Origins of the term "corn knife"?

[not2sharp]

Over the years I have seen the term "corn knife" applied to a wide variety of large knives ranging from machetes, bill hooks, slashers and sickles, to a wide range of primitive amature-made knives. Other than defining this as a large generic knife which may have been associated with the manual harvesting of corn, what is the origins of this term and was there ever actually a specific type of knife which would have been marketed as a corn knife?

n2s

 

[marcinek]

To make matters even more confusing I believe there are slipjoint corn knives designed for use not on corn, but on corns.

I may be wrong on that one...

 

[Planterz]

To make matters even more confusing I believe there are slipjoint corn knives designed for use not on corn, but on corns.

I may be wrong on that one...

When referring to small folding pocketknives, it definitely means a knife meant for removing corns from feet. The blades are typically thin and scalpel shaped, often with a recurve. A google image search will turn up examples (as well as knives meant for harvesting maize).

 

[marcinek]

When referring to small folding pocketknives, it definitely means a knife meant for removing corns from feet. The blades are typically thin and scalpel shaped, often with a recurve. A google image search will turn up examples (as well as knives meant for harvesting maize).

Thanks. Then I also believe there are maize or corn folders that are actually meant to be used on corn.

 

[Raymond1000]

In America the word corn has come to mean Indian maze. In England corn is a generic word for any sort of grain. They talk about corns of wheat or barley, rye or oats.

A corn knife is a tool for harvesting cereal grains.

Corn also means objects of a size to resemble corn. Like the corns of salt used to make corned beef.

Don’t take that to mean you need a corn knife to slice corned beef and cabbage.