Coin for Blade tradition?

R

Rovert

Joined
Apr 22, 2000
Messages
94
Hope I'm in the right category for this question. Administrator, would you please move to appropriate section if not?...

Question: Can anyone describe, define, and/or elaborate, on the tradition & "superstition" of exchanging a coin for a blade, when giving or receiving a knife for a gift?

Where, how and when did this begin? What woes are supposed to befall the giver and/or recipient if this does not occur? What "metaphysical powers" are attributed to be in play, i.e. how do the "spirits" attach, or know, of the exchange?

It's kind of a lukewarm exercise in comparative mythology, but I'm just curious. I'm planning on giving a friend, who is now my business partner, a WH T10, and don't want to screw this up!!!!

(superstitiously yours...)
Rovert
 
The tradition dates back to feudal times when the local lord was entitled to anything that grew, lived or was made on his lands at no expense to him.

The swordsmith was the exception to the rule.
Whenever the lord recieved a sword from the smith it was good public relations to give a gift to the smith to thank him for the sword.
Mind you this was not a payment just a gift lest the friendship between the giver and the recipient be cut.

The real reason was that if the smith felt unappreciated he would move to the castle down the road and take his skills with him creating a local shortage of arms reducing the local lord's ability to defend his castle.

Thus the custom of giving a coin when a sharp object is recieved lest the friendship be cut began.

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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
I like it George.Been giving a penny for a lot of years and really know why.I did it because my grandfather told me to.
smile.gif

Thanks for the clarification.

------------------

have a"knife"day
 
The Sept.`99 Blade Magazine has a very good article on Blade Folklore 'A Penny For A Knife'...seems that the origin of this is lost in the mysts of time...it goes WAY BACK!....one funny thing mentioned was "Some Gerber knives of the 1940s came with a little printed card describing the tradition and with a penny glued to it" It's something that is done all over the world.
 
My Japanese Uncle told me this way back in the 1960's... he told me it was a Japanese custom, but I have experienced it in Thailand, Germany, New York and Colorado... Go figure!
 
In many cases, the giver will give the knife and the coin and the receiver will then return the coin to pay for the knife.

It's a quaint little tradition.

Note that in some cultures it is totally inappropriate to give a knife as a gift. In some cultures it is especially inappropriate to give a knife as wedding gift.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Rovert, welcome to the forums! and George thanks for the history about that!

I had first heard that when watching the movie ~The Edge~ when he was given a folder for his birthday, the fellow said `Give the donor a coin' And he explained that if you don't give the donor a coin it cuts the friendship. Didn't help in this case, but then they might not have been real friends anyway, as it turns out....

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks
 
Gary -

Thanks. I've been a lurker here for somewhat over a year, but finally decided to register.

I'm planning on giving my friend a choice of the WH T10 in MOP, Fistail Oak, or Amber Bone. I thought it would be "quaint" to observe the tradition. Besides... you never know for sure, do you... (?)
 
One of the earliest mentions of the superstitions concerning the giving of knives I can find is this (translate from Middle English yourselves!):
1507 Gospelles of Dystaues

"He that gyueth a payre of knyues to his lady paramour on newe yeres daye knowe that theyr loue shall ware colde"

Maybe the same goes for giving saucepans or vaccuum cleaners as birthday presents too?
wink.gif


The first reference I can find to giving money for the knife is quoted from Grose in Provincial Glossary; Superstitions, 1787

"It is unlucky to present a knife, scissors, razor, or any sharp or cutting instrument, to one's mistress or friend, as they are apt to cut love or friendship. To avoid the ill effects .. a pin, a farthing, or some trifling recompense, must be taken."

Aha, found another quotation: 1707 Letter from Elizabeth Wentworth

"Dearest Brother, I give you a grate many thanks for the siszers you sent me by Mr Shokman. I give him sixpencs for fear tha should cute love on your side: but for mine 'tis to well gronded to fear ather siszers ar knifs cuting af it."

More to come as and when I find the quotations. I have the later ones from the 19th and 20th centuries about coins, just looking for the early ones.

George, any idea where the swordsmith information comes from? I'd like to do some research there too.

Roger
 
Greg -

Love it!!! One part should have been included, however:

"... be ye be wedded to Lorena Bobbit, ye should wear thy Codpiece, lest evil tidings befall".

It's interesting that in each of your illustrations, the gift was a pair of scissors, or shears, to a woman.

I'm beginning to get the gist of the tradition... as you well noted... giving household items to a woman CAN certainly cause evil to befall... or other parts of the body, for that matter!
eek.gif



 
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