Bones are better

**FVR** · 09-05-2008, 11:54 PM

I may dig out my skinning tools and take a pic and post. Nothing fancy, they don't even look like knives, just tools.

**Rick** · 09-06-2008, 07:30 AM

I've posted on this before. I saw a PBS special a few years ago that compared knapped stone to knives. It was amazing the end results. I hope I remember the numbers correctly. A scalpel was measured at 7 atoms across the edge while stone can be knapped to 3 atoms.

I can't support that information. That's just from memory. However, here is another source that says in part...

"The edge of an obsidian tool can be up to 100 times as sharp as a scalpel made of surgical steel."

The difference is in hardiness. The obsidian can be broken easily.

http://instruct.uwo.ca/earth-sci/088f/stoneagetools.pdf

EDIT: By the way, this link is to the University of Western Ontairo.

Read down to the part where Donald Crabtree has part of his lung removed with an obsidian scalpel!!!!!!

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-06-2008, 10:45 AM

I wasnt able to find a refrence yet on the internet, i'll keep looking.I've seen that same
PBS special that Rick mentioned.I wasnt suggesting that bone knives "out perform" steel
knives.however FVR coined it...when i'm skinnin' I want something sharp.Bone(and Stone)
edge thickness(es) are from 1 to 4 atoms where steel hovers at about 40 atoms(thats as thick as a dictionary in micro terms

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-06-2008, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by FVR

I may dig out my skinning tools and take a pic and post. Nothing fancy, they don't even look like knives, just tools.

I would realy like to see thoes pics, if you dont mind posting them.

**wareagle69** · 09-14-2008, 08:49 PM

as i mentione d the other day i just got 54 issues of wilderness way in the mail as i skimmed thru quickly i noticed some articles about this topic it seems to bear research anything that will prolong the life of your blade in the bush is helpful and in case of lost or broken knife ya need to be confident and compentent enough for that not to be a deal breaker on your survival.

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-14-2008, 09:34 PM

Thanks I need to try and find some copies of those mags,

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-16-2008, 10:11 AM

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**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-16-2008, 10:14 AM

This Bone Knife I use for making Red Belt Bracket lamps but its good -n- sharp.and its durable enough to carve soft wood.

**Tony uk** · 09-16-2008, 11:34 AM

Very nice looking knife there, Ive never seen one like that

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-16-2008, 09:27 PM

Its a deer bone fited to a wooden(Sour Wood)Handle

**crashdive123** · 09-16-2008, 09:29 PM

Looks as though it would make a good awl. Is that copper foil around the handle?

**sh4d0wm4573ri7** · 09-16-2008, 11:55 PM

Personally I prefer steel, or obsidian, flint also,, but I don't believe bone is superior to steel. And what is that they use to cut a human cell in half? a rock not a bone lol Indians used flint and various rocks seldom bone bone can be implimented into tools yes even knives, arrow heads etc. But superior no sorry I don't buy that at all.

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-17-2008, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Looks as though it would make a good awl. Is that copper foil around the handle?

Yea , I carved a long horn caribu into the handle and I press copper into it (the carving is raised to emboss the metal).

**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-22-2008, 03:58 PM

I found this tecnique in a hand written book that I picked up somewhere years ago, It explains a primitive method of working bones....

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**erunkiswldrnssurvival** · 09-24-2008, 11:21 AM

This is a useful technique, to saw bones with a sinue cord that is damp and coated with stone dust. The thumb saw works well with repeated coatings in the dust.