Knives have been part of human culture, and they played a huge role in the subsequent civilization milestones. Over the years, they have undergone countless changes and evolved into different types that have specialized in certain tasks.
We are going to look at some of the knife culture, how it began, how it has influenced how people interact with their surroundings and how it continues to evolve as time goes by. If you have always been interested in knowing how the knife in your hand came to be, then this is for you.
What Were Knives Made Out Of?
A lot of archaeological finds that keep coming up are showing a very cle3ar picture of what outdoor knives were made of in the past. It would even come as a surprise that there are finds that date back sharp cutting tools to 2.6 million years ago, that’s longer than the time period where the modern man started appearing on the planet. This means that the earliest hominids had already figured out the necessity of using cutting tools for hunting and other tasks that made survival much easier.
The knives from that era were very rudimentary; they simply served the necessary purpose of cutting things. They were not calibrated for higher functions, and it took time for further modifications to be added to make the knives a little more usable.
Most of the manufacturing process involved hitting shards of obsidian with another harder rock until a sharp edge was created. This was then fastened at the end of a stick, which became a spear used to hunt and handle other kinds of tasks. They may have been primitive, but they came in handy during that time as they gave the hominids back then the upper hand against much stronger animals.
Once the bronze and iron ages came about, knives became enhanced exponentially to a point where they could now be used as weapons, among other things. This was the first time it was possible for people to determine the level of sharpness needed for a knife. Outdoor knives become stronger, reliable, and could last much longer. Since the materials to make them were readily available, their production exploded, and this is why many archaeological finds never liked some forms of knives that were used thousands of years ago.
The Knife Handles
Knife handles have been part of the construction for years. When humans were making cutting tools from glass stones, they used leather and plants to make handles to stop the blades from injuring the bearer. One metallic blade came into play, there was a need for better handles to be designed, and this led to a number of variations that range from wood, leather, ivory, metal itself, and later on, plastic.
The handle is a very important part of the blade, and this is why every knife manufacturer today considers the length, weight, and design of the handle the moment they start thinking about making a knife.
However, wood was the most used handle in the early years of the metallic blade, and there is a number of reasons why this was the case:
- Wood was readily available and easy to find. Forest cover was richer back in the day, and finding a tree to make multiple handles was not hard.
- There were skilled wood handlers who already possessed the skills, and this made it much easier.
- Curving wood is not complicated.
- Wood accommodated more designs, and since it was lighter, there was freedom for manufacturers to come up with all kinds of shapes and patterns to make the knives unique.
Modern Day Knives
If anyone from the past woke up today and saw the level that outdoor knives have attained, they would be mighty impressed. The range of blade materials has increased, and this has not only made knives more accessible but very easy to use.
One of the most common blade materials used in today’s world is stainless steel, and it makes pretty decent blades that can be used for all kinds of complicated tasks in the wild. They may not be good at retaining their edge over time, but they do get the job done.
In terms of handles, the options have drastically increased too. Plastic, for instance, has made it easy to make handles in huge numbers using all kinds of shapes, and this has increased functionality and brought down the price of outdoor knives.
More new materials are being developed and experimented with a bid to make knives more reliable and long-lasting. At the moment, the number of brands that are involved in designing knives has ballooned exponentially, and since each of them is trying to corner the market, it is paramount that they come up with the best options to get the attention of their target market.
Uses
The use of outdoor knives has also expanded. We have gone from using them as tools of survival and getting things done to vital equipment that can be used for just about anything you can imagine. You can now have a knife that can be used as a hunting knife, for setting up camping, to gut fish, and even double up as a construction tool: All these without affecting the longevity of the knife.
As more technology is being incorporated into the knife-making process, it is not hard to imagine how knives from the future will look like. The demand for outdoor knives continues to rise as more people turn to outdoor life. It is not up to the big knife brands to come up with outdoor knives that will meet the needs of the people.
Conclusion
Outdoor knives are important, and they will continue to play a role in the day-to-day lives of human lives. At Shieldon, we strive to inform people about knives, the types that exist, the best way to handle them, and at the same time, we have an impressive catalog of outdoor knives that may be of interest to you. Check out our website and have any questions you may have answered by our team of experts.
Shieldon Knife is a professional custom pocket knife manufacturer that owns a factory and designers. Check out our blogs for tips and tricks around outdoor knives and multi-tools! Or contact us if you need help with sourcing hinges.
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