Why do knives have a point?
#1
Posted 30 May 2009 - 22:55
We cannot think of a single good reason for a knife to have a point, there are several bad reason and there are even a few 'ish' reasons but no exceptional ones.
#3
Posted 30 May 2009 - 23:06
#5
Posted 30 May 2009 - 23:16
Thats what I think.
heres an article talking about just that, http://news.bbc.co.u...ine/7508404.stm
Seems there are some points (pun intended) to have a point. "butterflying a leg of lamb, carving a forerib of beef, and so on. "
Edited by stealth816, 30 May 2009 - 23:20.
#6
Posted 30 May 2009 - 23:21
Also just so you know, at subsonic speeds the largest cause of drag is the trailing edge, a knife compared to an arm is negligible.
#7
Posted 30 May 2009 - 23:29
Edited by Chyros, 30 May 2009 - 23:29.
The brave hide behind technology. The stupid hide from it. The clever have technology, and hide it.
—The Book of Cataclysm
#8
Posted 30 May 2009 - 23:47
Either that or that the point reduces the blood spilt. A pointed knife will stab, and although there will be arterial hemorrage the fact of the matter is that you only need one knife stab to kill. On the other hand, cutting would result in a lot more wounds and, as such, much less damage to the body. Also, the stabbing is more humane in that it kills quicker and does not force a wounded person to fight on and die of many cuts, which is MUCH more painful than having just ONE cut.
[indent]Garrod "Newtype Killer" Ran[/indent]
#9
Posted 31 May 2009 - 00:40
#10
Posted 31 May 2009 - 00:49
Cutting meat (especially the less tender) requires a pointed edge to perform many cuts, such as cutting inside fillets and the like.
Even when cutting vegetables, doing the rocking motion requires a flat edge the whole way (which means a point) to be able to do it competently.
#11
Posted 31 May 2009 - 02:01
In short, it might be a crap reason but, knives have a point to pierce through things. Humans are lazy by nature after all.
Also, there are many types of knives that aren't related to warfare.
Edited by Destiny, 31 May 2009 - 02:04.
#12
Posted 31 May 2009 - 02:23
Wizard, on 31 May 2009, 0:40, said:
I know, and who said you can't use a kitchen knife to carry out a murder? Most knives used in attacks (deadly or otherwise) outside of a battlefield are common, household kitchen knife. I'm not saying that it's a reason they were MADE that way, but it's something to consider when you choose to KEEP it that way.
Then again, after thinking it through some, the point might just be for a simple incision. Think of a scalpel, you penetrate with the point and THEN cut through the skin, it adds adhesion to the blade in reference to the skin (I'm sorry, I know adhesion's not a good word but I can't think of anything else at the moment).
The same thing goes for meats, most ESPECIALLY the stringy and tender ones such as steak. You insert the point first to make an opening incision and THEN you cut downwards (or, in some cases, saw downwards). Also, it serves its purposes for vertical cutting, when you need to only cut open a small section of space, such as when you're gutting an animal.
[indent]Garrod "Newtype Killer" Ran[/indent]
#13
Posted 31 May 2009 - 08:37
#14
Posted 31 May 2009 - 09:19
Also, a rounded knife end is still pretty lethal unless you waste like half of the blade only for making it non-lethal.
Granted though, I really don't see much of a point in philosophically discussing this. If you feel that knives are too dangerous, I'd suggest trying to prepare your food with a Taser.
[No puns were harmed in writing this post.]
Edited by Golan, 31 May 2009 - 09:44.
#16
Posted 31 May 2009 - 12:17
#17
Posted 31 May 2009 - 14:22
Dauth, on 31 May 2009, 10:37, said:
Well, for one the filleting knife renders the whole "you can kill people with it" point pointless, because if there's already one potential murderweapon in the kitchen, there is no point in making the others pointless. Apart from that point, I think multiple of the above mentioned points have an influence on the reason why. For one, they originally were used for hunting/killing, then cutting certain fruits/vegetables is much easier with a pointy knifes (for example paprica, in my opinion) and another point I might mention at this point is that the production of pointless knifes might be harder, therefor even more pointless.
I hope you all get my point.
Quote
#18
Posted 01 June 2009 - 15:15
I question the general assumption that i am inherently deficient in the area of grammar and sentence structure
#19
Posted 01 June 2009 - 18:24
Plus, does taking the point off a knife make it less dangerous? You could still do some serious damage with a meat cleaver or something.
#21
Posted 01 June 2009 - 21:26
For me, the sharp point of knifes is used for making slicing easier for the user. Without it, it would be hard to slice meat, hardfruits and opening a can (yes, i use a knife to open cans)..
As for the knife as murder weapon argument, it's the knife user's choice whether to use this basic kitchenware into a murder weapon.
#22
Posted 02 June 2009 - 01:37
it just depends who use it and how he uses it, and as for the use of the point in the knife its for using it as pivot for slicing thing and for poking and piercing other stuff...
#23
Posted 02 June 2009 - 06:54
WNxMastrefubu, on 1 Jun 2009, 21:49, said:
Seeing that a normal blade is relatively thin, it'd still do fine for penetrating someones lungs or abdomen with a proper stab. Not exactly elegant, but sure as hell effective.
#24
Posted 02 June 2009 - 15:08
#25
Posted 02 June 2009 - 21:45
Hence this entire argument is void, if someone wants a point, they'll get it.
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