Ever heard that you shouldn't ever take a knife for nothing?

I've wish I had heard of this. One of my closest friends was moving and before he left I gave him a knife to remember me by. Never knew about the coin theory. We are no longer friends Im sad to say.
 
mromeo23 said:
I've wish I had heard of this. One of my closest friends was moving and before he left I gave him a knife to remember me by. Never knew about the coin theory. We are no longer friends Im sad to say.
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Nothing to do with the knife.
 
I have heard this I also heard that in ireland they do it because giving a knife as a gift is a way of telling someone to kill themselves so you give it with a coin for them to give back to you so it is a trade and not a gift.
 
Everything described here is only littlestitious.
Superstitious would be if you demand coins not only for gift but also for lending a knife. Be it long term or even short term, like when a friend is at your house wand wants to cut his steak with your knife. Afterall according to the original idea if he needs to borrow your knife it only shows hes not manly enough to carry his own and would be an insult. Thus a lending fee seems in order. :)
 
I've known of this believe since a was in kinder garden :-)

They way this was told to me was that when a new knife was given to someone, you give coin in exchange. The theory orotund cutting the friendship was that with a new sharp knife you are very likely to cut yourself. In the old days you had one knife.... So when you do the exchange you slide the blade over the coin. This shows how sharp the knife is and it takes some of the "bite" out of the knife.... The coin with the cut mark then become the giver of the knife lucky coin. It is then the luck coin and proof you are a able giver... If the receiver cut themselves on the older days there was a good change of infection and then some times with dire consequences.

Makes sense!
 
Wow. Never heard of this.

I've given two friends on mine knives within the last six months, and if anything we are now even better friends.

Probably helps that they were great knives, one got a BM 710-1 in CPM-M4 (could never get a good edge on his CQC7, and he was the one that turned me on to knives in the first place...so I solved that problem) and a the other an 810 Contego, black combo edge in the same steel. He wanted a GOOD knife but could not afford one, and always helped anyone out when they needed it, so one was given to him at Christmas.

They were both really surprised when I gave them what has apparently became one of their now most-treasured items, from the feedback I've gotten at times from both of them out of the blue.

So I think I'll stick (no pun intended) with the no-strings-attached method.

Worked fine for me, but I'm not superstitious in the slightest by nature.
 
Ooops. I gave my groomsmen an engraved buck 110 and expected nothing in return.
But I am sure I have gotten more than a nickles worth out of them over the years and beside; It's bad luck to be superstitious...
Given knives to friends and family, gift from the heart is always a good thing, superstition or not..
 
I've heard of it, but have never done it or known anyone that did.
I don't believe in superstitions at all.
 
I just recently learned of this from my daughter in law. Very interesting origin stories.

I totally agree with the Bladeforums coin idea!
 
jmclfrsh said:
Wow. Never heard of this.

I've given two friends on mine knives within the last six months, and if anything we are now even better friends.

Probably helps that they were great knives, one got a BM 710-1 in CPM-M4 (could never get a good edge on his CQC7, and he was the one that turned me on to knives in the first place...so I solved that problem) and a the other an 810 Contego, black combo edge in the same steel. He wanted a GOOD knife but could not afford one, and always helped anyone out when they needed it, so one was given to him at Christmas.

They were both really surprised when I gave them what has apparently became one of their now most-treasured items, from the feedback I've gotten at times from both of them out of the blue.

So I think I'll stick (no pun intended) with the no-strings-attached method.

Worked fine for me, but I'm not superstitious in the slightest by nature.
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I'm with you man (we also just happen to both live in the same city). I gave two of my closest friends knives for Xmas, one of them a benchmade and while he didn't give me a coin in return he has gave me so much over the years, both physical items and help/support/a good friendship I think we're safe.
 
Didn't know about about the coin rule but did know that a knife trust into the back or chest meant the recipient would most likely need immediate medical care.
 
