If you don’t know how to properly use bladed tools, earning your Scouts BSA Totin’ Chip will equip you with the skills! Since tools like pocketknives, saws, and axes are essential in Scouting, mastering their safe and effective use is key to advancing toward Eagle Scout.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about blade care, safety, and proper handling. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to use any bladed tool with confidence and safety—and you’ll be one step closer to earning your Totin’ Chip!
Totin’ Chip Requirements
The Totin’ Chip certification grants a Scout the right to carry and use woods tools. The Scout must show their Scout leader, or someone designated by their leader, that the Scout understands their responsibility to do the following:
- Read and understand woods tools use and safety rules from the Scouts BSA handbooks.
- Demonstrate proper handling, care, and use of the pocket knife, ax, and saw.
- Use knife, ax, and saw as tools, not playthings.
- Respect all safety rules to protect others.
- Respect property. Cut living and dead trees only with permission and good reason.
- Subscribe to the Outdoor Code.
Requirement #1 – Read and understand woods tools use and safety rules from the Scouts BSA handbooks.
There are three main woods tools in the Scouts BSA Handbook where use and safety are discussed: pocket knives, camp saws, and axes. As a Scout, you’ll be using each of these tools regularly during your campouts, meetings, and service projects — which is why it’s crucial to learn blade safety!
Pocket Knife Use & Safety
A pocket knife is every Scout’s go-to tool — and for good reason. Packed into one compact design, it often includes a blade, can opener, screwdriver, saw, file, and sometimes even pliers! This versatility makes pocket knives one of the most essential tools in all of Scouting.
Here are some common ways Scouts use pocket knives:
- Opening cans
- Cutting cloth to create makeshift bandages
- Tightening or loosening screws
- Shaving small strips from sticks to use as fire starters
There are many safety rules for handling pocket knives that are mentioned in your Scout Handbook. I’d highly encourage you to read through the full section and review the table later on. However, below are the main pocket knife safety rules that you absolutely need to know:
- Always keep the blade closed when you’re not using it to avoid accidental cuts or injuries.
- Cut away from your hands and body to minimize the risk of injury in case the knife slips.
- Never use a knife near another person. Always be aware of your surroundings and ensure no one is within reach of the blade.
- Fully close the blade before handing off your knife to someone else to prevent accidents.
- Keep the blade sharp and clean for optimal performance and safety. A dull blade can be more dangerous because it requires more force, increasing the risk of slips.
- Never carry a knife with the blade open. Always make sure the blade is safely closed or sheathed before moving around or walking.
- Take your time when cutting. Move slowly and deliberately—being steady and controlled is key to staying safe.
- Never throw a knife. A falling knife can land with the sharp edge facing any direction, posing a danger. If you drop it, don’t try to catch it—just let it fall.
- Never use the cutting blade as a prying tool. Pocket knives are designed for cutting, not for prying or levering. Using them for the wrong purpose can damage the blade or cause injury.
- Obey local laws regarding carrying knives in public places. Always check the regulations in your area to ensure you’re in compliance with local rules.
Camp Saw Use & Safety
A camp saw is one of the most versatile tools for cutting wood while you’re outdoors. It can handle a variety of tasks, from trimming the sides of a branch to craft a hiking pole, to chopping firewood into manageable pieces for your campfire. Whether you’re building shelter, gathering firewood, or preparing other materials for your campsite, a camp saw is an essential tool for getting the job done efficiently and safely.
I’ll be summarizing key points from your Scout Handbook on camp saw safety. However, I strongly encourage you to review the full table when you can for a more comprehensive guide. Here are the main safety tips:
- Sheath the saw when not in use and carry it with the blade facing away from your body to prevent accidental cuts.
- Replace dull blades as they are more likely to slip and cause accidents, making them less effective and unsafe to use.
- Avoid cutting into rocks or the ground. Doing so can quickly dull the blade and make your saw less efficient.
- Be cautious when passing a saw to another person. It’s best to set the saw down for them to pick up, rather than handing it directly.
- Always wear protective gear, such as gloves and eyewear, to safeguard your hands and eyes from potential injury.
- Never leave a saw lying unattended in camp or on the ground, as it can become a tripping hazard or be accidentally stepped on.
- Stay focused and avoid distractions while cutting. Always keep a close eye on your saw and what you’re cutting to maintain control.
By following these simple but important guidelines, you’ll ensure that you’re using your camp saw safely and effectively.
Ax And Hatchet Use & Safety
An ax is the ultimate tool for tasks like chopping down trees, preparing firewood, and sharpening sticks. Hatchets, which are smaller and designed for one-handed use, serve the same general purpose but are more compact and easier to handle in tight spaces. Whether you’re working on a conservation project, splitting firewood, or crafting camp tools, both axes and hatchets are essential tools for Scouts, offering versatility and power for a variety of outdoor tasks.
An ax is an incredibly useful tool, but it can also be dangerous if not handled properly. The Scout Handbook provides 7 essential safety tips for using an ax, and it’s important to follow each one carefully. Here’s a summary:
- Safe Tool: Before using your ax, always check it to ensure it’s in good condition. If the blade is loose, dull, or damaged, take it to a Scout leader for repair or replacement.
- Safe Gear: Always wear protective gear, including sturdy shoes, safety eyewear, and gloves, when using an ax. This will help protect you from injury.
- Safe Working Area: Make sure everyone is at least 10 feet away from you while you’re cutting. This ensures that no one is in the swing path and reduces the risk of accidental injury.
- Safe Technique: Position your feet firmly and find your balance before swinging the ax. A stable stance will help you control the ax and avoid unnecessary risks.
- Safe Carrying: When you’re not using the ax, always place a sheath over the blade. Carry the ax with the blade facing away from your body and hold it close to the head for better control.
- Safe Handling: When passing an ax to someone, hold it by the shaft with the head facing down and turned away from you. Once the other person grips the ax, release your hold and let them take control.
- Safe Storage: After use, sheath your ax and store it in a dry, secure location to prevent accidents and preserve the tool’s condition.
By following these guidelines, you’ll ensure both your safety and the safety of others when handling an ax. Proper use of this powerful tool is key to becoming a skilled and responsible Scout.
Requirement #2 – Demonstrate proper handling, care, and use of the pocket knife, ax, and saw.
To complete this requirement, you’ll need to put everything you just learned into action! That’s why I’d highly recommend watching the video included above if you haven’t already. With your Scoutmaster, you’ll be tasked with showcasing your bladed tool skills!
As we’ve already covered proper handling and use, in this section we’ll be learning how to care for pocket knives, axes, and saws!
Care For A Pocket Knife
To prevent dust, dirt, and lint from accumulating, it’s important to clean your pocket knife regularly. Use a toothpick and a small piece of cloth to wipe the inside of the knife after carefully opening each section. If the knife is sticky, wash it with hot, soapy water, and then apply a little oil to lubricate the joints and keep them working smoothly.
A sharp knife is much safer (and easier to use) than a dull one. A sharp blade gives you better control over your cuts and reduces the likelihood of slipping. To maintain your knife’s sharpness, you can use a whetstone or a handheld sharpener. Keeping your blade in top condition ensures that it performs reliably when you need it most. (You can find sharpening tools on Amazon for reference.)
Using a whetstone to sharpen your knife can seem a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s an effective way to keep your blade in top shape. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to properly use a whetstone:
- Hold the whetstone properly: Grip the stone with your fingers underneath it (or behind the knife), ensuring that the stone stays steady while you sharpen.
- Position the blade at a 20-degree angle:
- To find the correct angle, start by positioning the knife at a 90-degree angle to the stone.
- Rotate the knife, halving the angle while keeping the blade pointed away from you. This gets you to a 45-degree angle.
- Rotate again, going a bit more than half the remaining distance, and you’ll have a 20-degree angle.
- Sharpen the blade:
- Gently push the blade along the stone as if you’re trying to shave off a thin layer of the surface, keeping that 20-degree angle steady the entire time.
- Use a very small arc with each stroke to ensure the entire edge of the blade gets sharpened.
- Sharpen both sides of the blade: Repeat the same process on the opposite side of the blade. Try to keep the strokes even on both sides for uniform sharpness.
- Test the sharpness: A good test of sharpness is to try slicing through a piece of paper using a sawing motion, with little to no pressure. If your knife cuts smoothly and easily, it’s sharp and ready to go!
By following these steps, you’ll be able to keep your knife razor-sharp, ensuring both safety and effectiveness when using it.
Care For A Saw
There are many different models of saws, and each may have its own specific care and storage requirements. To ensure you’re maintaining your saw properly, it’s a good idea to search for the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific type of saw you own. However, one universal tip is that, when storing any saw, always make sure the blade is covered and protected to prevent damage or accidents. Proper storage not only extends the life of your tool but also keeps it safe to handle.
If your saw blade is starting to dull, it’s important to know that “toothed” blades can be tricky and unsafe to sharpen on your own, especially since the teeth point in different directions. For tools like bow and folding saws, it’s usually best to simply replace the blade when it starts to lose its edge. That said, here are some additional tips for properly caring for your saw:
Cleaning and Maintenance:
- Clean your blade after every use to prevent corrosion and keep it in good working condition:
- Remove any debris caught in the teeth and wash the blade under running water to get rid of larger particles.
- Scrub the sides of the blade with a brush soaked in warm, soapy water to remove sap and other sticky residue. Rinse thoroughly.
- Dry the blade carefully with a towel, and allow any remaining moisture to evaporate before storing it.
- Optional: Coat the blade with a light layer of oil, WD-40, or grease to help prevent rust from forming.
- Avoid cutting into the ground or anything other than wood. Hitting rocks or other hard surfaces can quickly ruin the teeth of your saw blade and render it useless.
