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Parts of a Knife

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Like most things that we cannot live without, the knife has become so much a part of our lives that we fail to realize just how complex of a tool it really is. Although many people would have trouble naming more than two distinct parts on a knife (the blade and the handle), the fact remains that there are six separate parts to a knife.

When you try to visualize a knife, you will most likely think of the blade. The metallic part that extends away from the handle is officially termed the blade. A cutting edge is ground onto one side of the blade and the tasks a knife is suited for are determined essentially by the shape of its blade.

There are knives suitable for various functions based on the shape of their blades. There are filleting knives, skinning knives, chopping knives and many more. The durability and strength of a knife is determined by the steel used to make its blade. Stainless steel blades are longer lasting, more hygienic, rust and germ resistant and don’t corrode as easily as other steel products.

The point of the knife performs the task of piercing and stabbing things. We use the point to help gut and clean game as it can pierce through the membrane around the skin and help us get to the meat of the quarry.

Many knife experts consider the top quarter of the knife blade to be the tip. This is the part of the knife that will do most of your cutting and included in this part is the point (although it is important to remember that these are, in fact, separate parts of the knife).

The cutting edge is the part of the knife that is…well, designed to cut things. It is the part of the blade (facing away from you) that has been sharpened and honed so that it cuts through whatever needs cutting. While there are several types of edges available, the straight and serrated edges are most common. A serrated edge is good for cutting things like bread while the straight edge is better for trimming meat.

Now comes the other part that most people are familiar with: the handle. There are plastic handles, steel handles, wooden handles and handles made of various other materials.

The butt of the knife is much like the butt of a gun: it is located at the far end of the handle or the exact opposite of the tip. This is where some companies place a compass that can be pulled out to reveal storage space for things like matches and other survival essentials.

Now some knives do come with hand guards that are designed to protect your hands in case they should accidentally slip in the direction of the blade. Many survival knives have this feature. But, whether your knife has a guard on it or not, it is important to familiarize yourself with the basic components of a knife as this will reduce the chances of your being injured using one. The next step is to learn how to sharpen and maintain your knife so that it lasts as long as possible.

Frank Silkin is the owner of F knife, the web's premier resource for information about knife. For more articles on knife visit: www.yflknife.com/articles
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