Why buy a knife?

[glocktenman]

My friend had a birthday dinner last night and I gave him a nice case knife as a gift. After he opened it he got a quarter out of his pocket, gave it to me and he said he paid me for the knife. He said it's somethig he has always done but doesn't remember why.

I've been around knives for many years but this is a new one on me. Any one know about not taking a knife as a gift? Why must you buy it from the person? Is this some type of wives tale?

 

[derrickd803]

Yup, I cant remember what it exactly is though. Im sure somebody knows around here

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

Superstition.

 

[Dagon]

Yes, it's an amusing (and old) kind of superstition: you should never give a knife as it will supposedly "cut" the friendship. Hence, a knife should always be bought, and it seems that even a nominal coin is enough to lift the curse!

 

[babakanoosh45]

Try this...

Knife 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.

 

[riz_aaroni]

Yes, it's an amusing (and old) kind of superstition: you should never give a knife as it will supposedly "cut" the friendship. Hence, a knife should always be bought, and it seems that even a nominal coin is enough to lift the curse!

There ye go. Not sure of all the cultures that have this superstition. Always interesting though. The Japanese may have a similar or the same one. I know clocks are a bad gift to give them. Represents rushing them I think, could be off base with this one.

 

[Murphyslaw]

I never gift a knife without taping a coin to it, which the recipient gives back to me. Its common for some Chinese.

I believe I've seen pictures of gift boxed knives with a coin set in the top of the box for this purpose.

I have close Italian friends who would gift a knife for a wedding present, as it portends very bad things.

 

[knarfeng]

Try this...

Knife 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".

That is the one I learned. I always tape a penny to the box for the knife recipient to give me, more for fun than any fear of bad luck.

 

[Splat]

Wow! Strangely enough, this has happened to me! I gave a very good friend of mine (15+years) a Victorinox Solider knife last Christmas. Since then there has been some bad blood between us, honestly his fault, and now he's dead to me. So it appears there may be some truth to this old wives' tale after all! Interesting...

 

[yobbos1]

Try this...

Knife 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.

Thanks for that, I love that kind of stuff!

 

[Dekz]

This superstition is also explained in the excellent movie "The Edge", in which the knife plays a fairly important role.

 

[BlackOpsSec]

very interesting. all of these superstitions are news to me. i like the one with the taped coin.

 

[Bucktool_02]

Sometimes when I gift a nicer knife to someone, I'll include 2 coins inside the box. One is for me to take back immediately, the other stays in the box for when it's time for the knife to be passed on again.

 

[hunterfisher808]

I remember my grandma gifting a pair of Weiss scissors to my mom and asking for a coin. For her it pertained to any sharps that was being gifted.

 

[eccvets]

Yes, it's an amusing (and old) kind of superstition: you should never give a knife as it will supposedly "cut" the friendship. Hence, a knife should always be bought, and it seems that even a nominal coin is enough to lift the curse!

you hit it right on the head with that one. In anycase, myths and supersitions are for weak minded people.

 

[dougo83]

I have always done this as a tradition of sorts. Never really considered why. One that I haven't seen outside of my family is never gifting an unused/uncarried knife. My dad gave me a skinner one year that was brand new, but he took it out of the box and cut something, rope IIRC, and then put it back in the box, wrapped it, and I got it for my b-day. Not certain why and I never have thought to ask. I just do it out of habit now. Sometimes it's just easier because I give a friend a knife so they can stop borrowing.

 

[antonio_luiz]

Yes, it's an amusing (and old) kind of superstition: you should never give a knife as it will supposedly "cut" the friendship. Hence, a knife should always be bought, and it seems that even a nominal coin is enough to lift the curse!

+1 - Surprisingly not just a superstition as it works at an unconcious level. Knives are a very emotive implement that has a long association in human psyche and development as an indispensible tool since pre-historic times. I know I'm more willing to let other people use my guns than my knives. By handing over a coin the recipient having "bought" the knife now feels genuine ownership, and the giver feels that it truly belongs to the new owner.

 

[yobbos1]

you hit it right on the head with that one. In anycase, myths and supersitions are for weak minded people.

Or for people who like folklore, history, culture etc.:jerkit:

 

[BOrrell]

My Dad used to do that; give a knife and take a penny; I had nearly forgotten that!

 

[nodh]

The "cutting friendship" tradition is old in Scandinavia as well. A knife is always paid for. I add a 10 krona coin with my knife gifts. It is the closets to a "gold coin".
If you remember when Ray Mears was in sweden and made tar and skis, he paid for his blade too.