- Store your saw properly. Always keep your saws and other tools in a dry, covered area to protect them from the elements and prevent rust. This also keeps the blade safe and reduces the risk of accidental injury.
- Protect the blade: You can take extra precautions by creating a protective sheath for your saw. For example, cutting an old garden hose to the length of the saw and sliding it over the blade will shield it from damage and prevent accidental cuts.
By following these tips, you’ll help extend the life of your saw and ensure it stays sharp, functional, and safe to use!
Care For An Ax
Always cover the ax blade with a sheath when it’s not in use, and store it in a protected area, such as under a tent or tarp, to keep it safe and shielded from the elements. Like pocket knives, axes are safer and more effective when they’re sharp, so it’s important to regularly sharpen your ax using the following technique:
Sharpening Your Ax:
- Protect your hands: Wear gloves to protect your hands from the file and the blade.
- Stabilize the ax: Brace the ax head on the ground so it’s stable. You can wedge it between two logs or use another method to keep the ax secure while sharpening.
- Sharpen with pressure: Hold the ax file and apply enough pressure as you push it along the edge of the ax. You should feel the file cutting into the metal. If you’re not feeling resistance, you may need to apply a bit more pressure.
- Lift the file after each stroke: When drawing the file back for the next stroke, lift it off the blade to avoid damaging the file. Dragging the file backward can cause it to break or lose its effectiveness.
- Even strokes on both sides: Use firm, steady strokes to sharpen one side of the ax, then flip the ax over and repeat the process on the other side.
- Tip: Make sure to use the same number of strokes on each side to keep the blade even.
By following these steps, you can maintain a sharp, well-balanced ax that will be safer and more efficient to use.
Requirement # 3 Use knife, ax, and saw as tools, not playthings.
As you already know, bladed tools can cause unintended injuries, even when used properly. However, by following all of the safety rules we mentioned earlier and making sure your blade is properly maintained, we can reduce the risk of accidents.
At this point, you should understand the level of care and caution you should have around blades. However, to drive the message home, it may also be beneficial for you and your adult leader to discuss the following:
- What does it look like to use bladed tools as playthings?
- Why should you not use blades as playthings, and what are some of the potential risks of misusing tools, in general?
- How should it look when you’re using bladed tools as tools?
Remember, your adult leader is tasked with keeping you safe and helping you to understand the core values of Scouting.
Requirement #4 – Respect all safety rules to protect others.
Respecting safety rules is essential, and it directly ties into both Requirement 3 and the Scout Law. By demonstrating trustworthiness and treating bladed tools with the respect they deserve—as tools, not playthings—you can ensure your own safety and protect those around you. This all starts with approaching tool use with seriousness and responsibility.
Learning and following these safety requirements helps you become more aware of potential hazards, allowing you to create a safer environment for yourself and others. By avoiding the use of blades near others, establishing clear boundaries in hazardous areas, and treating all bladed tools with care, you’ll reduce the risk of accidents and contribute to a safer scouting experience for everyone.
Requirement #5 –Respect property. Cut living and dead trees only with permission and good reason
It’s easy to get excited after earning your Totin’ Chip and feel like whittling or cutting everything in sight, but it’s important to remember: don’t just cut for the sake of cutting! Respect for property means you should only use your tools on tree wood—and only if you have permission and a good reason to do so.
Always have a clear purpose when using your tools, rather than cutting “just because.” Valid reasons for using your knife or saw might include preparing branches for a shelter, shaving a stick to use as fire starter, or working on artistic whittling projects like the Wood Carving Merit Badge.
For safety reasons, it’s best to limit your use of potentially dangerous tools to when you truly need them. After all, the safest way to avoid accidents is to not use the tool at all unless necessary. If you do want to practice, make sure you do so in a controlled, safe environment, where you can sharpen your skills without putting yourself or others at risk.
Requirement # 6– Subscribe to the Outdoor Code.
As your final requirement, one of the most important parts of earning your Totin’ Chip is to have a thorough understanding of the Outdoor Code. Remember, Scouts leave no trace! Let’s take a second to revisit the Outdoor Code, written below:
As an American, I will do my best to—
Be clean in my outdoor manners.
Be careful with fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
Be conservation-minded.
As an American, I will do my best to—To be Clean in my Outdoor Manners
I will treat the outdoors as a heritage. I will take care of it for myself and others. I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.
As an American, I will do my best to— Be Careful with Fire
I will prevent wildfire. I will build my fires only when and where they are permitted and appropriate. When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out. I will leave a clean fire ring or remove all evidence of my fire.
As an American, I will do my best to -Be Considerate in the Outdoors
I will treat the land and other land users with respect. I will follow the principles of outdoor ethics for all outdoor activities.
As an American, I will do my best to – Be Conservation Minded
Conservation is the practice of avoiding waste so that a resource is preserved. In Scouting, this means having as little an impact on a campsite as possible. If you’re acting with conservation in mind, try to avoid leaving unnecessary cuts on trees and branches.
Congratulations on successfully finishing Your Totin’ Chip !
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