Pocketknife Sharpening Practice Bear

Before the meeting:

1. If you have not done so already watch the Cub Scout Knife Safety Adventure video and the section on how to sharpen a knife.
2. Establish an area to safely conduct knife sharpening. Remove all objects and allow for plenty of room for Cub Scouts to safely sharpen their pocketknife.

During the meeting:

1. Ask parents and legal guardians to sit next to their Cub Scout.
2. Remind Cub Scouts of the knife safety rules.
   • Stop - make sure no one else is within arm’s reach
   • Away - always cut away from your finger or other body parts
   • Sharp - a sharp, clean knife is a safe knife
   • Store - knives closed, in a sheath or knife block
3. Using what you learned in the video, demonstrate how to sharpen the pocketknife.
   • Spray the whetstone with water.
   • Using the black marker, mark the bevel of the blade on both sides.
   • Lay the blade on the stone at a slight angle. Push the blade forward as if you were going to shave a thin sliver from the stone. Do not push down hard.
   • Next, turn the blade over and shave the stone toward you. This is the only time you should move your knife toward yourself. Keep your fingers below the surface of the stone to protect them. Continue this back-and-forth action until the edge is sharp along its entire length.
4. Allow Cub Scouts to take turns practicing sharpening their pocketknife.