Your Scout knife is an important tool. You can do many things with its blades. The cutting blade is the one you will use most of the time. With it you can make shavings and chips and carve all kinds of things.

You must be very careful and think when you whittle or carve. Take good care of your knife. Always remember that a knife is a tool, not a toy. Use it with care so that you don't hurt yourself or spoil what you are carving.

Know the safety rules for handling a knife

* A knife is a tool, not a toy.

* Know how to sharpen a knife.
   A sharp knife is safer because 
   it is less likely to slip and cut you.

* Cutting stokes are away from 
   your body, never towards.

* Keep the blade clean.

* Never carry an open knife in your
   hand.

* When you are not using a knife, 
   close it and put it away.

* Keep your knife dry.

* A knife should never be used to strip
   the bark from a tree.

 * When you are using the cutting blade, 
   do not try to make big shavings or chips.
   Easy does it.  Remove small amounts of
   material. You can take more away but 
   you cannot put it back.  Most important, 
   you are less likely to slip and cut yourself
   or your friends.

* Close the blade with the palm of your 
   hand, NOT your finger.

* A knife should never be used on something
   that will dull or break it.

* Be careful that you do not cut yourself or
   any person nearby.

* Do not carve your initials into anything that
 does not belong to you.