[Sca-cooks] Knives - sharp side in?

[Stefan li Rous]

Giano commented:
> Why would I want to stab anyone at the dinner table in a society
> where it is still legal to kill people in open hand-to-hand combat?

Yes, although I find the whole idea that which direction the edge of  
the blade is pointing would make any difference rather preposterous.

Ask any SCA armored combatant whether he can use only one particular  
side of his dagger or sword to "kill" someone? Or whether he could do  
it with either the top or bottom, whichever had the edge?

Also, if it *did* matter, the way the knife is placed only counts  
until it is first picked up and used. It could then set down either  
way. Or simply, discretely rotated in the hand before use.

If someone wants to use that oft used SCA technique of "practical  
archeology". Get a tableknife and try it, and see if it makes a  
difference. If you are really concerned about the safety of this, the  
two (or more) participants can wear list legal rapier armor. :-)

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****