A knife is a handheld sharp-edged instrument consisting of handle attached to a blade used for cutting. A blade is the flat part of a Tool, Weapon, or Machine (such as a fan) that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made The knife is a tool that can be used as a weapon. A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other A weapon is a Tool used either in Hunting, or attack or defence in Combat for the purpose of subduing enemy personnel or to destroy enemy weapons Its origins date as far back as two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools. The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which Humans widely used stone for toolmaking Oldowan (earlier spelled Olduwan or sometimes Oldawan) is an anthropological designation for an industrial complex of Stone tools used by ^[1][2]

History

The Knife Grinder - Drawn by P. Weenix and engraving by W. French - Published for the Proprietors by AH Payne, Dresden & Leipzig - 1853 (From the Dr. Nuno Carvalho de Sousa Private Collections - Lisbon)

The earliest knives were shaped by knapping (percussive flaking) of rock, particularly harder rocks such as obsidian and flint. Oldowan (earlier spelled Olduwan or sometimes Oldawan) is an anthropological designation for an industrial complex of Stone tools used by A knapper is a person who shapes Flint, Chert, Obsidian or other stone through the process of knapping or Lithic reduction to manufacture In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere Obsidian is a naturally occurring Glass formed as an extrusive Igneous rock. Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert During the Paleolithic era Homo habilis likely made similar tools out of wood, bone, and similar highly perishable materials that have not survived. The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" Homo habilis (ˈhoʊmoʊ ˈhæbəlɪs ("handy man" "skillful person" is a Species of the genus Homo, which lived Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce ^[2][3] As recent as five thousand years ago, as advances in metallurgy progressed, stone, wood, and bone blades were gradually succeeded by copper, bronze, iron, and eventually steel. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Metallurgy is a domain of Materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Modern knives may be made from many different materials such as alloy tool steels, carbon fiber, ceramics, and titanium. The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos) Titanium (taɪˈteɪniəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Ti and Atomic number 22 There is a very active community of modern custom knife makers and collectors, whom often pioneer the use of new materials in knives. In the United States, The American Bladesmith Society promotes forged blades; the Knifemakers Guild^[4] promotes all custom knives. The American Bladesmith Society is dedicated to preserving the ancient art and history of crafting hand forged Knives.

Materials and construction

Main article: Knife making

Today, knives come in many forms but can be generally categorized between two broad types: fixed blade knives and folding, or pocket, knives. For more information see the Knife article Knife Making (also known as knifesmithing) is the process of manufacturing a cutting instrument by any A pocketknife is a folding Knife with a Blade that fits inside the handle and that is small enough to fit in a Pocket.

Characteristic parts of the knife

Modern knives consist of a blade (1) and handle (2). A blade is the flat part of a Tool, Weapon, or Machine (such as a fan) that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made A handle is a part of or attachment to an object that can be moved or used by hand The blade edge can be plain or serrated or a combination of both. The handle, used to grip and manipulate the blade safely, may include the tang, a portion of the blade that extends into the handle. The tang of a Sword or fixed-blade Knife is that part of the Blade extending into and usually through the grip that is fastened to it Knives are made with partial (extending part way into the handle) and full (extending the full length of the handle, often visible on top and bottom) tangs. The handle can also include a bolster, which is a piece of material used to balance the knife, usually brass or other metal, at the front of the handle where it meets the blade. The blade consists of the point (3), the end of the knife used for piercing, the edge (4), the cutting surface of the knife extending from the point to the heel, the grind (5), the cross-section shape of the blade, the spine, (6), the top, thicker portion of the blade, the fuller (7), the groove added to lighten and stiffen the blade, and the ricasso (8), the thick portion of the blade joining the blade and the handle. The grind of a blade refers to the shape of the cross-section of the blade fuller is a rounded or beveled groove on the flat side of a blade such as a Sword, Knife, or Bayonet (shown ricasso is a part of some sword and knife blades It is an unsharpened and unbevelled section just above the guard or handle The guard (9) is a barrier between the blade and the handle which protects the hand from an opponent, or the blade of the knife itself. The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. A choil, where the blade is unsharpened and possibly indented as it meets the handle, may be used to prevent scratches to the handle when sharpening or as a forward-finger grip. The end of the handle, or butt (10), may allow a lanyard (11), used to secure the knife to the wrist, or a portion of the tang to protrude as a striking surface for pounding or glass breaking. A lanyard, laniard, or wrist strap is a Rope or cord often worn around the Neck or Wrist to carry something ^[5][6]

