Archive for October, 2009
The Buck Knives Tradition
For over 100 years Buck Knives has been manufacturing top-of-the-line cutlery. Although the company was founded in San Diego at the turn of the century, Buck is now headquartered out of Post Fall, ID. The company’s founder, Hoyt H. Buck, wasn’t originally known for making knives.
Hoyt started as a blacksmith, and at the tender age of 13 had already developed a heating method that produced longer lasting edges than ever before. Although his company is renowned for their knives, Hoyt didn’t begin producing them in large quantities until he heard of a military shortage during WWII. Today the company continues to turn a healthy profit and produce some of the world’s best knives.
Field Dressing a Buck
For most Americans, November brings to mind images of Thanksgiving celebration – family, friends and of course a feast. But let’s not switch into holiday mode just yet. In many parts of the country November also means the start of rifle season, when men and women take to the woods in search of that elusive buck. Hunting isn’t for the faint of heart; a true outdoors enthusiast must learn to field dress a buck, so it’s better to figure out the basics sooner rather than later.
First things first: make sure the buck is dead and not simply wounded. You’re risking extreme danger by getting anywhere near an injured, wild animal. Pick up one of your sharp Fallkniven hunting knives and prop the deer on its back. Make the first incision just above the genitals, slicing upward to its ribcage. Don’t cut too deep as you’ll rupture the deer’s intestines and have a smelly situation on your hands. Flip the deer onto its side and let the guts fall out. Find the diaphragm and cut it out to remove the intestines. When you’re left with a carcass of meat, load the animal into your vehicle and return home or to camp to commence skinning.
Anatomy of a Hunting Knife
If you hope to become an effective hunter, you’ll need to learn to know your tools inside and out. It goes without saying that a hunter’s best friend is his knife, which features a number of specially designed components. As well as simply learning how to wield the knife effectively, pay close attention to the safety measures associated with the weapon. The blade, a piece of metal extending beyond the handle, is ground with a cutting surface. Depending on the knife’s purpose, its blade will be fashioned for chopping, filleting, skinning or some other action.
The point of the knife is useful for stabbing and gutting, and the cutting edge is self-explanatory. Separating the blade from the handle, you’ll likely find a bolster. This piece of material shields your hand from the sharp cutting edge of Case hunting knives. The handle should be made from an insulating material, and its construction will ideally improve your grip.