A knife is defined as a type of hand tool with a sharp edge that is used to cut something, whether it be food, rope, or even wood. It is usually composed of a blade, which is commonly around 12 inches or less in length, that is attached to a type of handle. They have been around for a very long time, dating back to the Stone Age where they were used as both tools and weapons.
The first knives used in the Stone Age were made of either flint orflint or rock, their edge was chipped or ground, and they sometimes, but not all the time, had a handle. With later advances in smelting and metallurgy, blades were able to be made of bronze, iron, and even steel. Although time has changed the materials that are used, a knife’s basic design still remains very much the same.
As previously stated, a knife is composed of a blade and a handle, as well as a tang. The tang is known as a blade’s extension into the handle. Some knives also have an attached hand guard so that a person, while using the knife, won’t have his/her fingers slip onto the blade’s edge, therefore resulting in an injury.
The groove that is found alongside of the blade actually has a name. It’s called the fuller, also known as a blood gutter and/or blood groove. Myth has said that the fuller is used to allow an artery to bleed without having to remove the knife. However, the reality is that a fuller is used to make both knifes and sword lighter without having to sacrifice any large amounts of strength. In fact, on most knives, a fuller is used solely for decorative purposes.
Also, a blade’s groove allows for surface tension reduction that can occur between a blade and whatever is being cut. This means that both easier movement and also removal of the blade is allowed.
Another feature of a knife is its shoulder. This is where the blade thickens to meet the handle. This is most commonly seen in kitchen knives. It keeps the knife from any kind of jamming, for example when cutting into the bone of a chicken. It also allows for the chopped item to be stationary and not move back toward the person’s hand while chopping with kitchen knives.
Kitchen knives are the most commonly used type of knife today. It seems that everyone who has a kitchen has at least one, although many of us have several that are used for many different purposes.
Types:
- French Knife – One of the most commonly known of the kitchen knives. It’s also known as a Chef’s knife. It has a broad, tapered shape with a fine edge that is great for things such as chopping vegetables.
- Slicing Knife – with its long and narrow blade, is used to cut through things such as cooked meat. Those kitchen knives that feature scalloped edges are perfect for slicing those foods that are softer, such as tomatoes, bread, and cakes.
- Paring Knife – One of the most used kitchen knife. It has a short, pointed blade that is very easy to handle. It is mostly used for quicker jobs such as peeling and removing cores.
- Table Service Knives – Other kitchen knives are used for table service. These are usually named after the service they provide such as a dinner knife, luncheon knife, fish knife, butter knife, and the popular steak knives
- Carving Knife – has either a round or pointed tip and smooth blade perfect for cutting a bone or carving on roast beef and other meats. It’s also known as a Slicing Knife
The above are just a few samples of the various types of kitchen knives. Some handles can be made of wood, plastic, rubber, leather or stainless steel materials. A knife can be of different sizes and shapes. You must know which one you most need in the kitchen, one that you will frequently use.
If you are not sure which one, you can check out the internet for kitchen knives or if you are going on a camping trip and don’t know what to bring that is suitable, check those popular pocket knives brands. For other utility knives, this one might come in handy – Flexcut Whittlin Jack.
Visits: 289
