach the ends. This is an easy task, but will take some practice. A few different types of knots are available that can be used to secure the ends together, but a simple bow-and-arrow knot is probably the most effective.
The key is to get the tang to fit well with the slot. You may need to re-position the knife several times as you work so that you can keep the tang in the correct position and the slots lined up with each other. Once you have achieved this, it should be a simple matter to lock the blade in place.