Sullie said:
It's bad luck to be superstitious...
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Haha, awesome comment.

I've heard of this before, but not much about the origin. I like the idea of carrying on some traditions from our past, even if you don't believe in the superstition behind them. However, if someone tried dulling the knife they were going to give me on a coin I wouldn't like that very much!
 
Even if you aren't superstitious others might be therefore I always as a coin, just to make the receiver of the gift more comfy!
 
I was up way before dawn this morning and this superstition crossed my mind. 5AM is a good time to think.
So after a little research I found this on where the gifting superstition originated.

IV. Non-Jewish Sources Regarding Gifting Knives
Amongst the non-Jews, the superstition of not gifting knives was very widespread and mention of it precedes the first Jewish source by a few hundred years. However, the reason given for this superstition differs from the explanations recorded in Jewish sources. Non Jewish sources, dating back to the year 1470, explain that if a knife is given as a present, it can “cut up,” or destroy love and friendship.
The earliest non Jewish source to mention the already widespread superstition preceded Rabbi Nachman by over 300 years. The Gospelles of Dystaues records, “he that gyueth [gave] a payre [pair] of knues [knives] ti his lady paramour on newe yeres daye [on new years days] knowe that theyr loue shall ware colde [know[ing] that their love shall become cold [severed]].”[38] In 1578, Peter Bornemisza echoed this belief in his book, On the Temptation of the Devil, as he writes, “one ought not to give one’s financee a knife.”[39] Soon after ,in the year 1611, Francis Davidson in Peotical Rapsodi writes,“a paire of kniues: Fortune doth giue this paire of Kniues to you. To cut the thred of loue if ’t be not true.” [40]
From its earliest source in the year 1470, this belief could be found in many different parts of the world, especially in England and America.[41] Eventually, around the year 1654,[42] this belief extended not only to knives but to any sharp [metal] tool or object as well, such as pins and scissors. Giving sharp objects as gifts, just like knives, was believed to carry danger, and, it appers that people accepted these "prohibitions."[43]
In the year 1707,[44] we find that the non-Jews thought up a solution to the danger of giving sharp items/knife as a present. This solution has been employed by both non-Jews[45] and by many Jews up to present day. [46] Specifically, the solution entails the recipient to give money or an item of value to the giver, in return for the knife. I assume that by giving money to the giver, it is considered as the recipient bought the knife, and the knife loses its status as a gift. There is no danger in buying a knife.
It is interesting to point out that this non Jewish belief is recorded in the general beliefs of the Iraqi Jews. They believed that one should not give his friend a knife as a present [for the reason given by the gentiles]. However, if the recipient gives the giver a minimal amount of money, then it is permitted.[47] I would assume that the Iraqi Jews were influenced by this very popular belief of the non Jews.
Although inconclusive, this widespread superstition of the Gentiles (not to give a knife as a present) may have played a role in the development of the Jewish belief. This claim is not definite; rather an assumption gleaned from the evidence at hand. Hopefully, with ongoing research on this topic, definite evidence will surface and prove the exact origins of this belief, practiced by many Jews.

http://seforim.blogspot.com/2009/09/knife-is-it-dangerous-gift-for-rosh.html
 
I ha heard it before then I saw the movie the edge with Alec Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins character as given a knife an the local guide says give him a coin and complies saying oh yes so it doesn't cut the friendship. Since that time a coin has always been.part of any knife giving in.my circle. Not superstitious just a cool idea
 
Yes I have heard of this before. I can see the connection, I see it as probably having to do more with symbolism though.
 
teranaut said:
My understanding is that you give a coin for a knife so the knife doesn't cut the friendship.
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This is my understanding as well - I read that it's a very old Chinese superstition - and the receiver of the knife is supposed to give a coin or something of value to the gift giver.

If you ever saw the movie "The Edge" with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, there is a scene early in the movie where they discuss this idea when Alec's character gives Anthony's character a new knife. Great movie if you haven't seen it!
 
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