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| {{Otheruses1|the tool}} | |||
| A '''knife''' is a sharp-edged (single or double edged) instrument consisting of a thin ] used for cutting and fitted with a handle. The knife can be used as a ] or a ]. Considered by some to be one of the most useful tools of all time, its origins date as far back as ], as evidenced by the ] tools.<ref>{{cite web | title = No. 1 The Knife - Forbes.com | url=http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2005/08/31/technology-tools-knife_cx_de_0831knife.html?boxes=custom | accessdate = 2007-05-07 }}</ref><ref name="palomar.edu">{{cite web | title = Early Human Evolution: Early Human Culture | url=http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo/homo_3.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-07 }}</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ] | |||
| The ] were shaped by percussion flaking from ], particularly water-worn creek cobbles made out of volcanic rock. During the ] era ] likely made similar tools out of ], ], and similar highly perishable material that has not survived.<ref name="palomar.edu"/><ref>{{cite web | title = World's Oldest Stone Tools | url=http://www.archaeology.org/9703/newsbriefs/tools.html | accessdate = 2007-05-07 }}</ref> | |||
| As recent as ], as advances in ] progressed, stone, wood, and bone blades were gradually succeeded by ], ], ], and eventually ]. Modern knives may be made from many different materials such as ], ], and ]. | |||
| Knives gained prominence during the ] as one of the three major items of ] in the western world, accompanying the fork and spoon, and in this way much of the world's population is exposed to knives on a daily basis. | |||
| There is a very active community of modern custom ] and collectors. The ] promotes forged blades; the promotes all custom knives. | |||
| ==Materials and construction== | |||
| Today, knives come in many forms but can be categorized between two different types: fixed blade knives and folding, or ], knives. Although each has inherent advantages, the two have many similar characteristics. | |||
| ] | |||
| Modern knives consist of a '']'' ('''1''') and '']'' ('''2'''). The blade can be fine or ]. The handle, used to grip and manipulate the blade safely, may include the '']'', a portion of the blade that extends into the handle. The blade consists of the ''point'' ('''3'''), the end of the knife used for piercing, the '']'' ('''4'''), the cutting surface of the knife extending from the point to the heel, the '']'' ('''5'''), the cross-section shape of the blade, the ''spine'', | |||
| ('''6'''), the top, thicker portion of the blade, the '']'' ('''7'''), the groove added to lighten the blade, and the '']'' ('''8'''), the thick portion of the blade joining the blade and the handle. The '']'' ('''9''') is a barrier between the blade and the handle which protects the hand from an opponent, or the blade of the knife itself. A '']'', 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 '']'' ('''11'''), used to secure the knife to the wrist.<ref>{{cite web | title = Identify Basic Knife Parts | url=http://www.cutlery.com/t3/t11t21t32.shtml | accessdate = 2007-05-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Knife Anatomy, Parts, Names | url=http://www.jayfisher.com/knife_anatomy,_parts,_names.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-07 }}</ref> | |||
| ===Blade=== | |||
| {{main|Blade}} | |||
| ], ].]] | |||
| Knife blades can be manufactured from a variety of materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. ], 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. ] is an alloy of iron, chromium, possibly nickel, and molybdenum, with only a small amount of carbon. It is not able to take quite as sharp an edge as carbon steel, but is highly resistant to corrosion. ] is stainless steel with a higher amount of carbon, intended to combine the best attributes of carbon steel and stainless steel. High carbon stainless steel blades do not discolor or stain, and maintain a sharp edge. ] blades use multiple metals to create a layered sandwich, combining the attributes of both. 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. ] is similar to laminate construction. Layers of different steel types are welded together, but then the stock is manipulated to create patterns in the steel. ] is metal that is lighter, more wear resistant, and more flexible than steel. 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. ] blades are incredibly hard, lightweight blades; so hard that they will maintain a sharp edge for months or years with no maintenance at all. They are immune to corrosion, but can only be sharpened on silicon carbide sandpaper and some grinding wheels. ] blades are not very sharp at all but are typically serrated, and are usually considered disposable.<ref name="lifehack.org">{{cite web | title = Greatest Tool #10: The Knife - lifehack.org | url=http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/greatest-tool-10-the-knife.html | accessdate = 2007-05-07 }}</ref> | |||
| Steel blades are commonly shaped by ] or stock removal. 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 ]. This involves heating the steel above its critical point, then ] the blade to harden it. After hardening, the blade is ] to remove stresses and make the blade tougher. With common kitchen cutlery, forged blades are often seen in more expensive knives. Forged blades can often be distinguished from stock removal blades by the presence of an integral bolster. | |||
