The skull thing

[The Zieg]

I was realizing today that I hadn't said or done anything really stupid for quite awhile and since I'm about due, will ask this one.

What's the connection with knives and skulls???
Seems like every third producer out there has a skull as part of their logo, sales materials, or graphics on their knives?

Is there some historical significance to it? A legend I am unaware of? Or is it really only based on the idea of causing mayhem, pirates, and holding a knife in your teeth???

There are different sorts of skulls, the styles of which really do make a difference in their appeal and their menace (or lack thereof).

For instance, the Suwannee Knife Works mark:

Zieg

 

[Zuluninja]

skulls sell. Like using "tactical", "used by spec ops", "operator grade" and whatever marketing tool used to lure the commandos in. I avoid them on knives and anything else. I have teased a friend for years calling him "calaverita" (lil skull in Spanish) because he has a jolly rogers tag in the front bumper of his 4runner, but he's a mechanic and has tough skin. To each their own, tho.

 

[The Whip]

Two decades? Try, at least 10.

1918 WWI ends, 1945 WWII ends, 1953 Korean war ends, 1975 Vietnam ends; we now have Iraq/Afghanistan ongoing. Call them wars, police actions or whatever, it is war to those in it. You are right, however, skulls have been inserted into the symbology of them all. Look back to Genghis Khan and his mountains of skulls and I'm sure before that. Now, however (and, again maybe a long time before), it is "cool" for the "wannabes".

You'll get no argument from me about the depth of the historical context. That's why I pulled all of my examples from World War II.

But I think the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have had the most influence on the recent trend that Dan of Bazz Clazz is asking about. I think images like this

inspire makers to create knives such as these.

-Steve

 

[jaseman]

^^^^

Gotta say, I'm quite sick of the "Punisher" skull thing. I'm not even sure at this point, how many people realize it's from a comic book. I laugh at that particular skull just as muck as I laugh at all the people walking around with the M logo from Monster Energy (you just tattooed a corporate logo on your arm moron).

THIS is where the whole skull thing has become over saturated. Like tattoos, it used to be primarily part of certain sub-cultures, where it didn't come off as cheesy, trite, and 'forced'. A biker walking around with a flaming skull tattoo is in context, but the boy band wannabe, wearing it on a bedazzled t-thirt is just trying too hard to be seen as cool.

Context is everything.