Survival and camping tool

A survival and camping tool having an elongated blade with one end terminating in a handle. The blade has a linear side edge that terminates in a circular tip. The opposite side edge has a belly-shaped configuration that begins with the base of the handle and terminates generally along the longitudinal axis of the tool, in a hook that opens on the same side as the belly. The tool has sufficient weight that the blade can be used for chopping, and the cutting edge of the hook can be used for cutting lighter materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is related to survival tools and more particularly to a tool 
having a curved cutting edge and sufficient weight that it can be used for 
chopping relatively heavy articles, and a hook-shaped configuration for 
cutting smaller articles. 
Cutting tools have a variety of configurations, but typically have a handle 
at one end for the user to grasp the tool, and a flat blade at the other 
end having a cutting edge shaped according to the nature of the materials 
being cut. Prior art may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 80,242 which was 
issued Jul. 21, 1868 to S. J. Tongue for "Mincing Cleaver"; 164,880 which 
was issued Jun. 22, 1875 to E. T. Shelton for "Tobacco Knife"; 706,107 
which was issued Aug. 5, 1902 to Charles W. Prentiss for "Fruit Knife"; 
745,162 which was issued Nov. 24, 1903 to E. P. Donnelly for "Combined 
Cleaver and Knife"; 2,116,852 which was issued May 10, 1938 to Everett R. 
Stanford and Howard V. Smith for "Combination Forestry Implement"; 
2,335,497 which was issued Nov. 30, 1943 to Frederick Ehrsam for 
"Implement and Method of Making Same"; 2,635,337 which was issued Apr. 21, 
1953 to Lee Mercy for " Notched Linoleum Cutting Knife"; and 4,283,854 
which was issued Aug. 18, 1981 to Marvin L. Austin for "Hunter's Knife". 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved 
survival and camping tool having a body formed of an elongated sheet of 
Swedish spring steel having a relatively high carbon content which is easy 
to sharpen and holds an edge. The body has a handle tang at one end about 
5" long. The total length of the product is about 16" long. The blade has 
a linear edge that begins at the base of the handle, and terminates with a 
circular tip. The linear edge can be either straight, serrated or formed 
with a saw-tooth edge. The linear edge is disposed at an acute angle with 
respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool. 
The opposite side edge of the blade has an arcuate configuration forming a 
belly that begins at the base of the handle and terminates closely 
adjacent the longitudinal axis of the tool. A laterally extending edge 
from the outer end of the belly extends to the circular tip to form a hook 
that opens on the same side of the tool as the belly. The width of the 
blade at the belly is slightly less than a third of the overall length of 
the tool. The tool weighs about 21/2 lbs. so as to be sufficiently hefty 
for use in the manner of a hatchet for relatively large materials. The 
hook has a cutting edge used to cut smaller materials. The hook is on the 
same side as the belly so the user does not have to reverse the tool in 
order to cut larger items and then smaller items. 
The handle is somewhat cocked with respect to the sharp edge of the belly 
in order to protect the user's hand. 
The tool can be used for other purposes such as a shovel, or to pound nails 
and the like. It can be used to replace an axe. 
Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily 
apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon 
reference to the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawing, the preferred survival tool has an elongated 
metal body 10 about 16" long. The body is preferably formed of a high 
carbon Swedish spring steel with about 2% nickel. The advantage of this 
material is that it holds an edge, is easy to sharpen and acquires a 
patina. The body has a thickness of about 1/8" thick. 
The body has a handle tang 12 at one end with parallel side edges defining 
a width "A" of about 11/8", and is formed along a longitudinal axis 14. 
The outer end of the handle has a hook 16 which is used in a manner that 
will be presently described. 
The length of the handle from the outer end to base 18 is about 5" long. 
The body has a tip 20 with an arcuate, preferably circular configuration 
that extends on both sides of axis 14. For illustrative purposes the tip 
has a radius of about 2.1279". 
The body has one side edge 22 formed along a tangent to the circular tip 
that extends to base 18 of the handle. Side edge 22 is illustrated as 
having a straight unsharpened edge. However, it can be formed with either 
a serrated edge of a saw-tooth edge. 
The body on the opposite side of axis 14 has a convex belly 24 preferably 
formed with an arcuate configuration with a circular midsection or apex. 
One end of the belly terminates with base 18 of the handle. The other end 
of the belly terminates at a location 26 closely adjacent the longitudinal 
axis of the tool. The apex 28 of the belly, that is the part farthest from 
side 22 is about 43/8" from side 22. This is approximately the widest part 
of the blade. The width of the blade at point 26 is about 23/4". 
The belly merges at point 26 with a concave curved section 29 formed with a 
radius of about 0.81" and then in a linear section 30 that extends 
laterally to form a point 32. Point 32 is about 23/8" from longitudinal 
axis 14. The width of the tool at the circular point is several times 
wider than the tang of the tool. Further the width of the tool at point 32 
is generally just slightly less than the width of the tool at the apex of 
the belly. The tool is sharpened from point 32 continuously around and 
along the belly to base 18 of the handle tang. 
Referring to FIG. 3, a hard rubber grip 34 is mounted on the handle tang 
including hook 16 to provide a comfortable grip for the user's hand. Hook 
16 and the handle at 36 prevent the tool from slipping out of the user's 
hand when he is engaged in a chopping motion. The weight of the tool is 
about 2 lbs. so that it has sufficient weight to replace some of the 
functions of an axe; it can be used as a shovel, for pounding nails or for 
cutting relatively small articles. It-is normally mounted in a holster 
carried on the user's belt (not shown).