Blade

Main article: Blade

Knife blade mass production. A blade is the flat part of a Tool, Weapon, or Machine (such as a fan) that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made

Knife blades can be manufactured from a variety of materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Carbon steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, can be very sharp, hold its edge well, and remain easy to sharpen, but is vulnerable to rust and stains. Carbon steel, also called plain carbon steel, is Steel where the main alloying constituent is Carbon. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, possibly nickel, and molybdenum, with only a small amount of carbon. In Metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a Steel Alloy with a minimum of 11 It is not able to take quite as sharp an edge as carbon steel, but is highly resistant to corrosion. High carbon stainless steel is stainless steel with a higher amount of carbon, intended to combine the best attributes of carbon steel and stainless steel. In Metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a Steel Alloy with a minimum of 11 High carbon stainless steel blades do not discolor or stain, and maintain a sharp edge. Laminate blades use multiple metals to create a layered sandwich, combining the attributes of both. A laminate is a material constructed by uniting two or more layers of material together For example, a harder, more brittle steel may be sandwiched between an outer layer of softer, tougher, stainless steel to reduce vulnerability to corrosion. In this case, however, the part most affected by corrosion, the edge, is still vulnerable. Pattern-welding is similar to laminate construction. Pattern welding is the practice in Sword and Knife making of forming a blade of several Metal pieces of differing composition that are forge-welded Layers of different steel types are welded together, but then the stock is manipulated to create patterns in the steel. Titanium is metal that is lighter, more wear resistant, and more flexible than steel. Titanium (taɪˈteɪniəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Ti and Atomic number 22 Although less hard and unable to take as sharp an edge, carbides in the titanium alloy allow them to be heat-treated to a sufficient hardness. Ceramic blades are incredibly hard, lightweight blades; so hard that they will maintain a sharp edge for months or years with no maintenance at all. The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos) They are immune to corrosion, but can only be sharpened on silicon carbide sandpaper and some grinding wheels. Plastic blades are not very sharp at all but are typically serrated, and are usually considered disposable. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products ^[7]

Steel blades are commonly shaped by forging or stock removal. Forging is the term for shaping metal by using localized compressive forces Forged blades are made by heating a single piece of steel, then shaping the metal while hot using a hammer or press. Stock removal blades are shaped by grinding and removing metal. With both methods, after shaping, the steel must be heat treated. Second Album by Rock and roll Singer-songwriter near-legend Graham Parker. This involves heating the steel above its critical point, then quenching the blade to harden it. A quench refers to a rapid Cooling. In Polymer chemistry and Materials science, quenching is used to prevent low-temperature processes such as phase After hardening, the blade is tempered to remove stresses and make the blade tougher. Tempering is a Heat treatment technique for metals and Alloys In Steels tempering is done to "toughen" the metal by transforming brittle Mass manufactured kitchen cutlery uses both the forging and stock removal processes for their knife blades. Forging tends to be reserved for manufacturers' more expensive product lines, and can often be distinguished from stock removal product lines by the presence of an integral bolster, though integral bolsters can be crafted through either shaping method.

The edge of the knife can be sharpened to a cutting surface in a number of different ways. Flat ground blades have a profile that tapers from the thick spine to the sharp edge in a straight or convex line. Seen in cross section, the blade would form a long, thin triangle, or where the taper does not extend to the back of the blade, a long thin rectangle with one peaked side. Hollow ground blades have concave, beveled edges that are ground starting midway down the blade, instead of at the spine. The resulting blade has a thinner edge, so it may have better cutting ability, but it is lighter and less durable than flat ground blades. Serrated blade knives have a wavy, scalloped or saw-like blade. Serrated blades are more well suited for tasks that require aggressive 'sawing' motions, whereas plain edge blades are better suited for tasks that require push-through cuts (e. g. , shaving, chopping).

Fixed blade features

A fixed blade knife does not fold or slide, and is typically stronger due to the tang, the extension of the blade into the handle, and lack of movable parts.

