Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with knife

Help identify and find a new version of this knife.

safepants — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:02:35 -0800

Help find a similar new model of a 10-15 year old paring knife I'm trying to find a new set of these paring knifes and haven't had any luck in stores. I just like the feel of the wood handle and shape of the blade, perfect for peeling fruit and potatoes etc. I can't remember where I bought this knife, but most likely it was a store in or around Toronto, Ontario. It could have been from a department store but I completely forget.

Does anyone know where I can find a new set of these style knifes?

Help me choose a knife, machete and training manuals for self defense.

Not Supplied — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:31:29 -0800

Help me choose a knife, machete and training manuals for self defense. I'm going abroad on short notice to a knife carrying country on short notice and want to pick up some additional tools and skills for self defense. I will have time to train over there, but not much time beforehand! I haven't done any knife work before, but have trained in hand to hand combatives for about 6 months and I'm reasonably ok for self defense purposes.

I thought that a tactical folder would be the easiest knife to get into for a newby. Would you agree with this or do you recommend a sheath knife? Which models are good?

I thought of something like the spyderco delica with or without the wave opener.

Then I was thinking of a machete for more outdoors situations. Possibly going for one of . I know they're probably not the greatest but they're cheap and cheerful..I would spend a bit more for something better but not hundreds.

Which pattern of machete is best if it's main purpose is self defense? I was thinking of the kukri as it's got that weight on the front, but never tried any of them.

I also need training materials. Someone recommended this manual by hock hockheim. What do you think about this? I'm not sure about some aspects of his system as I've seen them demonstrated but dunno really. Any other thoughts?

If there's any links to knife and machete basics on the web it would be appreciated.

I didn't find a good forum on search and the one I used to go to closed down so if anyone can post/pm links to good info on forums it would be great.

Sorry it's all vague, but don't have long before I fly off :)

Cheers!

Butcher knife" or "Butcher's knife?

AAAAAThatsFiveAs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:09:37 -0800

[EnglishFilter]: "Butcher knife" or "Butcher's knife?" I'm looking over a poetry manuscript and came across the lines:

“Pierre, get up here with your butcher’s knife.
We’re having frog’s legs for hors d’oeuvres tonight!”

Is there any convention regarding butcher/butcher's?

A quick Google yields 81,500 results for the possessive and 340,000 for the non-possessive. FWIW, the Wikipedia entry on the object is the non-possessive.

Thanks, Hive!

help me clean and care for a 64 year old knife!

phritosan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:29:52 -0800

Just inherited a knife from my grandfather on a visit back home. He bought it in 1945; it is stamped "SCHRADE-WALDEN N.Y. U.S.A H-15" it has been in his Silverado's cab for the last 30 years or so, stored in a leather sheath (I've just read that's bad.) I have questions on cleaning it. 1) Do you have any info about the knife?
2) the blade isn't rusted, but isn't pretty -- how do i clean it?
3) the leather wrapped about the handle needs help -- what do i do to it?

Name the knife used in "A Perfect Getaway"?

Merlin144 — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:48:56 -0800

Name the knife used in "A Perfect Getaway" - seen in the previews, strapped to the leg of one of the male characters. It appears to have a handle that looks like brass knuckles, and generally looks very cool. I'm interested in knowing the model and manufacturer of this knife. Thanks!

Shipping a rifle and knives from Australia to USA. Any tips?

Eastgate — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:08:15 -0800

Moving from Melbourne, Australia to Nevada, USA. Need to ship a rifle and some knives to collect when I get there. Any advice? I'm soon to be moving from Melbourne, Australia to the US (Las Vegas, Nevada to be exact). I own a rifle (fairly standard .22 bolt-action Ruger which I am licensed to own in Australia), and a collection of old knives which I inherited from a family member.

I'm hoping to ship these over to the US for safekeeping before I leave Australia. I could possibly send them to a friend or relative in the States, or send them to storage. As I understand, there will be no problem with me owning a rifle or knives in the States (correct me if I'm wrong).

