A knife tattoo is one of the oldest and still the most common designs in tattoo history. The reason is that swords, daggers and knives were considered essential survival tools until the middle of the 20th century. however, unlike daggers and swords, knives still exist today, even if we don’t carry them all the time.
For centuries, knives were used as weapons. in fact, it is one of the earliest weapons in existence, either in the form of a sharp-tipped wooden club or a well-forged steel blade. they have played an important role throughout struggles and wars.
On the other hand, knives were also used as ceremonial tools to carry out sacred rituals. these ceremonies were in the form of human and/or animal sacrifices offered to the ancient gods. aside from that, knives have always been a source of survival for the human race.
They played a vital role in a number of hunting activities: slaughtering animals, skinning them, cutting meat, etc. for this reason, archaeologists find stone remains and wooden knives much more frequently than iron blades.
As a result of this rich history, knife tattoos are a popular style of tattooing that hold different value for each individual. for some it represents survival and a feeling of sacrifice, in line with their history, while for others it is a symbol of skill, achievement, focus and duty/military service.
Knife markings also have their association with Buddhist symbology. For centuries Buddhists used a dagger as a representation to cut all ties with the material world. this basically meant that they had to let go of all the things that exist due to consumerism and were not considered essential for a person to survive.
Similarly, for many people these days a knife tattoo has the same expression: a notion against consumerism. A dagger tattoo is a representation of severing all ties to materialism that stands between true enlightenment and freedom for an individual.
Similarly, there are several variations of knife tattoos that have a different meaning for the person who receives them. Designs are typically separated from one another with the formation of the hilt, blade, and the selection of accompanying symbols and images.
The following are some of the most popular variations of knife tattoos:
basic knife tattoo designs
On a rudimentary level, the knife represents intelligence and ingenuity among people and, as the expression goes, “the sharpest knife in the drawer.” the symbol of the knife is shown by the person’s eagerness to engage in physical combat and how well he or she can protect loved ones from impending danger.
Irrespective of the fact that who is getting a knife tattoo to cut ties with the material world or depict their physical strength to others, they usually choose to personalize the design of the hilt and the colors of their tattoo. Moreover, individuals tend to make their knife tattoo even more unique by ensuring that a particular style of art, language, or symbol that is solely associated with their heritage is used.
chef knife tattoo designs
Another one of the most common types of knife tattoo variation is the chef’s knife. Surprisingly, many chefs take their tattoos just as seriously as their culinary skills and tools. For a cook, in particular, a knife is one of the most important tools that they cherish when carving it on themselves. therefore, individuals without any ink are rarely found in the culinary circle.
knives and knives ink sheds some light on the diverse and wonderful world of chef tattoos with fascinating stories that are centuries old. It is often seen that chefs would complement their tattoo design with some quote or other culinary tool that represents their distinctive choice of tools in the kitchen.
for example, chefs tend to change the design by adding a whisk or tongs, or a quote like “cook or die” or get a skull with a chef’s hat as a design.
knife and fork
knife and fork is a similar variation on chef’s knife tattoos; however, they have been observed not only in cooks, but also in people who have an intense taste for food and drink. the combination of knife and fork shows a kind of balance within the person that comes with the use of these fundamental human tools.
Individuals who choose to have this style of the tattoo on themselves often prefer it in a variety of styles such as side by side that represents order and unity, or in a crisscross manner to depict a battle-ready symbol. Moreover, people often choose from a variety of silverware and styles as per their distinct taste.
heart and knife
A heart pierced by a dagger has many interpretations. for some, it represents loss, pain and suffering due to heartbreak. since a heart has always been associated with emotions and fragility, its loss is conventionally illustrated; a knife piercing the heart from top to bottom.
People tend to make this sad representation (her literally stabbed heart) unique by adding a quote or names to their marks.
On the other hand, in religious symbolism, a dagger through the heart is an adaption of the Catholic Sacred Heart of Mary, who is also called the Lady of Sorrows. This symbol has had its association with the other extreme end – voodoo religion. Ironically, knife and heart tattoo are also associated with Erzulie Dantor who has an evil side that is vengeful and jealous.
crossed knives
This style of tattoo is quite popular among retired soldiers as it shows a continual eagerness to fight. the two knives may be facing opposite directions, facing each other, which is a representation of opposite parties, or the knives may be on one side, showing kinship during a battle.
if the person wants to appreciate the camaraderie and brotherhood he experienced during his armed service, he tends to have knives that are identical or similar in features. To make it even more unique to them, people tend to add their initials and those of their comrades or the unit or battalion to the hilt of the knife.
Meanwhile, in case of a knife tattoo that depicts enemies or opposing parties in a battle, individuals often selects different style of blades and hilts. Moreover, they tend to make their tattoo stand out by adding the opposing party’s name, their flags or the name of the place where the battle took place.
snake and knife
A snake tattoo coiling around the knife is known as a caduceus and represents the Greek god of healing and medicine. For this reason, this style of tattoo is quite popular in the medical profession. the two figures, snakes and knives, show the pagan symbol of fertility and rebirth and the surgical tool.
To make this tattoo design look unique individuals tend to add their medical school year or name to it. Medical students tend to go to the extent of having the hilt decorated with veins, or a heart if the students happen to be studying cardiogy.
garter knife
This is a common style among women that builds on their inner strength and ferocity. a knife that is a ruthless weapon and is combined with a female garter represents the ability of women to assassinate their enemies discreetly and effectively. the symbol shows both the gentle and the brutal side of women.
Usually, women choose to get this tattoo around their thigh, which is the usual place for a garter. So, having the knife etched on one side and a garter all around the thigh gives the tattoo a realistic detail. Individuals tend to personalize the style with the use of distinct colors, patterns, and styles of ribbons.
knife and skull
knife and skull is a design that belongs to the most diverse design styles, with its own set of meanings. the design that has a knife going through the skull from top to bottom represents that the person has overcome their fear of death and is no longer afraid of dying.
on the other hand, among the pirates, this symbol of knives and skull was a badge of their community that they would customize by adding the flag of their respective community. among many others, the most common style of this tattoo is the “jolly roger”. the design depicts two intersecting knives behind the skull, and was used as a symbol for other ships surrendering or sinking.
Although these knife tattoos are among the most popular, people with more creative minds tend to experiment with other symbols. however, be very careful before experimenting as these are permanent marks. So, have a tattoo artist draw her design on paper, make any necessary changes, and then let the tattooing begin.
