Knife Gifting Tradition: Exploring the Coin Superstition

As far as we are concerned, there's no occasion for which a knife isn't a great gift. Birthday, graduation, weddings, divorces, retirement: you name it, and "knife" will be the correct answer for your gift shopping. But along with the knife itself, consider giving a coin.

There's a time-honored tradition of including a coin with knife gifts. This custom is steeping in symbolism and superstition. Honoring this tradition can make your already fantastic knife gift even more meaningful and thoughtful. Let's explore the origins of the knife-coin gift superstition.

A Slice of Life

The idea behind including a coin with any knife gift goes back to the belief that giving someone a knife could sever or cut the relationship between the recipient and the giver. The sharpness and cutting power of the knife were viewed as something that could cut rope or wood, as well as ties between friends or family members. It could slice through the bonds of friendship and affection between the giver and receiver.

People developed a tradition of giving a coin with any knife gift to prevent severing relationships. How does tossing an old penny in with a knife keep your friendship intact? The recipient accepts the coin along with the knife and then gives the coin back to the giver as a token payment for the knife. The superstition is that exchanging this money makes the knife a symbolic purchase rather than a gift. That keeps the relationship healthy. No ties are cut.

Of course, a recipient could symbolically buy a knife with a coin of their own. But including the coin with your gift means they don't have to spend $.05 to safely receive their gift, making it a more thoughtful present. The coin also expresses how much you value the relationship. Honoring this tradition shows you are thoughtful enough to protect the bond.

Powerful Knives and Coins

Knives have long been seen as powerful objects. They are associated with power, protection, strength, and sometimes even magic. Knives have sometimes been considered talismans. They have also been used for ceremonial purposes or to ward off evil.

Knives are both useful tools and devastating weapons, depending on their use. This duality helps explain the symbolism associated with knives. In that context, it makes sense that superstitions would develop, including one about the possible damage they could cause to cherished relationships.

Coins also symbolize power and strength. You can use money to meet needs or as a tool of power. When the recipient exchanges a coin for a knife, they return something valuable to the giver. They are trading power for power and strength for strength, which allows the relationship to remain balanced.

Making Cents of the Tradition for Today's Knife Gifts

Giving or receiving a knife may not be something you fear could harm your relationships. Including a coin with a knife gift is a fun, quirky tradition, even if you don't buy into the superstition behind it. Adding a coin to your knife gift is a fun way to honor traditions and make your present even more meaningful.

As you explain the purpose behind the coin, you show the recipient how much you value their relationship. By taking the time to safeguard the friendship, even if just from imaginary dangers, you are reinforcing how much the person means to you.

After you've made your gift selection from an online knife store, choose your coin. You can use a run-of-the-mill penny you picked up off the street or a dime you found in your sofa cushions. Or you could look for a coin minted in a year special to the recipient or a state-themed quarter from a location meaningful to you and your giftee.

Just remember that the intention is for the recipient to return the coin to you immediately to symbolically buy the knife. Including an expensive or rare coin usually doesn't make sense since the recipient doesn't keep it.

The denomination of the coin doesn't matter. A penny works just as well as a quarter or dollar coin. It's not about the amount of money exchanged. The important part is exchanging some money to make the gift a symbolic purchase.

Along with the coin, consider including a short written explanation of the tradition. (If you want to borrow from this article, go ahead. We don't mind. As knife sellers, we are all about a good cut [and paste].) That will help your recipient understand why there's a coin with their knife and what they should do with it.

Knife, coin, and brief write-up explaining the concept behind buying their gift from you with the coin: now you're all set to give the perfect knife gift. With this gesture, a beautiful Benchmade Bugout or magnificent Microtech MSI gift will mean even more.

You don't want to cut corners when it comes to gifting knives. Add a coin to your gift so the recipient can symbolically buy the knife from you and buy many additional years as a treasured person in your life. That coin may help keep your relationship strong and healthy.