We’re continuing our quest to bust some of the most prominent knife myths. To read out previous entries, see our Knife Myths category.
“Is giving a knife as a present bad luck?”
Yes, that’s something we’ve been asked before, and though it might seem crazy, there’s actually a pretty old superstition that giving a knife as a gift is bad luck.
I’m here to tell you with the utmost conviction that it’s nothing more than an old wives tale that holds absolutely no truth.
So where did this old myth come from? Let’s take a look.
The Origin of the Myth
The true origins of the myth seem to be lost to time, but the meaning of the superstition makes perfect sense. The logic is that a knife can symbolize the severing of a relationship, so you shouldn’t give it as a gift for events, especially weddings. A knife, they say, will cut the ties that bind a friendship together.
This thinking is nothing more than old superstition. It has about as much weight as the belief that if a bird takes a poop on your shoulder, you’ll become rich (yes, some people actually believe that).
Ways to Combat the Superstition
Even though the superstition is downright fantastical, there are people who want to avoid any possibility of bad luck (these are the same people who refuse to walk under a ladder or open an umbrella indoors despite acknowledging its absurdity).
Fortunately, if you’re highly superstitious or are giving a knife as a gift to someone who might be, there’s actually an old tradition that still allows you to give a knife as a gift without worrying about any consequences (because let’s face it, not only are knives badass gifts but they’re also very popular gifts).
To bypass the superstition, the giver of the knife must tape a penny to the box. That way when the recipient receives the knife, he or she can give the penny to the giver and essentially “pay” for their gift, thus negating the superstition.
Even if you don’t believe in that superstition, this is actually a cool conversation starter and fun tradition.
In fact, some companies, specifically Parker River Knife Company, already tape pennies to their boxes, so you have an instant gift for someone.
Flip Sides to the Myth
The myth that knives are bad luck is prominent in some cultures, but in others, knives are actually good luck.
For example, in Finland, receiving a puukko (a Finnish belt knife) as a gift is considered an honor, and in the United States, many parents give knives to their children as a rite of passage into adulthood.
Here are a few more knife myths in other cultures: A knife is seen as a great defense against fairies and curses. A knife stuck in a baby’s headboard is supposed to protect it. A knife under a mother’s bed will ease the pain of childbirth.
Conclusion
As with any superstition, there is nothing remotely scientific about the myth that giving a knife to someone as a present is bad luck. If you’re superstitious, there’s a pretty easy workaround, so there’s no need to be hesitant about giving a knife to someone.
December 10, 2014 at 4:18 am
As to the observation ‘Does the giving of a knife bring about bad luck?’, our family has been exchanging blades for over 20 years and while not appreciated or even desired by the womenfolk I believe the symbolism runs much deeper The desire to exchange bladed gifts transcends the idea of practicality & thoughtfulness in ways some have a hard time comprehending if they’re not the recipient (maybe they wish they were). Good luck & good health along with a clear mind, healthy body. Enjoy!
December 4, 2017 at 5:07 pm
The gift of a weapon means trust.
February 15, 2022 at 8:17 pm
So true. My Oom / uncle gave me a wonderful Swiss style knife as a young girl… it has gotten me out of some tricky situations ( I was an adventurous gal-lol) I’m 64 now and still have the knife… it’s used. I say it has been a most wonderful good gift. Can’t believe I didn’t loose it. Meant to be
December 12, 2014 at 9:33 pm
Silly. I give knives out all the time. Everybody loves them.
December 14, 2014 at 8:48 am
I’d be more than happy to get a knife as a gift.
November 24, 2015 at 6:11 am
You can’t go wrong giving a man a knife for a gift unless they are one of the new girlie men we see at obozo clown rallies.
January 18, 2016 at 11:32 am
It’s absurd to think let alone post negative comments like yours. In order to not to be girlie a man should carry a knife? A knife doesn’t make a man more manly, only a weak man who lacks testosterone that post negative comments and secretly attends obozo clown rallies would say such nonsense.
