The Shechitah Knife: Difference between revisions

# One should use a knife that ends in a right angle, not a sharp point, in order to avoid chaladah. In pressing circumstances, can can cover the tip with something light and then shecht (a hard tip cover could lead to derasa).<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:4</ref>  

# Some say the top of the knife should also be void of pegimot,<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:4</ref> in case one ends up cutting with the top, while others note how the rectangular knives we use today avoid this issue.<ref>Mateh Asher 6:5</ref>

# The ideal shechitah knife is twice as long as the neck of the target category;<ref>See Simla Chadasha 8:2 and [The Shechitah Process] for more details.</ref> therefore, bird (ofos) knives are usually about five inches long, sheep (dakos) knives are usually nine inches long, and cattle (gasos) knives are usually about sixteen inches long.<ref>See [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1062724 IBC Experiential Halacha: Chicken Shechita]</ref>

# The instrument used to shecht should preferably be as smooth as possible on both sides. Therefore, although engravings in the blade far from the edge do not render the shechitah invalid, but one should ideally use a knife free of any engravings. Anything sticking out of the side would be a problem even bediavad despite being far from the edge.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:2</ref>

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