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The Gift Of A Knife?

Dr Adequate

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Okay, here's a strange one ... my informant claims that it is unlucky to give someone a knife without some sort of recompense, even if it's just a token fee such as a penny.

He can't explain what form the bad luck takes, nor even whether it befalls the giver or recipient of the knife. He thinks it may have something to do with witchcraft.

Has anyone else come across this?
 
Yes. I'd heard it's because otherwise the knife severs the friendship.

Come to think of it I can recall a few knife superstitions, such as not saying thank-you if a knife is passed to you and not picking up a dropped knife.
 
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Hi

Yes - My parents and a next-door neighbor gave each other knives for Christmas once, before I was born.

They both had the pennies they paid each other for the knives glued to the handles.

I believe the bad luck is that your knife will be, "untrue." That sort of means that it'll cut you.

Ooh - "cut the friendship" - that sounds better. I'd heard it in regards to passing a closed vs. open pocket knife (always return closed for a closed loan, open for and open loan).

The, "thank you," bit is from the Boy Scouts. The passer takes firm hold of the dull back of the blade and passes it to you, handle first. Saying, "thank you," lets the passer know that you have a good grip on the handle and it's safe, and advisable, to let go of the knifeblade.
 
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My husband told me the same thing about not giving a knife as a gift or it would sever the friendship.
 
I have heard it before, first from my grandfather (from the Bermondsey area if that is relevant at all) and later I have some vague recollection that I read it in some second rate fantasy novel or other, I cant remember which. So it does seem to be a "real superstition", I have no idea what the origins of this would be.
 
My mom told me about the same superstition but it was about giving knives as wedding presents. It shouldn't be done because the knife will sever the bond between the bride and groom. She brought this up because my cousin received a set of knives for her wedding, then a couple of years later, her husband stabbed her with one of them! Fortunately, the wound wasn't serious and she survived. Of course, she divorced him after that.
 
Darat said:
Yes. I'd heard it's because otherwise the knife severs the friendship.

Come to think of it I can recall a few knife superstitions, such as not saying thank-you if a knife is passed to you and not picking up a dropped knife.
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Not picking up a dropped knife?

But then you end up with your house littered with cutlery.

I suppose I could force my enemies to pick them up. That Bond chappie, for example ... I swear I'll get him yet.
 
The dropped knife one could have been my mother just being a lazy so-and-so and using it as an excuse as to why she couldn't pick up the knives she'd just thrown at my father.
 
karener said:
My husband told me the same thing about not giving a knife as a gift or it would sever the friendship.
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My ex-girlfriend gave me a set of "Henkels" (maybe sp) for christmas.........Like a $US $300 set......I should have known then?

But no! She even kept them after we broke up!

Damn Knifes. ;)
 
I've seen the custom with needles I think... or pins... Italian relatives... you aren't supposed to give sharp gifts or something like that... I think it has to do with stabbing a friend in the back or severing friendships or some kind of bad luck...

I just remember being in a car with someone who was dropping off something... maybe embroidery needles when I was a kid... and the person receiving insisted on getting a penny so the sharp item wouldn't be a "gift".
 
There's the one about crossed knives meaning that an argument will happen, the one about not picking up a dropped knife I think only applies to the person who dropped it (or possibly anyone except the person who dropped it :rolleyes: ).

There's a superstition about giving an empty purse or wallet - they should always have at least a small coin in them.
 
Dr Adequate said:
Okay, here's a strange one ... my informant claims that it is unlucky to give someone a knife without some sort of recompense, even if it's just a token fee such as a penny.

He can't explain what form the bad luck takes, nor even whether it befalls the giver or recipient of the knife. He thinks it may have something to do with witchcraft.

Has anyone else come across this?
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My parents demanded payment of a penny when they bought me a set of knives. They said it was a Jewish thing. I'm actually surprised to find out the superstition is more widespread.
 
I knew some italians once who believed this. Their daughter ended up marrying an English bloke, and I still remember the stunned look on his face as he fished around in his wallet for a coin.
 
How odd! I recall my mother telling me, upon receiving a knife from an older uncle of mine, that I had to pay him something for the knife, even if merely a penny. My mother is Italian.
Of course, she's also the person who once accused a friend of mine of giving our dog "the evil eye" while our dog lived in good health to a reasonable age... Mom, among other things, is full of superstitious baloney. A grand lady and a good woman, none-the-less.
 
It's traditional.

A free knife is typically considered bad luck, so some moeny has to pass the other way so you don't "seveR" the frinedship.

Knives/swords are very valuable (or were; some still are) and it was customary to pay the makers for the fine work.

I've heard of memebers of a Japanese sword arts dojo buying their Sensei a katana, and they were told to let the sensei know to have a penny on hand before the presentation.

It is sometimes considered insulting if the recieving party does not pay.

Anyway, Sword Forum International has a couple nice threads on the matter.
swords as bad luck
rituals and superstitions around chinese swords
I'm sure a more thorough search could provide more information.
 
If anyone wants to test this, feel free to gift me with as many blades as you think will be sufficient to prove or disprove this belief.
 
JoeEllison said:
If anyone wants to test this, feel free to gift me with as many blades as you think will be sufficient to prove or disprove this belief.
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I'll give you the stainless steel katana I paid $200 (!) for before I knew any better.

You cannot have my A&A Scarf Sword or my 1860 Swiss Staff Officers' sword.
I think I also have a broken foil blade. I was going to use it for bookends (think: sword thru books), but if you really want it...
 
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I'll gladly accept all kukris, katanas, wakizashis or flamberges y'all want to give me. I guarantee it won't hurt our friendships. ;)
 
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