November 12, 2018 at 3:17 pm
here here, what a maroon!! how on God’s green earth does 1 manage to bring POLITICS or some wilfully obtuse, snarky, juvenile jibberish into a conversation about knives as gifts & the attendant superstitions. is there something in the water these days?!
December 5, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Where’s the wisdom there word? More like word of B.S. if ya ask me.
November 25, 2018 at 1:42 pm
You’re going to be shocked to hear this, but “girly” men, and actual girls, use, carry, value, and enjoy knives. Next time you’re thinking of mugging one, remember: they could have a knife on them.
December 17, 2020 at 9:15 am
Give them one with pink camo scales, handle and/or sheath. They will be considered bada$$ by their peers at the next rally!😜
July 17, 2021 at 8:42 am
Fuck you
April 7, 2023 at 7:25 pm
Lmao
December 5, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Fuck yourself and raise your own little bastards, Billy Boy.
December 8, 2015 at 9:12 am
I’ve never heard of it being bad luck. Probably some whiney Obama-lovin’ liberal who came up with that.
December 2, 2016 at 8:21 pm
idiot
November 10, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Don’t talk about yourself that way!
December 19, 2016 at 5:08 am
Not the forum for this.
April 1, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Thank you
December 25, 2016 at 2:01 am
Fool! If you haven’t heard of this but would rather come up with some political nonsense, then perhaps you need to spend some time learning about history and the world …much better than shooting your mouth off!
(Hope you like the gun metaphor, seemed the kind of thing you’d enjoy!)
Merry Christmas!!!
April 23, 2018 at 11:16 pm
Try to stay on topic troglodyte.
July 17, 2021 at 8:47 am
You are not just an idiot, but plain rude. Is there any day that goes by you can’t just “be”? Why does every conversation with you jerks have to force us to hear racist crap?
December 5, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Nope. That superstition has been around since before Obama was even a gleam in his old man’s eye.
December 8, 2015 at 9:18 am
Wow, Been building and giving knives as gifts for years, my family expects them now. Knives are tools on the job site, kitchen and in the shop, I would rather them have good tools instead of trash made overseas. Give me a Buck or American made Kershaw anytime. It’s bad luck to be cutting with trash made in Pakistan or India, that’s for sure.
November 12, 2018 at 3:25 pm
oddly enough, about 20 yrs ago, Pakistan was turning out decent 2nd rate knives. alas, alack no more. they were cheaper but u got good value cuz they held up 4 a long time. my uncle recently gave me a whole mess of knives that incl a coupla Sicilian switchblades, old BUCKS, boy scout #’s still in the box from the mid60’s & some brass & wood Pakistani jobs. i recognized them immediately & was startled that I’d never noticed how well, albeit rudimentary, they were. now it’s just junk from china everywhere u turn unless u have enough sense(& the NEED) to pony up for better.
December 17, 2021 at 1:36 pm
I was given a TAC-FORCE made in China a few years back. I LOVE it & I must have hundreds of other collectable pocket knives too. Always have a TF-764BK with me at all times.
January 1, 2021 at 10:11 am
Gave my step daughter and her boyfriend a kitchen knife set for Christmas
September 28, 2023 at 2:04 am
Knives are awesome gifts . Been giving knives as gifts for a long time . Still have friends and family that were recipients of said knives .
The political comments make me laugh thank you .
December 23, 2015 at 7:41 am
Women do love knives I’ve carried a pocket knife most of my life and am considered old now. I found this information while looking on the facts about giving a knife as a gift for Christmas and the gift is to a FEMALE girlie girl, friend. She comments often when I use mine about how handy a pocket knife is and how she never realized how often she would use one if she had one. We are neither one tom-boys so to the man who thinks women don’t desire or appreciate a knife is descrimanating and a shovanist. Merry Christmas.
January 18, 2016 at 11:38 am
Very true! To think like that shovanist…now thats a superstition!
December 18, 2016 at 6:28 am
Knives are incredibly useful and a nice gift, so agree with the sentiment.
