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Utility Knife to Artful Weaponry, The Knife Leaves Its Mark in History

As ancient as mankind itself, the knife iscreated purely as a weapon. Later, it
the earliest form of weaponry for which theredeveloped into an aesthetically pleasing
has been no substitute. Essential forweapon. Yoshimitsu was the greatest tanto
survival, the knife was developed out ofmaker in Japanese history and during his
necessity and has evolved through the ages.lifetime the tanto achieved a place of artful
From knives made of flint, to copper, todesign. A smaller version of the katana, the
iron, humans have a unique relationship totanto differs from others as it was designed
this tool, creating it out of the strongestprimarily as a stabbing instrument but
material available and adorning them withpossesses an edge that can slash as well.
patterns and decoration. A knife is aUnlike the katana, tanto are forged in
personal possession that is valued for itshira-zukuri, meaning they have no ridge-line,
craftsmanship and usefulness. Perhaps theunlike the shinogi-zukuri shape of the
most recognized knife in the world, the Bowiekatana. The classic Japanese tanto shape has
Knife has an intriguing history. The storythe point of the knife in line with the spine
begins in 1831 when Jim Bowie brought aof the blade and a graceful belly curve. With
whittled wooden model of his ideal knife toa blade length of only 6 to 12 inches, the
blacksmith James Black. Several weeks later,tanto cuts soft targets very well. The tanto
Black had produced two knives. The second waswere most often carried by samurai, the
a modified version of Bowie's design. Bowiemilitary nobility of pre-industrial Japan.
chose Black's version as it had a doubleAlthough commoners rarely carried a tanto,
edge. Soon, Black was inundated with requestswomen sometimes possessed a small tanto in
from customers who wanted a knife liketheir obi, or shash, for self defense. A
Bowie's. The knife's unique shape and12-inch fighting and utility knife, the
hallmark large blade became popular for itsKa-Bar was first used by the U.S. Marines in
use as both a weapon and as a tool forWorld War II and has been carried into battle
fishing and hunting. The knife also gainedby Marines since. Originally designed as a
popularity as a result of a fight Bowie washunting knife in the 1800s, the Ka-Bar
involved in Texas with three men hired toreached popularity with soldiers who needed a
hill him. Bowie killed his would-beknife suited to trench warfare. Its final
assailants and the reputation of the Bowieshape was decided by the Marine Corps, who
knife was established. After Bowie's deathintroduced a slightly longer blade, a smaller
five years later at the Battle of the Alamo,fuller, or beveled groove, on the flat side
both he and his knife became immenselyof the blade, and the stacked leather handle.
famous. Over the years, many knives have beenFrom box cutter to can opener to hand-to-hand
referred to as Bowie knives. The term hascombat, the Ka-Bar is the preferred piece of
become a generic one for any large sheathequipment with the U.S. Marine Corps and has
knife. Despite all the variations, it is saidbecome  a  symbol  of  the  Marines.
that for a knife to be considered a Bowie
knife, it must be long enough to use as aSafecutters Inc., provides an online store of
sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wideutility knife box cutters for opening
enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enoughshipping boxes and shipping packages, as well
to use as a hatchet. Forged in Japan duringas safety knives to open moving boxes and
the Heian Period when Confucianism and otherpackages. For more information about Klever
Chinese influences were at their height, theKutter and other Safecutters products contact
tanto knife lacked any artistic value and wasus!



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