THE KNIFE, A BRIEF HISTORY FROM THE WESTSIDE SHARPENING & CUTLERY CENTER
Primitive Stone Tools Made Two Million Years Ago
The Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) is the prehistoric era distinguished by the development of the first stone tools by Homo habilis, among the earliest known species of the genus Homo, the genus to which present day humans belong. The Paleolithic covers roughly 99% of human technological history. Homo habilis was short and had long arms compared to modern humans. Homo habilis had a cranial capacity slightly less than half of the size of modern humans. Despite the ape-like shape of their bodies, Homo habilis remains are often found accompanied by primitive stone tools.
Metal Tools Came into Widespread Use Over 5,000 Years Ago
The earliest knives were made by the flaking of rock, particularly harder rocks such as obsidian and flint. About five thousand years ago, as advances in metallurgy progressed, stone, wood, and bone blades were gradually succeeded by copper, bronze, iron, and eventually steel. The first metal (copper) knives were symmetrical double edged daggers, which copied the earlier flint daggers.
The razor and nail cutter pictured above date from the European Early Iron Age and were found during the archaeological excavation of the grave of a prince of the Hallstatt culture, the predominant Central European culture from the 8th to 6th centuries BC.
Modern Knives Made from Many Different Materials
Modern knives may be made from many different materials such as alloy tool steels, carbon fiber, ceramics, and titanium.
Westside Sharpening & Cutlery Center - we're in the Downtown District of Santa Monica, CA - convenient to all of West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Westwood, Culver City, and beach cities like Venice and Marina del Rey.
Contact Laurence Segal
WESTSIDE SHARPENING & CUTLERY CENTER
1207 4th Street, #150
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-3075
[We're located at the SE Corner of Wilshire and 4th, with 2 hours of free parking across the street in the City Parking Complex.]
Email: info@westsidesharpening.com
Website: westsidesharpening.com
