Survival Instructor Discusses How to Teach Knife Handling Skills

Great Instruction. I know some things. I have learned much over the decades. I have scars to prove it. Again, this dude is a great teacher!

Wow! Good to know!

i miss the lofi intro

Anyone been to the Steven Seagal school of knife fighting?

Its funny, I guess, just using knives my entire life, I just naturally adjust to what needs to be done, without ever really thinking about it. But, I am teaching my GF woods skills, and she has almost zero knowledge (babe in the woods). Stuff like this makes me think differently about how I show her to do things.

Thanks for sharing your expertise.. Cheers

thanks for the tools for the toolbox Dan!!! I like to carve spoons and other utensils at camp . anyways ,great informative video as always Dan!!! take care and stay safe my friend!!!

Wow, this was way more interesting than I suspected it would be. I feel like I really did learn from this video. As I've always suspected, you're a really good teacher!

Great tips Dan thank you! We have been following you for a couple of years now and Edward (11) and I have learnt so much from your lessons. The way you always explain why you are teaching it that way really appeals to Edward’s rebel brain!!

Great information !!!
Thank you, very much !!!
Would you recommend a Mora Eldris as a good starter knife for kids ???
Or would you recommend something bigger ???
Thank you for your reply, in advance.

Keep up the great work !!!

Hey Dan
Really good video as always 😆🤘

Can you sharpen a folding knife?
And how? That is, with a whetstone as the only thing 🍀🤞
Good day from here in Denmark

Thanks, more please.

Good information thank you

Thanks Dan I been trying to figure out how to teach my girl knife skills safely.

Great hands on to teach the future.

This is a perfect video in a couple weeks going camping and plan on teaching my son knife safety and fire safety very good tips

I gave my kids the Mora Scout and the Mora Rookie for training. Fixed knives with hand guard.

So, I just ordered a steak and provided a roundpointed
Stainless steel, dishwater friendly serrated steaknife. Oh, it has dried salsa from Doctor Oz’s veggie tray.
I pull out my Mora. Do I follow the table etiquette of Emily Post or feather stick on the side?

The Gerber 400 was my first knife when I was 10, I'm 35 and it's literally sitting on my end table next to my seat on the couch. Had to watch just for that.

😒 Let's go on the Expedition Adventure, so we can utilize all these new skillz and drive the truck somewhere in another State. Otherwise why did you buy it? 🤔

Nice explanation of methods that just came to me naturally over 6+ decades of knife handling.
Thanks.

Great info on helping others get their kids involved in the knife world.. while also learning real skills!

Great video

Anyone know what knife he’s using?

Why do you talk in your titles in the third person?

Just wanted to say, my favorite video on your channel. As someone who works with kids I appreciate the detail. Definitely will be putting some of these concepts to use.

Dan, as much as you teach on this channel, the “technical” stuff on this video is sorely needed. You have done as good a job here as I have seen anyone do. This video shows your competence, not just as a survivalist and bushcrafter but as a teacher. Clear instruction, reasons and progression. Boom! I know a few people who could use this.

***THINK YOU FOGOT SIZE OF KNIFE HANDLE VS HAND SIZE.. BUT GOOD START

Compliments Dan!

I use the fist grip 90% of the time. Always in control.

When my kids were earning the Cub Scout “Whittling Chip” I gave them non-locking pocket knives for the same reason I gave them big red tricycles that are notorious for tipping from oversteer - the dangerous version of the tool helps teach a mindset of safety.

Thanks for getting rid of the cheesy intro music. 👍

I taught my oldest son knife skills from when he was very young. He was fine processing firewood, kindling etc. Then at the age of 14 he very nearly cut his index finger off in the kitchen. The knife was stopped by the bone fortunately. I asked him when we got back from the hospital what do you think you did wrong? He said "I was distracted by the cheese" :D

When I was kid and I learned how to whittle a stick I couldn’t wait to climb the coal bank behind my Grandparents house to find sticks to shave. Yep, 10-11 years old and your dad gives you your own pocket knife. Great times!

I like that a person can always learn something from your videos. Got a question, why aren't small (4") fillet knives suggested to be carried. These are very light and useful as far as fish/game cleaning, a bit safer than a bushcraft knife also.

Awesome tutorial one thing I might add is a blunted tip of the knife especially for young people because it's not used for many of the skills they need to start out with. Once their comfortable and knowledgable move up to one with a tip. Thanks for the great vid and keep making sharp things fun and enjoyable.

When you are going to be with Townsend's again?Dan ?

Hello Dan. I'm watching your channel for a few years now. I love bushcraft/camping/survival fun and i treat it as a hobby. Couple months ago we had an idea to make a little bushcraft fun with local area kids. Just a few hours - find a nice place, set up tarp, make some pointy sticks, light a fire bushcraft style - a bow drill and ferro rod.
I knew there will be some smaller kids and i had my doubts about knife work... And then your video about teaching knife skills came out. Just want to thank you for that one. It was perfect timing.

This little event was yesterday, It wasn't too long - just 4 hours in a Sunday evening. My most happy moment was at the end, when we were cleaning and packing everything. Kids were asking when will be a next trip :D
It's amazing what a knife, some rope, a blanket and a tarp can do to make kids happy :D
And how by having a good fun, you can teach safety and skills to young people. 👍👏

Hi Dan, would you mind identifying the larger bushcraft knife you're using in this video? make and model? Still available? One that you sell? Thanks!

really good, thanks

Excellent teachings.

I have the same black folding knife here at home, and use it all the time...

Thank you for this Video!

Super useful thank you

So many bushcraft channels focus solely on wood processing and I’m not knocking anyone but bushcraft means skills to sustain ourselves in the wild, this includes obtaining and processing food and or game, we always hear that scandi grind makes the best bushcraft knife, have you ever tried to skin a dear with a scandi grind versus a full flat grind ? Food is vital in bushcraft, if we pack in preprocessed wood like most do when it comes to food could we still call it bushcraft? after all a feather stick won’t fill the cook pot 👍😁💪🏻

You Sir,have earned my respect 🫡 but I have beef 🥩 with axis lock, I was playing with it and 🤬🤬🤬🤬cut my finger.. I don’t like Axis locks knives,give me Mora or Buck 110 and I’ll be fine, but I still carry SAK,it’s a must…Thank You for the Video…

I am training a 13 yr old. These videos are great.Thanks

Totally agree start with the beginning basics