Geen and tan and Bigfoot.
I expect to agree to disagree with Bigfoot. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Hes my friend... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And I'm playing myth buster so I don't expect any classiscists to agree with me.

B&T
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If you are of the opinion that a sharp knife is a liability and you can get by with scissors, go the scissors route. <snip> A knife is a tool for cutting. A butter knife is a tool for spreading butter and cutting butter at the dinner table. <snip> Carrying a butter knife around maybe safe, but it is useless around the camp unless you want to butter something. <snip> I know that more force is needed behind a dull blade to get it to do its job, this means less control through possible slippage and fatigue and there is more likelihood of causing injury to yourself or others
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In fact you are agreeing completely with my concept. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> A sharp knife is a tool for cutting or butchering <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> - but in my opinion that "need" is not really a part of modern LNT BPing. I'm saying that the only real repeatable need that you have for that knife is eating and spreading butter/jam. [unless you are hunting, a samari, or otherwise require it as part of your mission gear] Whittling is against the Boy Scout code as an unecessary dangerous way to "play" with knifes. I had a Tote and chip card - I know. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That said - I like chip arrowheads which is even sharper than anybodies knife and very dangerous, but I don't feel its a necessary part of camping. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


<<If you are using a knife in a survival situation to make wood shavings for fire, construct shelter, process food (if you are lucky enough to catch something) a sharp knife will also save your energy in that you don't have to work as hard to get the same job done. >>

I agree with you, only I would want my axe instead of a knife. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> And if I am going to be in a survival situation there are other things I'd like to have too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

<<My question is, if a jagged wound heals faster, why do surgeons use scalpels? >>

A surgeon is not concerned with the cut healing, he can glue it together, cauterise it, and probably injects you with a blood thickener so you don't bleed as much. A surgeon is concerned with precision cutting which a dull blade will not do. I do not require this precision to cut my potato or a piece of rope. And I do not butcher anmals while camping - normally - this year was different.

<<<There is nothing wrong with bringing scissors instead of a knife if that is all you need to get the cutting jobs done, but I wouldn't bring a dull knife along just for the sake of having a knife. Just my opinion. >>>

Again I have to whole heartedly agree. A pair of scissors will cover about all I ever need to do, so I tend to carry a miniature SOG mini tool with gear powered scissors, one inch long knife blade and tweezers I think. I would never carry a dull knife just to have a knife, but I would cary a utility knife that was too dull to cut my hand severly. Just like I don't need a scalpel or even a box cutter to any camping activity. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Ok so the last time we needed a knife was last September when we used a dull swiss army pocket knife to cut the legs off a whole duck my girl friend packed in. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Now if your a BPing chef - carry a fine set of knifes.
Bottom line - Big sharp knifes, axes, campfires, and guns for camping are VERY RETRO... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> If yer gonna give your kid a knife to play with, er uh I mean learn to be responsible for, are you gonna start with a razor knife cause it'll be easier to sew his fingers back on?
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />