C and D's Hunting knife Blog

Ice Fishing Safety Tips

2011-01-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

Northwest Hunting Knives wants to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Since the hunting season is winding down and camping hasn't picked up for the spring we thought we would post some tips on Ice Fishing. Ice fishing is enjoyed across the country this time of year and several accidents happen that may have been avoided. Here are some tips to keep you safe while on the ice.

Always tell some one where you are going and about what time you will be returning
Wear a personal flotation device, and never go fishing alone
Carry an ice spud or chisel to check the ice as you are going along
Current will cause the ice to be thinner in areas where it flows. Be extra cautious over reefs, springs, islands, points of land and mouths to inlets and rivers.
Leave your car on shore, the heat off the engine can soften the ice and your vehicle may fall through the ice.
Avoid going onto ice that has been melted away from the shore.
If there is open water be very cautious. Waves in open water can break up the ice quickly.
If you have a fishing shanty make sure you have ventilation for your heater. Carbon monoxide will build up quickly in an unventilated area.
You should carry a space blanket, whistle and some rope in case you fall through the ice.
Hand spikes should also be carried with you. You can pull yourself to safety or pin yourself to the ice to pull someone out if they have fallen through.

We here at Northwest Hunting Knives wish everyone a safe and happy New Year

Tips for the Outdoorsman

2009-08-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

If your an outdoor enthusiast there's always little things that make life annoying. There are two products
that can help, WD-40 and the commercial anti-static dryer product Bounce.

WD-40 (water displacement # 40 )
The product began from a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. It 's name comes from the project that was to find a water displacement compound. They were successful with the 40th formula, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas Missile parts. Ken East [ one of the original founders] says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you... " ITS IS MADE FROM FISH OIL".

WD-40 TIPS:

1) Removes road grime and tar from cars and equipment
2)Keeps flies off cows
3)Loosens stubborn zippers
4)Removes dirt and grime from the B B Q grille
5)Removes tomato stains from clothing
6)Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
7)Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
8)Quickly removes bug guts from cars and trucks
9)Lubricates tracks in sticky R. V. windows
10)Restores and cleans padded leather dash boards, as well as vinyl bumpers
11)Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
12)Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
13)Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, knives, and other outdoor tools
14) Removes splatter grease on camping stoves
15)Keeps mirrors from fogging
16)Removes all traces of duct tape
17)Florida's favorite use 'Cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers'
18)WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time
19)Ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch
20)If you spray WD-40 on the distributor cap, it will displace the moisture and allow the car to start

Remember, the basic ingredient is FISH OIL.

It's Fun To Be Friendly

Bounce Tips:

All this time you've been putting Bounce in the dryer, however there are other uses.

1)It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
2)Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers and cars that are sitting, it keeps mice from entering.
3)It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop during mosquitoes season.
4)Eliminate static electricity from you television or computer screen.
5)Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
6)To freshen the air in your R. V. or home, place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet
7)Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner
8)Prevent musty suit cases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
9)To freshen the air in your car place a sheet of Bounce under the seat.
10)Clean baked on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit over night, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.
11)Eliminate odors in waste baskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the waste basket.
12)Collect pet hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
13)Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
14)Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers over night.
15)Outdoorsman put a bounce sheet in your back pocket to keep Bees and Yellow Jackets away
16)Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
17) Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce sheet.

I hope these tips are as useful for you as they have been for us. Remember to always follow the hazard warnings on all products.

We hope this information is helpful as a knife owner. If you have further questions or would like to purchase a knife, hunting gear or camping gear please feel free to contact us at Northwest Hunting Knives.com

Anatomy of a Hunting Knife

2009-05-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

Examining a knife you will see it consists of several components each with their own specific functions. In this article we will break the knife down into its various components as follows.

BLADE- used for cutting, slicing, skinning or stabbing.

Blades come in many styles and sizes and are composed of various steels and alloys. The alloys are produced by adding elements such as carbon, chromium, manganese, silicone, and molybdenum to steel producing various characteristics such as hardness and flexibility.

KNIFE GUARD- prevents hand from sliding onto blade

The guard is usually made of metal or is part of a molded handle, being large enough to prevent injury from the blade.

