History of the Knife

Throughout history, knives have always been a valuable tool and have played a key role in the survival of humans. The earliest knife ever discovered dates back as far as 2.6 million years and was found in the Afar region of Ethiopia by fine-grained sediments of a dry riverbed. These water-worn hard creek cobbles were created from volcanic rock and were the earliest form of primitive knives. Unlike collectible knives and other types of discount knives offered today, these knives were created out of necessity, but as time continued on, its evolution may be traced through the paths of technology.

Throughout the Paleolithic era, similar tools were made out of animal bone and wood, which continued to be the main materials used until about 10,000 years ago with the discovery of copper. During that time copper was the main metal for use in creating knives. As little as 5,000 years ago, when advances in metallurgy grew, copper, bone, and wood was gradually replaced by steel. These tools closely mimic the knives we still use today, and consists of a piece of metal, usually steel, that was dull on the other known as the tang and sharp on one end known as the blade. Early knives usually had a wooden or bone handle that would be crafted around the tang to make it easier to hold.

Knives gained considerable importance throughout the Middle Ages as one of 3 key items of cutlery, accompanying the spoon and fork. This was the way most of the population was introduced to knives on a daily basis. Knives became such an imperative tool for the everyday population that it was often decorated and displayed proudly by their owners. In Saxon England, knives called scramasax were carried everywhere and were often intricately decorated. Most of the world's countries had a knife associated to its culture and history. This is one of the main reasons why knife collecting has become and very popular hobby even until today.

Over the next few centuries knives have taken many forms from the ordinary kitchen knife to a long machete used for cutting through bush and from discount knives used for everyday use to collectible knives used for display. Even though it's been a very long time since the first knives were water-worn creek cobbles, we have not given up on that ancient manufacturing technique and the knife continues to be an important tool in our daily lives; although the knife is more for sport and work than survival then it was in the past. Today with the increasing technology in metallurgy knives may be made from many different materials such as carbon fiber, ceramics, and titanium, and you can get a knife in a wide assortment of configurations and materials.