A knife can come in handy in almost every situation; we can all agree on that, but in the wilderness, it can be the line between life and death. Whether you need to cut meat, a rope, branches, or wood to protect yourself from predators, this hunting weapon can be your savior in dangerous situations.
Knowing how to make this bread- and skin-cutting weapon can make you twenty times more dangerous. In my article, you can learn how to make a knife in the wild, even if you are not a skilled blacksmith. In fact, I can confidently say that by the end, even if you are a carpenter, you can learn this skill and successfully make a blade that you can use for many reasons.
How to Make a Knife in the Wild
To make a blade in the wilderness, you must roam around many locations to find a blade stone which can later be reshaped and turned into a knife with a chisel stone. Now that we are all on the same page and agree that having a blade in the wild is always a huge plus, let’s discuss how you can actually make one while being stuck in the wild.
Step 1. Finding a location
First off, it will be a blessing in disguise if you can locate all the required materials in one spot. If you do so, great, but, the chances are, you will have to roam around for a bit and find a location or multiple spots with plenty of rocks.
For instance, a place near a creek is always loaded with strong, high-quality rocks that can be reshaped into a weapon. Before learning how to make a knife in the wild or any other weapon in the wilderness, you must be patient. Scout the spot for rocks and take your time with it.
Step 2. Finding a blade stone
The first rock you should locate is a blade stone. You can recognize this thin rock because it resembles a slate or flint. Because this will be the most crucial part of the blade, you have to ensure that it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. A blade stone is usually found near a stream or a river. Also, look for smooth pieces with glass-like sides if you see multiple rocks.
Step 3. Finding a chisel stone
Now that you have one piece of the puzzle, it is time to find its “lobster” (Friends reference) or the other stone you need to create a knife successfully. As the name suggests, this stone will be used to chisel the first rock into the shape of a blade. Just as before, you need to look for a palm-sized rock. Because you will be streaking this one against the other, you must emphasize strength and find a hard and solid stone.
Read more: How to Make a Bow and Arrow in the Forest
Step 4. Shaping the knife
Now that you have the two stones, you can probably guess how the shaping operation will go. Before striking one rock against the other, you have to make sure that you hold them properly. If you are not, one will surely slip and damage one of your fingers. So, before making the attack, hold the blade rock tightly with your weaker arm. In other words, the hand that would be sticking has to be your strong one. If you are right-handed, hold the blade stone with your left and vice versa.
Place the chisel stone in your strong hand and start attacking the blade stone at a 45-degree angle. The edges of the weaker stone should begin to chip away, and you should eventually notice a sharp edge. Continue this process until you have two-thirds of the blade stone left with a sharp edge at the end of it.
Also read: How to Make a Torch in the Forest
Step 5. Handling the knife
I am confident you learned how to make a knife in the wild if you carefully followed my instructions. You should have a weapon by doing the steps correctly and rubbing the stones. As I previously mentioned, patience plays a major role here also. Because you are using one stone to chisel another stone, it is understandable that the operation may take some time.
Once you have the sharp edge and you are a proud owner of a stone-made dagger, the design of the handle is something that I will leave up to you.
Depending on the size of your hands, you can make it accordingly. Just make sure that it is not too big and heavy. If this is your first time building a knife in the wilderness, you need something pocket-sized that is light and small.
Why Learning How to Make a Knife in the Wild?
Despite asking how to make a knife in the wild, some people, when they notice the steps and the hard work required in the process, also ask why. Why seek stones when I can just pack a knife in my bag?
Well, the truth is, we live in a modern society where a phone can be as dangerous as a blade, and the chances are that you will never be lost alone in the wilderness. The only people who get out of the grid are the ones who do that on purpose. Therefore, I understand the questions and the always-chosen easy path of people.
You can use your survival skills if you ever get separated from your backpack, which has all the weapons and food. Also, your old knife may break or fall off unnoticed. Overall, I think that learning how to make a knife in the wild is a great skill everyone should learn and feel proud of afterward.
Conclusion
There you have it, the complete guide on how to make a knife in the wild. Even though the stone-made blade is not as lethal as a large store-bought survival knife, it can be very helpful in an emergency situation. After all, having a small spear in your pocket is better than nothing.