HANDLE- used to hold the knife in the position needed

Hunting knife handles are important as you need a firm grip on the knife at all times for safety and accuracy. Composition of knife handles address such things as looks, shape, durability and utilitarian use. Examples of materials are: Stag, bone, wood, G10 (fiberglass), micarta(form of linen), carbon fibre, zytel (thermoplastic), titanium, aluminum, and leather.

BUTT or PUMMEL

The pummel is attached to the end of the handle and is usually metal. Its primary use is to protect the handle end from damage. Some pummels have a small storage compartment under them for emergencies and others have a built in compass.

SHANK- extension of the blade

The shank is an extension of the blade being made of the same material. In modern knives the blade and shank are stamped hammered or laser cut out of the same piece of steel thus giving it more strength. The handle and knife guard are attached to the shank by means of rivets. Thus allowing the handle, blade and guard to become a single unit that is stronger, more durable and safer for the user.

We hope this information is helpful as a knife owner. If you have further questions or would like to purchase a knife, hunting gear or camping gear please feel free to contact us at Northwest Hunting Knives.com

Care and feeding of your Hunting knife

2009-03-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Well you did it. You bought yourself the hunting knife you have wanted all your life. Now how do you care for it?
There are a few things that knives require to maintain their functions. If they get wet dry them, if they get dull sharpen them, if its a lockback or folding pocket knife it needs a little oil on the pin. Keeping the knife clean is really important for folding knives, as the groove the blade rests in should have no obstructions. If it does the knife will not open or close properly causing an unsafe condition.

-NOTES-
-Stainless steel blades can rust, however the rust is surface rust only and is easily removed with a clean cloth or a light buffing.

-Store your knife in a clean dry environment outside the sheath if possible. If you store you knife in the sheath check it occasionally as leather can draw moisture.

-Keep the blade sharp, using either a wet stone or one of the many other varieties of sharpeners available.

-Use your knife as a knife not as a prybar, screw driver, chisel or digging tool unless you are desperate. This can ruin a knife quicker than anything.

-WD40 (fish oil based) or3 in 1 oil are good choices for use on your knife's pivot points and blade.

Proper care and maintenance of your knife will add years of trouble free use. To help you find products that will extend the usability and life of your knife, Northwest Hunting Knives.com offers a variety of accessories such as sharpeners and oil.

How to select a hunting knife

2009-02-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Selecting a hunting knife can be a very personal thing. As you know hunting knives come in many sizes, shapes and styles, such as folding knives and fixed blade knives making selection difficult. We will attempt to give you information that will assist you in this task. Below we discuss styles, blade types and options that we think are important.

The first thing to take into consideration when purchasing a hunting knife is "what is the purpose of the knife". Are you after meat for the table or a trophy to mount in your den? Your answer to these questions will dictate the type of hunting knife and blade style you will need.

KNIFE STYLES

Folding Knives

Folding knives are strong enough for most hunting , camping and fishing needs. They come in two main types, Lockback and pocket knives. Lock back knives have a release mechanism that secures the blade in the open position. They have the strength and reliability of a fixed blade knife and allow one handed opening when dressing game or cleaning fish. Pocket knives are much like the lockback knife but are more compact for easier carrying. However they do present a safety issue since they can close while working.

Fixed Blade Knives

Fixed blade knives have a straight rigid blade and are generally the more rugged , reliable and easier to clean of the two. They are also easier to access. However fixed blade knives tend to be bulkier, heavier, and potentially dangerous if not handled properly.

BLADE STYLES

Drop Point Blade

Drop point blade is the most popular for hunting knives. It has a curved blade that drops into a point giving added strength to the tip. The design of this blade allows for full use of the knife's edge when cutting, rather than just the point.

Clip point

The clip point blade is thinner and flatter than the drop point blade. This gives you greater control over the knife and the cutting and slicing process will become easier.

Skinning Blade

The skinning blade has a round, blunt shape suitable for skinning and gutting game. Its shape makes it difficult to accidentally damage the skin or meat of the animal.

Guthook Blade

The Guthook blade gives the user better control when cutting into the abdomen preventing accidental puncturing of the intestines, bladder or stomach.

Fillet Blade

The fillet blade is a long, flexible, thin blade making it ideal for filleting or cleaning fish. They come in single or multiple blade styles.

We hope the above information will be helpful to you in choosing the knife that suites your needs. For a complete selection of hunting knives and hunting accessories visit us at www.northwest hunting knives.com