The Superstition Of Gifting A Knife, Is It Real?

[Dispatch]

The superstition that if you give someone a knife as a gift, the recipient MUST give the donor a coin or it cuts the friendship.

Do you believe this to be a real thing?

 

[deerstalkert]

well, about ten years ago my neighbors 3 girls all started hunting. ages 12 to 16.
i gave each a hunting knife from my collection. they didn't give me a coin in return and have all run off and got married.
maybe there is something to the superstition.
or maybe they just wanted a younger man!

 

[Notchy Bob]

The superstition that if you give someone a knife as a gift, the recipient MUST give the donor a coin or it cuts the friendship.

Do you believe this to be a real thing?

Of course I don't believe it! But, a coin is always given or received in return, just to honor the tradition, you know...

My dad told me about this when I was just a child. Superstition or not, I've never felt right about giving a knife or receiving one without a little something, even a penny, being given in return.

On the old frontier, "swapping knives," giving one's personal knife in exchange for someone else's, was considered a declaration of friendship. I believe some Native American people did the same thing. I don't know if the white frontiersmen learned this from the Indians or vice versa, or if it was already practiced by both cultures, but it was widely understood. If one of the native tribesmen asked to trade knives with you, he wasn't just looking to upgrade his cutlery. It was a way of forming an alliance.

Notchy Bob

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

A friend has "gifted" me two Savage 210/220 rifle/shotgun. They were birthday presents to me, but they each cost me one dollar each. That was just his way. Now I may understand it. He had lots of "quirky" rituals, but was (and is) a hell of a good friend.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[user 48679]

Different folks, different strokes - I've simply given knives (and guns) away, refusing any re-numeration.

 

[Cruzatte]

I have to admit, this is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing. Rather a nice custom, really.

 

[troy2000]

New one on me. But I don't think I've ever given or been given a knife as a gift (aside from a pocket knife my dad gave me when I was five or six years old), so what would I know? And as Cruzatte says, it seems a rather nice custom.

 

[LawrenceA]

New one on me as well.
Don't like the idea of having to accept payment for a gift.

 

[necchi]

The superstition that if you give someone a knife as a gift, the recipient MUST give the donor a coin or it cuts the friendship.

Do you believe this to be a real thing?

You got it backwards.
The gift is the coin. 1 cent. The "edged cutting tool" is gratuity with the gift.
If you "give" someone a knife,, A knife or edged item's use is cutting, it's intent is to "cut" or "sever".
It's a closing gesture.

So Yeah, I'm superstitious.

 

[toot]

remember that it is a DULL KNIFE THAT WILL CUT YOU. think about this old saying? rely makes sense!

 

[troy2000]

remember that it is a DULL KNIFE THAT WILL CUT YOU. think about this old saying? rely makes sense!

Years ago in the Wilshire District of Los Angeles, I rented what had been the stables behind an old mansion and was later converted into a garage, with the butler's quarters above it. Lived upstairs, made the garage area my workshop, and everyone was happy - until I brought an Eskimo gal I met in a laundromat home along with a bottle of Jim Beam, and the gal who owned the mansion walked in on us. Apparently she had considered me her private reserve...

Yeah, bit of a sidetrack. But said landlady had a dad who came to visit her one day when she wasn't home, and while he was waiting he decided to sharpen all her kitchen knives for her. She didn't know he had done it, and the next time she used a knife she cut a finger about half off...

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The superstition that if you give someone a knife as a gift, the recipient MUST give the donor a coin or it cuts the friendship.

Do you believe this to be a real thing?

I don't know but OPINEL has it on their website as a real thing.

LD

 

[tenngun]

First I heard about it was in an Anthony Hopkins movie I think called the Bear. Seen it referenced several times since. I don’t know if it’s an old superstition or not.
I follow lots of silly superstitions, though I laugh and say I don’t believe, or it’s just a silly superstition, I feel creepy if I violate it

 

[gerryherd]

It was used on the old Andy Griffith show. Man gives the Sheriff a knife, he fishes into his pocket for a coin, and says “Sorry, it’s the smallest I’ve got.” Andy’s lady friend scolds him for hurting the giver’s feelings and Andy explains it’s a tradition to ensure the knife won’t “cut the friendship”.

 

[Jay Templin]

In the fall of 1997, I went to supper with a buddy of mine from work (Colonial Williamsburg), his wife, and a friend of theirs who I had met a couple of times on the job. I was wearing my ol’ Green River knife, Ralph had a Bowie, and Lara mentioned that she felt out of place because she didn’t have a cool, big knife to wear in public. I got to work as soon as I got home.
For Christmas I gave her what I’d come up with- a dagger-shaped object with an oversized antler grip, an undersized guard, and a blade and sheath cut down from my old plug bayonet. It makes me wince to look at it now, but she LOVED it.
And this September, we’ll be celebrating our 23rd anniversary. Now. As dull as that knife is, it COULD just be taking a really long time to sever the relationship, but I find it easier to believe that the superstition is nonsense.
Not like carrying a buckeye in your shooting bag. That one’s legit!
Jay

 

[Jakeytoo]

In the fall of 1997, I went to supper with a buddy of mine from work (Colonial Williamsburg), his wife, and a friend of theirs who I had met a couple of times on the job. I was wearing my ol’ Green River knife, Ralph had a Bowie, and Lara mentioned that she felt out of place because she didn’t have a cool, big knife to wear in public. I got to work as soon as I got home.
For Christmas I gave her what I’d come up with- a dagger-shaped object with an oversized antler grip, an undersized guard, and a blade and sheath cut down from my old plug bayonet. It makes me wince to look at it now, but she LOVED it.
And this September, we’ll be celebrating our 23rd anniversary. Now. As dull as that knife is, it COULD just be taking a really long time to sever the relationship, but I find it easier to believe that the superstition is nonsense.
Not like carrying a buckeye in your shooting bag. That one’s legit!
Jay

Is Lara the friend or your buddy’s wife or ex-wife which is now your wife ?

 

[fleener]

Never heard of this before.

I used to make a few knifes and gave quite a few of them away. Never receive a coin in return.

Fleener

 

[Jay Templin]

Is Lara the friend or your buddy’s wife or ex-wife which is now your wife ?

Lara was the friend. Ralph and Jenny remained happily married until his death.
Gave my son a couple of quality kitchen knives a couple of years ago, now he’s working as a chef! As far as I’m concerned, knives make great gifts!
Jay

 

[Eterry]

A friend of my dad's was the most superstitious guy ever. He never carried a knife, swore it was bad luck. He always borrowed dad's folding Buck, but because of a burr in the innards he couldn't close it. Also a huge no no if you believe such nonsense.
Im smiling thinking about the times he'd borrow dad's knife, then ask "did i open this knife or did you? ". Dad always said he couldn't recall, which made Marvin even more upset.
After a few of those episodes Marvin would ask to borrow dad's knife, but then insist dad open it first.
I've got enough to worry about without being superstitious...knock wood!!! LMAO

 

[Rodd Boyer]

The movie "The edge" with Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin and BIG bear addressed the same ritual....