| Knives as Tools | | | | and most likely resulting in more folding knives. |
| Knives have always been an extremely useful | | | | Material Improvements |
| tool to have. They are probably one of the only | | | | While most early knives were created from |
| tools that we use daily that were used by our | | | | carbon steel (or iron), today's blades are made of |
| distant ancestors. The Bronze Age brought about | | | | surgical steel, carbon steel or from martensitic |
| the first significant change to knives, though since | | | | stainless steel. What has not changed much is the |
| its softer structure didn't make the strongest of | | | | overall design of knives. |
| knives, many still preferred the "older" stone tool. | | | | Nearly all collectible knives and Scout knives are |
| Stone blades and knives really remained the | | | | created from carbon steel. The reason behind this |
| preferred material up until bronze was replaced | | | | is believed to be that while this knife can oxidize |
| with iron which was considerably stronger than | | | | easily, it's less expensive to manufacture, it's very |
| bronze. | | | | easy to sharpen and once sharpened it has a |
| First Improvements | | | | great edge. |
| Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are credited | | | | Useful Knives |
| with the first folding knives as well as knives with | | | | It seems like today you can find a knife for any |
| ivory blades. It's believed that this was a result of | | | | purpose including fighting, multi-purpose knives, |
| the popularity of cut fruits - ivory blades | | | | hunting knives and more. This development really |
| prevented the transfer of the taste of rust (or | | | | came about during the 19th Century, material was |
| metal). | | | | readily available and more people were adept at |
| Manufacturing Knives | | | | creating knives. Whether you are looking for a |
| Between 1095 and 1272 there were a number of | | | | simple purpose knife or a collectible folding knife, |
| Crusades launched by the Europeans. During this | | | | today you will have no trouble locating them. |
| time they traveled to all corners of the earth | | | | Whether your tastes run to plain handles or |
| fighting for ground and more. Like so many other | | | | intricately designed handles, there is a knife |
| conflicts, this created an opportunity. France | | | | available to suit your basic needs, or your desire |
| began its manufacturing of cutlery offering blades | | | | to collect a piece that displays exquisite |
| of various sizes and shapes and in a variety of | | | | workmanship. |
| materials. France had a corner on the cutlery | | | | Today |
| market (including knives) until about 1789 and | | | | Today pocket knives are available for a fraction |
| even today, you'll find several cutlery | | | | of the cost of what they used to be. You'll find |
| manufacturers still in France. | | | | people from early teens to older adults, men and |
| The Pocket Knife | | | | women sporting a pocket knife. Because of the |
| Today's pocket knife is believed to be started | | | | impeccable record keeping that began around |
| sometime during the 15th Century - again out of | | | | 1900, collectors have an easier time valuing and |
| necessity. Remember, knives were the main tool | | | | dating previously created knives, and particularly |
| at that time, there was no cutlery, as we know it | | | | those rare hand-crafted ones. Knives are often |
| today - people ate their meals with the blades of | | | | used for wedding gifts, promotional items and |
| their knife. This is when it is believed that | | | | more. |
| multiple-blade knives made their first appearance | | | | |