If you are interested to know how to make stone knives in emergencies, or you simply want to work on your bushcraft skills, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will explain in detail how to make stone knives efficiently.
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
How to Make Stone Knives
As stone knives can be one of the handiest and easiest tools to make when you need to act quickly, learning how to make stone knives is a must-have skill for everyone. As this tool has been used since the beginning of civilization, it is only right to pay proper attention to it and keep it alive from generation to generation.
Moreover, as stone knives are one of the most durable knives and tools in general, knowing how to make one will certainly be of great help regardless of the situation you find yourself in.
That being said, in continuation of this article, you will be able to read the most used methods for making stone knives, which with a lot of practice, I do not doubt that you will be able to master.
Also read: How to Make a Knife in the Wild
How to make a primitive stone knife
Regardless of whether you want to make a primitive stone knife for fun or to get yourself out of a particular situation, this knife can be just as handy and effective as a regular knife. To successfully make this kind of knife, all you need to do is follow the directions carefully. First, I will list all the materials you need, then explain how to make stone knives step by step.
Materials you will need to make a primitive stone knife
- Small to medium-sized stone
- Saw (this tool is optional, but I strongly recommend you have one with you)
- Whittling tool
- Medium stone with rounded side
- Thick stick for the hilt
Making the primitive stone knife step-by-step
Make the blade
The first step we are going to start with is making the blade. To do this, you will need to take the medium-sized stone with a rounded surface or side and the other small stone. Then, you will need a stable and flat surface where you will put the medium-sized stone. After doing this, you can start hitting the smaller stone’s edge with the rounded stone.
An important thing to remember here is that you need to be consistent with your hits, meaning you must try and hit the same place repeatedly.
Make the hilt
After successfully shaping the knife’s blade, it is time to start working on the knife’s hilt. To do this, you will need to find a thick stick long enough to act like the knife’s handle. The stick should be sturdy so that you can utilize it without breaking on the first attempt.
Then, after finding a suitable stick, you will be required to sew off the ends until you reach the desired length for your hilt. Finally, you must carve a V-shaped indent of about one inch lengthwise into the hilt and about ½ of the stick’s width. If unsure about this indent, you can always adjust it later to support the knife blade perfectly.
Attach the blade to the hilt
Ultimately, when the hilt and the stone blade are done, assemble the blade in the V-shaped crevice, and you are done. I strongly recommend using some kind of rope or thread to secure the blade in the hilt.
How to make a more advanced stone knife
If you have the opportunity to make a higher quality and more advanced stone knife that requires a little more materials than just sticks and stones, I recommend trying this technique. As with the previous one, I will first list the materials and then the step-by-step procedure.
Materials you will need to make a more advanced stone knife
- Wood, bones, or antlers for the handle
- File, saw, or belt sander
- Stone
- Animal hide glue, pine pitch glue
- Pigments (not mandatory)
Making the more advanced stone knife step-by-step
Making the handle
The first thing we are going to start with is making the handle. You can use many things for this, such as antlers, wooden sticks, or even animal bones that are sturdy, long, and thick enough. Then, by using any type of sandpaper, saw, file, or even stone flakes, you will need to shape the knife’s handle according to your wishes and needs. After doing so, you can use sandstone abrasive to smooth it.
Making the blade
Next, you are required to make the knife blade. Find a medium-sized stone that will serve as your blade, and then find a bigger stone with more rounded edges. Place the smaller stone on a sturdy flat surface and start hitting it with the larger stone until you make the stone blades.
Fitting the blade into the knife handle
After you are done with both the handle and the blade, you need to fit the blade in the handle. You should try to make them fit tight, so the blade stays sturdy in place. You can use the saw to modify and adapt the handle.
Glue the knife blade in the handle
Finally, after you make the blade fit the handle, apply animal hide glue, pine pitch glue, or any other material that would hold the blade in place. If you are using animal hide glue, you might want to make it dry a little bit before proceeding with attaching the blade so that the glue has time to set a bit.
If you do not have any type of glue near you, you can always use some rope, threads, pieces of clothing, cloth, or even some elastic plants to secure the blade in the knife handle.
Decorate the knife (optional)
Ultimately, if you have more time on your hand and you want to personalize the knife, you can use any pigments and get creative with it. You can use berries, beet, or anything that would stain the knife’s handle.
Read more: What Is in a Mess Kit?
Conclusion
In this article, I’ve explained the two most popular methods on how to make stone knives like a professional. I made sure to include in-depth, step-by-step instructions so that even though you might be a beginner at this, you make your stone knife successfully on your first try!