Knives have been used as weapons, tools, and eating utensils since prehistoric times. However, it is only in relatively recent history that knives have been designed specifically for table use.
In the middle ages, hosts did not provide cutlery for visiting guests. Instead, most people carried their own knives in sheaths attached to their belts. These knives were weapons as well as flatware; they were narrow with sharp pointed ends designed to spear food.
The multi-purpose nature of the knife meant it was considered to be a threatening presence at the dinner table. In 1669 King Louise XIV of France decreed all pointed knives (such as those used as weaponry) to be ‘illegal’. He also ordered that knife points be blunted, in an effort to minimise violence. The knives that appeared after this decree were much more similar to the ones we use today.
Knife design has adapted throughout the centuries depending on the materials and skills available to society. Materials used to craft knives vary, from wood to bronze. These were not the most durable however, as they were easily dulled and susceptible to corrosion. Materials such as iron, silver and steel were far more practical in terms of resilience and endurance. When workmen began crafting knives from these materials, they were far more suitable for prolonged use.