Folding blade features

A folding knife connects the blade to the handle through a pivot, allowing the blade to fold into the handle. To prevent injury to the knife user through the blade accidentally closing on the user's hand, folding knives typically have a locking mechanism. Different locking mechanisms are favored by various individuals for reasons such as perceived strength (lock safety), legality, and ease of use. Popular locking mechanisms include:

• Slip joint - Found most commonly on traditional pocket knives, the opened blade does not lock, but is held in place by a spring device that allows the blade to fold if a certain amount of pressure is applied. A slip joint is a mechanical construction allowing extension and compression in a linear structure A pocketknife is a folding Knife with a Blade that fits inside the handle and that is small enough to fit in a Pocket.
• Lockback - Also known as the spine lock, the lockback includes a pivoted latch connected to a spring, and can be disengaged only by pressing the latch down to release the blade. ^[7]
• Liner Lock - Uses a leaf spring-type liner within the groove of the handle that snaps into position under the blade when it is deployed. The lock is released by pushing the liner to the side, to allow the blade to return to its groove set into the handle.
• Frame Lock - Also known as the integral lock or monolock, this locking mechanism was designed by custom knifemaker Chris Reeve as an update to the liner lock. The frame lock works in a manner similar to the liner lock but uses a partial cutout of the actual knife handle, rather than a separate liner inside the handle to hold the blade in place.
• Button Lock
• Axis Lock - A locking mechanism exclusively licensed to the Benchmade Knife Company. The Benchmade Knife Company is a Knife manufacturer run by Roberta and Les de Asis in Oregon City, Oregon, United States.

Another prominent feature on many folding knives is the opening mechanism. Traditional pocket knives and Swiss Army Knives commonly employ the nail nick, while modern folding knives more often use a stud, hole, disk, or flipper located on the blade, all which have the benefit of allowing the user to open the knife with one hand.

Automatic or switchblade knives open using the stored energy from a spring that is released when the user presses a button or lever or other actuator built into the handle of the knife. Automatic knives are popular amongst law enforcement and military users for their ease of rapid deployment and their ability to be opened using only one hand. Automatic knives are severely restricted by law in most states. ^[8]

Increasingly common are assisted opening knives which use springs to propel the blade once the user has moved it past a certain angle. These differ from automatic or switchblade knives in that the blade is not released by means of a button or catch on the handle; rather, the blade itself is the actuator. Most assisted openers use flippers as their opening mechanism. Assisted opening knives can be as fast or faster than automatic knives to deploy.

Sliding blade features

Main article: Sliding knife

A sliding knife is a knife which can be opened by sliding the knife blade out the front of the handle. Disputed article title An OTF Knife, also known as an out-the-front knife, Sliding Knife, or telescoping knife, is a Pocketknife with a One method of opening is where the blade exits out the front of the handle point-first and then is locked into place (an example of the this is the gravity knife). A gravity knife is a Knife which opens by the forces of inertia or Gravity. Another form is a O-T-F (out-the-front) switchblade, which only requires the push of a button or spring to cause the blade to slide out of the handle, and lock into place. To retract the blade back into the handle, a release lever or button, usually the same control as to open, is pressed.

Handle

Main article: Handle (grip)

The handles of knives can be made from a number of different materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. A handle is a part of or attachment to an object that can be moved or used by hand Handles are produced in a wide variety of shapes and styles. Handles are often textured to enhance grip.

• Wood handles provide good grip and are warm in the hand, but are more difficult to care for. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs They do not resist water well, and will crack or warp with prolonged exposure to water. Modern stabilized and laminated woods have largely overcome these problems. Many beautiful and exotic hardwoods are employed in the manufacture of custom and some production knives.

• Plastic handles are more easily cared for than wooden handles, but can be slippery and become brittle over time. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products

• Rubber handles such as Kraton or Respirine-C are generally preferred over plastic due to their durable and cushioning nature. Kraton is the trade name given to a number of high performance Elastomers manufactured by Kraton Polymers, and used as synthetic replacements for Rubber

• Micarta is a very popular handle material on user knives due to its extreme toughness and stability. Micarta is a composite of Linen or paper fabric in a Thermosetting plastic, originally used in electrical and decorative applications Micarta is impervious to water, is grippy when wet, and is an excellent insulator. Micarta has come to refer to almost any fibrous material cast in resin. There are many varieties of micarta available. One very popular version is a fibreglass impregnated resin called G-10.

• Leather handles are seen on some hunting and military knives, notably the KA-BAR. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process The KA-BAR is a 12-inch fighting and utility Bowie knife used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy in World War II. Leather handles are typically produced by stacking leather washers, or less commonly, as a sleeve surrounding another handle material.

