Category: Knife History (page 2 of 2)

Art of Combat NYC Class in 2011. Photo by Jared Kirby.

Have you ever wondered how someone can go from an average actor to a seemingly experienced, masterful sword fighter? As you might have guessed, it takes a lot of practice and training for Uma Thurman to do this or for Liam Neeson to do this.

However, unlike movie actors, who have the benefit of doing multiple takes and sometimes even get help from the magic of film, stage actors must get the scene just right and in front of a live audience after only a few sessions of practice. That’s what I call amazing.

But the best and most serious actors don’t go it alone. Enter the Art of Combat.

The Art of Combat is an organization founded by a group of fight directors who wanted to take stage combat (both on stage and in films) to another level. Here’s a little more about the group from its site:

Art of Combat has been actively transferring historical combat styles to stage and film for over a decade with many members working in the industry for much longer. With our Fight Directors across the United States, Great Britain and Australia we have enhanced theatre, film and TV with authentic and realistic combat sequences all around the world. Company members are trained in historical as well as standard stage combat styles, so whatever the aesthetic requirements for your production, AoC can give you an excellent fight!

In July, the Art of Combat is hosting an intensive week-long workshop for fight directing and combat in NYC. The class, which will have participants from all over the world, is going to culminate in a public performance showcasing what they’ve learned.

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Today, Spyderco knives are known across the world for their unique shapes and stellar performance, but have you ever wondered about the early days of this famous knife company?

Spyderco was founded by  Sal Glesser  in 1976, but Glesser’s first product wasn’t actually a knife, but a spider-shaped device  called “The Portable Hand,”  which was the inspiration for the company’s name.

Of course, despite being freakishly cool to look at,  it wasn’t exactly a bestselling product, so Glesser moved on to producing knife sharpeners and eventually folding knives.

In 1981,  he constructed his first folding knife, the CO1 worker, which was the first knife to feature a round hole in the blade that helped it achieve lightning-quick opening.

According to Spyderco, it  was also the first’s knife to feature a pocket clip on the handle.

In those days, Glesser and his wife Gail would travel from knife show to knife show in a converted old bread delivery truck.  Thirty years later, they’re the founders of one of the world’s most premiere knife companies.

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When you’re using a Swiss army knife on a camping trip or a steak knife to cut up a tender rib eye, do you ever think about how old the blade you’re cutting with truly is?

Knives are some of the oldest tools on the planet. They date back to the Stone Age, approximately two and a half million years ago.  Throughout history, almost every major culture has used some form of knives.  A few recent discoveries have shed light on some of the more unique knife specimens from the past.  Check them out.

The Oldest Steak Knife (200,000 years old)

In July, researches in Tel Aviv, Israel discovered tiny flint knives, which they believe were used to cut meat.  These shards of stone, approximately the size of a quarter, were found around the remains of a fire and adjacent to the carcasses of animals.

Archeologists speculate that these knives were used to cut the meat of animals such as horses or rhinoceros.  The knives would have only been used for a short time and then discarded after they lost their sharpness.  They were likely created by chipping shards off stones

The Roman Army Knife (2,000 years old)

A precursor to the Swiss Army Knife, the Roman army knife had many similar features.  This knife was made from silver, but had an iron blade.  It features a spoon, fork, spatula, and retractable spike.  Researchers speculate that the spike may have been used to pry snails from their shell.

It’s possible that, because of its complexity, this knife was owned by a wealthy traveler who had it custom made.  The knife was discovered in the area of the Mediterranean and is currently on exhibit at a museum in Cambridge.

Otzi the Iceman

When researchers find mummies from the past, they are often carrying knives as well.  The discovery of Otzi the Iceman, the oldest naturally-preserved mummy found in Europe, was accompanied by the recovery of many of his tools, including the flint knife he had.

Because of their resourcefulness, knives have spanned millions of years and will likely be around for millions more.  That’s food for thought and something to consider the next time you’re slicing up a flank steak or whittling a stick with a pocket knife.

There are few knives on the market as iconic as the Bowie knife. Known for its long, curvaceous blade, which can extend up to 12 inches, the Bowie knife is a favorite of such cinematic knife-wielding warriors as Crocodile Dundee and Rambo.  However, it’s fair to say that no man has ever brandished a Bowie knife with the same violent precision as its founder, Colonel James “Jim” Bowie.

Who was this Bowie Guy Anyway?

He was not a man to be messed with, that’s for sure.  Born in Kentucky, Bowie spent most of his early life in Louisiana, where he worked as a craftsman and a land speculator.  He eventually moved to Texas,  operating a textile empire in between fighting in numerous disputes during the early periods of the acquisition of Texas from Mexico.  Bowie died defending the Alamo from the Mexican Army in 1836 at the age of 40.  Legend has it that he was shot by Mexican troops with his back to the wall, pistol in one hand, Bowie knife in the other.

Origin of the Bowie Knife

The Bowie knife was designed by Bowie in the early 1800’s.  The most famous version was produced by Arkansas blacksmith James Black in 1830.  Bowie wanted a knife that could function as a hunting tool and a weapon. The Bowie knife is known for its distinctive top notch, which was designed to catch an attacker’s blade.

The Sandbar Brawl

It was the Sandbar Brawl that launched the legacy of Jim Bowie and the Bowie Knife.  Bowie was in Natchez, Mississippi, serving as a principal in a duel between Samuel Wells and Dr. Thomas Harris Maddox, both from Alexandria, Louisiana.

The duel concluded with both parties missing each other, which should have been the end, but tempers flared between those on the scene, including Bowie, and soon a brawl erupted.  We’ll pick up the action from Wikipedia, right after Bowie was shot in the hip.

Bowie, rising to his feet, drew his knife and charged at Crain, who struck him so hard with his empty pistol upon the head that it broke and sent Bowie to his knees. Wright appeared, drew a pistol, and shot at the fallen Bowie, missing. Wright then drew his sword cane and stabbed Bowie in the chest, but the thin blade was deflected by his sternum. As he attempted to pull the blade free, Bowie reached up, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him down upon the point of his Bowie knife. Wright died instantly, and Bowie, with Wright’s sword still protruding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by another member of the group. As Bowie stood, pulling the sword cane from his chest, both Blanchard brothers fired at him, and he was struck once in the arm. Bowie spun and cut off part of Alfred’s forearm.

The Bowie Knife Today

Today hunters and survival enthusiasts all over the world carry Bowie knives, which can be used from everything from chopping small parcels of wood to scaling a fish.  Want one?  Luckily, we’ve got a huge selection of Bowie knives.  And they are all covered by a 30-day guarantee, as long as you promise not to use them in a brawl or duel.