Never Give Someone a Knife

[Grant Lamontagne]

The old adage of "Never give someone a knife because it will sever the friendship" is not known or observed by most people, but every so often someone surprises me.

Last week at work I gave one of my coworkers a brand new Victorinox Spartan, mostly because I have a bajillion Spartans, so why not?

He showed up this morning with this for me- a brand new in box CRKT CEO knife.

It kind of reminds me of a smaller, lighter version of the Hissatsu series but it's not without its own distinctive charm.  It is extremely slender and difficult to get a hold on at first but once you get used to it, it's quite comfortable.

And the blade flips open so smoothly you would swear it's an assisted opener, but it isn't

It's definitely not a knife I would have chosen myself, and that would absolutely have been my loss. This is a very beautiful knife and Im glad to know that at least one of my coworkers adheres to the old ways!

Anyone else have any experience giving knives and being surprised at getting something back?   

Def

[David Bowen]

I have given away many knives to friends but have never had one gifted in return. That's a nice knife, very sleek I like it.

[ThisAlarm7]

Very cool, I have a couple of CRKTs including an old 90s era Wrangler and a newer Scribe now that I live in a place you can concealed carry a fixed blade knife. I wisn they were made in the US but that notwithstanding they'd be excellent a prices higher than they command and I really like them.

[Noa Isumi]

My friends and I have always done the token or gift back for frendship & luck;, usually just a quarter, odd coin or 2$bill.

Last Christmas my boss's kids (collage age) got me for the gift exchange and got me some Bucee's jerky and a BearEdge folder, so I introduced them to the phrase and tradition.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Very cool, I have a couple of CRKTs including an old 90s era Wrangler and a newer Scribe now that I live in a place you can concealed carry a fixed blade knife. I wisn they were made in the US but that notwithstanding they'd be excellent a prices higher than they command and I really like them.

Some new CRKT models are made in the US nowadays.

CRKT had a great model of contracting overseas companies to produce designs sourced from individual makers.

Unfortunately for them nowadays those overseas companies (like oKnife, We Knives, Kizer etc) are cutting out CRKT and contracting designs directly from many of the same makers.  Without CRKT taking their cut, the manufacturer and the designers both get better payouts for the exact same product.

As such, CRKT has had to modify their approach, which I think is why they are manufacturing some stuff in the US now.

Def

[Alan K.]

I'm not a Viking, but this is a tradition I like.  I mean, why take chances?  The reason they said that giving a knife will sever the friendship is because it is an insult.  If you give a knife, you are insinuating that the recipient can't afford to buy their own knife.  Therefore, there should be an exchange or a payment to preserve the dignity of the recipient.  A friend of mine lost his favorite SAK, a Super Tinker, so I gave him mine and demanded that he hand me a coin in exchange.  It didn't matter what coin he gave me, just that he made a payment. We're still friends years later so I guess it worked.

[Grant Lamontagne]

That is excellent!

I have been given pennies for knives in the past, from the few people I have encountered that knew about this tradition.

You are right- the amount doesn't matter, payment is payment.

Def

[pfrsantos]

I'm not a Viking, but this is a tradition I like.  I mean, why take chances?  The reason they said that giving a knife will sever the friendship is because it is an insult.  If you give a knife, you are insinuating that the recipient can't afford to buy their own knife.  Therefore, there should be an exchange or a payment to preserve the dignity of the recipient.  A friend of mine lost his favorite SAK, a Super Tinker, so I gave him mine and demanded that he hand me a coin in exchange.  It didn't matter what coin he gave me, just that he made a payment. We're still friends years later so I guess it worked.

We have this same tradition over here.