LEARNING KNIFE SKILLS 

hope you enjoy this video safe journeys to you

Blackie, the patience that you show, and the ability to teach on a junior level as well as an adult level shows great maturity of character on your part. As with so many of your videos, thank you for the time and effort that you spend sharing your vast wealth of life experiences and knowledge to the rest of us. Even being a southern born and grown man myself, I find myself learning so much from your videos.

I remember the weekend campout that I earned my knife and axe skills "Whitlin' Chip" card...age 11 in B.S.A./1967... I studied all week at home & went through a lot of pine, maple, and oak branches... The very next weekend campout, my friend nearly lost a toe (with an axe, foot too close to chopping piece area)... I never lost a "corner"... Taught my son the very same skills, when he was 8... Thank you, Blackie, for reminding us of these vital skills!

Ahh the good old days when things at the dollar store cost a dollar. Also known as the pre Brandon era. I can remember when cub scouts and boy scouts all had one thing in common and that was they were not brownies or girl scouts.

👍 Nice video. Good educational demonstration of necessary useful practical skills. Shame these skills are being lost, thank you for trying to prevent that.

Been carrying a knife in my pocket always since I was 7-8. Small slip joint & Boy Scout pocket knife. Had a Barlow for awhile also. I can remember slip joints cutting me so many times I won't even go near one now. But once I discovered Buck knives in 1971, the 110 folding hunter I never looked back. From there I got the Buck 55 small slim little lock blade pocket knife, you don't even you're carrying it. Then I got a Special Edition model 114 sheath knife with a beautiful Cocobolo handle. That knife is always on my side in the woods. Then they came out with a Special Edition (Navy model) smaller version of the 110 folding hunter with finger grooves, [forget the #] to meet Navy Spec's, for some reason the 110 was too big for wearing on their uniforms. Needless to say I'm a Buck man !! I doubt I'll ever use a slip joint again. And made in America with a lifetime warranty, I think a Buck knife will always be in my pocket & on my belt for what's left of this Geezers life. Your video is great though. Until the 70's there was only 2 choices, slip joint or fixed blade. I cherished my Boy Scout knife, wish I still had it, be worth a ton now.

Blackie got my grandsons a scout type knife like I started with. Also some no cut gloves . They are showing some skills. I am old school I have a large stockman on my person at all times. Slipjoints just work for fine detail work.

Knife skills in the home are severely overlooked. I use knives everyday, kitchen, shop, woods, etc. and never a nick. My poor wife will not listen and so uses a lot of bandaids! Great video.

Hey blackie, you should start a series with this video.. "how to teach our kids.." todays kids have no idea about these things we grew up with, and their parents have no idea how to teach them because they weren't tought themselves.. its sad.. I am pouring everything I have into my 10 year old son, I'm 50 and grew up on 2 farms and my dad was a marine, so u got a very well rounded teaching.. but todays kids just dont have parents with those experiences, so they cant teach..😔

Hi Blackie my grandmother gave me a jack knife when I was 5 and challenged me to a apple peeling contest. Whole apple in one strand. You know who won. It was a set up come harvest time I got the apple peeling chore so she could cook lol. Really miss those days.

Blackie , Another Great Video on knife safety , I had a cutter card when I was in Boy Scouts , you are right if you got all four corners cut off you had to start over and we were taught if asked to use someone knife , when you handed you said Thank You . Showing the notches and different knives and safety . That is what I thought my son and others in his Cub and Boy Scouts Troop . I still have my scout knife from 1973-1979 and when my son was in from 2009- 2018 and tried to teach them all I could about being a Woodsman and Buschcrafter and another leader was the same way with Bushcraft and Woodsman and a Eagle Scout .I made Life Scout I turned 18 and had my Eagle project done but the board had so many projects going on that mine got swept under the rug . Blackie , You Are The Master Woodman and Buschcrafter , Thanks Again for your time and passing on the knowledge and craft . Tim L.

I really enjoyed this video, it is very useful. I'm 65 and still learning, thank you.

Another excellent tutorial brother. I also had my "Totin' Chit" and carried it proudly in my first wallet. I was "axe qualified" too. It was a proud day when my Scout Masters Mr. Bill Wells and Mr. Roy Rhoades presented it to me. Keep up the good work.

Still stand by Opinels being good starter knives. They're easy on a kids level of hand strength and motor skills, the collars are safe and they're inexpensive not to mention you can buy ones with no pointed blade tip if you want to go that route. Oh yeah, the spine is 90 degrees so you can use it on a ferro rod.

Greetings from Australia, love these types of videos on pocket knifes and whittling, reminds me of grandpa.

Blackie, I have never had a knife that I did not cut myself with it. LOL

Hello from Oklahoma!Good Video! 👍👍Actual carving lesson starts at 15:00. Good Stuff to know. We did similar in Boy Scouts back in 1972. Thanks for all you do! God Bless!

Excellent video and information, thank you Blackie.

Blackie... What can I say but another fine video ! Thanks Brother !