A lot of poeple these days don’t carry pocket knifes, but they really are handy, even if only for lunch or the odd thing.
Found mine really handy in france. Bought a bageattue, some cheese, tomatoes, and a nice bottle of wine – lunch sorted in the park.
Wouldn’t be possible without a pen knife.
But it’s spelt chauvinist, and you mean male chauvinist.
As chauvinist means “a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.”
Named after a french soldier who has particularly patriotic to the point of receiving ridicule: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Chauvin
Quite annoying how the word has been corrupted by feminists and those whos only exposure to it was the modern “male chauvinism”
Anyhoo, knives are great gifts regardless of age or gender.
December 19, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Agreed… with all of the above.
November 12, 2018 at 3:28 pm
gavin macinnes is a ‘chauvinist’ AND a ‘shovanist’…😅🤔🙄😅
December 5, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Yep, Yep!! My youngest Daughter carries a pocket knife, just like her old man. I’ve carried one since I was 12, I’m now 75. 63 years for those that can’t add or subtract. We would no more leave home without that knife than we would without our pants. You can bet if either of us has our pants on, we have that knife in the pocket.
April 4, 2016 at 2:13 pm
I have been carrying a knife since I was 10 years old. I am now 62 years young. I’ve been through several, but keep coming back to my Swiss Army or my Leatherman Multitool. I even have a stash of knives in my car, truck, bug out bag and purse.
December 7, 2016 at 4:01 am
My ex girl friends father makes knifes I asked him for one and also will help so I can learn he said absolutely but when give you this knife have a penny for me if you don’t you wont get this knife. End of story we split up I never got the knife and still carry a penny in my pocket in case I catch him in a random scenario lol
May 8, 2017 at 4:10 pm
If it wasn’t a nasty break up, call him and say something like ” Hello Mr. Soandso, it is unfortunate that my relationship with your daughter did not work out, however I would still really enjoy having the chance to learn from a Craftsman like yourself, and have a knife to remember it by. Tell him how you still carry that penny. That will help
December 20, 2016 at 3:01 am
Went to the Royal Amours ,there’s some some pretty gold handled brutal Indian and Pakistan weapons to seen there
July 29, 2017 at 1:10 pm
never sheath a dirty knife…it will be dirty when you nees it again…………
September 7, 2017 at 8:57 pm
Well said!
December 14, 2018 at 12:45 pm
I just want to say, claiming something isn’t factual simply because it is superstitious is foolishness. You gave no argument other than the contradictory claim against the Superstition itself. Now I have giving knives as gifts for years, and every single time I have given a knife as a gift without requesting a penny in return that relationship has been severed. For no explanatory reason. Strong friendships broken, fiance’s departed, their fathers suddenly hating me out of nowhere.
Be careful what curses you laugh off! Be careful who you gift knives to!
December 22, 2018 at 6:02 am
I do personally think its right to gift a penny with a knife… my grandfather’s both did this my father does this and I do it too because I believe it counteracts any potentially negative symbolism. I like the idea of carrying on traditions like this its part of my culture and upbringing. I also dont think we put enough care and conscience thought into our actions and relationships these days. Thats something we are losing with my grandfathers’ generation it’s very sad to me and maybe the little extra thought or superstition, if thats what you prefer to call it, is one of the little differences that made them different than my generation and younger ones.
May 21, 2019 at 9:36 am
3
August 20, 2019 at 9:37 pm
My family is not superstitious, But I have always loved the tradition of always include a coin when you make a purchase. As my grandfather told me it means a deal has been made without malice. I always loved that. when ever I have purchased a truck,gun,knife etc. I will always add a cent to the price for that reason, I just like the idea of it. It’s not mythical to me it’s traditional.
February 23, 2021 at 8:14 am
Quick question, if you gifted a knife already and did not know about the superstition and didn’t attach a coin to the knife, can it still be done as payment or is it to late??? I’ve gifted a knife and did not know about this until now and the friendship has ended 😔. Can this “curse” be “undone”