The Perils of Knives: How Easy Is It to Cut Yourself?
Honestly, I've been using knives since I was around 9 or 10. At 56, I can confidently say that it's very easy to cut yourself with a knife. My family nickname is Dances with Axes - a testament to my clumsiness and occasional mishaps while handling sharp tools.
A few years ago, my son hit a deer in mid-July, and we tagged it. During the butchering process, I nicked or cut myself three times, with one still healing. My knives are incredibly sharp, a testament to the care and discipline required to avoid such accidents.
Knives Aren't Innocent Tools
Though knives are not designed to harm human skin, they can cause serious wounds with surprising ease if not handled correctly. An old saying in the knife community states that a knife is not truly yours until you accidentally cut yourself with it. This speaks to the trust required with these tools and the potential for injury.
While my knives are very sharp, it's a combination of using them regularly and the natural clumsiness that can lead to cuts. Most of my knives are for cutting through soft and hard woods, making skin essentially butter to the blade. If you use your knives until they are dull, the handling rules are much simpler: never look away while the knife is out/open, keep a firm grip, always cut away from your body and hands, maintain an arm's length from others and objects, and wear protective gear in awkward situations.
The Dangers of Blade Maintenance
Once you start maintaining your knives yourself, the risks increase. Cleaning, polishing, and sharpening knives puts your fingers right next to the edge and often touching the edge. This requires an extra level of focus and safe behaviors. Any distraction or unsafe motion can result in frequent bandages and trips to the emergency room.
Intentional cutting of human flesh should be reserved for professionals or in defensive situations. Any other use of a knife on oneself is dangerous and unnecessary. Always treat any sharp object with the respect it deserves to avoid self-harm.
A Personal Experiment in Knife Cuts
To show how easy it is, I used a steak knife. By applying hard pressure and slicing, the knife does indeed cut into my skin. It hurts, and I wince a bit, but I continue the process. The result is bleeding.
In conclusion, while knives are incredibly useful tools, they come with inherent dangers. By following proper safety protocols and maintaining a disciplined approach, you can minimize the risk of cuts. But even with the best precautions, the potential for injury remains, as I can confirm from my own experience.