The Most Important Knife Training Essentials

Knife skills are one of the most important things that a scout can learn. For cub scouts, it's a rite of passage when they become Bears or 3 graders. I also do the same thing with my girl scouts at the same age as well.

And believe it or not, the boys do great at learning it. So when I formed my own girl scout troop, I was determined to allow my girl scouts the same opportunities that the boys have gotten. I have adapted the programme I use for cub scouts for my girl scouts. I feel that it is very important for them to be able to learn the same skills as the boys and to be able to do safely.

So, if you get trained within my troop or by my troop, we are going to over some important things!

Before we move any further, if you are looking to train your scouts or any programme of kids knife safety, Via Bella, does not accept responsibility whatsoever for your choosing to do so or any kind of use of this information. It is your responsibility to talk to your pack or troop leadership about this. IE: if you are in the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, this should already be built into the programme for the children, including the actually Whittling Chip or Tot-n-Chip.

The Knife:

* 4 inches or less

* Must have a locking blade-- at 45 degrees or 90 degrees

* Some of have 90 degrees stop, but not locking-- this is up to your comfort level

* Swiss army knives don't generally lock so please avoid

* Avoid multi tool pocket knives

* Spring loaded isn't ideal since if they spring shut, it may get a learning finger

 Knife Options
There are knives below that are example, but the lower end for affordability that I just searched for

Smith and Wesson Frame Lock Folding Pocket Knife Drop Point Blade Steel Handle

Tac Force Assisted Open Rainbow Ti-coating Small Hunting Camping Pocket Knife

Smith and Wesson Frame Lock Drop Point Folding Pocket Knife

Joy Enterprises FP44494 Fury Black Magic I Folding Pocket Knife, 3" Closed

Ozark Trail 6-Piece Knife Set

Mossy Oak 2-Pack Multi-Tool and Knife

Rules:

* After your knife training, you should always carry your card on you when you are using your pocket knife. If you don't, you shouldn't be using it. 

* You should not carry your pocket knife with you to any place you knowingly shouldn't take it (ie: school, movies, etc) and should be able to ask your parent or leader if you can carry it with you. 

* Knives are tools, not toys. If you are caught using it in "play" or threatening someone else with it, it can be automatic grounds for the ability to carry the pocket knife and you will need to re take the training before you are allowed to use it again.

* No throwing knives

* Trees are friends- don't use knives to carve live trees

* Never throw or abandon your pocket knife

* Fixed knives are used for cooking. 

* If you accidentally drop your knife, do not try to catch it. Back up and let it fall to the ground

* Properly clean your knife with soap and water, and make sure it is dry before you put it away so it does not rust.

* Look at your knife while opening it-- otherwise you may cut yourself.

* Always use the palm of your hand to close the knife-- doing otherwise may mean getting cut

* If you are handing the knife to someone, you must close it up, and hand it to the person, not letting go of the knife until they say thank you and have their hands on it.

* If passing a fixed knife, hold it with the blunt edge of the knife and the handle facing them. Holding with the blade towards self may result in cutting yourself by accident.

* Always keep your knife clean and dry

* Don't try to use the dirt or a stone to sharpen your knife

* Don't use it as a screwdriver- you may slip and hurt yourself and/or break your knife

* Don't carve into anything that doesn't belong to you.

* Always always always cut away from your body

* A sharp knife is better than a dull one and you generally have more control of it

* Try to cut in small bits or slivers, not big chunks at once. If you do, you risk losing control and slipping and getting yourself

* Be patient-- whittling is not a race

* For sharpening a knife, keep at 23 degrees on a whetstone with a little bit of water rather than oil and keep the number of strokes the same for each side

* When not in use, your pocket knife should always be closed and put away

* Always have a first aid kit handy, even a simple one, when using a knife

* No running with scissors or knives-- seriously, it isn't just a cute saying

Blood Circle:

* If you have someone in your blood circle, they are too close and you should not be using your pocket knife.

* Your blood circle is holding the knife out at the bottom of the handle and able to turn 360 degrees without anyone in your space. This means you can't accidentally cut someone, hence the term, blood circle. 

The Card:

* When you successfully pass the test, you can carry your knife skills/whittling chip card. You must have the card in your possession if you are using the knife.

* Your card has 4 corners on it. If you lose all four corners, you lose the right to the pocket knife and may not use it until you have re earned the card.

IMPORTANT! 
Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts have their own knife skills cards, known as Whittling Chip and Tot-N-Chip, respectively, that are available for purchase and widely used amongst cub scout and boy scout programmes. If you wish to carry a knife, especially to camp, you need to be using those for those programmes.

This card below will be what I use, as there is no current programme for girl scouts. And while you are more than welcome to use it, please check with your pack or troop unit to make sure your whole leadership team is on board with using this for the best communication amongst scouts, families and leaders. Also, feel free to share this as well (and please keep logo as credit where due, thanks). 

One of the most important things in teaching other people's kids knife skills is that you need the permission of the parents to do so. Both so they are aware of it and also to make sure that reasonable responsibility will be placed back on the parents (ie: understanding there are inherent risks with learning to use a knife and that they give permission for the leader to do that and if a scout accidentally cuts themselves, to administer first aid- that being said, it's not common). We want everyone to have a safe learning environment in which to learn and leaders will do their best to facilitate that.

The permission slip should also (and obviously) cover the scout's right to refuse to learn knife skills. I am so proud of scouts when they realise their own limitations in comfort level and wants when it comes to learning certain skills.


Get the editable permission slip here!

Troop 5823 Knife Skills Training Permission Slip

* NO SCOUT WILL BE TAUGHT KNIFE SKILLS WITHOUT A PERMISSION SLIP! *

Contact:  gstroop5823@gmail.com

Troop 5823 will host a two-session pocketknife training course on the following dates

___________________ & _____________________________.

Training will be held at the Scout Meeting for BJCSA.  This training is limited to BJCSA Scouts, meaning they have to be at least brownies,  and requires the completion of the permission slip below.  A parent or guardian/leader over 18 must accompany the participating Scout.  

To receive your “Knife Skills Card/Whittling Chip”, you must attend all sessions, pass the “Shavings and Chips” quiz, and get a parent’s permission to receive the award.

What to bring to the meetings:

1. A safe attitude;
2. Your Scout uniform;
3. A willingness to listen and learn.
4. A locking blade knife, with a smooth blade no longer than 4 inches.  (No fixed blade/sheath knives).  The Scout may only bring this knife to the 2nd and final class.   
5. A bar of soap

My child has my permission to attend all of the “Knife Training/Whittling Chip” pocket knife training sessions being held on _______________

I, as the parent or legal guardian, recognise and acknowledge with the agreement to all of this:

1. There are inherent risks that come with learning knife safety
2. I hold free of liability the leaders around activities or injuries relating to learning this awesome skill
3. I give permission for leaders or adults present to administer first aid if needed, and will be contacted immediately. I realise this risk is low.
4. I will talk to my child about general safety beforehand so they are aware of the seriousness of learning this skill
5. A responsible adult or leader will be needed for the second part for safety reasons

Name of Scout ______________________________

Name, Phone Number and signature of parent _________________________________________________

For those of you scout leaders that would like me to teach this to your scouts, I would be more than happy to. You must contact me directly through email at gstroop5823@gmail.com (and I will only teach locally).

Get the editable permission slip here!

I hope this is immensely helpful! Please do share! And feel free to use this to send to your parents to let them know if you plan to teach them yourselves, as a resource to you and them!