The Blade and the Scout

There is an old saying in Scouting: a Scout who earns the Totin' Chip has earned a privilege and a responsibility. A knife is one of the most useful tools a Scout will ever carry. It can build a shelter, prepare a meal, or make tinder.

Like all tools, a knife demands respect, and respect starts with knowledge. We follow four rules. Cut away from your body, never toward fingers or legs. Keep your blade sharp, because a dull knife needs more force and gives less control. Close a folding knife before you pass it, and pass a fixed blade handle first. Make a safety circle: before you open a blade, stretch out your arm and turn. If you can touch anyone, you are too close. The knife does not make a Scout dangerous. Carelessness does. A Scout is obedient to these rules because they keep everyone safe.

This week, check your knife at home: clean it, sharpen it, and practice all four rules with an adult watching. Carry it wisely.