Some scout troops and camps have a blanket ban of sheath knives. I think that’s a bad idea and here’s why.
by Leon Pantenburg
I get it when parents are concerned about their boys handling sharp objects that could cause great harm. And it makes sense that knives, axes and fire should be handled with extreme care.
I love pocket knives, but don’t think they’re the best or safest knife for scouts
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But one of things we do as scouters is teach young men to act safely in the outdoors. That means working with tools that could be dangerous in untrained hands.
But I don’t get how some camp directors ban sheath knives from camps, or that some scoutmasters won’t let the boys carry any knife but a folder.
Here’s the Boy Scouts’ take on sheath knives:
“Q. What is the official BSA regulation on carrying sheath knives?
A. The Boy Scout Handbook, Bear Handbook, and Webelos Handbook contain the program for the safe and responsible use of knives. The BSA believes choosing the right equipment for the job at hand is the best answer to the question of what specific knife should be used. We are aware that many councils or camps may have limits on the type or style of knife that should be used. The BSA neither encourages nor bans fixed-blade knives nor do we set a limit on blade length. Additional information is found in the Guide to Safe Scouting.”
No scout can carry any knife until they earn a Totin’ Chip, which means they have had several hours of training and hands-on experience using knives, saws and axes. Each scout has to have that chip on them at camp if they’re carrying a knife.
If the scout is seen acting in an unsafe manner with his knife, he is warned and a corner of the chip will be cut off. When all four corners are gone, the scout has to take the Totin’ Chip class again before being allowed to carry a knife.
Since knife safety training is a requirement, then, every scout with a knife has been trained and we assume he knows how to safely use any knife.
Here’s why – IMO – sheath knives are the best choice for scouts:
These Boy Scouts crowded into an igloo during a winter campout. They earned bragging rights.
Learn knife safety: So you’re going to require a kid to learn knife safety, then tell him he can’t use a sheath knife safely? Hmmm…what does that do for the credibility of the Totin’ Chip training?
Cooking: To earn the (Eagle required) cooking merit badge, scouts have to prepare food outdoors. If they have to use a folder for some of the food preparation, inevitably, some of the food will get in the blade channel. There may not be time or enough water to effectively clean the knife effectively. Next step: food poisoning.
Cleaning fish: The Fishing merit badge requires a scout catch a fish, clean it and then cook it. Sure, he can use a folder. But the same concerns about cleanliness in the blade channel should be there.
Also – a folder handle is typically smaller than a rigid blade knife. Some fish scales and slime on the pocketknife handle may create a potentially dangerous situation.
Pocketknives fold on fingers: An informal poll among other scoutmasters in the district pointed this out: The most common cause of cuts on scout outings is when a blade folds on a finger.
The scouts require a lock blade on a folder, but that is no guarantee of safety, especially with kids who have beginner knife handling skills. Unless you want to invest a lot of money in a folder, you may end up with a sketchy lock.
The day was cold, but these Troop 18 scouts dressed correctly and stayed warm.
Several years ago, a scout at one of the Fremont District camps had to make an emergency room visit after the lock on his folder failed. It cut his fingers severely.
And what about those flipper or gravity assist folders? IMHO, those are dangerous. Inevitably, scouts will get into fast-draw contests or they will flip their knives to show off. That potential problem is averted with a rigid blade knife.
Cost: Scouting is expensive, and there is always the temptation to scrimp on things when you can. A well-meaning parent or grandparents may buy a cheap folding knife, and think that because it has a lock blade, it is safe.
In reality, a cheap folder can be one of the most dangerous knives for a kid. On some folders, the hinge may be the most expensive part of the knife. Break that, and you have two pieces and a disabled survival tool. If you’re lucky nobody got hurt.
Better handle: Rigid blade knives have more ergonomic handles than most folders. A thin profile folder, designed to be carried in a pocket, may be harder to grasp and more uncomfortable to use.
But scouts of all sizes in Troop 18, in Bend, Oregon, have used dozens of full-sized Mora knives for more than a decade, with no problems
Carving: The wood carving merit badge requires a lot of whittling and carving, and that means knife handling. The steel in that cheap folder’s blade probably won’t hold an edge very long, making it dull quickly. If the blade has a serrated edge, it will be really difficult to use. A dull knife is dangerous because it will slip while cutting.
In 2016, Troop 18 bought 50 Mora 840 Companions for the scouts.
Cost: Several years ago, after the aforementioned scout cut his fingers at camp, the late Dr. Jim Grenfell and I set out to find the safest, most efficient knife for scouts use. Jim, incidentally, was a UCLA dentistry instructor who took up blacksmithing and knife making upon retirement.
Long story short: After a lot of testing and research, we chose the Mora 840 Companion as the best beginner knife for scouts. It offered low price, great blade steel, and ergonomic handle. We got a big discount because we bought in bulk.
The troop bought 40 and sold them to the scouts for $8 each. This year, the troop got another 50, at a cost of $10 each to the scouts.
Get a scout an inexpensive Mora for his first knife.
The Moras are cheap, reliable and safe. The troop has figured out a way to modify the sheaths so they’re even safer.
One of our former scoutmasters is a very successful big game hunter. He could easily afford a better knife, but he has used his Mora on deer, elk, moose and hogs because it is so effective.
Here’s what I’d suggest to camp directors and troops regarding rules for using sheath knives:
- ALL knives are subject to camp director/scoutmaster approval before being allowed on the premises. All knife rules and requirements should be published well before camp begins. It goes without saying that no applicable federal, state or local laws will be violated.
- All sheath knives must have a sturdy, safe and secure sheath.
- All sheaths for knives must be worn on the side or behind the hip.
- Establish a maximum blade length: A four to five inch blade is all anyone needs for 99 percent of all camp tasks. It is a good compromise of compact carry and efficiency.
- Buy Moras for the scouts in your troop, then modify the sheaths for safer carry. Get all of them the same color and make it part of the uniform.
When it’s all said and done, scouting has never had more challenges. According to BSA statistics, enrollment continues to decline. Out of every 100 kids who start scouts, 30 will drop out the first year.
One very visible thing that sets us apart from other youth programs is the emphasis on outdoor skills. We owe it to the kids to make their scouting program exciting, dynamic and fun.
Sean Jacox honored me with an Eagle Mentor Pin when he achieved the highest rank in scouting.
Leon Pantenburg has been a scout volunteer for almost 20 years, and has been an active assistant scoutmaster with Troop 18 in Bend, Oregon since 2001.
Leon is a merit badge counselor for cooking, camping, wilderness survival and backpacking, along with others.
In 2007, he has received a district award of merit for the survival firestarting program he initiated.
He has been awarded three Eagle Mentor Pins, two 50 Miler patches and has more than 100 nights of camping with scouts. He loves snow camping and has not missed a Freezoree since joining Troop 18.
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