How Reinventing Tradition: Rambo Movie Knives

Camping, fishing, cooking, hiking, hunting, backpacking, woodcarving, mountaineering, rock climbing, religion, United States Special Forces, movies, and painting all share a common denominator. Knives, commonplace in all lifestyles today, were the first human tool, crafted out of rock, flint and obsidian over two and half million years ago. Knives are enduring artifacts of Americana, from Green Beret's Yarborough Knife to Rambo movie knives.

Knives were historically, and remain implements for spiritual, superstitious, cultural, and utilitarian use. To defend the dead in the afterlife, Anglo-Saxons buried their dead with knives. Knives are a part of Tibetan Buddhism. Surgeons use the scalpel. An electrician's knife is part of the tools of the trade.

Outdoorsmen and adventure sports enthusiasts include knives in their gear as a basic utility tool for outdoors. Nationally, an estimated 12.5 million people went hunting in 2006, spending $22.9 billion, according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

People from all walks of life have to recognize that a knife can serve a variety of purposes. People realize that basic knowledge about knives, including anatomy, are important in understanding potential uses, and improving skills.

Indoors, knives are often critical tools of the culinary trade. Specialty knife cutlery are popularly used, not just in the culinary art circles, but in the average American home.

The National Knife Museum, located at the Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Tennessee, exhibits historical knives. The National Knife Museum, founded by members the Knife Collectors Association, work to preserve and promote an American heritage.

Rambo knives, fine cutlery, hunting knives, Special Forces knives, and all knives in between are a part of the American landscape. From all walks of life and from all generations, including blade smiths, collectors, dealers, auction sites, knife shows, knife organizations, the knife and the American public, continue a legacy.