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Knives
Camping Gear Depot carries over 1600 knives by more than 50 different manufacturers including brand names such as Buck knives, Case knives, Kershaw knives, Gerber knives, Benchmade knives and many more. If you’re looking for a Swiss Army knife, hunting knife, butterfly knife, throwing knife, bowie knife or a pocket knife you have come to the right place. Our selection of knives and prices are the best you will find anywhere.
History of Knives
Imagine a world without knives, or a world without any sharp edges. There is no substitute for the knife. Knives are one of man’s original tools and were developed out of necessity. Even before fire,man learned to cut. The knife is not only an amazing and ancient tool, but was essential in mans survival helping man to eat and provide shelter. More than 3000 years ago, man was using sharp edged stones and filed bones for skinning and butchering the animals they killed for food and scraping pelts for clothes.
From Stone Age through Bronze Age to Iron Age the craftsmanship of knives have flourished as humans have always held special bonds with their tools and particularly ones with which they hunt. Modern days are no exception. The basic structure of the knife has remained constant over the years in that they all still have a blade, sharp edge and handle. Today, the knife is still an important tool and part of our everyday life for sport and work, but not necessarily so much for survival. Thus, the knife you purchase should not only be of lasting performance and quality, but have and attractive design and finish that gives the owner a sense of pride. Most cultures have their own distinctive history of knives and this is what makes collecting knives so popular.
Types of Blade Steels
Stainless Steel – There is no exact definition of when steel becomes “stainless”, but most say that steel with greater than 13% chromium in it would be considered “stainless”. Stainless steel will resist rust much longer due to its high content of chromium. Low carbon and high chromium is usually seen in dive knives where rust resistance is more important than holding an edge. As you go up in carbon, you get less rust resistant, but typically you add hardening ability and edge retention.
Non-Stainless (Carbon and Alloy Steels) - There are a wide variety of these steels. They focus on edge retention or superior toughness and not so much rust resistance. In exchange for a little extra maintenance, you get great performance with these steels.
Damascus – This is when two or more metals are welded together. These blades usually have striking beauty when the final product is acid etched. These types of blades are usually forged with this objective in mind.
Non-Steels Ceramic - The benefits of these blades are that they hold an edge longer than steel and are completely non-corrosive. However, the down side is that they are brittle.
Cobalt Based Alloys – These types of blades show promise as they will hold an edge for a very long time and are also non-corrosive, but tougher than ceramic blades. However, they are also much more expensive.
Titanium – These blades are non-corrosive and lighter than steel. They can only hold a reasonable edge OK.
Basic Knife Blade Features There are basically two different types of knife blades, the fixed blade and the folding blade.
The fixed blade is one solid piece of steel anchored to the handle. They are ready for use, durable and dependable. The further the sheath or steel blade goes into the handle the sturdier the knife will be. The hunting knife falls into this category. With the hunting knife, you can prepare yourself for any occasion in the wild. Not only are hunting knives useful for hunting, but for a variety of activities such as cleaning fish, skinning, boning or dressing game. Hunting knives are also very useful around any campsite for clearing brush, removing limbs and of course for physical emergencies. It is important to recognize how lethal these knives can be, so keep your hunting knife sharp, well kept, properly sheathed and away from children.
The folding blade, also known as a pocket knife, is not quite as durable, but is convenient to carry and provides safety. Some folding blades lock into place in various ways and some are assisted in their opening. Some pocket knives offer multiple blades for different uses. Pocket knives come in a variety of configurations and some offer multiple blades for different uses. A pocket knife is a tool that many people would not be without. It is an indispensable part of woodworking, first aid, hunting, hiking and camping gear. The pocket knife is truly one of the most versatile and useful tools. It is small, discrete, compact, lightweight and flexible.
The Swiss Army knife takes utility to a whole new level. With a Swiss Army knife, you never have to hunt for all those tools. It’s like having a hanging toolbox on your key chain or in you pocket. Having a Swiss Army knife is like having a pocket knife with a dozen other tools. Now days, Swiss Army knives are practically custom made in that they can fit any individuals needs from a knife to a corkscrew to a file. No wonder Swiss Army knives are sweeping the market.
Sharpening Your Knife NEVER sharpen your knife on a power driven grinding wheel. This can burn temper from your blade and make the edge brittle and possibly chip or crack. Doing this, will void any warranty you may have on your knife.
To sharpen your knife correctly, use a sharpening stone. If your knife is really dull, use a coarse stone first and then move to a fine grit stone. For a straight blade knife, the correct angle is 13 to 16 degrees, about the thickness of the blade. Keep the blade on the surface of the stone and move it in a clockwise motion with the edge facing right. Then, turn the knife over and move the knife in a counter clockwise motion.
To sharpen a serrated blade, do not use a sharpening stone. Use a Diamond tapered sharpener. Find the correct spot on the taper that matches the size of the serration. Keep the knife at the same angle as the factory edge. Push the sharpener against the blade, rotating as you go. Sharpen only the grinded side of the serration. Repeat this process for all of the serrations.
Cleaning Your Knife Clean the entire knife and not just the blade. Make sure the folding mechanism is clean of debris as prolonged exposure to elements can cause the blade to oxidize. You may use cleaning solvents such as Acetone, nail polish remover, alcohol or paint thinner. But, avoid using harsh detergents that contain chlorine, as this will accelerate corrosion. Also, avoid emerging your knife in liquids for long periods of time. Periodically lubricate your knife and always after cleaning it. Apply lubrication to the working parts of the knife as well as the blade.
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