Young Marines Knife Safety Policy (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

Pocketknife

Many Young Marines find a pocketknife that has scissors rather than a large

blade is more useful since the scissors have many uses. Pocketknives shall not be

used for preparing meals. That is what kitchen knives are for so there is no need for

Young Marines to carry large blade knives.

Hatchet

A hatchet is a hand tool used as a striking tool. Hatchets are a combination tool,

part hammer and part axe. These versatile tools have many uses other than for

camping such as the flooring hatchets, lath hatchets and shingling hatchets are used for

special tasks like working with hardwood floors of installing drywall of gypsum board.

Our intent is to discuss how the hatchet is a very popular camping tool.

Hatchets have a head and handle. The head of the hatchet is metal with a sharp

blade on one side resembling an axe and a flat side on the opposite end resembling the

surface head of a hammer. The handle of hatchet can be one of many types such as

wood, solid steel or fiberglass and sometimes may be covered with a rubber grip.

Hatchets are commonly used for chopping, trimming, splitting and driving small

nails or stakes such as those used when setting up a tent of canopy type of shelter. This

tool should be used and handled carefully because it can be a very dangerous

instrument if used improperly or carelessly.

The hatchet is one of the first tools you use as you start setting up camp. It can

be used as a hammer to drive in tent stakes while setting up your tent. Be sure to

exercise caution when used in this manner as it can easily cut through your tent

material.

Another common use of hatchets when camping is that of chopping or splitting

firewood and kindling. While the chopping may be better done with as axe or a saw

there is nothing better for splitting the small logs for firewood. Be careful especially

when splitting small logs for firewood. The natural tendency will be to lay the log down

and swing the hatchet at it. This can be extremely dangerous and should not be done.

Do not hold a piece of wood and swing the hatchet as it can easily cut a deep gash or

cut a finger or thumb off.

First, a hatchet must be kept sharp to do its job well. A dull tool will often bounce

and that could cause a severe injury to the user. So, keep your hatchet or ax sharp! To

sharpen a hatchet or ax, prop it up against a log with the cutting surface of the blade up.

Then, place a wooden peg against the head, where it rests on the ground, to secure it

against the log.

Take a file, and remember, files work best when pushed and not pulled, and

remove any burrs alone the cutting surface. Start pushing the file from the cutting edge

toward the body of the hatchet head. Wear heavy-duty gloves if you have them and

always use a file with a handle. Try to keep the angle consistent as you move the file

over the cutting edge. Once the burrs have been removed, use the rough surface of a

wet stone, lightly oiled if possible, and repeat the process the same way.

When the burrs have been removed and the cutting surface of the blade is

smooth, use a wet stone to put an edge on the blade. The stone should be moved in a

circular motion and the stone should be kept firmly against the blade. Then, turn the

Young Marines Knife Safety Policy Page 3