Use this SOP any time a survival knife is picked up, handled, or used. The goal is to establish control, clear a safety zone, and keep the blade oriented away from you and others. If control, footing, or the safety zone breaks, stop and reset.

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1. Confirm the knife is structurally safe (no cracks, loose handle, or damaged edge).
2. Establish full control before movement (full closed grip, stable stance).
3. Clear people to arm's length in all directions (create a working bubble).
4. Choose a grip appropriate to the task (power grip for force, choked grip for detail).
5. Orient the blade away from your body and away from others.
6. Check footing and workspace stability before any cut.
7. Guide the knife without forcing the cut (no prying or twisting through binds).
8. Cut using slow, deliberate motion with a known safe direction for a slip.
9. Keep the off-hand and fingers out of the cutting path at all times.
10. Stop immediately if grip, balance, or safety zone is compromised.
11. Re-secure the knife when not actively cutting (sheath or safe placement).

• Stop if the safety zone is violated.
• Stop if the blade tracks toward your body or toward another person.
• Stop if your grip becomes unstable (wet hands, gloves slipping, numbness).
• Stop if footing or workspace is unstable.
• Stop if you are applying excess force to make a cut work (change the setup).

Immediate correction: Stop movement, stabilize stance, reset grip and angle, then restart the step that failed.

• [ ] Knife is secured or sheathed when not in use.
• [ ] Safety zone is clear before and during handling.
• [ ] Blade is undamaged and control is maintained.
• [ ] Workspace and footing are stable.
• [ ] No injuries occurred; if any cut occurred, work stopped and bleeding was controlled.

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