Field Expedient Edged Tools For Survival

**Bill Harsey** · 04-29-2004, 08:30

Reaper, Sir, Sorry-I forgot I am now among those of high breeding and will leave road kill alone. I have visited Ft. Bragg in June and it was starting to get a bit warm, the guys told me to come back in August when it was "nicer". I'm better off in the snow. ****Question for this discussion**** Has anyone been exposed to any "how to" in contingency edged tools? That is making them from broken glass, rock, found scrap steel? Has anyone watched a knife made with even the crudest of tools?

**Roguish Lawyer** · 04-29-2004, 08:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Harsey
****Question for this discussion**** Has anyone been exposed to any "how to" in contingency edged tools? That is making them from broken glass, rock, found scrap steel? Has anyone watched a knife made with even the crudest of tools?

I've made crude spearheads/knives from rocks, but it hardly was a work of art. Pointers would be most appreciated!

Sacamuelas · 04-29-2004, 08:38

I have seen/made VERY primitive type tools . Lashing/stick/cleaved stone for a edge type stuff. Wasn't very effective in its intended purpose or use. I would be interested in getting some expert instruction/ideas...

Why not start a new thread on improvised edged tools, Sir?

**Bill Harsey** · 04-29-2004, 08:53

I'm going to see if i might be able to bring someone in much better than me at edges made from stone. Crude is better than nothing, I can't make any work of art either but can break some basalt until I have a rough chopping tool. Contigency steel is something I can handle, like for example telling you where we can find steel in a car or truck with enough carbon in it to make a rough forged knife blade,(everyone knows the answer to that, the rear suspension leaf springs) how to heat it up for forming on even a stone anvil, etc. I have a friend who is an ex SEAL who teaches this exact stuff. He's one hell of an outdoorsman and hunts all the time with primitive technology. I use the word "primitive" to reference the historical period from which he patterns his weapons, not the skill and efficiency exhibited in the field.

04-29-2004, 10:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Harsey
Reaper, Sir, Sorry-I forgot I am now among those of high breeding and will leave road kill alone. I have visited Ft. Bragg in June and it was starting to get a bit warm, the guys told me to come back in August when it was "nicer". I'm better off in the snow. ****Question for this discussion**** Has anyone been exposed to any "how to" in contingency edged tools? That is making them from broken glass, rock, found scrap steel? Has anyone watched a knife made with even the crudest of tools?

I've made a crude machete from a piece of spring-steel (car spring). Basically used a rather large rock with a flat surface to create an edge. Took quite a while, worked OK (not great, but it worked). Handle was two halfs of a split branch with 550 cord wrapped around it.

**Bill Harsey** · 04-29-2004, 15:58

Did you forge that hot? Well done anyway you did that. Putting roundness in the handle is very important to keep from ruining the hand after hard work.

04-29-2004, 18:23

Didn't forge it at all. Just sharpened the edge with the stone. Took forever (I had a lot of time).

**Bill Harsey** · 04-29-2004, 18:50

Holy crap, you guys are tougher than I'd ever imagined.

QRQ 30 · 04-29-2004, 18:57

A leaf spring is excellent steel for a blade. I have seen many knives made from them.

**Bill Harsey** · 04-29-2004, 19:26

Yes leaf springs are very servicable for tough duty knives. All are at least a medium carbon steel that can be hardened and tempered for knife use. Some spring steels have enough carbon to be considered high carbon steels. The reason they are not considered tool steels is they are a simple alloy of mostly iron and carbon (Yes, I know what ASIA 5160 spring steel is made of but don't start that here) and the amount of refinement at the steel mills to remove inclusions and other impurities from the billet before rolling into usable stock is not as refined a process as for high grade tool steels. Forging these spring steels, even in primitive conditions, can further refine this material into a valuable blade. I know some of you have seen this done in other countries. Greenhat, Sir, get the sumbitch warm next time, shaping the steel will go a little faster.

**Ambush Master** · 04-29-2004, 19:51

Old Files can also be fashioned into good blades.

They're tougher than Woodpecker Lips, but it can be done.

**Bill Harsey** · 05-01-2004, 21:07

Files have the highest carbon content of about any steel you are going to pick up, This is for maximum hardness so they can cut other metals including steel that has been hardened (for example an axe bit). This hardness also can get in the way of ductility (pry bar strength), files can be brittle. You can temper a file to reduce some of this hardness while maintaining most of the very good edge holding. Yes they are tougher than wood pecker lips and are damned hard to grind on a "rock" (bench grinding wheel). They sure make some very pretty sparks while your doing it!

05-03-2004, 06:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Harsey
Holy crap, you guys are tougher than I'd ever imagined.

Just stubborn.

**Bill Harsey** · 05-03-2004, 13:46

That's also an honorable attribute.

**The Reaper** · 05-03-2004, 17:03

Some call it stubbornness, I prefer to call it persistence and fortitude.

I believe that in an article I posted earlier, an SF NCO said it well, and I paraphrase:

"We aren't Supermen, we just don't quit. Ever."

TR