From fireside folklores to Netflix horror movies, our addiction to fiction tells a story about the human need for narratives of all ages. You and I, and everyone you know are so hardwired to fantasies that we use it to escape reality, wind down, relax, find inspiration, gather knowledge ... everything. We're all connected with stories. And this essential human need has driven cave paintings, tomb drawings, ancient mythology, folklore, conspiracy theories … and knife myths.
Edge Of Mythology
Stories and folklore surrounding knives are countless and captivating. Tales of legends and wars portray the ever-reliable blade in vivid details, often encrusted with rare stones. But in modern times of the internet, stories take a different turn, and myths regurgitate on the internet to attract more traffic. And they spread so fast, that we often start to believe them.
Top Modern Knife Myths
Nothing boosts our oxytocin like knife myths it seems as there are so many on the internet. They get rinsed and repeated so many times that they eventually ring true, and we don’t even question their validity. But there are other reasons too why people believe in certain myths or blatantly false claims. Some claims were historically true at some point, but now they no longer apply. For example, the claim that all knives are forged was true in the past. Now, it’s a myth. Some businesses deliberately encourage storytelling as a part of their marketing strategy for brand-building. These stories eventually get cemented as facts. Here we’re going to try to put the myths to bed and bring the facts in front because the knife community will be better off.
Myth #1: The Strongest Knives Are Forged
This myth’s been debunked countless times and yet it keeps re-surfacing. There’s nothing further from the truth in the 21st century. Forged knives are NOT stronger than production knives. It’s 2021 folks. Quality production knives can be infinitely stronger than forged knives.
Myth #2: Expensive Knives Are Better
Let’s debunk this right out of the bat. This is a popular myth and a huge number of amateur knife enthusiasts believe this to be true. Here’s the truth people. For a lot of brands, the biggest cost is not in the knife production itself - but in branding and marketing. Nothing wrong with that, and we’re not judging, only pointing out. The quality of knives depends on many things - but above all, it’s determined by the passion and love of the manufacturer. And the steel.
Important: Switchblade knives with advanced spring mechanisms can be quite expensive because some manufacturers invest a lot of time and money in R&D.
Myth #3: Steel Type Decides Hardness
It’s an obvious myth for those who really know their blades. But not so obvious to new knife enthusiasts. To cut a long story short, all steel types have optimal hardness. But it’s not the steel type that decides the final blade hardness of your switchblade knife. It’s the heat-treat that determines the resulting hardness.
Myth #4: ‘This’ Is The Ultimate Grind
You’re going to hear this for as long as you are a knife lover. ‘X’ grind is the ultimate. Myth, and it’s the most hilarious of all that’s often cited on knife manufacturer websites. So, if you’re a knife manufacturer and make this claim on your site, pull it down - because I’m about to debunk it. There’s nothing called the best grind of all. The best grind is a personal choice. And it depends on the usage and personal bias. Hence, the best grind for you may not cut the slice for a hunter. Or mine may not cut the mark for you. It’s a personal preference.
