Knives: Tools or Weapons?

On one of those last remarks that the majority of the public sees knives as weapons rather than tools.....maybe we could say that when people see knives out of the context of their daily lives they might have a different reaction than if they were to see the knife in the kitchen for instance. Since few people carry knives now as opposed to the percentage that carried 50 years ago, when they see them in someone's hands on the street they are going to have a different reaction.

I like Brian Jones' idea of a knife representing the teeth of the predator. I think that is definitely part of the source of the visceral fear that many people seem to instinctively have when they see certain knives. And many knives are purposely designed to produce those kinds of reactions. Let's face it, part of what attracts most of us knifeknuts to these very same designs is probably a deep seated need to be in control of the scary teeth. If we own or possess the teeth we are no longer helpless and perhaps can even then dominate the situation.

Lots of good philosophical and psychological stuff here!

Oh, and I bet the percentage of people actually carrying pocket knives today is quite low, maybe 10 percent. Personally, I doubt it's higher than that but accurate statistics are probably impossible to get.
 
Several have noted of why man, in his evolution, developed the knife. My recollection of anthropological readings is that the scientists believe that the earliest knives really were TOOLs and not weapons. In other words, the cave man may have used his knife to skin an animal but he would have used a spear to kill the animal. Now you can say that the spear was just a knife on a stick. However, I think that, while the materials may have been the same, the intent was different and the design different enough that they were not the same in the mind of the cave man.

Since knives are my hobby I personally like to think of knives as the first real TOOL crafted by man. That is as opposed to an object that early man just picked up and used as a tool (e.g. a rock used like a hammer). Knives as TOOLs were critical in the development of man.

On the other hand, maybe I am biased in my thinking.
 
I've read a lot of that sort of stuff and it does indeed seem clear that the knife or sharp edged stone was among the first of man's tools. I would think that the uses of these would include not just preparing food, sharpening sticks and scraping hides but also probably cutting HAIR! Think about it, hair just keeps on growing and in the natural state you'd have to do something about it. Even Africans with their giant 'fros would need to cut it eventually. :)
 
Originally posted by bae


Your remark is overly broad. I grew up among the Amish. They are pacifists. They are not cowards.
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My remark is not too broad, it is a generalization. As such, it is bound to have exceptions. Having grown up in Ohio, I’ve seen Amish be pretty gutsy about NOT fighting. I guess I consider them exceptions, I never really thought about it.

It fits in the same vein as the parent whose child is dieing by won’t allow the blood transfusion or organ transplant due to religious beliefs. You deal with what you have when you must. Me, I take people one at a time.

My best (lady) friend often argues about my generalizations too. Once, I said that running away is not good self-defense for women because they run slower than men. My friend replied “ALL Women?! Guess what buddy, every one of the women runners at the last Olympics can run circles around you!” Well, I sure hope so; they’re Olympic athletes! I think it’s clear I was referring to “typical” women (often in heels) and Olympic athletes are so far removed as to not be a consideration. After all, who cares what an Olympic athlete does for SD, it does not help you and I. BTW, after 10 minutes she finally understood that I never said “all women” and we were in complete agreement once we started talking about SD again. Go fig.

A general rule is just that: general. It does not, and can not include every specific idea.
 
Originally posted by burtzolotar
...the earliest knives really were TOOLs and not weapons. In other words, the cave man may have used his knife to skin an animal but he would have used a spear to kill the animal. Now you can say that the spear was just a knife on a stick. However, I think that, while the materials may have been the same, the intent was different and the design different enough that they were not the same in the mind of the cave man.
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They may have been different to cave man but the point is, people have been using sharp objects as weapons since we had sharp objects. The pointed stick replaced the blunt stick (mostly), the jagged rock replaced the smooth rock (save for hammers). People will be no less afraid of knives if people start carrying spears. They’ll freak out over the spears, then go after our knives.

I agree with the tooth metaphor. I see knives more like claws if they have plain edges and teeth if they have serrations. Of course, to get that imagery, I need to stop and think what an animal might think of my knives. Makes one wonder what (or if) people are thinking when they fear our knives. Out of the box, I think of a knife as my new toy and its x-mas again!

In the book “Knives: military edged tools and weapons” ( poorly-written book BTW), James Marchington wrote:
“A well-made knife offers something more to its owner- it is aesthetically pleasing and satisfying to use. People whose only use for a knife is to prepare the vegetables find this difficult to understand and readily confuse it with blood lust. In fact, it is nothing of the sort. It is more akin to a craftsman’s appreciation of a well-made tool, or a writer’s preference for a fine fountain pen over a cheap ballpoint. The cheap and clumsy item may get the job done, but a quality instrument turns a chore into a pleasure.”

...a quality instrument turns a chore into a pleasure.
Maybe THAT’S what knives are: instruments of life and death!
 
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