Knives, Set, and Pocket.

Knives have been around for as long as there has been the intuition to use them as tools. Blades have been used as weapons throughout history, but only (relatively) recently have they been a staple in the kitchen and on the dinner table. Although they’ve retained their usefulness as tools, modern innovations have made them sharper–both as cutting devices and aesthetic presentations–than ever before.

Because there have been technologic advancements in the last hundred years, we now have a variety of blades, each meant for a different purpose. Some of the basic shapes can be found in our own kitchens: serrated bread knives, straight butcher knives, cleavers and delicate blades that can cut fruit. A high-quality kitchen knife can set a master chef apart from the culinary amateur, and they’ll  A knife set will often come in a block made of plastic or hardwood that protects the integrity of the blades and promotes the aesthetic of a culinary kitchen. A block also promotes knife-safety because the blades are concealed–storing open blades in a drawer can prove dangerous if someone is shuffling through it to find another cooking utensil. However, there are specialized knife-trays that can be placed inside drawers that keep blades concealed.

Swiss army knives are the most popular consumer knives because of their multi-functionality apart from just cutting. Developed in the late 19th/early 20th century, the Swiss army blade was developed for the military by Karl Elsner and quickly became a staple for the troops of Switzerland. Originally called “Offiziersmesser,” the name “Swiss army knife” was given by American troops who couldn’t pronounce the Swiss word.

A pocket knife works through a process called slipjoint, where, once the blade is exposed, it is held in place by a spring until a substantial amount of force is placed against it–where it will then return to the concealed position. Pocket knives rarely ever lock and are perfectly-suited for small tasks like wood splintering and food preparation (for you outdoors adventurers!). Small pocket blades have become popular key chain additions as well. These little devices usually include a blade, a nail file/flathead screwdriver, scissors, a toothpick and tweezers. Modern knives have enjoyed numerous modern innovations as well: MP3 players, digital clocks, and even USB drives have been added to some models of pocket knives.

Hunting knives are usually fixed blades, with the exception of Buck knives. Buck knives the name of the company that produced the first foldable, locking blade–but the name has come to describe all blades of that style. Despite many imitators, Buck has remained the highest seller since they introduced the knife back in 1964. As far as fixed blades, the Bowie knife is a favorite of hunters across the world. The aesthetic shape of the Bowie knife (slanting-in, slight diamond shape) has become synonymous with trackers, hunters and outdoors adventurers alike and a symbol of ruggedness. 

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