What is the best way to get these items over to the US? Are there any restrictions or other problems that might come up with shipping such goods overseas from Australia?

One knife to rule them all, find them, bring them, bind them, etc...

tdreyer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:14:29 -0800

What is your favorite pocket knife? I recently lost the use of my last pocket knife and I'm looking for a quality replacement around or under $60 (higher suggestions are good too though...) What is your favorite (legal) folding pocket knife?

Cut while skydiving will a person bleed faster?

Sully — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:11:47 -0800

So my buddy and I watched that old Keanu Reeves film Point Break the other night, and we got to talking. We're thinking that more air pressure causes you to bleed at a more furious pace. So if someone's in a knife fight in a plane, is cut, say across the arm, then jumps out of the airplane to parachute to the ground - will they bleed to death before they hit the ground because the air pressure is causing them to bleed so quickly? It doesn't have to be skydiving, it could be on like, Everest. Will you bleed crazy fast higher up? I know that there are a lot of variables here, but I'm just curious if the thinking is sound.

Two man enter, one man leave

GleepGlop — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:21:08 -0800

I kinda feel like rounding up a couple of rubber practice knives and coating the edges in lipstick and having some simulated knife fights just for kicks. I'll be your best friend if you know a way I can easily come up with some knife-a-likes without having to actually order some practice knifes on the internet for this silly whim. Besides I work on an army base and the ones I've seen there are hard enough that it would actually hurt taking one in the ribs.

TV-movie where a healer slides a lump under a woman's skin

XiBe — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:59:47 -0800

[TVMoviesFilter] Trying to remember an old, cheap-looking movie from a single rememberance: in a room full of rich people, a magician/healer slides a woman's neck tumor/lump through to her finger, at which point he cuts it off with a knife. It's really foggy in my memory, I must have seen in (French) TV in the mid- to end-80's (so probably made earlier in for US TV, 70's?), and only this scene stuck in my head, nothing else. I'd but just curious to know more about this.

My rememberance of that scene starts with the magician/healer. He might have been performing in front of that rich audience earlier, or circled around them while performing, restaurant-style, not sure.

He spots a lump on an old lady's neck (or face or cheek, erm), and start to push under the skin, down to neck, over the bonnes, to the arm, and finally the finger. This takes a few minutes, all the while keeping the lump clearly visible under the skin.

That's when suddenly he reaches for a knife on the table, and quickly strikes the finger he is keeping in his other hand, wham. We don't see anything, 'cos a white flash serves as an opener to the next scene, where it gets blurrier in my mind - wether she's stunned at being healed this way, or men from the room grab the magician and take him away, or maybe even both...

Hivemind, does that strike a bell for you too?

Thanks a lot for any input! :)

Look sharp!

serazin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:16:13 -0800

I'd like to sharpen my knives and pruner, but how? Sharpening: why is it so expensive? Is this a super complex skill to learn? What are the basics I need to know about how to sharpen, and what are the essential tools I need to make things sharp? (A recent trip to the fancy Japanese tool store revealed about 25 different sharpening implements ranging in price from 20 to 100 bucks each!) Should I leave sharpening to the experts - or is this something I would be an expert on had I been a boyscout? Give me your sharpening wisdom here!

Pocketknife recommendations?

genefinder — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:38:57 -0800

Can you recommend a good woodworking pocket knife for a 12 year old? My nephew would like a good pocket knife, where the main use would be for woodworking/whittling. I am guessing that this means he isn't looking for a swiss army variety one or a Leatherman type with a bunch of other attachments.

Bonus for online purchasing, but if needed, I am in the Boston area.Any suggestions?

