# Giving a Pocket Knife As a Present....... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 11, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-pocket-knife-as-a-present/72105 "2001-07-11T16:32:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-pocket-knife-as-a-present/72105/1 "2001-07-11T16:32:28Z")
I once read that the recipient should then give the presenter a coin, but I have forgotten the reason. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-pocket-knife-as-a-present/72105/2 "2001-07-11T17:06:48Z")
I looked it up a=on google and found this. > [@](#): > > The presentation conformed to a Sheffield tradition in which the gift of the knife must be met with the payment, by the recipient, of the smallest denomination coin in his or her possession. This is to ensure that the gift of a knife does not sever an established friendship, as the exchange has been transformed into a nominal commercial transaction. [http://www.royalinsight.gov.uk/200012/out\_and\_about/sheffield/sheffield.html](http://www.royalinsight.gov.uk/200012/out_and_about/sheffield/sheffield.html) ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-a-pocket-knife-as-a-present/72105/3 "2001-07-11T21:03:52Z")
I’ve seen this in Germany as well as here. Usually the coin is a penny. Last knife store I went to asked me for one at the end of the transaction just for luck.