Wood as a Weapon

Wood
You can make field-expedient edged weapons from wood. Use these only to puncture.
Bamboo is the only wood that will hold a suitable edge. To make a knife using wood, first
select a straight-grained piece of hardwood that is about 30 centimeters long and 2.5
centimeters in diameter. Fashion the blade about 15 centimeters long. Shave it down to a
point. Use only the straight-grained portions of the wood. Do not use the core or pith, as it
would make a weak point.
Harden the point by a process known as fire hardening. If a fire is possible, dry the blade
portion over the fire slowly until lightly charred. The drier the wood, the harder the point.
After lightly charring the blade portion, sharpen it on a coarse stone. If using bamboo and
after fashioning the blade, remove any other wood to make the blade thinner from the
inside portion of the bamboo. Removal is done this way because bamboo's hardest part is
its outer layer. Keep as much of this layer as possible to ensure the hardest blade possible.
When charring bamboo over a fire, char only the inside wood; do not char the outside.
Metal
Metal is the best material to make field-expedient edged weapons. Metal, when properly
designed, can fulfill a knife's three uses--puncture, slice or chop, and cut. First, select a
suitable piece of metal, one that most resembles the desired end product. Depending on
the size and original shape, you can obtain a point and cutting edge by rubbing the metal
on a rough-surfaced stone. If the metal is soft enough, you can hammer out one edge while
the metal is cold. Use a suitable flat, hard surface as an anvil and a smaller, harder object
of stone or metal as a hammer to hammer out the edge. Make a knife handle from wood,
bone, or other material that will protect your hand.
Other Materials
You can use other materials to produce edged weapons. Glass is a good alternative to an
edged weapon or tool, if no other material is available. Obtain a suitable piece in the same
manner as described for bone. Glass has a natural edge but is less durable for heavy work.
You can also sharpen plastic--if it is thick enough or hard enough--into a durable point for
puncturing.