How to Sharpen a Bone Knife

A bone knife was traditionally used for hunting, ceremony and fighting. According to the website Art-Pacific.com, bone knives are still used for ceremonial purposes in New Guinea among tribes like the Huli, but metal knives have replaced bone for daily needs. The bone knife is best used as a puncture knife or weapon because it does not hold a sharp edge very well. When you want to make a bone knife sharper, the process is relatively simple.

Things You'll Need

• Rough rock

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Find a rock with a rough surface. Avoid smooth-surfaced rocks or the traditional knife sharpener because they will not sharpen a knife made from bone.

   • 2

     Rub the knife against the rock in a smooth motion from the top of the blade down to the tip. The rough rock will help shape the bone to make the surface sharper.

   • 3

     Alternate the sides of the knife and repeat the process of rubbing the knife until it sharpens.