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The Anatomy of a Knife

We use the knife so often that we take it for granted, and would likely raise our eyebrows if we were told that it is actually quite a complex tool. It does not become simple just because we handle it so casually. Generally, people think a knife has two parts, the handle and the blade, but in reality 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.

Depending on the shape of the blade, a knife can be used for skinning, filleting, chopping, and a number of other duties. The steel used to make the blade will determine its overall strength and durability. For both hygienic reasons and to ensure the long life of your knife, get blades made out of stainless steel as they are more germ resistant and will not rust or corrode like other steel products.

The part of the knife that is used to stab and pierce things is known as the point. It helps pierce the membrane around the skin of the quarry and is used for gutting and cleaning and getting to the meat of the game.

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 cuts things. It is the part of the blade that faces away from you. It is sharpened and honed so that it cuts through whatever needs cutting. The cutting edge can be of many types, but the most common are the straight and serrated edges. A serrated edge is used for cutting things like bread while the straight edge is good for trimming meat.

The handle is probably the other part of a knife, besides the blade, that people are most familiar with. Handles can be made using a variety of materials including wood, steel, plastic…basically, the sky is the limit.

The knife also has a part called the butt which is much like the butt of a gun. It is located at the exact opposite side of the tip i.e. the far end of the handle. Some knives have a compass inserted in the butt that can be pulled out. Behind the compass you would find a small storage space where you can put 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.

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