I think the best place to start with kids is actually safety/eticate. If someone hands you a closed knife, hand it back the same way unless specifically asked to leave it open. An open or fixed blade knife should be offered edge away from you, handle toward the intended target and handed back the same way. If a knife is offerd sheathed, it should be handed back sheathed. If you dirty the blade, wipe it off/clean it before offering it back to the owner. We may have shelved the knife as a utilitarian tool these days, but it is and can still be a weapon and should be respected as such.

Great Vid

That was a terrific video presentation! We did many of the same tasks to teach Cub Scouts proper safe knife skills too. Those boys really enjoyed it and loked forward to gettingbthat card

I normally take one of my “ tacticool “ folders in the woods but I have a case trapper that I never use. I’m going to give it a try. I enjoy your content. You bring a touch of class to the bushcraft community !

Great video Blackie, Thank you.👍

I completely agree with you. Children should learn the safe use of a knife as early as is reasonable. I have carried a pocket knife on my person for about 65 years and I feel naked without one. It is common knowledge among my children and grandchildren is that you never ask Papa if he has a sharp knife because it is insulting to suggest he night carry one that was dull. Barlow knives are good starting knives. Pocket knives by Buck, Case, and Old Timer are a great upgrade/gift when the time is right. Hunting knives can come a bit later. I believe cheap knives are more dangerous than good quality knives, as well. Also, it is important to teach kids how to sharpen their knives, which takes practice, but it is very teachable. (I feel much the same about firearms, but that is another discussion.) Thanks!

Great video Blackie. I bet you were a great scout leader/teacher.

I’m probably your age so I started off with a Barlow and A swiss Army knife. My children and grandchildren a buck 110 and a Swiss Army knife. Great review

Blackie , good video and tips , thanks for sharing , God bless !

Blackie, have you seen the SAK Hunter XT? Great addition for a woods knife. Main blade, gut blade and saw.

Absolutely fantastic video my friend!! This is soooo needed in this day!! Outstanding man!!

good show i always watch seldom comment i learned alot of this stuff growing up and just assumed everyone did i guess

Thanks blackie great details

Cool german Army shirt

Thank you for clarifying that I need a 1930/40 Boy Scout steel skillet with tin pans. I shall keep looking for one on bay, there must be some out there.Know that I am carefully listening to your advice

You're a good old dude, you did reenactments, for churches I went to church camp one time in Texas, I think you were there, I was like six or eight years old so I don't know

Great stuff. Thank you.

Dang pal, if I keep teaching the grandchildren all these woods craft skills, who's gonna fix the phone and laptop?

Another great video from Blakie

My knife skills are above a beginner but far below someone like yourself. I am building a coffee table in my wood shop. I have carved in a chess/checkers board into it. I am debating on whittling the chess pieces for it.

Nice shirt. Regards from Germany.

My Man I appreciate the Video it’s amazing and educational,but I lasted only 10 minutes,as a Bosnian we have this skill built in,,Yes I did cut myself numerous times but nothing serious ,having a knife was part of the culture..Sooooo many Bows and Arrows were made,carving was dangerous,my father’s knives were razor sharp and he had his own forge and did blacksmith jobs for villagers, I lost my knife, I made it from leaf spring,but I will always carry a some kind of blade…

Good advice !

there is a model called My first Victorinox knife it ha the main blade a saw blade the combi tool (bottle and can opener in one) plus tweezers snd toothpick But the blade has no point, it's definitely an outdoor pocket knife with the saw

Like your friend Mr Kelly says do it over and over.

Tip from euro Germany...Felix Immler y- t...in German and Englisch...

Hello B.T., Darn good stuff sir, thanks for taking the time. Do ya think knot learning is also important? Just ask'n!! Have a "Merry Christmas and a safer New Year!!🙏 Be safe and take care, "God Bless", sincerely, Randy. 👍👍🙏😇👊

I've carried a medium case stockman for years. Lost without it.

I use em all, but I’d say my kitchen knives get more use than any of my other ones.

First few times give a young one a butter knife & a banana & see how they do, after that well that’s a personal decision as how well they do & listen.

Teaching knife skills is difficult .. I too owned a cheap Barlow ,, I think mine was maybe 2 bucks when I got it .. a good Swiss army lock blade folder is an excellent knife for youngsters to learn with ,, the gray bearded green beret ( Josh Enyhart) has some good videos on knife skills ,, the try stick ,and safety

I would consider buying a cut resistant glove for the beginner to use. Also, there is an old saying that it is easier to cut yourself with a dull knife than with a sharp knife. I have never cut myself with a dull knife, but I have with a sharp knife. I would make sure the beginner has a dull knife, or at least one that is not razor sharp.

Which jack knife are you using?

Blackie is there a particular email I could reach you at? I can only imagine how busy you are but I have a question.

I do not find what you did awkard at all. I was taught knife skills in the military by a cook who did his four years active duty and then was in the Reserve while studying at NY Culinary institute with his GI Bill. Outstanding job!

I dont know how people can go threw a day without a pocket knife.

Actually there's no such thing as muscle memory. It's neural memory. I get what you're trying to convey though.