Culturally and Nationally sigificant knives?

[skilledhunter]

For the US...there is no doubt its the Bowie Knife. Its our Excalibur, right there with the Colt revolver and the KY rifle. It played a major roll in our history!!!

 

[not2sharp]

Guam: Chamorro knife
Sri-Lanka - Ceylon: Piha Kaetta
Afghanistan - Khyber knife
India - Katar
Alaska/inuit - Ulu
Java/Indonesia - Pedang Lurus
Philippines - Kris

n2s

 

[Lee D]

Great thread!...so many significant knives and tools I was unaware of.

 

[eveled]

For the US...there is no doubt its the Bowie Knife. Its our Excalibur, right there with the Colt revolver and the KY rifle. It played a major roll in our history!!!

I guess I’d be more inclined to agree if we even had a clear picture of what a Bowie is. It’s kind of a phantom.

The KA-BAR screams America, and played a major roll in ours and the worlds history.

I’m not disrespecting The Bowie family or their knives. I just think the KA-BAR is slightly more iconic at this point.

Although it could be argued the KA-BAR is a Bowie. Then I guess it’s a moot point.

 

[Arathol]

I guess I’d be more inclined to agree if we even had a clear picture of what a Bowie is. It’s kind of a phantom.

Well, if the discussion is about cultural perception, then this.....

The Iron Mistress bowie wielded by Alan Ladd

The KA-BAR screams America, and played a major roll in ours and the worlds history.

I’m not disrespecting The Bowie family or their knives. I just think the KA-BAR is slightly more iconic at this point.

However, it should be excluded as a military weapon as in the OP.

Without getting into all the military and culinary offerings, I was thinking about knives that are quickly associated with a given culture/nation?

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

Spain - Albacete dagger (puñal)

Spain-Islas Canarias - Canario Knife

Mexico - Mexican Scorpion Tail Knife

Chile- Corvo knife

England - Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife

Germany-Bavaria -Bavarian Knife

 

[SanLuisObispo]

However, it should be excluded as a military weapon as in the OP.

While I appreciate your comment, it could be argued that the KA-Bar has transcended its military roots into being a full icon of Americana.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

Greece - Crete Cretan knife

Greece - Pontic Greek Dagger(really this applies to many cultures south of black sea)

Turkey - Sürmene probably of Pontic Greek heritage as well but now claimed by Turkey.

Mexico - Acapulco style machete for Charros

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

 

[SanLuisObispo]

That's really something. Thank you so much.

 

[skilledhunter]

Here is a few out of my collection if you want to know what a Bowie looks like.
Sheffield

American

 

[Smaug]

Algeria - Douk Douk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douk-Douk

USA - Jackknife / Peanut
USA - Electrician TL-29

 

[K.O.D.]

Germany: Fliegerkappmesser


China: Jarbenza? Clones? They were known for sharpening coins to use like throwing stars if I remember my history correctly.

 

[SanLuisObispo]

Algeria - Douk Douk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douk-Douk

USA - Jackknife / Peanut
USA - Electrician TL-29

The TL-29 is a great catch. Wasn't it the first folding locker of all time?

 

[CWL]

While the Higonokami does fit the bill, I think the "Tanto" is the most universally known Japanese knife. Of course the term has evolved to mean a certain blade profile and now exists as both fixed and folding.

Yeah right! I think you're believing too much Cold Steel sales literature. Aside from a brief period when they were used to cut heads off of killed enemies, tantos are as common as bowie knives are in every US household.

Knives that can be found in every Japanese home would be a Santoku knife in the kitchen and a kiridashi in the tool box.

If we want to go with knives made significant through movies, then the wakisashi would be it.

 

[The Zieg]

United States: Buck 110
United States and United Kingdom: Smatchet

Zieg

 

[SanLuisObispo]

Yeah right! I think you're believing too much Cold Steel sales literature. Aside from a brief period when they were used to cut heads off of killed enemies, tantos are as common as bowie knives are in every US household.

Hold on a moment. While katanas and the shorter wakizashi had/have tanto blades, both are swords, not knives per se. I believe it was actually CS that pioneered the tanto blade on knives -- almost certainly folding knives.

Knives that can be found in every Japanese home would be a Santoku knife in the kitchen and a kiridashi in the tool box.

If we want to go with knives made significant through movies, then the wakisashi would be it.

Actually the santoku, like the gyutou, are the product of Western influence on Japanese culinary cutlery.

 

[Arathol]

Hold on a moment. While katanas and the shorter wakizashi had/have tanto blades, both are swords, not knives per se. I believe it was actually CS that pioneered the tanto blade on knives -- almost certainly folding knives.
Actually the santoku, like the gyutou, are the product of Western influence on Japanese culinary cutlery.

As are the tanto knives that are "are as common as bowie knives are in every US household". Those have nothing to do with the traditional Japanese tanto, which incidentally was not used for "a brief period when they were used to cut heads off of killed enemies". The tanto was more of a short sword, sometimes paired with a katana in the daisho and was used as a companion short sword to the tachi. It was more a weapon used for stabbing rather than "slicing off heads".....and has a nearly 1000 year history in Japanese culture. The knives sold by Lynn Thompson have very little in common with the real Japanese tanto.

 

[DangerZone98]

I’m not sure which Nordic country exactly, but the Seax must also be mentioned.

 

[Arathol]

I’m not sure which Nordic country exactly, but the Seax must also be mentioned.

The seax originated with the Germanic Saxon culture in the north of Europe. It spread west with the Saxons to the British isles in the 6th century AD. The Celts and the Vikings are usually associated with the seax.