This is not a knife

[HarryT]

The picture at the top of the thread. It looks to me like a knife, mounted on some sort of display stand. But it still actually is a knife, whereas a picture of one is not. That's what I meant.

Perhaps I've misunderstood the picture, though?

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The picture at the top of the thread. It looks to me like a knife, mounted on some sort of display stand. But it still actually is a knife, whereas a picture of one is not. That's what I meant.

Perhaps I've misunderstood the picture, though?

Look carefully at where the blade and handle should be

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The picture at the top of the thread. It looks to me like a knife, mounted on some sort of display stand. But it still actually is a knife, whereas a picture of one is not. That's what I meant.

Perhaps I've misunderstood the picture, though?

okay, yes, you're not seeing the picture. take a closer look. it's actually the absence of a knife ; a metal plate with the shape of a blade cut out (but no blade) and a wooden block with the shape of a handle cut out (but no handle). it's literally not a knife.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this. Why is this "not a knife"? It certainly looks like a knife to me!

is it perhaps ceramic? they make some dandy knives, but still if it were visually eyeballed I should think it would still be confiscated

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

okay, yes, you're not seeing the picture. take a closer look. it's actually the absence of a knife ; a metal plate with the shape of a blade cut out (but no blade) and a wooden block with the shape of a handle cut out (but no handle). it's literally not a knife.

so it's a mold? *still confused*

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I collect knives and I own several Opinels myself, and use them when traveling as I don't worry about losing one or having it taken away at airports. I still have the two that I first bought in Chambry, France back in the early 70's. Used a lot, but still just as good as the day I bought them!

Stitchawl

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

just a question though, why don't you have to worry about having it taken away at airports ? famous or not, it's still a knife, right ?

I'd guess because they're relatively cheap and ubiquitous - I'm thinking of getting a couple myself for the same reason!

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

I'd guess because they're relatively cheap and ubiquitous - I'm thinking of getting a couple myself for the same reason!

ha, okay, meaning, they *do* get taken away at the airport, but they're easy to replace ? i misunderstood and thought somehow the opinel got a free pass.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

is it perhaps ceramic? they make some dandy knives, but still if it were visually eyeballed I should think it would still be confiscated



so it's a mold? *still confused*

It's a sculpture - instead of removing metal from around the blade, the blade itself has been removed; same with the wood and the handle.

[kindlekitten]

ummmm ok

[zelda_pinwheel]

i guess sometimes a picture is not worth all that many words, after all.

"it's ART, dahlink !"

[kindlekitten]

yeah I'm kinda thinking that is the issue here. any kind of "modern" art, whether it is paintings, sculpture, whatever... just kind of leaves me cold. and obviously a lot of times I just don't "get it"

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

ummmm ok

Kindlekitten (and HarryT), do you see that where the knife blade appears to be, you're actually seeing the background - that the "blade" is just a hole cut in the rectangular piece of metal? And that where the handle appears to be, you can see the same background - that the "handle" is actually a hole cut out of the rectangular piece of wood? And that those holes are "joined" by a small cylinder of metal that is actually joining nothing other than those holes? That is, that there is no actual, real, cut-stuff-up-with knife there (except, perhaps, a part of, in that small joining cylinder)?

Cheers,
Marc

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

okay, yes, you're not seeing the picture. take a closer look. it's actually the absence of a knife ; a metal plate with the shape of a blade cut out (but no blade) and a wooden block with the shape of a handle cut out (but no handle). it's literally not a knife.

Thanks! I didn't see it either... And now that I do see it, I can no longer see it...

[Sparrow]

I can't get a handle on it.

[kindlekitten]

I see what appears to be an acrylic knife with a metal ring connecting blade to haft floating in mid air... or acrylic

don't worry about me.... I'll just be over at the display of crusader era weaponry

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I see what appears to be an acrylic knife with a metal ring connecting blade to haft floating in mid air... or acrylic

don't worry about me.... I'll just be over at the display of crusader era weaponry

There is no acrylic, other than a flat horizontal piece the entire thing is sitting on.

On the left is a rectangular piece of metal, standing on its edge, out of which has been cut the shape of a blade.

On the right is a rectangular piece of wood, standing on its edge, out of which has been cut the shape of the haft.

Between the piece of metal and the piece of wood is the metal ring, seeming to connect these shapes cut out of the pieces of metal and wood.

Does this at all help? I think it might be suffering from a bit of the vase-face/Rubin Vase effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubin_vase

Cheers,
Marc