How to get a butterfly knife for practice only (i.e., blade quality not necessary)

d. z. wang — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:39:20 -0800

How can I buy a butterfly knife cheaply if I just want to practice opening it? The hinge should work well, but the blade itself can be hammered out of somebody's garbage can for all I care. The first thing I do will be to dull it. In fact, since I spend a lot of time in Illinois, New Jersey, and New York City where butterfly knives are illegal to carry, it'd probably buy me some peace of mind if this thing didn't have a blade at all, just some appropriately weighted piece of metal. Anyone know where I can get something like this?

kiwi brand knives in calgary

PowerCat — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:33:54 -0800

Where can I buy cheap kiwi brand knives in Calgary? Back in Montreal's chinatown they sell these really cheap knives called kiwi brand. For less than 5$ you can buy these type of knives. they are sharp and cheap.
http://www.wokshop.com/HTML/images/pix/thai-kiwi-knives.jpg

Does anyone know if any store stocks them in Calgary?
Thanks!

Spring-assisted knife on a budget?

joshrholloway — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:50:16 -0800

I am looking for a reliable, reasonable quality spring-assisted knife on a budget. I just lost my favorite knife and I'm in the market to replace it. I've been looking at spring-assisted knives, and I think I'd like to go with one. The catch is that I only have a budget of around $50 at the most.

I have been looking around at several websites that sell knives, and have found many budget options. Most of the sites, though, seem to be selling the same knives with different names. This gives me the impression that these sites are buying these wholesale from China or somewhere and selling them at a huge markup. As you can imagine, this makes me wary about the quality. Most of the knives I've seen that I like look like they're made by a company called Echo, but I can't find much information on this manufacturer/distributor.

So what is a good, reliable spring-assisted knife for $50 or less? I'm specifically looking for something that's very pocketable. I would like a blade that is 3" or less, but there is a little room to play with in that department. This eBay auction is an example of a knife I am strongly considering buying (it's one of the Echo ones). So, throw out your suggestions!

(Also, in case you're not aware, please do not confuse a spring-assisted knife with a switchblade. Switchblades are illegal in most areas and interstate sales of switchblades is federally restricted; however, spring-assisted knives do not carry any of these restrictions. So I don't need any legal advice, just purchase recommendations, thanks.)

Best way to sharpen?

echo target — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:21:29 -0800

I have a bunch of dull knives, chisels, etc. I think I'm looking for a bench grinder. Used? New? How do I use it when I've got it? I have a few chisels in the shop and a few knives in the kitchen that are getting dull. I've tried sharpening by hand on a wetstone, and it helps, but I don't have the steadiness of hand or the patience necessary to get a good clean edge.

I'm thinking about getting a little bench grinder. Are they worth picking up used, or are the Craigslist models likely to be burned out and useless?

When I get one, assuming that's the right thing for me, how do I use it? I understand the general principles of sharpening. What kind of technique should I use with a grinder?

Get off my damn knife!

smackfu — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:58:27 -0800

Why do the slices stick to the side of my chef's knife when I'm slicing apples and such? Is there anything I can do to stop it? It doesn't seem to happen to the TV chefs.

It cuts/prys/screws like a knife

Newbornstranger — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:38:14 -0800

Where to buy a Gerber Artifact in Toronto, or at least order in Canada. I'm looking to buy a Gerber Artifact. It seems like a nice simple cheap tool to have in my pocket. However, buying from Amazon (or anywhere else I've found online) makes it over $35 after shipping to Toronto - a bit more than it's probably worth to me.

I've tried a few outdoor supply stores (MEC, the crappy one across the street from MEC, Sportcheck in the Eaton Centre), A few hardware stores, and a couple army-surplus stores that have a good selection of new knives. No luck yet. I'm running out of ideas. Any help?

what is the correct term for musician jump kick

planetkyoto — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:27:00 -0800

What should I call it when a band is finishing a song and the guitarist hits the last chord while jumping in the air and jack knifing his/her legs back? I guess it's a way of putting an exclamation mark on the song, and, I suppose, to make sure that the other members of the band know that the song is ending here and not going around again. Should I just call it a "jump kick" or is there some preferred term among musicians. Any other insights into this practice are welcome, since I'm not a musician. This is for a documentary.

