The frigid winter weather and road conditions have kept many outdoor persons busy with working on their hunting and fishing gear.

Those who hunt, fish, camp or backpack have one ageless tool on their person…a sharp knife. Knives have been most likely the first tool that mankind developed and used for their daily survival.

History suggests that knives date back to the Stone Age and were made of flint that was chipped into a cutting shape and ground to extreme sharpness.

Later man would evolve their materials to include copper, bronze and then finally iron which evolved into the fine steel blades of today.

History shows that knives were first class and highly sought after trade goods in every culture up to the 20th century. Frontiersmen and Native Americans depended on a sharp strong knife for survival and a craftsman that could produce such a knife was held in high esteem.

That hasn’t changed much in modern times, knife makers are still competing in the trade selling fine knife blades to outdoors people in all kinds of shapes, sizes and uses. Think of it, in millions of years the knife truly hasn’t evolved into something highly complicated.

There is the blade, tang, handle and sheath which determine the type of knife that we choose. Humans hold a special bond with tools and many cultures hold the knife as a most special tool.

Historically, knives have made a name for themselves in many countries and historical events. In America the most famous knife that I can recall is the Bowie Knife named after Jim Bowie at the Alamo.

The collection of these knives has become highly specialized with everything from bolo knives from the sugar cane fields, Ghurka knives from the famed Ghurka fighters of India, machetes from the heavy rain forest regions and the US Marine K-bar knife carried into battles across the entire world.

My cousin Joe has collected knives for years and he prefers the Case folding knives.

Although I have many knives from many manufacturers I personally carry a Buck folding knife for my main tool in hunting.

That knife has been with me for thirty-five years and has always been a great and efficient tool.

I like knives not only for their utilitarian purposes but also for their esthetics. Many knives are works of art and can fetch high prices for the craftsmen. Blade processes are highly advanced with carbon steel, stainless steel and ceramic materials among the best.

Often not only manufacturers but countries claim to have the best products available.

Handle materials range from antler, horn, mother of pearl, special woods and expensive metals. They are often ornate with inlays and engravings as well.

The types and purposes for knives have a wide range as well.

I have a pocket knife for general use that is small and easily fits in my pocket and a knife that I use to work in the garden trimming vegetable plants back and tying up tomatoes with twine.

I have several slender bladed fillet knives that are best with working on fish and even a heavier knife for boning out deer or other large game.

Each knife works best if you keep their purpose in mind when you choose them.

Local craftsmen often exhibit their hand crafted knives at sports shows, craft shows and special rendezvous type events.

I have a beautiful knife that was built and crafted by my friend the Professor. It has a hunter’s straight blade with an antler handle and gold tang.

The sheath is a leather case that was custom made for this knife with rawhide lacings.

The knife represents a typical frontier knife that we would wear when we have a primitive black powder hunt with muzzleloaders.

It makes you feel like you stepped back in time and would have been a prized possession.

Two local knife manufacturers that you can check out for quality knives are Queen Cutlery in Titusville and W.R. Case & Sons Knives in Bradford, PA.

While many of the oldest knife manufacturers have moved out of the U.S. These companies are still based in our areas, but as in all businesses we will have to hope that their fine knives keep on coming to PA consumers made in the USA.

Many of the knife companies have made special edition knife sets and collectibles as well. I have several sets from Buck Knives, W.R. Case and Uncle Henry Imperial Schrade Knives as well as the PA Game Commission and PA Fish and Boat Commission Collectors Series.

These collector sets are often in a series or a collector tin that can become more valuable than the original prices many times over.

So until we meet again keep a sharp edge and get yourself your very own favorite pocket knife!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.