How to make a blade in a difficult situation

Do a search on old native knives. They knew they didnt need a fancy, full tang, special steel knife to get the job done. All you need is a beveled edge on a sheet of steel. Grind in an edge with a proper stone and you are ready.

You'll need some time for this project so make sure its done before you need it. Most stops and side roads in the outback you'll be able to locate a rusty, used, over sized nail, about 6", which is perfect; however, any piece of iron of similar shape or size will do. Dont get picky with steel quality (though pass on chrome or paint coated steel) or shape - all you need is a blade.

Have a look around for some small sticks, an anvil stone, and a hammer stone. An anvil stone is a flat stone that can take a few hits without splitting, a hammer stone is one with heft, but you can also hold in your hand and pound comfortably over and over. Also be sure that the hammer stone has something of a flat portion away from where it is heald - the surface which will be used to strike.

Build a fire and throw the nail into the coals under the blaze. WARNING: If you dont have glasses, sunglasses, or other form of eye protection you will want to consider the broken glass bottle approach to cutting things. Pull the red hot steel from the coals with your two sticks, and start hammering between the two stones. It does not have to be a perfect shape but a beveled edge and a portion for your hand to hold is your goal. Hammer the red iron using the  two stones; hold it down carefully with some sticks or you will have a big piece of hot iron in your face. Also, only hammer when the steel is a glowing color or you may crack and split the iron, losing all your work; it may crack anyway, so start over.

Once you have repeated the above process (fire to stones, hammering and back again) enough that you have achieved a portion with a bladeish shape and it is to your satisfaction, get the steel nice and red once again, and then whip the iron into the snow, or cold running stream/water.

Grind an edge that is keen using the various stones at your disposal. Finish it off with the any lightly abrasive stone in the area.