Giving a knife as a gift means conveying values through a beautiful blade. Strength, courage, loyalty and honor are all commonly used. The power of the cutting edge gives rise to a number of superstitions. If collective thought fears that giving a knife will bring bad luck, it is customary to give a coin in exchange to neutralize the adage. Nowadays, receiving a beautiful knife as a gift celebrates a new chapter in life. It’s a gift that shows confidence in the recipient. It’s also a traditional gift idea for festive occasions (birthday, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day). After all, a knife appeals to both men and women. And for a personalized message, having the blade engraved makes the knife definitely unique.
The ancient meaning of giving a knife as a gift
The language of the knife is plural. Traditionally, to give a knife as a gift is to transmit power, strength and honor. It also means recognizing these same qualities in the recipient. Viking and Japanese customs bear witness to these meanings.
Throughout the world, in popular consciousness and across time, the knife takes on various meanings depending on the occasions on which it is offered.
🔪 Received as a weapon, the knife symbolizes strength and power, but also honor and honesty. Giving a blade shows the trust you place in the person.
🔪 Passed on to a bridegroom, it reflects the protective position of the head of the family.
🔪 Inherited from his father, it carries titles and family honor.
🔪 Bequeathed to a hunter, it assures the recipient’s quality for this discipline.
🔪 Given for cooking, it represents the love of work well done and precise cutting.
The knives’ symbolism navigates between strength, honor, power and confidence.
Giving a knife today: a tradition that symbolizes a new phase in life
Some French customs for giving a knife
The French love traditions and subliminal messages. Choosing a knife as a gift is ideal when the recipient is entering a new phase of life. Carrying a knife is a sign of maturity and a welcome to a new world.
Receiving a knife is a custom enjoyed by the following people:
- the communicant ;
- those called up for military service;
- the newly-wed from his wife;
- the scout;
- the farmer who invests in a farm;
- the retiree who is (finally) going about his business;
- the colleague who has been promoted or transferred;
- the friend who’s moving house, etc.
When did you receive your first knife?
Other symbolic occasions for giving a knife
However, there’s no need to reach a new milestone in one’s destiny to receive a beautiful knife as a gift. Every festive occasion represents an opportunity to pass on a beautiful blade:
- wedding ;
- Christmas ;
- Father’s Day ;
- Mother’s Day;
- Valentine’s Day;
- father’s, son’s, friend’s birthday;
- graduation, etc.
Finally, aren’t we forgetting the main and undoubtedly most precious reason for giving a knife as a gift? The desire to please, quite simply.
Why give a coin when you get a knife?
Does a knife bring bad luck?
Old superstitions abound in this regard.
🔪 Some claim that the blade cuts ties of friendship, love or filiation.
🔪 Others believe that if the knife transmits power, then it’s because it denudes the giver of it.
🔪 Still others fear offending the recipient. Indeed, if offering a knife means transmitting power and might, it would therefore insinuate that the receiver is devoid of it.
🔪 Finally, the less daring say that offering a blade is tantamount to inciting crime.
The power of the blade engenders fear. Like any symbol of strength and power, it sows fear around it.
The antidote to superstition
But every popular belief has its answer. If offering presents a danger, then selling cancels out any risk. This is how giving a coin in exchange for a knife became commonplace (the pun was easy 😉 ).
Even today, we all have the reflex to give a euro when we receive a knife. If avoiding the evil eye only costs a penny, it would be a shame to tempt the devil. Legend has it that the amount doesn’t influence the strength of the antidote. One euro, pennies, same battle! So, yes, the tradition when offering a knife is to receive money in exchange, and so be it!
Elizabeth II herself was very keen on this custom, and would always hand a penny to anyone who presented her with a sword, kitchen knife or any other blade.
Find out all about the symbolism of the knife
Why give knives as gifts?
Beyond any tradition, giving a knife is above all a matter of pleasure. Whether folding or fixed, a knife reflects the personality of its recipient. Discreet or ostentatious, decorative or useful, the gift of a beautiful blade is a way of honouring the person to whom it is given.
Giving a knife to a man: a traditional and effective gesture
Is it easy? Hmm, not so easy… Think about it for a moment. Who are you giving this knife to? What message do you want to convey? Choosing the right knife means considering:
- use (kitchen knife, multi-purpose knife, table knife, chef’s knife) ;
- where it will be used (indoors, fixed knives are ideal; outdoors, folding models are more practical);
- engraving (customizing the blade makes the knife unique);
- the passion of the lucky recipient (hunter, handyman, hiker, gatherer or lover of aperitifs and campfires of all kinds).
These elements influence the type of knife and its personalization.
Or, as many do, wander around the store and choose by instinct! This also works very well. Perhaps you’ll fall for the mammoth ivory or vulcanized fiber detail?
Giving a knife to a woman: a reflection of modernism
Some customers ask us: “Can you give a knife to a woman? We reply, “Why shouldn’t you give a gift to your wife, mother, sister or colleague? Feminists will even think it’s a great way to fight sexism.
Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, a birthday or a professional reason, modern women carry knives just as much as men. The question is not so much: is the knife a gift for women? The real question is: why would a knife please her? Reasons abound:
- the fan of craftsmanship will love the entire Morta knife collection;
- the lover of originality: Damascus blades;
- the cook: the oyster knife, paring knives or the chef’s knife (or chef’s knife 😉 );
- the lady of the house: table knives in boxed sets or prestige versions;
- the adventurer: the folding knife ;
- the bucolic adventurer: the mini pocket knife to take everywhere.
In the end, choosing a knife for a woman is like finding the best piece of jewelry for a man. All you have to do is break with stereotypes and focus on the emotion you want to convey.
Good to know: Consider palm size when choosing between mini, XL or standard.