• Skeleton handles refers to the practice of using the tang itself as the handle, usually with sections of material removed to reduce weight. Skeleton handled knives are often wrapped with parachute cord or other wrapping materials to enhance grip. Parachute cord (also paracord or 550 cord) is a lightweight Nylon Kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US Parachutes

• Stainless steel handles are durable and sanitary, but can be slippery. In Metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a Steel Alloy with a minimum of 11 To counter this, many premium knife makers make handles with ridges, bumps, or indentations to provide extra grip. Steel handles are typically only seen on consumer kitchen knives, or as a bare tang.

More exotic materials usually only seen on art or ceremonial knives include: Stone, bone, mammoth tooth, mammoth ivory, oosic (walrus penis bone), walrus tusk, antler (often called stag in a knife context), sheep horn, buffalo horn, teeth, etc. Almost any hard material can (and has been) employed as a knife handle.

Types of knives

For more details on the various types of knives, see Blade#Patterns of knife blades. A blade is the flat part of a Tool, Weapon, or Machine (such as a fan) that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made

Knives as weapons

As a weapon, the knife is universally adopted as an essential tool. For example:

• Bayonet: A knife-shaped close-quarters fighting weapon designed to attach to the muzzle of a rifle or similar weapon
• Combat knife: Any knife intended to be used mainly for fighting
• Trench knife: Purpose-made or improvised knives, intended for close-quarter fighting, particularly in trench warfare characterised by a d-shaped integral hand guard. A knife bayonet is a knife or short sword which can be used both as a Bayonet or fighting or utility Knife. A combat knife is a large Knife designed for military or paramilitary use Trench knives are either purpose-made weapons or are made from cut-down (shortened Bayonets or Swords and intended for close-quarter fighting the design originating Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static
• Shiv: A crudely made homemade knife out of everyday materials, especially prevalent in prisons among inmates. This article is about the knife-like weapon For the location in Magic The Gathering, see Dominaria. An alternate name in some prisons is Shank.

Knives as utensils

Table knives

A primary aspect of the knife as a tool includes dining, used either in food preparation or as cutlery. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible Cutlery refers to any hand Implement used in preparing serving and especially eating Food in the Western world. Examples of this include:

• Bread knife: A knife with a serrated blade for cutting bread
• Boning knife: A knife used for removing the bones of poultry, meat, and fish
• Carving knife: A knife for carving large cooked meats such as poultry, roasts, hams
• Chef's knife: Also known as a French knife, a cutting tool used in preparing food
• Electric knife: An electrical device consisting of two serrated blades that are clipped together, providing a sawing action when powered on
• Kitchen knife: Any knife, including the chef's knife, that is intended to be used in food preparation
• Table knife: A piece of cutlery, either a butter knife, steak knife, or both, that is part of a table setting, accompanying the fork and spoon
• Ulu: An Inuit woman's all-purpose knife

Knives as tools

As a utility tool the knife can take many forms, including:^[7]

• Bowie knife: Commonly, any large sheath knife, or a specific style of knife designed by Colonel Jim Bowie
• Butterfly knife: A folding knife also known as a balisong, with two handles counter-rotating around the tang such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within the handles

Diver's knife

• Diver's knife: A knife adapted for use in diving and water sports and a necessary part of standard diving dress
• Electrician's knife: An insulated knife used to cut electrical wire
• Hunting knife: A knife used to dress large game
• Pocket knife: Also known as a multi-tool or jackknife, a knife which may contain several blades, as well as other tools
• Palette knife: A knife, or frosting spatula, lacking a cutting edge, used by artists for tasks such as mixing and applying paint, and in cooking for spreading icing
• Scalpel: A medical knife, used to perform surgery
• Straight razor: A reusable knife blade used for shaving hair
• Survival knife: A sturdy knife, sometimes with a hollow handle filled with survival equipment
• Switchblade: A knife with a folding blade that springs out of the grip when a button or lever on the grip is pressed
• Utility knife: A knife used for cutting sheet materials, including cardboard boxes
• Wood carving knife: Knives used for wood carving, often with short and thin blades for better control