| 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. Serrations make knives ideal for cutting things that are hard on the outside and soft on the inside that might otherwise be damaged by a knife with a plain edge blade. Serrated knives cut much better than plain edge blade knives when dull, so they may last longer without sharpening, and require a special tool to be sharpened. | |||
| ====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.<ref name="lifehack.org"/> | |||
| ====Folding blade features==== | |||
| A folding knife can pivot, allowing the blade to fold into the handle. Although not likely to have a guard or full tang, folding knives typically have a locking mechanism. One common mechanism, found traditionally on ], is the '']''. Once opened, the 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. Alternately, the ''lockback'' can be used. Like the slip-joint the lockback includes a pivoted latch connected to a spring, and can be disengaged only by pressing the latch down to release the blade.<ref name="lifehack.org"/> | |||
| Another feature associated with the folding knife is a small knob, disk or hole that allows the user to open the knife with one hand, leaving the other hand free. | |||
| ====Sliding blade features==== | |||
| A sliding knife is a knife which can be opened by sliding the knife blade out the front of the handle. 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 ]). Another form is a O-T-F (out-the-front) switchblade, which only requires the push of a button or spring, the knife is "slid" out of the handle, and locked into place. To retract the blade back into the handle, a release lever or button, or linerlock is pressed. | |||
| ===Handle=== | |||
| {{main|Handle (grip)}} | |||
| The handles of knives can be made from a number of different materials, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. ] handles provide good grip, but are more difficult to care for. They do not resist water well, and will crack or warp with prolonged exposure to water. ] handles are more easily cared for than wooden handle, but can be slippery and become brittle over time. Lighter than other materials, this may result in a knife that is unbalanced or too light. ] handles are durable and sanitary, but can be slippery. To counter this, many premium knife makers make handles with ridges, bumps, or indentations to provide extra grip. | |||
| ==Types of knives== | |||
| {{Details|Blade#Patterns of knife blades|the various types of knives}} | |||
| ===Knives as weapons=== | |||
| As a weapon, the knife is universally adopted as an essential tool. For example: | |||
| *''']''': A knife-shaped close-quarter fighting weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, used as a last-resort weapon or tool | |||
| *''']''': Any knife intended to be used mainly in close-quarter fighting | |||
| *''']''': Purpose-made or improvised knives, intended for close-quarter fighting, particularly in ] | |||
| *''']''': A crudely made homemade knife out of everyday materials, especially prevalent in prisons among inmates. | |||
| ===Knives as utensils=== | |||
| ] | |||
| A primary aspect of the knife as a tool includes dining, used either in ] or as ]. Examples of this include: | |||
| *''']''': A knife with a serrated blade for cutting ] | |||
| *''']''': A knife used for removing the bones of ], ], and ] | |||
| *''']''': A knife for carving large cooked meats such as poultry, ], ] | |||
| *''']''': Also known as a French knife, a cutting tool used in preparing food | |||
| *''']''': An electrical device consisting of two serrated blades that are clipped together, providing a sawing action when powered on | |||
| *''']''': Any knife, including the chef's knife, that is intended to be used in food preparation | |||
| *'''Table knife''': A piece of cutlery, either a ], ], or both, that is part of a ], accompanying the ] and ] | |||
| ===Knives as tools=== | |||
| As a utility tool the knife can take many forms, including:<ref name="lifehack.org"/> | |||
| *''']''': Commonly, any large sheath knife, or a specific style of knife designed by Colonel ] | |||
| *''']''': 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''': A knife adapted for use in diving and watersports and a necessary part of ] | |||
| *'''Electrician's knife''': An insulated knife used to cut electrical wire | |||
| *''']''': A knife used to dress large game | |||
| *''']''': Also known as a '']'' or ''jackknife'', a knife which may contain several blades, as well as other tools | |||
| *''']''': A knife, or ], lacking a cutting edge, used by artists for tasks such as mixing and applying paint, and in ] for spreading ] | |||
| *''']''': A medical knife, used to perform ] | |||
| *''']''': A reusable knife blade used for ] hair | |||
| *''']''': A sturdy knife, sometimes with a hollow handle filled with survival equipment | |||
| *''']''': A knife with a folding blade that springs out of the grip when a button or lever on the grip is pressed | |||
| *''']''': A knife used for cutting sheet materials, including ]es | |||
| *''']''': Knifes used for ], often with short and thin blades for better control | |||