A Morta knife bought for yourself: isn’t it a gift from a loved one to another loved one 😉 ?
The engraved knife: a unisex gift with a personalized meaning
And for even more thoughtful attention, the personalized knife carries an even clearer message: the one you choose. The knife then takes on an emotional value, a personal note and confers a sense of belonging. A knife with an engraving and a few well-targeted letters propels the lucky recipient into the great family :
- lovers of handcrafted objects ;
- knife enthusiasts ;
- your company (corporate logo) ;
- a group of friends who regularly get together around a campfire or an aperitif. The former cut mushrooms and wild fruit, the latter sausages and cheese.
At Couteaux Morta, you can choose from 5 different fonts and add a pictogram designed by art painter Nicolas Peyron. Perhaps reference a shared memory (hunting, fishing, music, etc.) and forge an even stronger bond? What do you think?
From then on, your gift takes on a whole new meaning, becoming the unique object of an exceptional individual.
What message do you think a personalized knife conveys?
Some famous knives offered in history
If you weren’t yet convinced of the power of such a gesture, here are a few famous knives. Originally simple gifts, they have become objects of renown.
The Washington folding knife given to the future president by his mother
George Washington, the first President of the United States of America, never went anywhere without the folding knife he received from his mother, engraved with the words “Always obey your elders”. Always obey your elders.
It is said that in 1777, at the Valley Forge encampment during the Revolutionary War, he considered giving up. Rereading this inscription, he is said to have regained his courage.
🗡 The Washington folding knife symbolizes respect, leadership and success.
Jim Bowie’s Bowie knife donated by James Landis
1836, battle of Fort Alamo, Texas. Blacksmith James Landis gives a knife to James Bowie, soldier and American pioneer. Bowie used it to strike down his opponent, Commander Norris.
Others claim that it was a duel with Major Norris Wright in Natchez, Mississippi, that made the Bowie knife famous.
Whatever the case, the Bowie knife is now a legend among cutlery enthusiasts.
🗡 The Bowie knife represents courage and resilience.
Durandal: the Knife of Roncesvalles given by an angel
Among his many miracles to help the Franks, the angel Gabriel gave Charlemagne a knife, which he passed on to Roland, who died at Roncesvalles. Before falling into enemy hands, he tried to break his sword on a rock, but it was the rock that broke.
It is finally under the name of Durandal’s sword that this knife remains famous.
Another version of the legend states that the archangel sent the sword directly to Roland. After crossing the valley, it is frozen in the rock of Notre Dame de Rocamadour.
In both cases, a gift from the heavens…😉
🗡 Durandal reflects bravery and loyalty.
To sum up, the gift of a knife is an age-old gesture imbued with symbolism and emotion. By tradition or for pleasure, a blade as a gift carries the message the giver bestows on it and the value the receiver gives it. Men and women alike enjoy holding the handle in their palm, while the other hand holds out the coin in exchange.
Article written by Christelle Lorant 🪶
Article summary
What is the symbolism behind the gift of a knife?
Giving a knife as a gift is an ancient gesture imbued with profound meaning. The blade, symbolizing strength and sharpness, can represent the passage to adulthood, protection, or even trust in the recipient.
It’s a gift that conveys values of courage and honor, but also confidence in the recipient’s ability to handle the power such a weapon embodies.
Why is it customary to give a coin when offering a knife?
The tradition of giving a coin when offering a knife is linked to ancient superstitions. Offering a knife without consideration is sometimes considered a bad omen, as the blade could symbolically “cut” the ties between individuals.
The coin in exchange symbolizes a purchase rather than a gift, thus neutralizing the potential misfortune associated with the gift.
Is a knife an appropriate gift for a woman?
Absolutely. A knife as a gift transcends gender and can be an excellent idea for a woman, whether it’s a high-quality kitchen knife for the home chef, a folding knife for the adventurer, or an elegant table knife for the lady of the house.
Choosing a knife for a woman is an opportunity to recognize her interests and skills, while breaking gender stereotypes.
What type of knife to give as a personalized gift?
The choice of the type of knife to give depends largely on the passions and needs of the person who will receive it.
- For a cook, a chef’s knife may be ideal;
- For someone who enjoys outdoor activities, a sturdy folding knife or pocket knife would be preferable.
Personalizing the blade with an engraving makes this gift unique and deeply personal.
What are the typical occasions for giving a knife?
A knife gift is often chosen for occasions marking a new chapter in a person’s life, such as marriage, the start of a new career, or the transition to retirement.
Holidays such as Christmas, Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day are also opportune moments to offer a knife, underlining the importance and value of the recipient in the life of the giver.
How does personalizing a knife enhance the gift?
Personalizing a knife, particularly through engraving, adds a significant emotional dimension to the gift.
Engraving a message, an important date or initials on the blade transforms a simple knife into a memorable and precious keepsake, which can be cherished for years to come.
How does personalizing a knife enrich a gift?
Personalizing a knife, particularly through engraving, adds a significant emotional dimension to the gift.
Engraving a message, an important date or initials on the blade transforms a simple knife into a memorable and precious keepsake, which can be cherished for years to come.
What are the cultural implications of giving a knife without a coin?
Giving a knife without a coin can be perceived differently in different cultural contexts. In some civilizations, it may be seen as a sign of potential misfortune.
However, if superstition is not a major concern for the receiver and giver, the gesture can simply be seen as an expression of pure generosity, without the traditional implications of monetary exchange.
Is it appropriate to offer a knife to a young adult?
Offering a knife to a young adult is often symbolic of the passage into adulthood. It can mean that the giver recognizes the maturity and responsibility of the young adult.
It’s a gift that can be particularly useful if he or she is embarking on a new independent life, providing a tool that is both practical and meaningful.
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