Knives as a tradition

• Athame: A, typically black-handled and double-edged, knife used in ceremonial magic, Wicca and other forms of magic derived from them. Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. A boning knife is a type of Kitchen knife with a sharp point and narrow Blade. Poultry is the category of Domesticated Birds which some humans keep for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or kill for their Meat and/or In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two A roast, in North American English, is an event in which an individual is subject to publicly bearing comedic Insults praise outlandish true and untrue stories and Ham is the Thigh and Rump of Pork, cut from the Haunch of a Pig or Boar. In cooking a chef's knife, also known as a French knife, is a cutting tool used in Food preparation. An electric knife or electric carving knife is an electrical kitchen device used for slicing hard-to-slice Foods The advantage of an electric Knife is less In common usage a butter knife may refer to any table knife designed with a dull edge and rounded point formal Flatware patterns make a distinction between such a Table setting refers to the way to set a table with Tableware &mdashsuch as Eating utensils and Dishware &mdashfor serving and eating As a piece of Cutlery or Kitchenware, a fork is a tool consisting of a handle with several narrow tines (usually two three or four on one end A spoon is a Utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl at the end of a handle used primarily for serving and eating Liquid, or semi-liquid foods and solid foods An ulu ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᐅᓗ, plural uluit) is an Inuit woman's all-purpose Knife. Inuit (plural the singular Inuk, means "man" or "person" is a general term for a group of culturally similar Indigenous peoples inhabiting Bowie knife specifically refers to a style of knife popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie and first made by James Black, although its common use refers James "Jim" Bowie (April 10 1796 March 6 1836 a nineteenth-century American pioneer and soldier played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution, culminating A balisong, otherwise known as a butterfly knife or a Batangas knife, is a Philippine folding Pocket knife with two handles counter-rotating A balisong, otherwise known as a butterfly knife or a Batangas knife, is a Philippine folding Pocket knife with two handles counter-rotating The tang of a Sword or fixed-blade Knife is that part of the Blade extending into and usually through the grip that is fastened to it A standard diving dress consists of a metallic ( Copper, Brass or Bronze) Diving helmet, an airline or hose from a Surface supplied A hunting knife is a Knife used during Hunting. Description Hunters do not use hunting knives to kill game. A pocketknife is a folding Knife with a Blade that fits inside the handle and that is small enough to fit in a Pocket. A multi-tool is a portable versatile Hand tool that combines several individual tool functions in a single grip or in the shape of a Credit card. A palette knife is a blunt Knife with an extremely flexible Steel blade and no sharpened cutting edge A frosting spatula is a kitchen utensil designed especially for the use of spreading a substance onto a flat surface such as frosting on a Cake. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible Icing, also called frosting, is a Sweet glaze made of Sugar that often also contains Butter, Water, Egg whites A scalpel is a small but extremely sharp knife used for Surgery, anatomical Dissection, and various Arts and crafts. Surgery (from the χειρουργική cheirourgikē, via chirurgiae meaning "hand work" is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental A straight razor is a Razor with a Blade that can fold into its handle Shaving is the removal of hair by using Razor or any other kind of bladed implement to slice it down to the level of the skin Survival knives are intended for Survival purposes when lost in a Wilderness environment A switchblade (also known as automatic knife, switch, or in British English flick knife) is a type of Knife with a folding or See also Box See also Corrugated fiberboard Cardboard boxes are industrially prefabricated Boxes which are primarily used for Packaging Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool held in the hand (this may be a power tool resulting in a wooden figure or figurine (this may be abstract An athame or athamé is a ceremonial double-edged dagger one of several magical tools used in Traditional Witchcraft and other pagan beliefs and religions such as
• Kirpan: A ceremonial knife that all baptised Sikhs must wear as one of the five visible symbols of the Sikh faith (Kakars)
• Kukri: A Nepalese knife used as both tool and weapon
• Laguiole knife: A traditional French pocket-knife, originally produced in the town of Laguiole in the Aveyron region of southern France in the early 19th century
• Lajinaa: A small spear, sometimes used in close range battles, used mostly by Spaniard pirates who raided trade ships in the gulf coast
• Mora knife: Similar in design to Finnish puukkos, a range of belt-knives manufactured by the cutleries of the town of Mora in Dalarna, Sweden
• Opinel knife: A simple, inexpensive, wood handled pocket-knife, manufactured since the 1890s in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Savoie region of France
• Puukko: A traditional Finnish or Scandinavian style woodcraft belt-knife used as a tool rather than a weapon
• Sabatier: A cooking knife manufactured in Thiers, France from well established manufacturers from the early 19th century
• Seax: A Germanic single-edged knife, used primarily as a tool, but may also have been a weapon
• Swiss Army knife: A brand of multiple-purpose pocket tool (see Pocket Knife above), usually containing several blades of different lengths, a corkscrew, a can-opener, a toothpick, tongs and even a little wood-saw and scissors sometimes. The Kirpan (kɪrˈpɑn (ਕਿਰਪਾਨ kirpān) is a ceremonial sword or dagger that must be worn by all baptised Sikhs ( Khalsa) after Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. "Five K" can also refer to a five-kilometer distance in long-distance running or other sports The kukri ( Devanāgarī: खुकुरी(also sometimes spelled khukri or khukuri) is a curved Nepalese Knife used as both Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Laguiole knife is a high-quality traditional French Pocket-knife, originally produced in the town of Laguiole in the Aveyron region of southern This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For the cheese see Laguiole (cheese. For the knife see Laguiole knife. Aveyron ( Occitan: Avairon) is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River. A Lajinaa was a small Spear used mostly by Spaniard Pirates who raided trade ships in the gulf coast Mora knife in Swedish Morakniv. The " mora " is a term used to refer to a range of popular belt- knives manufactured by the cutleries of the town Mora is a town (pop 11000 in Dalecarlia, Sweden and the seat of Mora Municipality, Dalarna County. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Opinel knife, or simply Opinel, is a simple inexpensive wooden handled Pocket-knife, manufactured since the 1890s in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (San Giovanni di Moriana is a commune in the Maurienne, the valley of the River Arc. Savoie ( Arpitan: Savouè d’Avâl) is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes ( Rôno-Arpes This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A puukko is the Finnish word for the traditional Finnish or Scandinavian style woodcraft belt- Knife that is a tool rather than a weapon The culture of Finland combines indigenous heritage as represented for example by the country's rare Finno-Ugric national language Finnish and the Sauna Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Sabatier is the brand name or makers mark used by several kitchen knife manufacturers Thiers is a commune of the Puy-de-Dôme département, in France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Seax (also Hadseax, Sax, Seaxe, Scramaseax and Scramsax) in The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic A Swiss Army knife ( SAK) ( German: de Schweizer Taschenmesser, French: fr Couteau suisse) is a brand of multi-function Pocket It was created in 1891 for the Swiss military. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation
• Sgian Dubh: A small dagger traditionally worn with highland dress (kilt)

