The Components 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.

The blade of a knife is the most obvious part. It is the metallic part that extends away from the handle and has a cutting edge ground into it. It is the particular shape of the blade that defines the nature and function of the knife.

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 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 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.

The handle is the most familiar part of the knife apart from the blade. Handles are made of innumerable materials, the most common being wood, steel and plastic.

The butt of the knife, like the butt of a gun, is located at the far end of the handle or the exact opposite of the tip. Many companies place a compass in the butt of the knife. When it is pulled out it reveals storage space for things like matches and other survival essentials.

There are many survival knives that come with hand guards to protect your hands from slipping in the direction of the blade. However, you need to know the basic components of a knife in order to reduce the chances of getting hurt while using one. Also, you need to know how to sharpen and maintain your knife to get the best out of it for a long time.

Article Source: http://www.articles.ask-me-about.com

Frank Silkin is the chief editor for F knife, the best place on the internet for information about knife. For more articles on knife why not visit: www.yflknife.com/articles
Click here to get your own unique version of this article: Uber Articles directory.