| ===Knives as a tradition=== | |||
| *''']''': A ]ese knife used as both tool and weapon | |||
| *''']''': A traditional ] pocket-knife, originally produced in the town of ] in the ] region of southern France in the early 19th century | |||
| *''']''': A small spear, sometimes used in close range battles, used mostly by Spaniard pirates who raided trade ships in the gulf coast | |||
| *''']''': Similar in design to Finnish puukkos, a range of belt-knives manufactured by the cutleries of the town of ] in ], ] | |||
| *''']''': A simple, inexpensive, wooden pocket-knife, manufactured since the 1890s in the town of ] in the ] region of ] | |||
| *''']''': A traditional ] or ] style woodcraft belt-knife used as a tool rather than a weapon | |||
| *''']''': A cooking knife manufactured in ], ] from well established manufacturers from the early 19th century | |||
| *''']''': A ] single-edged knife, used primarily as a tool, but may also have been a weapon | |||
| *''']''': A 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. It was created in 1891 for the Swiss military. | |||
| *''']''': An ] woman's all-purpose knife | |||
| ==Rituals and superstitions== | |||
| {{see also|Ritual|Superstition}} | |||
| The knife plays a significant role in some cultures through ] and ]. As the knife was an essential tool for survival since early man<ref name="palomar.edu"/>, it can be found from the cradle—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<ref>{{cite web | title = Bad Luck and Superstition 5 | url=http://www.unexplainable.net/artman/publish/article_3408.shtml | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref><ref name="askyewolfe.com">{{cite web | title = HouseholdFolklore | url=http://www.askyewolfe.com/HouseholdFolklore.html | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref>—to grave—so the dead would not be defenseless in the next world.<ref>{{cite web | title = "The Knife Lore of the Anglo-Saxons" - Knife Articles : Custom Knives - Knife | url=http://www.knifeart.com/thekbyedkon.html | accessdate = 2007-05-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = The Heroic Age: The Anglo-British Cemetery at Bamburgh | url=http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/4/Bamburgh.html | accessdate = 2007-05-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Bronze age grave goods from Bedd Branwen burial site, Anglesey :: Gathering the Jewels | url=http://www.tlysau.org.uk/en/item1/14435 | accessdate = 2007-05-09 }}</ref> As such, the knife plays an important role in some ] rites, and many cultures perform rituals with a variety of knives, including the ceremonial sacrifices of animals.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ritual knife | url=http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/changing/journey/objects/089knife.html | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref> ] warriors, as part of ], could perform ritual suicide, or ], with a ], a common Japanese knife.<ref>{{cite web | title = Howstuffworks "How Samurai Work" | url=http://science.howstuffworks.com/samurai6.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref> An ], a ceremonial black-handled knife, is used in ] and other forms of modern ].<ref>{{cite web | title = Hellenic Magical Ritual | url=http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/HMT/ | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian. (Sloane 3847) | url=http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/sl3847.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref> | |||
| In ] a black-handled knife placed under the pillow is used to keep away nightmares.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Magic of the Horseshoe: The Magic Of The Horse-shoe: VI. Iron As A Protective Charm | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/mhs/mhs09.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref> As early as 1646 reference is made to a superstition of laying a knife across another piece of cutlery.<ref>{{cite web | title = KNIFE laid across - A Dictionary of Superstitions - HighBeam Research | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1O72-KNIFElaidacross.html | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref> 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."<ref name="askyewolfe.com"><ref>{{cite web | title = OldSuperstitions.com - Superstitions Database | url=http://www.oldsuperstitions.com/ | accessdate = 2007-05-08 }}</ref> | |||
| ==Legislation== | |||
| {{main|Knife Legislation}} | |||
| Knives are typically restricted by law, although restrictions vary greatly by country or state and type of knife. For example, some laws restrict carrying an unconcealed knife in public while other laws can restrict even private ownership of certain knives, such as ]s. | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *''Everybody's Knife Bible'' by Don Paul, ISBN 0-938263-23-4 | |||
| == References == | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <references /> | |||
| </div> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
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| ==External links== | |||
| {{Commons|Category:Knives|Knife}} | |||
| *{{dmoz|Shopping/Recreation/Knives/}} | |||
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Revision as of 17:05, 28 September 2007
hi jennel