Stránka:roll 1916.djvu/237

Things to Know and Do Knift and Hatehtt or WUtdinc and Choppinf If I were marooned on an idand or left alone in the wilderness, and had thechoice of but one weapon to take along, I should take a good knife. If I were allowed two, the second would be a hatchet. , , ^. , , , With those two one can make most of the things needed for securing food or building shelters. The Northern Indians are probably the best whii tiers in the world. They use a curious curved knife called the crooked knife. It is made of an old file curled up at the point so it can cut a narrow groove. With such a knife a Chipcwyan Indian can make bow, arrows, traps, snowshoes, canoe , and wigwam— as well as clothing, his whole outfit complete; a jjood crodced knife, therefore, u a fair start in life fw an industrious Indian. SnlM for Uaing a Knife In whittling, (dways assume thai the knife is going to slip, there- fore, arrange so it can do no damage when it does slip. For this reason, it is usual to make a beginner whittle away from himself, but that is not always safe. Indeed, all the best whittlers in the world, including Northern Indians, Farriers, Wagonmakers, etc., whittle toward tkemsdves, with the hand held pahn up, the knife blade at the little finger side, using the pull of the arm instead of the push, thereby getting more power and better control. But this is sure, you diould never wMtfe tofward the hand that is hold' ig the wood. Always keep your knife sharp. It is a sign of a tenderfoot to have a dull kmf e, and of a tramed woodcralter to have a keen one. To keep a knife sharp, it must be a good piece of steel and you must know how to shaJTJen it. The only way to get a good blade is to go to a good maker and pay a good price. The fancy knives that are corkscrew, tciolchest, bootjack, and whistle all combined, are seldom of good sleel. Old-timers prefer a j£;/«7e-handled knife as it is more readily found if dropped on the ground or in the water. The blade cannot be kept in good condition if used for any- thing but a wood cutter. Therefore, do not cut nails, metal, or softwood knots (especially hemlock knots) with it. Never stick the blade m Uie fire. That would draw the tem- per and sp(»l the knife.