How was this kitchen knife made?

Mike1024 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:43:28 -0800

[ManufacturingFilter] I have a kitchen knife that looks like solid metal, but it's far too light. How was it made? The knife is 210mm (8.5") end-to-end, stainless steel, and reasonably inexpensive. I cannot see any marks indicating that the blade and handle are anything but a single solid bit of metal - but were that the case, the handle would be very heavy, which it is not.

I've heard that hollow silver knife handles used to be made by producing two halves, soldering them together, then polishing until the mark was invisible. I can't see any sign of that here, although I'm no expert on what to look for.

What's the second best way to sharpen knives?

SampleSize — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:32:14 -0800

I know. I should use a whetstone, but I haven't really been able to get the hang of it, despite taking a class (and I know to use the honing steel frequently between sharpenings). Can anyone recommend an easy at-home knife sharpening tool that's almost as good as a stone?

Rubber Butterfly Knife that Works?

grabbingsand — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:18:35 -0800

Is there such a thing as a rubber balisong or butterfly knife? What I'm wanting is a balisong that has the approximate heft expected, so it can be tricked with a bit, just without all of the potential for profuse bleeding. By rubber, I mean like this.

I like cutting stuff off walls

jak68 — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:14:39 -0800

Home Improvement Filter: why is it so hard to find an offset tool to remove stuff that is mounted on the wall? What do you use for that purpose? example: A while back I mounted my wifi router on the wall so the ethernet jacks would be easily accessible next to my desk. I used a whole bunch of extra strength foam sticky pads. When I had to move apartments, it took me forever to get the wifi router off the wall (that is, without ripping off half the wall plaster with it). All I needed was an offset saw or offset knife (like a spatula; the spatula was too dull so I needed a knife or saw, but offset like a spatula. I even tried a frosting spreading knife which was again too dull though had a nice offset).

This problem has come up often enough in my life (what can I say-- I like affixing things to walls) that I went looking for an offset kninfe or saw. To my amazement, in this age of home depots and tools for every imaginable thing, I simply could not find the tool I envisioned.

The tool I envisioned is:
--a simple knife or high-teeth-count saw
--offset like a spatula or frosting spreading knife
--no more than $15 or so (ie, something reasonable that one would expect to pay for a very simple knife or hand saw)

I imagine such a tool would have a dozen other common uses, anywhere something flat is attached onto something else flat and needs to be either cut or sawed off. Floorboards, tiles, door and window framing, or whatever.

So does a tool like that exist? Am I using the wrong keywords? Thanks

I want to slice and dice and julienne...but with what?

supramarginal — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:02:49 -0800

How do I choose a great chef's knife? Feeling overwhelmed by all the choices. I'm an avid cook and I'd like to get a great chef's knife. I'm hoping to spend around $100 or less. I've been reading previous askmefi questions, reviews on various online shopping sites, and Cook's Illustrated. I can't reconcile all the information.

It seems to me that the top brands (Henckels, Global, Wusthof, etc.), are all well-constructed and work well given appropriate skills and maintenance. If it comes down to personal preference in terms of the curve, balance, and feel in the hand, how do I choose one? Will any stores let me come in and chop some stuff up? (I'm in Boston. I have small-ish hands, if that makes a difference.) Thanks!

Mac me a knife.

brautigan — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:27:07 -0800

Looking for traditional folding knife recommendations... I currently own a Beretta Bob Loveless knife but would like a similar wood handled, folding knife.

The main uses for this knife would be for camping / outdoor activities e.g. wood whittling, fish gutting, twine cutting kind of things. At the moment this is at the top of my shopping list

First hand experience of this or other knives meeting this criteria would be most valued, as would a UK stockist. Sub £200 / $400 if possible.

Many thanks!