Too Sharp - - To Give as Gift ? ?

[Pointshoot777]

Hi everyone - - I recently picked up a new Spyderco that I like. (Native). Theyre a great value & I thought about getting a couple more to give to people as upcoming birthday gifts. - - Neither are 'knife knuts' and now I'm pausing a bit. Ever hold back on giving a particular knife to someone because you thought it may be too sharp for them and that they'll cut themselves ? Telling them to be careful cause this is 'very sharp' doesnt neccesarily help since non-knifers aren't often aware of how sharp 'sharp' can be. Regards, - - -
P.S. - - got a very sharp slipjoint with strong springs that would never even let a non-knifer use for a few minutes, much less buy as a gift. - -

 

[Keith_H]

I think that most people should know that a knife is going to be sharp, and if they don't, a small cut will all they need to realize it.

 

[ss Dragonfly]

I think you are not giving the masses the credit they deserve. Let Darwin sort it out.

 

[SOLEIL]

A dull knife will cause more severe injuries than a sharp one. How do people learn that fire is hot? Usually the same way they learn that a knife is sharp. Most people I know who did not carry a knife started carrying one after it was given to them. This was even after they cut themselves. Two of them no longer get queasy at the sight of blood, especially their own.

 

[yinyang]

Unless they are mentally deficient in some way, I think it's not an issue. Will they like/use it? That may be the more appropriate question. Not all gifts are 'winners' for those who receive them.

 

[Absintheur]

My dad was the sort who felt you best learned a lesson by making the mistake. He was the sort who would, when my mom would see me about to stick something in the wall socket, say "let him do it honey, it's the only way he'll learn"! Personally I am all for removing all warning labels on all products and see if that will help deepen the gene pool.

All kidding aside I did warn my nephews when giving them knives that they are sharp and can easily cut them if misused. I skip that these days as they are old enough to know I don't give dull knives to them. By the way I found it the supreme irony when my dad needed a couple of stitches of he cut himself playing with a knife I gave him for Christmas, it was one of the CRKT Snap-Locks.

 

[Lurker]

I think you have a valid concern. When people are used to dull knives, as most people are, they may not handle a razor sharp knife like they should. For instance, some people will run their thumb along the length of the edge to guage it's sharpness (in a slicing motion). This might be fine on a typical dull knife, but would be a grave mistake on a new Spyderco.

There have been a couple of times when I have sharpened kitchen knives for non-knife people and they have gotten cuts soon afterward. One even accused me of making the knife TOO sharp. Since then, upon returning a sharpened knife to someone, I have taken a minute to caution them about the sharpness and then given a demonstration of shaving arm hair. This usually gets their attention. People understand how to handle a razor blade and the shaving demonstration helps them understand that the knife is almost that sharp. After that, I feel I have done my duty and it is up to them to be careful.

Your gift may be more appreciated and valued in the long run if they do not get off to a bad start with it by cutting themselves.

 

[Zeasor]

...Telling them to be careful cause this is 'very sharp' doesnt neccesarily help since non-knifers aren't often aware of how sharp 'sharp' can be...

You are probably right. Have you ever gone to a Mexican food restaurant where the waiter delivers a platter and says "hot plate"? What's the first thing many people do? Would those same people do any differently when they hear "sharp knife"?

 

[Pointshoot777]

Helpful viewpoints - thanks guys. I like Lurker's suggestions - - maybe I'll first demo slicing paper then show the razor sharpness of the blade by shaving arm hair before turning it over to them. (Plus they can give me a coin in return for the gift of a knife. As many of you know that is an old tradition, - - so the gift knife "won't cut the friendship" ) - -

 

[Zeasor]

Helpful viewpoints - thanks guys. I like Lurker's suggestions - - maybe I'll first demo slicing paper then show the razor sharpness of the blade by shaving arm hair before turning it over to them...

And someone who has never had a sharp knife will soon show off "Hey, look at this new knife I got. Watch, it'll shave my arm. Ouch." You might also give a band-aid with each knife to emphasize your point.

 

[CWL]

I would like to point out that dull knives are the ones that are likely to cause injuries to the user.

 

[2TONYB]

Some gifts are not appreciated until they are used and the user realizes how handy the gift can be. So, a sharp knife, what a fantastic gift. Most people are capable of learning how to handle a sharp knife. I made it to adulthood. Hey, maybe this unwillingness to part with the "gift" is some underlying desire to put it in your own pocket!!! Hey I'm with ya.

 

[Dog of War]

IMO it's usually a mistake to give a knife of any kind to someone who doesn't already have some appreciation of knives ... or at least an interest in learning.

Having said that, those who know something about knives are bound to appreciate being given one that's nice and sharp.

 

[reholli]

A dull knife will cause more severe injuries than a sharp one.
...

I would like to point out that dull knives are the ones that are likely to cause injuries to the user.

It's funny...I read this claim all the time, but in my almost 60 years of life I have never seen an actual example of this involving anyone...it's always a sharp knife...plus anytime I cut myself, it's always with a very sharp knife.

I know the argument about overcompensating for dullness by utilizing too much force...but how often does injury really happen as a result of this?

Ray

 

[ss Dragonfly]

If you don't own any dull knives, it is much less likely to be cut by one. As a matter of fact I have never been cut by a dull knife that I recall.

 

[Lurker]

Dull knives have their dangers, but in my observation, whenever a sharp knife is given an opportunity, it will cut you more consistently and the cut will be deeper. On the plus side, the cut may be neater and may heal more quickly if you didn't cut a nerve or tendon. Sharp knives are unforgiving.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

It's funny...I read this claim all the time, but in my almost 60 years of life I have never seen an actual example of this involving anyone...it's always a sharp knife...plus anytime I cut myself, it's always with a very sharp knife.

I know the argument about overcompensating for dullness by utilizing too much force...but how often does injury really happen as a result of this?

Ray

Im with ya.

 

[Pointshoot777]

And someone who has never had a sharp knife will soon show off "Hey, look at this new knife I got. Watch, it'll shave my arm. Ouch." You might also give a band-aid with each knife to emphasize your point.

Yeah, I thought of that too. Maybe just shaving paper and saying its razor sharp is best. (Though the friends/family I would give them to are actually intelligent folks . . . just not necessarily knife fanatics.)

New Graham ships out a little band-aid despener that magnetically attaches to your refrigerator with the knives they sell

 

[jim preston]

I know the argument about overcompensating for dullness by utilizing too miiuch force...but how often does injury really happen as a result of this?

I think this mainly happens with people using butter knives, duller tableware to cut stuff like apples or bread. Too dull-too much force-nasty cut. The cuts also aren't very clean, so they're more likely to take a long time to heal.
Curse Loius Whatever who outlawed pointy tableware in France- he's probably responsible for a lot of the cuts, and the sheeple attitude, towards knives.

 

[Dr. Mudd]

The other day I gambled and gave a nice, new Victorinox Small Tinker to the doctor who has helped care for my elderly mother for a long time. I figured if he was dumb enough to cut himself he should know what to do about it.

Seriously, though my wife did not read him as a knife person, the SAK was a big hit with him. :thumbup: