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Kinfe Superstitions
- Thread starter strafer
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2006
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- 20,593
Whomever opens the knife has to close it or it's bad luck.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2007
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- 298
That is the only one I have heard about the gift giving.
- Joined
- May 30, 2007
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- 2,397
One of the goofy knife superstitions the old people used to believe was to put a knife under the bed in which a woman was giving birth. The knife was supposed to "cut the pain."
good thing my wife didnt have a knife under the bed when giving birth to my son
I probably wouldnt be here now...ivan
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2005
- Messages
- 4,527
A khukri must draw blood if unsheathed- right- how many Gurkas would have bled out if that was true.
My parents have a superstition about "crossed" knives, as in one blade resting or laying across the other. When they wash dishes they think if the knives accidentally cross that means there will be a fight or conflict sometime soon. They argue a lot so maybe its true!
Here's two great articles I jus found
In some places it is traditionally believed that the giving of a knife as a gift to a friend will cut or sever the relationship. To avoid such ill luck, the receiver should give a coin in return so as to "pay" for the gift. It is common to include a penny, often taped to the blade, with a knife given as a gift which the receiver is to return as "payment".
Stirring liquids or powders with a knife is often considered unlucky. One rhyme says, "Stir with a knife, stir up strife".
In some cultures giving a knife as a gift is considered a sign of respect and trust. This is especially true in Finland where various non-governmental organizations, clubs and even government agencies traditionally give a puukko (a Finnish fixed-blade hunting/outdoor knife) as a gift to trusted employers or contacts. The puukko is always presented handle first as a sign of trust and friendly intentions.
In many places in the United States it is considered bad luck to hand an open, folding blade knife to someone. This is especially true in more rural areas where carrying a pocket knife is as common as carrying a set of keys. This may stem from safety issues. It is also believed that allowing someone to close a folding blade knife that you have opened is bad luck.
Just as with swords, regional and cultural superstitions exist regarding the treatment of knives that are used in combat. One common superstition states that it is bad luck to return a combat knife from its sheath without using it to draw blood. A variant myth exists surrounding drawing a knife (e.g. a sgian dubh) without drawing the blood of a cultural enemy (e.g an Englishman). Sometimes these superstitions are actually attempts to insult the culture of the supposed believer.
Some cultures believe that a knife does not belong to an individual until it has 'bit' them, or tasted their blood. Believers in such superstitions may intentionally prick a finger on the blade of a knife rather than risk a later, accidental cut. According to this superstition, the knife will stay sharp longer and is less likely to accidentally cut its owner once it has tasted his or her blood.
In some parts of America, it is considered bad luck to sharpen a knife, or any blade, after dark.
from: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061215114506AAMVyL2
The knife plays a significant role in some cultures through ritual and superstition, as the knife was an essential tool for survival since early man. Knife symbols can be found in various cultures to symbolize all stages of life; for example, a knife placed under the bed while giving birth is said to ease the pain, or, stuck into the headboard of a cradle, to protect the baby.; knives were included in some Anglo-Saxon burial rites, so the dead would not be defenseless in the next world. The knife plays an important role in some initiation rites, and many cultures perform rituals with a variety of knives, including the ceremonial sacrifices of animals. Samurai warriors, as part of bushido, could perform ritual suicide, or seppuku, with a tantō, a common Japanese knife. An athame, a ceremonial black-handled knife, is used in Wicca and other forms of neo-paganism.
In Greece a black-handled knife placed under the pillow is used to keep away nightmares. As early as 1646 reference is made to a superstition of laying a knife across another piece of cutlery being a sign of witchcraft. A common belief is that if a knife is given as a gift, the relationship of the giver and recipient will be severed. Something such as a small coin is exchanged for the gift, rendering "payment."
from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife#Rituals_and_superstitions
In some places it is traditionally believed that the giving of a knife as a gift to a friend will cut or sever the relationship. To avoid such ill luck, the receiver should give a coin in return so as to "pay" for the gift. It is common to include a penny, often taped to the blade, with a knife given as a gift which the receiver is to return as "payment".
Stirring liquids or powders with a knife is often considered unlucky. One rhyme says, "Stir with a knife, stir up strife".
In some cultures giving a knife as a gift is considered a sign of respect and trust. This is especially true in Finland where various non-governmental organizations, clubs and even government agencies traditionally give a puukko (a Finnish fixed-blade hunting/outdoor knife) as a gift to trusted employers or contacts. The puukko is always presented handle first as a sign of trust and friendly intentions.
In many places in the United States it is considered bad luck to hand an open, folding blade knife to someone. This is especially true in more rural areas where carrying a pocket knife is as common as carrying a set of keys. This may stem from safety issues. It is also believed that allowing someone to close a folding blade knife that you have opened is bad luck.
Just as with swords, regional and cultural superstitions exist regarding the treatment of knives that are used in combat. One common superstition states that it is bad luck to return a combat knife from its sheath without using it to draw blood. A variant myth exists surrounding drawing a knife (e.g. a sgian dubh) without drawing the blood of a cultural enemy (e.g an Englishman). Sometimes these superstitions are actually attempts to insult the culture of the supposed believer.
Some cultures believe that a knife does not belong to an individual until it has 'bit' them, or tasted their blood. Believers in such superstitions may intentionally prick a finger on the blade of a knife rather than risk a later, accidental cut. According to this superstition, the knife will stay sharp longer and is less likely to accidentally cut its owner once it has tasted his or her blood.
In some parts of America, it is considered bad luck to sharpen a knife, or any blade, after dark.
from: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061215114506AAMVyL2
The knife plays a significant role in some cultures through ritual and superstition, as the knife was an essential tool for survival since early man. Knife symbols can be found in various cultures to symbolize all stages of life; for example, a knife placed under the bed while giving birth is said to ease the pain, or, stuck into the headboard of a cradle, to protect the baby.; knives were included in some Anglo-Saxon burial rites, so the dead would not be defenseless in the next world. The knife plays an important role in some initiation rites, and many cultures perform rituals with a variety of knives, including the ceremonial sacrifices of animals. Samurai warriors, as part of bushido, could perform ritual suicide, or seppuku, with a tantō, a common Japanese knife. An athame, a ceremonial black-handled knife, is used in Wicca and other forms of neo-paganism.
In Greece a black-handled knife placed under the pillow is used to keep away nightmares. As early as 1646 reference is made to a superstition of laying a knife across another piece of cutlery being a sign of witchcraft. A common belief is that if a knife is given as a gift, the relationship of the giver and recipient will be severed. Something such as a small coin is exchanged for the gift, rendering "payment."
from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife#Rituals_and_superstitions
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2006
- Messages
- 6,274
Don't know much about superstitions, but I've read some idiotic ideas about knives and how to handle them over the past couple of years:
-Run you finger down the edge to test for sharpness
-It's okay to pry and throw your friend's EDC
-A 3" locking pocket knife is more of a weapon than a pair of 8" scissors, 12" kitchen knife or a hammer.
-Run you finger down the edge to test for sharpness
-It's okay to pry and throw your friend's EDC
-A 3" locking pocket knife is more of a weapon than a pair of 8" scissors, 12" kitchen knife or a hammer.
L . O . L
Poor Blazengem.
That sucks.
I've never heard any knife superstitions. These ones above are new to me. The closest I could come is a saying: "live by the sword, die by the sword".