History of Knife
Knives are one of the oldest and most useful human tools. Our ancestors used sharp stones or wood pieces to do what knives today do. They were used to cut, prick and carve and stood as a symbol of bravery. With the invention of metal, there was an evolution of the most used human tool, knife. As civilization advanced, various types of metals used in making knives (through the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age) emerged.
With the advancement of the technology and the discovery of guns, however, the knife lost its place in battle fields. As time evolved, knives are adopted to be used in the kitchen.
Anatomy of Knife
| A | Point: | The very end of the knife, which is used for piercing |
| B | Tip: | The first third of the blade (approximately), which is used for small or delicate work |
| C | Edge: | The cutting surface of the knife, which extends from the point to the heel |
| D | Heel: | The rear part of the blade, used for cutting activities that require more force |
| E | Spine: | The top, thicker portion of the blade, which adds weight and strength |
| F | Bolster: | The thick metal portion joining the handle and the blade, which adds weight and balance and keeps the cook's hand from slipping |
| G | Finger Guard: | The portion of the bolster that keeps the cook's hand from slipping onto the blade |
| H | Return: | The point where the heel meets the bolster |
| J | Tang: | The portion of the metal blade that extends into the handle, giving the knife stability and extra weight |
| K | Scales: | The two portions of handle material (wood, plastic, composite, etc) that are attached to either side of the tang |
| L | Rivets: | The metal pins (usually 3) that hold the scales to the tang |
| M | Handle Guard: | The lip below the butt of the handle, which gives the knife a better grip and prevents slipping |
| N | Butt: | The terminal end of the handle |
Types of Knives
- General knives
- Meat knives
- Small knives
- Cheese knives
- Japanese knives
- Chines cleavers
- Specialty knives
Group members:
Biswa Bikash Singh
Subash Chellamuthu
Tejesh Goregaonkar
2 comments:
My friend Nina sent this comment to me afterseeing your post:
Hi Suchitra,
I looked at the blog and will keep following it - I like the subject very much. Am not sure if this comment is relevent but here goes:if a knife is a blade used for cutting fixed into a handle, then maybe you could also include (since Chinese knives find a place) the blade that curves upward fixed on a wooden board and in Maharashtra and Bengal women cut vegetables and fish using this. Its upper tip is flattened into a serrated disc and is used to scrape coconut. The only problem it does not have a handle but a foot rest. Have I been able to describe the tool I am referring to? I have seen women put a knife handle between the first two toes of the foot to keep the knife at an angle and use two hands to cut vegetables, meat and fish.
I hope to learn along with the blog more about design.
Nina
Come on guys, get to work!!
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