How to Choose the Right Knife as A Gift
I know that gift giving is not supposed to be competitive, but I still like to win. I love giving a gift that’s super exciting to open and that the recipient will love and use for many years. A kitchen knife is a gift they will use daily, and have fond thoughts of you every time.
A knife is a memorable and useful gift. Moreover, it has symbolic meaning, demonstrating your appreciation for the recipient.
People have seen knives as powerful items, whether as weapons or valuables. In the past, having a knife meant having authority or power, like government officials or the head of a household. Essentially, a knife connotes power and respect.
Today, there are various types of good knives available. These include kitchen knives, pocket knives, survival knives, hunting knives, high-end chef’s knives, and collectible art knives. Adding engravings or decorations can make a knife unique, turning it into a personalized present.
A quality knife will make an excellent gift suitable for various audiences: outdoor enthusiasts, cooking aficionados, hunters, survivalists, or antique memorabilia collectors. You can show off a cool knife on different occasions. These occasions include birthdays, anniversaries, Black Friday, Christmas, work promotions, hunting trips, or meetings with important people.
However, many people still have concerns about giving knives as gifts. This article will introduce to you the superstitions about giving knives, the meaning of giving knives, precautions, etc. You can refer to this article when you want to give knives as a gift.
Give A Kinife as A Gift
- You need a knife that looks super stunning. There are tons of average looking knives in the world, but ignore those. Gift knives need to be sexy. This shiny, flashy, with a beautiful handle. Even better if they have a damascus finish!
- Choose a knife that’s easy to care for. Giving someone a knife that could rust is like giving them a puppy to look after. Always go with stainless steel.
- Get something they can use every day. If this is their first Japanese knife, we recommend a multi-purpose knife like a santoku or 210mm gyuto. If it is not their first, a supporting knife like a petty or nakiri is a great option.
- Let them know the story of the knife. Each knife from us includes a letter that tells the maker’s story, along with their picture and vital knife-care instructions. If they learn a bit about the love that goes into their knife and how to care for it, they will treasure it more.
They need to keep it sharp, store it safely and cut on something. Considering how they will use and store the knife can take your gift from great, to amazing! Think about how they will store the knife, (do they require a blade guard?) how they will keep it sharp (do they have a destructive steel honing rod, or a ceramic honing rod which are best for kitchen knives?), so they can become super confident with their new life-long tool.
If you really want to blow their mind, add a cutting board in with the knife.
- Is it Bad Luck to Give a Knife as A Gift. The answer is simple: Include a coin in the box. The truth is, this is done in many cultures to counteract the bad vibes that a gift knife may unintentionally bring. The coin is used to symbolically “purchase” the knife from the person presenting it to you. Upon accepting their brand new knife, all they have to do is remove the coin, admire its beauty, and then give it back to you. Now the transaction is complete, and your relationship can remain unharmed!
We’ve helped loads of people find the best gifts for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Now Christmas is coming, and we can help.
Knife Gift Superstition
The superstition about giving knives originates from old legends in many Western and European cultures. A common traditional belief was that a knife represented a severed relationship or the cutting of ties between people. Because of this, there was a practice of gifting a knife along with a penny. People believed that using a penny turned the gift into a simple transaction instead of a malicious present.
Adding the penny is to prevent people from thinking the knife meant the end of a relationship or something bad. In the past, people gave knives with a penny to avoid superstitions about giving blades. It may seem strange now. People saw the penny as a token that could deter any potential curses or bad luck believed to come from gifting a knife alone.
Symbolism of Giving A Knife as A Gift
Knives can hold many symbolic meanings, which is why the act of gifting them has been ritually significant across cultures. Here are some of the key symbolic messages that may be conveyed when gifting someone a knife:
- Trust – Giving a knife can signify the giver trusts the recipient with a potentially dangerous tool. It demonstrates faith in their responsibility and character.
- Protection – A knife represents the ability to defend oneself and overcome life’s challenges. Gifting a knife can suggest the giver wants to provide protection.
- Independence – As a tool that provides utility and self-sufficiency, a knife given as a gift can indicate the giver sees the recipient as capable and independent.
- Connection – In certain cultures, the ritual exchange of knives solidifies social bonds. The shared knife signifies a relationship’s strength and closeness.
- Masculinity – Knives are associated with masculine energy in many traditions. Gifting a knife may recognize the recipient’s strength or transition into manhood.
- Severing Ties – Historically, many associated a gifted knife with the severing of relationships or ending of life. This context gave knives ominous symbolism.
Safety Tips When Giving A Knife as A Gift
While knives can make great gifts, it is important to keep safety in mind when presenting them to avoid potential accidents.Here are some tips:
- Choose an appropriate knife for the recipient based on their experience level. Avoid extremely sharp or tactical knives for novice users.
- Secure the knife properly for gifting. Use a sheath or securely wrapped box rather than handing over an exposed blade.
- Include safety information about proper knife handling and maintenance. You can provide safety guidelines or point them to instructional resources.
- Advise careful storage like sheaths, cases, blocks or magnet strips to reduce accidents around the home.
- Recommend wearing cut-resistant gloves when using very sharp knives to protect hands.
- Suggest starting with softer materials like vegetables or wood carving before tasks requiring more force or leverage.
- Encourage attentive, sober handling whenever using the knife to prevent slips or mistakes.
- With some basic safety considerations, you can ensure your knife gift provides years of practical use while minimizing the risk of harm. The recipient will appreciate learning how to properly wield their new blade.
Here are some of our top selling gift knives of the year!
SHI BA ZI ZUO | 7" Professional Chef Knife
$33.00
SHAN ZU | Classic Series | Bread Knife 8"
$32.00
SHAN ZU | Pro Damascus Santoku Knife 7"
$79.00
SHAN ZU | Cleaver Knife 7" Classic Series
$42.00
Mcusta Zanmai | Revolution Chef Gyuto Knife 8.3"
$299.00
XITUO | Steak Knives Set Damascus Patterned Stainless Steel
$49.00 – $69.00
AIKIDO | Suji Knife
Original price was: $169.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00.
SANRENMU | S745 Fixed Blade Knife Straight Knife EDC Tool
$53.00
Sunnecko | Damascus Steak Knives Set
$110.00 – $149.00
XINZUO | Damascus Steel 5" Utility Knife
$49.00