Rituals and superstitions

The knife plays a significant role in some cultures through ritual and superstition, as the knife was an essential tool for survival since early man. The sgian dubh (skiːn dyː or lightly diphthongised dyː "skee(an doo" is a ceremonial Knife (Gaelic sgian) worn as part of the modern Scottish The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions Superstition ( Latin superstitio, literally "standing over" derived perhaps from standing in awe used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief ^[2] Knife symbols can be found in various cultures to symbolize all stages of life; for example, a knife placed under the bed while giving birth is said to ease the pain, or, stuck into the headboard of a cradle, to protect the baby. ^[9][10]; knives were included in some Anglo-Saxon burial rites, so the dead would not be defenseless in the next world. ^[11][12][13] The knife plays an important role in some initiation rites, and many cultures perform rituals with a variety of knives, including the ceremonial sacrifices of animals. Initiation is a Rite of passage Ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society ^[14] Samurai warriors, as part of bushido, could perform ritual suicide, or seppuku, with a tantō, a common Japanese knife. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by Disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for Samurai. A is a common Japanese single or occasionally double edged Knife or Dagger with a blade length between 15 and 30 cm (6-12 inches ^[15] An athame, a ceremonial black-handled knife, is used in Wicca and other forms of neo-paganism. An athame or athamé is a ceremonial double-edged dagger one of several magical tools used in Traditional Witchcraft and other pagan beliefs and religions such as Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical ^[16][17]

In Greece a black-handled knife placed under the pillow is used to keep away nightmares. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία ^[18] As early as 1646 reference is made to a superstition of laying a knife across another piece of cutlery being a sign of witchcraft. ^[19] A common belief is that if a knife is given as a gift, the relationship of the giver and recipient will be severed. Something such as a small coin is exchanged for the gift, rendering "payment. "^[10]

Legislation

Main article: Knife legislation

Knives are typically restricted by law, although restrictions vary greatly by country or state and type of knife. Knife legislation is Legislation regarding Knives. Having the potential to be used as offensive Weapons carrying knives in public For example, some laws restrict carrying an unconcealed knife in public while other laws can restrict even private ownership of certain knives, such as switchblades. A switchblade (also known as automatic knife, switch, or in British English flick knife) is a type of Knife with a folding or

Further reading

• Everybody's Knife Bible by Don Paul, ISBN 0-938263-23-4

References

See also

• Dagger
• Dirk
• Sword
• Bayonet

External links

• Knife at the Open Directory Project
• American Knife & Tool Institute