Original: October 20, 2007
McMinnville, OR
10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 10:10
The main knife I carry when I hunt big game is my "Master Hunter" made by Cold Steel. This knife was given to me by my father in 1998 as he watched me labor over my Colorado bull with my smaller folding Kershaw Trapper. My Master Hunter is a good knife that my dad picked it up at Ed's Sporting Goods in San Luis Obispo in a going-out-of-business-sale in the late 70s. It has been in our family nearly 30 years! Recently, I noticed that Sportsman’s Warehouse still carries the exact knife. When I told the clerk how old my knife was he smiled and said, "That is a great knife and the only knife you will ever need!"
Sweet! Google it.
If you know me you would also know I take great pride in keeping a hair-shaving edge on all my knives, the master Hunter is no different. Its fixed blade is thick, the steel hard, and sharpening laborious usually taking the good part of an hour, but the edge it offers is honed to lasting perfection. This year it has skinned two mule deer, and has not had to be sharpened during each of the skinning processes.
A sharp blade is important because not only does a dull blade create more work and physical exertion, but a dull blade actually causes more cuts and injuries. A sharp blade glides through its cuts. A dull blade must be forced, jerked, and muscled. Cuts occur when the handler loses control of the knife while forcing the blade. The dull blade often ends up cutting the handler's finger or hand. Or piercing deep into the thigh requiring a run to the hospital as was the case of my dad's 1998 Colorado buck. But that’s another story!
Frankly, I am amazed at the number (the majority from my questioning) of hunters who do not keep a honed edge on their hunting blades. By honed, I am talking about a blade that will glide through the hairs on your arms like nothing-the knife honed to a hair shaving edge.
Maybe all knife owners should listen to Solomon who tells us, If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success”(Ecclesiastes 10:10). In other words, wisdom invests its time and energy before the task so that when the opportunity arises we will glide effortlessly through it. Benjamin Disraeli once said, “Success is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”
Keep your blade sharp.
Keep your integrity sharp. You never know when your life will be examined. Keep your love for Jesus sharp. You never know when or where He will direct your path. Keep your relationships sharp. You never know when you will need a friend, or a friend needs you. Keep your finances sharp. You never know when an emergency or opportunity to give will come your way. Keep your health sharp. You never know when age and health will be factored in. Keep your attitude sharp. You never know when you will be called up in a time of need.
Keep your blades razor sharp.
